Three weeks passed by in a flash….
The village remained peaceful as usual with the hustle and bustle with occasional foreigners entering the village to book an inn in advance for the Chuunin exams matches.
Two figures were on their way through the forest as they neared the Village gate Entrance.
One of the figures in a green jacket and leggings stopped walking whereas the other with a dark kimono went ahead for a few steps.
(OINK!)
The figure who was walking stopped, as her face saw the village gates entrance.
"What is it Ton-ton?"
The figure carried a pig in her arms, which was dressed up in a small red jacket with white frills, around its front legs.
(OINK!)
The pig in her hands pointed towards the back.
The figure turned back.
"Tsunade-sama!"
Tsunade looked towards the person in the front.
"What is the matter?" The person asked.
"It's nothing," Tsunade said as she walked ahead.
"bheueh" ton-ton murmured as it stared at Tsunade who passed by.
"Let's Go Shizune!" Tsunade said in an energetic voice.
"Yes!" Shizune followed.
Outside the Ryūchi Cave.
In a waterfall nearby, Sasuke stared at the sky while standing in the pool of water.
"Sasuke-sama!"
"Your Clothes, I am keeping them here," Tagitsuhime said as she placed the clothes on the land close to Sasuke…
"Mm!" Sasuke acknowledged.
Soon Sasuke got up and wore his attire.
His attire consisted of an upper Black kimono with an Uchiha crest at the back. A medium sized black katana, black pants and a thick Purple Belt to hold his Katana and his kimono.
When all these were put on by Sasuke, his entire being radiated of a huge change, partly contributing Negativity and mysteriousness to his persona.
Sasuke took out his sword and observed the shiny brilliance across its surface, admiring its beauty while also thinking back to his training for the past three weeks.
His eyes stared at the metal body of the sword which clearly reflected his image as though it was a mirror, Sasuke stared into his own eye's reflection.
"I have completely surpassed the old me…" Sasuke murmured.
< Sharingan >
He activated his eyes.
Sasuke observed the three tomoes on his eyes.
"And one day, when you have the same eyes as I do..."
"Come and stand before me!"
"Just you wait, one day I will make you regret those words of yours!" Sasuke declared as he deactivated his Sharingan.
He sheathed his sword and left the waterfall.
Soon, Sasuke arrived at the Great Sage hall.
The White Snake Sage sat on its throne, observing Sasuke enter the hall.
"Thank You for the past three weeks…" Sasuke said as he slightly bowed his head.
"Mm.." The White Snake Sage nodded.
"Young Man, Wait for Tagitsuhime outside!"
"She will open the portal that leads to Hidden Leaf village!" The White Snake Sage said.
Sasuke nodded and turned around to walk towards the door.
Soon, Sasuke left the hall following which, Tagitsuhime turned towards The White Snake Sage.
"Are you really wishing to pass on that to him.." Tagitsuhime asked in a displeased voice.
"Tagitsuhime!"
"Unlike the other two…"
"I am quite satisfied with the boy…" The White Snake Sage as it gestured for Tagitsuhime to go after Sasuke.
"No matter what, I still don't believe him," Tagitsuhime said as she followed Sasuke outside.
In a town nearby the Hidden Leaf Village.
A young man in orange clothes walked out of a noodles shop.
"Thanks, old man!" The man said as he left the shop.
"Shall we be off then?" Jiraiya asked.
"Mm!" Naruto nodded.
Jiraiya started to walk along with Naruto, while he thought of the letter.
("What do you mean by you are leaving your will old man?")
("Is Orochimaru really going to kill you and destroy the village?")
("More importantly, do you wish to call her despite knowing of her fear for blood?") Jiraiya thought while he walked alongside Naruto…
On the top floor of the Hokage's building…
Hiruzen stared at the structure of the village which had changed through all his years of him being a Hokage.
(Whoosh!)
Hiruzen smiled.
"Anko!" Hiruzen called out without turning back…
"Hokage-sama!"
"They are on their way here!" Anko said.
"Mm." Hiruzen nodded as he continued to observe the village.
Soon…
"It's been a long time, Old man!" Tsunade said as she appeared behind Hiruzen.
"Indeed!" Hiruzen said as he adjusted his Hokage cap; meanwhile, the wind started to blow strong suddenly.
"What you have said about Orochimaru, is it true?" Tsunade asked.
Hiruzen removed his smoke pipe from his pocket and lit it up.
"Patience Tsunade!"
"I have also called Jiraiya."
"He will be arriving soon!" Hiruzen said.
(OINK!)
Ton-ton observed the old man while being held by Shizune.
Tsunade walked forward as she arrived by the side of Hiruzen and stared at the village.
Her expression became somber, being reminded of both Nawaki and Dan.
Tsunade held the crystal necklace in her hand with a strong grip.
Hiruzen looked towards Tsunade.
"Tsunade!" Hiruzen called out.
"What is it?" Tsunade asked in a voice full of pain and trembling.
"I'm sorry for what happened in the meeting back then…" Hiruzen said.
Tsunade was surprised.
She turned towards Hiruzen who was staring into the sight of the village.
"There are times I regret that I was unable to solve things through words alone…" Hiruzen continued.
"Mm.." Tsunade agreed.
"Tsunade!"
"There are many things I would like to discuss before these exams…"
"However, my time is running out."
"I have changed my will, which I have stored in the office," Hiruzen said.
"Sensei!"
"Please don't say things like that," Tsunade said in a low voice.
"We never know what the future holds."
"Us old ones can only pass on the Will of Fire to the people who will continue in our place…." Hiruzen said.
"Will of Fire….. huh?" Tsunade murmured.
"If I come out of this alive…"
"I will implement your plan," Hiruzen said.
...FB
In a meeting room where discussions were taking place for the third great ninja war…
Three figures sat in front of an audience of the most elite jounins.
Koharu Utatane, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Homura Mitokado sat side by side facing the group of jounins who were seated down, except for one who was giving her opinion.
"First, In a mission where a Four Man Cell must act alone for a long period of time in enemy territory,"
"by deploying one of the four to be a medical specialist,"
"the survival rate, as well as the mission success rate, should go up significantly."
"Therefore, establishing a framework and development of a medical institution should be considered an urgent task for the present!" Tsunade concluded.
"Yes indeed, it's as you say."
"But we're in the middle of a war now."
"It takes too much time to establish a medical framework."
"And at present, we don't have enough knowledge…"
"Enemies don't wait," Hiruzen explained.
Tsunade felt humiliated. Her plan was just tossed out the window.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?"
"HEY, OLD MAN!" Tsunade said in a fit of anger which was slowly replaced by emotions of regret.
"Then we'll never…"
"I AGREE WITH HER!" A man interfered.
"I don't want the lives of the ninjas who died to be for naught."
"There should be something we can learn from that." The man concluded.
... FB
"A medical specialist in every squad." Hiruzen continued.
"I feel that it is possible now…"
"There is no war, but I cannot always be naive, expecting the world to be as peaceful as ever…" Hiruzen said.
Tsunade felt something snap within her.
She rushed to Hiruzen and grabbed him.
"WHY?"
"WHY NOW? AFTER ALL THIS TIME?"
"If you did that before…"
"Dan wouldn't have…"
"HE WOULDN"T HAVE DIED ON THE BATTLEFIELD IN MY ARMS," Tsunade shouted with tears streaming down her eyes.
"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune murmured as she watched the scene quietly.
"Tsunade!"
"I just told you, there are many regrets, and things I am willing to change…"
"That is why I have called you here."
"Hmph!" Tsunade snorted as she wiped her tears away.
"Do you know, what that incident did to me?" Tsunade lifted her hands towards Hiruzen.
"They tremble, at the sight of blood…" Tsunade said in a low voice as she stared down at Hiruzen.
Hiruzen knew he had a lot to atone for, considering how much of damage his hesitation had led to in her life.
Hiruzen lowered himself onto the ground.
Just as he was about to perform a dogeza…
Tsunade lifted him.
"Old Man!"
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Tsunade asked.
"Tsunade…"
"I told you.."
"All I want is for this village to be strong enough to face anything in future…" Hiruzen said while thinking back to the time Jiraiya had mentioned about Akatsuki.
"…" Tsunade stared for a bit.
"I plan to build an institution just for you to implement your plan from back then…" Hiruzen said.
Tsunade's expression changed from anger to that of a light smile.
"I will help you…." Tsunade said.
"So…"
"What made you think back to that plan of mine?" Tsunade asked.
"I put two Genin kunoichis under basic medical Jutsu training under the request of a Genin boy…" Hiruzen said.
"A genin boy?" Tsunade asked with a puzzled expression.
At this moment Jiraiya and Naruto were right in front of the Hokage building.
("She has come back…") Jiraiya thought while seeing Tsunade talking with Hiruzen.
("Granny!") Naruto thought.
"Let's go to the terrace!" Jiraiya said.
"Mm!" Naruto nodded.
Hiruzen looked towards Tsunade.
"His name is Uzumaki Naruto!"