A New Path

The sun hung low in the sky, casting warm golden hues over the quiet training field. The air was still, heavy with expectation as Team 7 sat cross-legged in a line, their hands resting on their knees, eyes closed in deep concentration. Jiraiya stood a few feet away, arms crossed, observing his four students with a smirk that carried both amusement and pride.

"You guys are really taking this seriously, huh?" he mused before clapping his hands. "Good! Because we only have a week to pull this off."

Naruto cracked open one eye. "Yeah, yeah, no pressure or anything, Pervy Sage."

Jiraiya ignored the nickname, continuing, "As I said before, there's a loophole in this bet—Tsunade never said how much natural energy you had to add. You don’t need to master senjutsu in a week. You just need to pull in some natural energy and mix it with your chakra. That’s it. Even the tiniest amount will count as a win."

Sakura let out a relieved sigh. "Well, that makes this sound at least somewhat doable."

Sasuke, always the sharp one, narrowed his eyes. "That means we have to actually feel natural energy first."

"Exactly," Jiraiya confirmed. "And the first step is just that—sensing it. You’re surrounded by nature all the time, but you’ve probably never paid attention to it like this before. Natural energy isn’t like chakra—it’s older, wilder, and more patient than you are. It doesn’t move the way chakra does. You have to let it come to you."

Team 7 fell silent, letting his words settle.

Harry breathed in deeply, focusing on the feeling of the world around him. Chakra had always been something internal for him—a power thrumming in his veins, shaped by will and discipline. But this... this was different. It was vast, and ancient, like an unshaken mountain standing against the test of time. He could almost hear it whispering in the rustling leaves, in the warmth of the sunlight on his skin, in the very earth beneath him.

"It’s... beautiful," Harry murmured before he could stop himself.

Sakura hummed in agreement. "It’s like the world is alive in a way I never noticed before."

Sasuke was silent, but there was a slight crease in his brows, his own thoughts swirling. Naruto, on the other hand, tilted his head, looking frustrated.

"I don’t get it," Naruto grumbled, cracking an eye open again. "What does ‘letting it come to you’ even mean? What are we supposed to do?"

Jiraiya smirked. "Nothing."

Naruto twitched. "That’s the worst answer ever."

Jiraiya crouched beside him. "Listen, Naruto. You’re always pushing forward, always rushing into things headfirst, but nature doesn’t work like that. You don’t force natural energy—it’s not something you can grab with sheer willpower. It’s something you have to welcome. Like letting the wind flow through your fingers instead of trying to catch it."

Naruto frowned, but then, slowly, he closed his eyes again and exhaled.

"Good," Jiraiya nodded. "All of you—just listen to nature. Get familiar with its presence first. Then, when you can feel it, try to grasp just a little of it. Don’t rush it, don’t force it. Ask permission."

A quiet stillness settled over them again. This time, they focused harder, stretching their senses outward, trying to listen to the world instead of just existing within it.

The pressure of the bet hung over them, but for the first time since the challenge was made, it didn’t feel like a burden. It felt like an invitation. The afternoon sun had crept higher by the time Jiraiya finally called for a break.

"Alright, brats," he said, stretching his arms over his head. "You’ve made some progress, so I guess you’ve earned a little downtime."

Naruto pumped a fist in the air. "Yes! Break time!"

Sakura let out a breath of relief, rolling her shoulders. "It’s harder than I thought… but I think I was starting to feel something."

Sasuke dusted off his pants, his expression unreadable, though there was a certain sharpness in his eyes. "It’s strange. It’s not like chakra at all."

Harry nodded in agreement. "It’s older. Wilder. Like it has a will of its own."

Jiraiya smirked. "That’s because it does. But don’t get cocky just yet. You’ve still got a long way to go." He waved a hand dismissively. "Now, go do whatever kids do for fun these days—just don’t cause trouble."

Which, of course, meant Team 7 was about to cause trouble.

Tsunade didn’t expect to be followed.

She had just been planning to head out for a little gambling—nothing serious, just a few rounds to pass the time. But the moment she and Shizune stepped onto the streets, she noticed something off.

There were footsteps. Small, barely-there footsteps.

She turned her head slightly, only to see four heads duck behind a nearby fruit stand.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes.

Shizune, who had also noticed, covered her mouth to hide her amused smile. "They’re persistent, aren’t they?"

"Like fleas," Tsunade muttered, before sighing and continuing her walk.

Sure enough, as she turned the corner, the four gremlins emerged again, trailing after her and Shizune like ducklings.

"Alright, what do you brats want?" Tsunade finally snapped, stopping in her tracks.

Naruto grinned, hands behind his head. "Oh, nothing. Just thought we’d let you know that our senjutsu training is going great, dattebayo!"

Sakura smirked. "Yeah, we’re kind of amazing at it."

Sasuke scoffed but didn’t deny it.

Harry, ever polite, nodded. "It’s going better than expected."

Tsunade blinked at them. "Are you… bragging?"

Naruto beamed. "Maybe."

Shizune chuckled softly. "Well, that is impressive. Senjutsu is incredibly difficult."

Tsunade wasn’t as easily impressed. "Hah! You haven’t even finished training yet, and you’re already running your mouths?" She crossed her arms. "Sounds to me like you’re getting ahead of yourselves."

"Not true!" Naruto defended. "Pervy Sage said we’re doing great!"

"That doesn’t mean you’ve won the bet," Tsunade shot back. "Natural energy isn’t something you master in a few days."

"Doesn’t mean we won’t win either," Sakura countered smugly.

Tsunade eyed her, noting the confidence in her voice.

"Huh." She gave a sharp grin. "You kids are more annoying than I thought."

"And you’re way easier to bother than we thought," Naruto shot back.

Sasuke, watching the exchange, simply sighed. "I should’ve gone with Jiraiya."

Shizune, still highly amused, decided to take pity on her mentor. "Well, Lady Tsunade and I were about to visit a tea house."

Naruto perked up. "Ooo, can we come?"

Sakura elbowed him. "Naruto, it’s obviously a gambling den."

Naruto’s eyes widened in realization. "Oh, wait, can we definitely come?"

Tsunade groaned, rubbing her temples. "Why am I being haunted by four Jiraiyas?"

"We’re way cuter," Harry offered.

Sasuke side-eyed him. "Speak for yourself."

Tsunade exhaled slowly. "Fine. Fine. You little gremlins can tag along. But if you cost me my winnings, I’m throwing you all into a lake."

Team 7 exchanged glances.

"...You always lose though, don’t you?" Naruto asked bluntly.

Tsunade’s eye twitched.

Shizune laughed.

And so, with their new purpose of pestering the legendary Sannin, Team 7 continued to follow after Tsunade and Shizune—talking, bragging, and making her regret not ditching them sooner.

The gambling den was noisy, filled with the clatter of dice, the shuffle of cards, and the occasional outburst of frustration or triumph. Tsunade leaned back in her seat, exhaling through her nose as she watched three of Jiraiya’s brats running amok.

Sasuke stood stiffly by the bar, arms crossed, glaring at the dim lighting as if offended by the very existence of this place. Naruto was chatting up some old man who looked like he had spent his entire life in a gambling hall, no doubt absorbing useless advice about games of chance. And Harry—Harry had somehow ended up in the company of a woman twice his height, who was teaching him how to shuffle cards properly.

Shizune was keeping a watchful eye on them, stepping in whenever one of them got too close to trouble, though she seemed more entertained than annoyed.

Tsunade scoffed under her breath. Brats.

But then, as her gaze wandered, she noticed something else.

A few tables away, sitting alone, was the fourth member of Team 7.

Sakura.

Her arms rested on the table, her fingers lightly drumming against the surface as she stared at nothing in particular. The usual sharpness in her expression was dulled, her lips pressed together in thought.

Tsunade didn’t hesitate. She stood and strode over, plopping down beside the girl without so much as an invitation. "You look like a kicked puppy," she noted bluntly.

Sakura blinked, startled out of her thoughts. "Huh?"

"Not a good look," Tsunade added, crossing her arms. "It doesn’t suit you."

Sakura huffed, rolling her eyes. "Thanks, I guess."

Tsunade’s gaze flickered over her, sharp and observant. And then, her eyes landed on something peculiar—the way Sakura’s Leaf headband was positioned, tilted slightly over her right eye.

Tsunade raised a brow. "Why’s your headband like that?"

Sakura hesitated for a second, then shrugged. "Covers a scar."

Tsunade made a sound of acknowledgment, neither pushing nor dismissing the answer. "From what?"

Sakura exhaled through her nose, glancing down. "The Chunin Exams. Forest of Death."

At that, Tsunade’s brows lifted slightly. She gestured for her to continue.

Sakura hesitated, then spoke. "There was this genin team. They were older, stronger. Naruto, Sasuke, and Harry were all unconscious." Her fingers curled slightly against the table. "It was just me."

Tsunade said nothing, waiting.

"I knew I was gonna die," Sakura admitted, voice quieter. "I was up against three enemies, and I had to hold them off alone."

Tsunade could see it—she could feel it in the way the girl spoke. That moment when she must have realized she was cornered, outmatched. That realization of mortality.

"The scar happened fast," Sakura continued. "One second, I could see everything fine, and then—" she snapped her fingers, "—black. It was like the whole world had vanished from my right side. My eye was just gone."

Tsunade frowned slightly. "And you treated it yourself?"

"As best as I could," Sakura said. "I stopped the bleeding and cleaned the wound. But I wasn’t sure if it would heal right."

Then, before Tsunade could ask, Sakura reached up and lifted the metal plate of her headband, revealing her right eye.

A thin, pale scar ran from just above her brow to the bottom of her cheekbone. The eye itself, though intact, was clouded over—completely blinded.

Tsunade studied it for a long moment.

Sakura snorted, dropping the headband back into place. "It sucks," she said simply. "Turns out I depended on my right side way more than I realized. But I’m getting used to it."

A pause.

Then, softer: "I’m getting used to a lot of things now, actually."

Tsunade didn’t miss the shift in tone, the weight behind those words.

She knew that look. She had seen it in mirrors before.

It wasn’t just about the eye. It was about loss.

Tsunade drummed her fingers against the table, contemplating. "It ever hurt?" she asked.

Sakura tilted her head slightly. "The scar?"

"Yeah."

Sakura hummed, thoughtful. "Not really. I mean, sometimes. But mostly, I just forget it’s there until I catch my reflection." She sighed. "It’s funny. When it first happened, I thought it’d be the worst thing ever. Losing an eye, I mean."

Tsunade arched a brow. "And now?"

Sakura grinned slightly. "Now it’s just one more thing."

The words were lighthearted, but Tsunade caught the undercurrent beneath them.

"One more thing."

One more burden. One more loss. One more piece of herself she had to learn to live without.

Tsunade leaned back, looking at the pink-haired girl for a moment longer before exhaling.

"Well," she finally said, "at least you’re not whining about it."

Sakura snorted. "Gee, thanks."

A smirk twitched at Tsunade’s lips. "And for the record, if you ever do want to whine, I recommend sake."

Sakura chuckled, shaking her head. "I think I’ll pass."

Tsunade shrugged. "Suit yourself."

For a moment, they sat there in silence.

Then, from across the gambling den—

"OI! SAKURA! CHECK THIS OUT!"

Sakura groaned, rubbing her temples as Naruto, Sasuke, and Harry suddenly came charging toward them, Shizune in pursuit, looking exasperated.

Tsunade sighed. "Your idiot friends are back."

"Yeah," Sakura muttered.

Then, softer—almost fond:

"They always come back."

Jiraiya wasn’t surprised to find Team 7 still running wild in the gambling den.

It was just in their nature—especially Naruto’s.

The boy was currently engaged in an animated conversation with an old gambler, eagerly absorbing whatever nonsense the man was spouting. Meanwhile, Harry stood near a table, shuffling a deck of cards under the guidance of a woman who clearly found his interest amusing. Sasuke, looking as broody as ever, was watching the entire scene unfold with his arms crossed, pretending like he wasn’t just as much a part of this chaos.

Sakura, though—she sat off to the side, quieter than usual.

Jiraiya sighed as he made his way over to where Tsunade and Shizune were seated. He flopped lazily onto a cushion beside them, stretching out his limbs with a grunt. He should be calling an end to the break and getting Team 7 back into their training. But, eh… he could give them a little more time.

Tsunade arched a brow as she took a sip of her sake. "Your brats are chaotic," she sniffed.

Shizune hummed in agreement, watching the four teens with mild amusement.

Jiraiya snorted. "Of course they are. That’s part of Team 7’s charm."

Tsunade rolled her eyes, but there was no real malice in it. "Charm, huh?"

Jiraiya just smirked, but Tsunade wasn’t done. She watched as Sakura leaned her elbows on the table, her headband still covering her right eye, her fingers drumming absently against the wood.

Tsunade wasn’t one to believe in aura or any mystical crap like that—but grief, well… that wasn’t something you had to see to know it was there. If you stared long enough, it was unmistakable.

She glanced at Jiraiya. "Something happened to her."

Jiraiya exhaled, his expression darkening. He drummed his fingers against his knee, looking like he was debating whether to say something or not.

Finally, he sighed. "I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but…" He hesitated before continuing. "Sakura’s parents died during the invasion."

Tsunade’s brows furrowed.

Shizune blinked in quiet surprise. "Oh…"

"I don’t know the exact details," Jiraiya admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "Just that they were crushed under the rubble of their home during the attack. She wasn’t there when it happened. By the time she found them, it was already too late."

Tsunade didn’t say anything, but her grip on her cup tightened slightly.

"She took it hard," Jiraiya continued, glancing over at Sakura again. "Still is, honestly. She does a damn good job of hiding it most of the time, but grief doesn’t just go away."

Shizune lowered her gaze. "It never does."

Jiraiya nodded solemnly. "Yeah… and she blames Orochimaru for it. Can’t say I blame her—if he hadn’t led the invasion, her parents would probably still be alive. But thoughts like that… they can eat you alive if you’re not careful."

Tsunade didn’t need to be told that. She knew firsthand.

Jiraiya exhaled through his nose. "And the biggest problem?" His voice dropped slightly. "She’s got the Cursed Seal of Heaven."

Tsunade stiffened, her grip tightening on the table. Shizune’s expression shifted from sympathy to alarm.

"That cursed mark Orochimaru’s been slapping on kids?" Tsunade asked sharply.

Jiraiya nodded. "Same one."

Tsunade scowled, placing her sake cup down with a little more force than necessary. "And you’re just now mentioning this to me?"

Jiraiya raised a hand in a calming gesture. "Relax. Sakura’s different."

"Different how?" Shizune asked, frowning.

Jiraiya scratched his chin. "The seal works like a defense mechanism for her. Most people who get it—like Anko, for example—struggle against it. It eats away at them, corrupts them, makes them his. But Sakura… she made it her own."

Tsunade’s brow furrowed. "Explain."

Jiraiya tapped his fingers against the table. "It’s hard to describe. The first time her seal activated, it wasn’t because she was trying to use it—it was because it protected her. It forced Ino out of her head when she tried to use a mind transfer jutsu on her. Since then, it only ever seems to flare up when she’s feeling something strong—anger, grief, fear."

Tsunade frowned. "That’s dangerous."

"I know," Jiraiya admitted. "But here’s the thing—most people who have that seal? They either fight against it and lose, or they give in and let it control them." He glanced back at Sakura, watching as she absentmindedly turned her cup in her hands. "Sakura? She’s done something I didn’t think was possible. She’s found a balance. The seal responds to her emotions, but she controls it, not the other way around."

Tsunade leaned back, processing that.

Shizune was still frowning. "And Sasuke?"

Jiraiya exhaled. "He’s got the seal too. But I haven’t seen his react the same way as Sakura’s. Not yet, at least."

Tsunade clicked her tongue in irritation. "Great. So we’ve got two kids running around with Orochimaru’s cursed seal, one of them grieving, both of them emotionally volatile. What could possibly go wrong?"

Jiraiya chuckled dryly. "Yeah, well, you should’ve seen them before. This is progress."

Tsunade huffed, crossing her arms. "If you say so."

She glanced over at Sakura again. The girl had finally been pulled back into the chaos by Naruto, who was showing her something very stupid—probably a bad card trick, judging by the unimpressed look on her face. But despite that, there was a ghost of a smile tugging at her lips.

Tsunade sighed. "You said Team 7’s been her anchor?"

Jiraiya nodded. "Yeah. If she didn’t have them, I don’t know where she’d be right now."

Tsunade watched as Naruto nudged Sakura, grinning like a fool, and Sakura finally—finally—let out a small laugh.

"Guess she’s lucky then," Tsunade muttered.

Jiraiya smiled. "Yeah. She is."

Three days had passed.

Three days of endless meditation, of stillness, of patience—something none of them particularly excelled at.

At first, it had been frustrating. Feeling something but not quite grasping it, reaching for an energy that felt ancient, vast, and utterly indifferent to their existence. Natural energy wasn’t like chakra—it wasn’t something you could simply mold to your will. It had to be accepted, had to be balanced. They weren’t taking it; they were borrowing it.

Jiraiya had drilled that into their heads from the start: You must become one with nature, not fight against it.

And finally, finally, they were starting to understand.

Slowly, slowly… it sank into them.

Naruto was the first to feel it—a faint pulse, like a ripple through a still pond. His chakra shifted, accepting the smallest fraction of natural energy, and for a brief moment, everything felt… different. Not stronger, not heavier—lighter. As if the world itself had quieted around him.

Harry followed soon after. It was strange—natural energy was nothing like magic or chakra. It wasn’t something he could cast or wield in the way he was used to. It was alive, but not sentient. It existed, waiting to be embraced, and as he allowed it to trickle into his chakra reserves, he swore he could feel the hum of the wind, the weight of the earth, the warmth of the sun in a way he never had before.

Sasuke had been the most skeptical at first. He wasn’t one to rely on things he couldn’t fully control, but he was also no fool. If he wanted power, real power, he had to push beyond his limits. And so he did. With patience, with effort, with sheer, stubborn will. When the natural energy finally mixed with his chakra, his body felt sharper—his senses keener, his movements more fluid, as if he had stepped into a world that had always been there but had only now revealed itself to him.

And then there was Sakura.

She had taken the longest, but not because she was struggling—because she was careful. Because she listened. She felt a natural energy, not just in the air, but in the earth beneath her, in the quiet hum of life all around them. When it finally seeped into her, she understood something the others hadn’t quite grasped yet—natural energy wasn’t a force to be wielded. It was a relationship to be nurtured.

And so, after three long days, Team 7 had done it.

It wasn’t a lot—not even close to full Sage Mode—but it was something. A small bit of natural energy had mixed with their chakra.

It was enough. Enough to have and enough to use.

Jiraiya stared at them, brows raised, arms crossed over his chest. He had expected them to struggle longer, to take at least a week just to feel natural energy properly. But they had done it in three days.

"Well, well," he mused, tilting his head. "Look at you brats. Already ahead of schedule."

Naruto grinned, practically vibrating in place. "Does this mean we win the bet?!"

Jiraiya snorted. "Not even close."

Naruto’s face fell.

Sakura exhaled slowly, rolling her shoulders. "It feels… weird."

"Yeah," Sasuke muttered, flexing his fingers. "Not in a bad way. Just… different."

Harry hummed in agreement. "It’s like… being more aware of everything."

Jiraiya nodded. "That’s because you are."

Naruto bounced on his heels. "So what’s next? Do we do cool Sage stuff now?!"

Jiraiya smirked. "Not so fast, gaki. Feeling natural energy and actually using it are two very different things."

Naruto groaned. "Of course, there’s a catch."

Jiraiya ignored him and straightened up, dusting off his robe. "You’ve taken the first step, and that’s impressive. But now comes the real challenge—you have to use it. Control it. If you can’t do that, then all this effort means nothing."

Sakura sighed. "Why does that sound ominous?"

Jiraiya grinned. "Because it is."

Team 7 exchanged glances.

They had made progress. But now… now the real training was about to begin.

The soft murmur of the gambling den was almost comforting. Almost.

Tsunade exhaled through her nose, fingers drumming against the table in front of her. She knew that sound—footsteps approaching. She sighed, already preparing herself for another round of Team 7’s antics. She half-expected Naruto to pop up with that idiotic grin of his, dragging the others into some ridiculous scheme to annoy her.

But when she turned, it wasn’t them.

Her eyes sharpened immediately, her body going rigid, and beside her, Shizune stiffened like a blade drawn too quickly from its sheath.

Orochimaru.

He walked towards her booth, his presence as unsettling as it had always been, his pale skin ghostly under the dim lights. And by his side, like a faithful hound, was his assistant—Kabuto Yakushi, the ever-smug shadow lurking at his master’s heels.

Tsunade exhaled slowly through her nose, forcing herself to remain calm. No sudden movements. No outward hostility. Not yet.

Still, she couldn’t help the smirk that curled at her lips. "Well, don’t you look fantastic," she drawled, her eyes flickering meaningfully toward his arms.

Both hands were wrapped in bandages, hanging uselessly at his sides, as limp as dead weight.

Orochimaru’s lips twisted into something that wasn’t quite a smile, wasn’t quite a snarl. He was unsurprised by her jab as he slid smoothly into the booth across from her, Kabuto following suit without a word.

Tsunade leaned forward slightly, propping her elbow on the table. "So?" she asked casually, tilting her head. "What happened? Your hands don’t look too good."

Orochimaru snorted lowly. "The Third Hokage," he spat the name with pure, venomous disgust, as though speaking it left a foul taste in his mouth, "sacrificed himself in a desperate attempt to stop me. He used a jutsu—the Reaper Death Seal. Somehow—somehow—that senile old fool managed to seal only my arms away. They are dead. Useless. And because of that, I cannot use any of my jutsu."

Tsunade hummed, unimpressed. "Sounds painful."

Orochimaru’s slit-pupiled gaze flickered. "It is. Excruciatingly so."

Tsunade wasn’t blind. She knew where this was going.

She sighed, leaning back against the booth. "And let me guess—you want me to fix it."

Shizune’s frown tightened beside her, her fingers curling into her lap. She didn’t speak, but Tsunade could feel her distress without needing to look.

Orochimaru’s golden eyes gleamed in the dim light. "You're a legendary medic, Tsunade. Who else would I come to?"

Tsunade scoffed, shaking her head. "And why would I do that?" Her voice sharpened slightly. "What could you possibly have to offer me?"

Shizune’s jaw clenched, her entire body wound tight like a bowstring. Because they both knew—if Tsunade healed Orochimaru’s arms, it wouldn’t just be a betrayal to the Hidden Leaf.

It would be a betrayal to Team 7. And especially…To Sakura who had lost her parents in the invasion Orochimaru had orchestrated, who bore a curse mark that constantly threatened to consume her, who still hadn't fully processed her grief, who still had so much left to lose.

Tsunade inhaled deeply, pushing those thoughts aside as Orochimaru leaned forward, a slow, knowing smirk curling his lips. "I can bring Nawaki and Dan back to life."

Tsunade froze.

The world around her dimmed, her heartbeat hammering in her ears.

Nawaki. Dan.

The names burned.

Memories crashed into her like a wave she hadn't braced for—Nawaki’s wide, eager grin as he spoke of becoming Hokage, Dan’s warm laughter, his dream of a stronger Konoha. Blood. So much blood. Their bodies broken. Gone. Stolen.

Her hands curled into fists.

And then—then, she scoffed. Sharply, bitterly. "If you think that’s what I want, then you never truly knew me."

Orochimaru’s eye twitched. There was a long, stretched silence. Then, slowly, his expression shifted. His lips parted, and something cruel, something dark glinted in his gaze.

"...I see." His voice was low, calculating. "Then what about… Kushina?"

Tsunade inhaled sharply.

Her body locked up. Her muscles seized, her pupils contracting.

Orochimaru noticed and the insufferable bastard smirked.

Tsunade hated that he had found the chink in her armor so easily.

Kushina.

Kushina, who had torn through the walls Tsunade had built around her heart after Nawaki’s and Dan’s deaths.

Kushina, who had made her smile again.

Kushina, who had made her believe that the future could still be bright, that hope wasn’t something to be feared, that life was still worth living.

Kushina, who had been ripped away from her far too soon—dying alongside Minato, protecting the Hidden Leaf from the Nine-Tailed Fox.

Tsunade never got over her death. No matter how hard she tried.

Her throat felt tight.

She swallowed. "Can you really do it?" she asked, hating the sliver of hope in her own voice.

Orochimaru’s smirk widened. "With the help of my assistant," he gestured to Kabuto, who inclined his head in silent greeting, "I can."

Tsunade's fingers twitched.

A chance.

A real chance.

To see Kushina again. To say goodbye properly. To gain the closure that had been stolen from her. But at what cost?

Tsunade clenched her teeth. She couldn’t think straight—not now, not yet.

Orochimaru seemed to sense it, because he rose smoothly from his seat, his expression victorious. "I'll give you until the end of the week to think about it," he murmured. "Choose wisely, Tsunade."

And then—he was gone. Just like that.

As if he had never been there at all.

Tsunade exhaled shakily.

Shizune’s hand was suddenly on her wrist, firm but trembling. "Tsunade-sama…"

Tsunade didn’t answer.

She just stared down at the table, heart pounding, as the weight of the choice before her settled over her shoulders like a lead cloak.

The inn was quiet, the only sound was the faint creak of the wooden beams and the rustle of wind outside the windows. Tsunade had retreated into the small, private room they were using, Shizune trailing behind her, silent but observant. The weight of the decision hung thick in the air, as palpable as a storm cloud waiting to break.

Tsunade sat by the window, her back to Shizune, staring out into the night, the flickering light from the lantern casting shadows across her face. She hadn’t said a word since their encounter with Orochimaru. Her silence was a fortress, but Shizune could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers tightened into a fist on her lap.

Finally, Shizune couldn’t take it any longer. She had to know what Tsunade was thinking—what she was planning. She stepped forward, voice steady but edged with concern.

"Tsunade-sama…" She swallowed, trying to keep her emotions in check. "Are you really going to do it?"

Tsunade didn't respond immediately, her gaze still fixed outside. But Shizune didn’t need her to. She could already see the answer in the way Tsunade's body had gone rigid, in the way her fingers twitched as if holding back. The way her heart was already lost to a decision she had not yet made aloud.

Tsunade’s voice was low when she finally spoke. "I don’t know. But I need to."

Shizune’s breath caught. "Tsunade…"

Tsunade turned slowly, meeting Shizune’s gaze, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to narrow to just the two of them. There was something in Tsunade’s eyes—something too familiar, something too deep. It was the desperation of a woman who had already lost so much.

"I need to see Kushina again," Tsunade murmured, the words tasting bitter even as they left her lips. "I need to… make things right. At least with her. At least with one of them."

Shizune’s throat tightened as she tried to keep her voice steady. "But Tsunade, what about Sakura? What about the Leaf? What about everything you’ve built since coming back here?"

Tsunade closed her eyes for a moment, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "I don’t know. I can’t think of all of that right now." Her voice cracked, but she swallowed the emotion quickly. "I just… I need this."

Shizune felt a chill in her bones. "And if Sakura finds out?" Her voice was strained, but she forced herself to continue. "She lost her parents because of Orochimaru! She will never forgive you for this."

Tsunade’s face hardened, her lips pressing into a thin line. "I know."

"But you’re still going to do it," Shizune muttered, the weight of the words heavy between them. "You’re going to heal him."

Tsunade met her eyes again, the flicker of pain in her gaze almost enough to break Shizune’s heart. "I don’t want to. I know how selfish it is. I know how wrong it is. But I can’t stop myself, Shizune. I can’t ignore the chance to see her again. Just once more."

Shizune’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. "And what about Naruto?" she demanded, her voice rising just a little. "Kushina is his mother, Tsunade. Do you think he won’t be affected? Do you think he’ll just—" She stopped herself, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. "How can you even think about bringing her back? What will happen to Naruto if he finds out? He’s already lost so muc—Do you really think he’ll handle the idea of her being alive?"

Tsunade opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. The questions weighed down on her like stones in her chest. She did think about Naruto. Of course, she did. How could she not? He was just a boy, a child who had suffered more than any one person should. She had seen his grief, his pain. And yet…

Yet, that small, desperate part of her—a part she didn’t want to admit to even now—wanted to believe that bringing Kushina back could fix something, anything. Just one more chance to see her smile, to say goodbye properly.

But the truth was—it wasn’t just her own selfish need to see Kushina again. It was also the torment of never getting to properly grieve for her.

Shizune’s voice brought her back from her spiraling thoughts. "Tsunade, I can’t stand by and watch you do this. I won’t. This isn’t just about you. It’s about the village. It’s about the people who trust you. And it’s about Sakura. You can’t betray her like this. You can’t."

Tsunade’s jaw clenched. "I’m not betraying anyone," she said quietly, her voice cold. "I’m just trying to fix one thing that’s been broken for far too long."

Shizune's eyes hardened, her face flushed with frustration. "No, you’re being selfish. You always have been when it comes to this. You never stopped running from your grief, Tsunade. You’ve been using others, using your position to avoid facing it."

Tsunade flinched at the accusation. Her heart clenched painfully. But she didn’t argue. She couldn’t. Not now.

Shizune was right. She knew it. But that didn’t change what she had to do.

Tsunade stood up, her posture tall, though the weight of her decision pressed heavily on her. "I’ve made my choice," she said softly, though there was an undercurrent of finality in her tone.

Shizune’s eyes burned with unshed tears, but she didn’t speak again. There was nothing left to say. She had tried.

But Tsunade’s mind was already made up.

And as much as Shizune hated to admit it—she knew there was no stopping her.

The morning air was sharp, biting at Shizune’s face as she hurried through the streets of the village. The inn was empty, and she knew exactly where Tsunade had gone. There was only one place she could be, and the reality of it weighed heavily on Shizune’s chest. The knowledge that Tsunade had made her decision, the wrong decision, sent a rush of panic through her.

Tsunade…

Shizune’s heart pounded as she clutched Tonton in her arms. The pig squirmed, sensing her unease, but Shizune didn’t have time to reassure her. She couldn’t waste another second.

It took no more than a few minutes for Shizune to find Jiraiya and Team 7, still training on the outskirts of the village. The familiar sight of them was almost a comfort, but the urgency in Shizune’s steps was unmistakable. Her voice was tight when she called out.

"Jiraiya! Team 7!"

They halted mid-motion, their attention snapping to her as she approached. Harry’s brow furrowed in concern as he took a few steps forward. "Shizune, what’s wrong?"

Shizune barely took a breath before her words tumbled out in a rush. "Tsunade has gone to heal Orochimaru. She’s gone to him this morning… it's too late." Her voice cracked, the weight of the confession making her stomach churn.

Team 7 immediately tensed. Naruto’s hands curled into fists at his sides, his face a mask of disbelief, while Sasuke’s eyes narrowed, his mind already working. Sakura’s eyes widened for a moment, her breath catching in her throat before she quickly masked her reaction with a blank gaze, her thoughts racing. Harry frowned, his eyebrows furrowed.

Jiraiya’s face darkened, his posture stiffening as he demanded, "What exactly happened, Shizune?"

Shizune took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. "Orochimaru came to us last night with a deal. He told Tsunade that if she healed his arms, he would bring Kushina back to life." She glanced at Naruto, the name hanging in the air like a heavy, shattering echo.

Naruto froze, his foot stumbling mid-step, his eyes growing wide, his breath coming in short gasps. "Kushina?" he whispered, his voice cracking as the weight of the words hit him like a blow. His eyes glistened as if the very mention of his mother’s name brought something fragile to the surface.

Jiraiya's gaze was hard, his mouth set in a grim line as he nodded. "I’ve seen Orochimaru do it. He’s brought back the First Hokage, the Second, and the Fourth. He controls them—uses their bodies like puppets. They have no will of their own. It’s nothing more than a shell."

Sasuke was the first to piece it all together, his eyes narrowing with a sharp, calculating look. "Meaning… he’s playing Tsunade like a fiddle." His voice was cold, with a hint of disdain for Orochimaru’s manipulations.

The realization slammed into Shizune. Her stomach turned violently. "That’s right… If Orochimaru brings Kushina back, she won’t be the same. She’ll be a puppet… A puppet on strings." Her voice cracked with the weight of the truth, a truth that made her sick to her core.

In the background, Sakura’s expression was blank, her eyes fixed on the ground, her mind racing in a chaotic whirlpool of thoughts. The memories of her parents' bodies buried under the rubble—their lifeless faces—flashed in her mind, each image searing itself into her consciousness. She felt the darkness press against her, the anger rising, the sense of helplessness suffocating her.

Orochimaru… The name echoed in her head, a curse, a poison, a source of every pain she had ever felt. It was his fault they were dead.

But then, a soft pressure on her shoulder snapped her from her spiraling thoughts.

Harry’s hand was warm, grounding her with a gentle touch. "Let’s go stop Tsunade from healing Orochimaru, Sakura," he said, his voice steady but filled with quiet determination.

Sakura’s breath hitched. The weight of the anger and grief was still there, a gnawing presence at the edges of her mind. But Harry’s hand—his quiet strength—was a tether she hadn’t realized she needed. She could feel it pulling her back from the edge, back from the darkness she was about to fall into.

She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady herself. When she opened them again, her gaze had sharpened. The blankness was gone, replaced by a fierce determination.

"Let’s go." Her voice was firm, though it carried an undercurrent of something deeper—something raw.

Team 7, Jiraiya, and Shizune, with Tonton still in her arms, immediately sprang into action, their footsteps pounding against the earth as they set off toward Tsunade’s destination. The weight of what they were racing toward hung heavily in the air.

As they moved, Sakura’s thoughts flitted briefly to her parents. The cursed seal, still pulsing at the back of her mind, felt like a dark cloud ready to burst. It was there, in the corners of her mind, whispering to her, urging her to act—to do something—anything—before she lost herself to the grief again. She could feel it stir, the dark power lashing at her control, but she refused to let it take her this time. Not now. Not when it mattered most.

Harry’s presence beside her was a steadying force, and she clung to it like a lifeline. She couldn’t let herself be consumed. Not when there was still a chance to stop this madness.

But as they ran, the reality of what was at stake—what Tsunade was about to do—bore down on them all like an insurmountable mountain. They had to stop her.

Before it was too late.