Kimimaro was going to join the Akatsuki organization, but not now.
On the one hand, he hadn't finished his business in Otogakure yet.
On the other hand, now wasn't the right time.
He would leave only after Orochimaru completed the Living Corpse Reincarnation.
And now, he had something to deal with.
When he parted ways with Tsunade, he said he would return in three months.
Now that three months had passed, it was time for him to go back.
Kimimaro knew very well what he would face when he returned.
But some things couldn't be avoided.
The Land of This.
Tsunade and Shizune had been living here and hadn't left.
Since wandering the ninja world, this was the first time they had stayed in one place for more than two years.
At first, it was to treat Kimimaro, and now it was to wait for Kimimaro to come back.
"Lady Tsunade, tomorrow is the day he promised to come back. Kimimaro should be arriving soon, right?"
"Probably."
Tsunade replied casually, pouring the wine in her hand into her mouth.
For some reason, she had a bad feeling.
It seemed like something was going to happen in the next two days.
This feeling had been there since the day Kimimaro left and continued until now.
"Tsunade!"
At this time, a familiar voice came from the tavern.
Tsunade looked up and saw an acquaintance.
"Jiraiya!"
"Hahaha, I finally found you! It wasn't easy to find you."
Jiraiya, along with Naruto, walked up to Tsunade.
Naruto was looking at Tsunade curiously.
"What are you looking for me for? Shouldn't you be traveling the ninja world, writing your unhealthy novels?"
Old friends reunited, and naturally, there was some teasing.
"That's too much. Those aren't unhealthy novels, they're good books that are essential for a man's growth."
Jiraiya defended his Icha Icha series.
"Tsk, you're still the same as always. Tell me, what's the matter? You look lively, so you shouldn't need me to heal you, right?"
"Hahaha, there aren't many people who can injure me. Tsunade, I came to you this time for something important."
Jiraiya's expression suddenly turned serious as he laughed.
"What is it?"
Tsunade frowned slightly.
The usually frivolous Jiraiya suddenly became serious, which gave Tsunade a very bad feeling.
Because in this situation, it's usually not good news.
"On behalf of the Konoha higher-ups, I ask you to immediately return to Konoha and assume the position of the Fifth Hokage."
"Fifth Hokage? What about the old man?"
Tsunade gripped the cup in her hand tightly. She already had the answer in her heart, but she still couldn't believe it.
She looked into Jiraiya's eyes, waiting for his answer.
"The old man is dead."
Crack!
The cup was crushed in Tsunade's hand.
"The Third Hokage is dead?"
Shizune was shocked.
"Half a month ago, Orochimaru, along with Sunagakure and Otogakure, launched the Konoha Crush plan during the Chunin Exams. He used the Edo Tensei technique to summon the First and Second Hokage and besieged the old man.
In desperation, the old man used the Reaper Death Seal. But in the end, he only severely injured Orochimaru and didn't take his life."
After listening to Jiraiya's words, Tsunade fell silent, not knowing what she was thinking.
"Tsunade, now tell me your answer. Are you willing to accept the position of the Fifth Hokage?"
Jiraiya asked again.
"Let me think about it for two days and then I'll give you my answer."
"Okay. Konoha is short of people everywhere right now, so I hope you can make a decision soon."
Jiraiya said.
"Okay."
Tsunade's knot had already been untied by Kimimaro, so she didn't reject becoming Hokage like in the original story, but she wasn't enthusiastic about it either.
Her attitude naturally displeased Naruto, who saw becoming Hokage as his dream.
The conflict between the two erupted at this moment.
After some minor squabbles, Tsunade and Naruto made a bet about the Rasengan and went their separate ways.
"Lady Tsunade, you seem a bit absent-minded. And why would you bet your necklace with someone?"
Shizune didn't understand Tsunade's unusual behavior today.
Could it be because she heard the news of the Third Hokage's death?
If that's the explanation, it's not impossible.
"Shizune, I'm a little tired. Let me be alone for a while, you go back to the hotel first."
After Tsunade finished speaking, she left on her own.
Seeing this, Shizune didn't dare to follow and could only return to the hotel first.
Tsunade walked and walked, unknowingly arriving in front of a waterfall.
This was the place where Kimimaro trained before.
"Could it be related to you? Kimimaro."
Tsunade muttered to herself. Suddenly, a figure was slowly approaching from afar.
It was Kimimaro, who had come to find Tsunade with his true face.
"Tsunade-senpai, long time no see."
Although his face was different, Tsunade recognized Kimimaro at a glance.
"Is this your true face? Kimimaro."
Kimimaro nodded slightly.
Tsunade smiled faintly.
"Not bad."
After saying that, Tsunade's face immediately darkened, and she punched Kimimaro!
The fist wind rushed towards him!
Blowing Kimimaro's white hair away.
This punch was aimed directly at his cheek.
But he didn't dodge or evade, and actually took the punch head-on.
Bang!
With a solid punch, Kimimaro was sent flying, crashing into a tree before finally stopping.
Dust rose, and the white-haired boy slowly stood up, a smear of crimson on the corner of his mouth.
"Why didn't you dodge!"
Tsunade shouted angrily.
"I deceived Tsunade-senpai, this punch is what I deserve."
"Hmph, you're quite self-aware."
Tsunade snorted coldly and slowly walked up to Kimimaro.
"Tell me, did you leave this time to participate in Orochimaru's Konoha Crush plan?"
"You already know that I'm Orochimaru's subordinate."
Kimimaro wasn't surprised to hear this because he had guessed it before.
Before he left, Tsunade said she wanted to see his true face next time.
That meant Tsunade already knew his face was disguised.
And in the ninja world, the only person who could make him disguise himself like that and come up with this method was Orochimaru.
Of course, in reality, this matter had nothing to do with Orochimaru, but Orochimaru was the most reasonable guess for Tsunade.
It was a coincidence.
Deducing that Kimimaro was Orochimaru's subordinate, coupled with the time he disappeared, it wasn't hard for Tsunade to guess that he went to participate in the Konoha Crush plan.
Kimimaro's answer clearly admitted that he did participate in the Konoha Crush plan.
"I never thought that the person I desperately tried to save almost destroyed Konoha. Kimimaro, you've gone too far!"
Tsunade's anger surged, and she threw another punch.
But this time, Kimimaro didn't choose to take it head-on.
He stretched out his right hand and steadily caught Tsunade's angry punch.
The fist wind dissipated, and several surrounding trees were blown down.
"Tsunade-senpai, please listen to my explanation. I participated in the Konoha Crush plan for another reason."
(End of Chapter)