Chapter 25: The Weight of Fate: Kiyoshi's Gamble with Tsunade
As they walked, Kiyoshi felt Tsunade's gaze lingering on him, the intensity of her scrutiny almost palpable. When he dared to glance at her, he found her sharp brown eyes studying him with keen interest.
"You," she said suddenly, pointing directly at him. "What was that jutsu you were practicing earlier? And who taught you that?"
A bead of sweat trickled down Kiyoshi's temple. He had anticipated this question, but he still hadn't figured out how to evade it. Tsunade was perceptive enough to sense the immense chakra swirling within the technique, and she wouldn't let it slide easily.
Thinking quickly, he attempted to downplay it. "I've had the concept in my mind for years, but I only recently started working on making it a reality. I've named it the Rasengan."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Oh? And how does it work?"
Kiyoshi knew he had to tread carefully. The intricate nature of the Rasengan was far too complex to explain without drawing suspicion. If he revealed too much, he risked arousing Tsunade's curiosity about his unconventional training.
But more importantly, this was an opportunity.
His mind raced. If he could establish a connection with Tsunade, influencing her fate in even the slightest way, it might shift his odds for the Special Event Spin. If his interference had a significant impact, it could even increase his chances of winning the Legendary Spin. And if that happened… his entire path in this world could change.
But exactly how much should he interfere?
He had learned his lesson the last time. He had tampered too much—far too much—and had almost erased Naruto from existence. Just thinking about that made his stomach turn. Sure, if he had gone through with it, the system would have definitely rewarded him with the Legendary Spin… but at what cost?
That experience had forced him to accept a painful truth—the bigger the change, the more blind he became. Right now, he still had years before the canon timeline began. He only knew fragments of what happened before then, and if he altered too much too soon, he would be stumbling through uncharted territory.
And that was not worth it.
No, he needed to be careful. He couldn't afford to blindly chase after the Legendary Spin without considering the long-term consequences. He had to handle Tsunade in a way that nudged fate just enough without completely rewriting the script.
"Well," he began, rubbing the back of his head, "how about we make a deal?"
Tsunade narrowed her eyes, intrigued despite herself. "A deal?"
"Yes. You seem interested in my jutsu, and I'd love to learn something valuable from you in return. So, how about you teach me something of equal worth, and I'll explain my technique to you?"
He could almost see the gears turning in Tsunade's mind. Despite her skeptical expression, the allure of knowledge and ninjutsu was hard for her to resist. After all, the Rasengan wasn't just any jutsu—it was a technique with immense potential.
Yet, that wasn't the only reason Tsunade was interested.
Sure, she was following them under the pretense of lunch, but the truth was clear—her attention was far more fixed on Kiyoshi's jutsu than whatever meal awaited them. The Rasengan. It was refined, controlled, yet powerful. The kind of technique that should have taken years under a master to even conceptualize. And yet, this brat claimed to have been developing it since the Academy?
That alone might not have been enough to truly garner her interest, but there was something else.
Hiruzen's report.
Before leaving, she had been shown a file detailing Kiyoshi's actions. His quick thinking during a certain mission had caught the Hokage's attention—enough for him to make a passing remark about Kiyoshi's potential. Individually, none of this was enough to make Tsunade care. But taken together? His skill, his on-the-spot decision-making, his sudden emergence—there was something off about him.
And Tsunade was not the kind of person to ignore a mystery.
Perhaps unraveling him would be interesting.
Besides, there was something else on her mind. That decision. The one she had been pondering since Dan's death.
Leaving the village.
Main Reason: Loss of Hope
Witnessing the continued cycle of war and loss, and the fact that the village never truly changed for the better, had further disillusioned her. It only reinforced her belief that achieving one's dreams was impossible.
Even after the countless casualties of the last war, the Senju Clan still had shinobi capable of leading. She could walk away, and the clan would still stand.(1)
But deep down, she wanted something more. If she were to leave, she needed someone she had personally trained—someone she could trust to carry on a legacy, if not for the clan, then for her grandfather and granduncle.
Kushina? No. She was an Uzumaki. The Senju clan wouldn't fully accept her as their leader, and her role as the next jinchūriki meant she had little freedom.
But Kiyoshi…
She wasn't seriously considering him. Not yet. But for a passing moment, the thought entered her mind.
There was still time before she made her decision. Grandma Mito was still here. For now.
And yet, how long would that last?
Tsunade knew the answer. She just didn't want to accept it.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Shigeru suddenly turned toward Kiyoshi, a smirk on his face.
"So, what's this jutsu you two are talking about? It's not every day the Slug Sannin herself takes an interest."
Kiyoshi's expression remained neutral as he replied, "It's just a concept I had back in the Academy. Now that my chakra reserves have grown, I've finally started working on implementing it."
Tsunade let out a small hum, her eyes flickering with amusement. So, that's the story he's going with.
Kiyoshi could feel her continued scrutiny, but he didn't let it show.
This was just the beginning.
[A/N: (1) We all know that war was not the only factor behind the Senju Clan's decline. The village higher-ups actively encouraged the few remaining Senju members to intermarry with other clans, effectively diluting the Senju bloodline and identity.]