Inside a modest tea house, Tsunade sat casually at a low table, sipping sake with Shizune beside her. Shizune noticed them first, straightening with a small gasp.

Tsunade's amber eyes flickered up, landing immediately on Kakashi.

A slow, genuine smile spread across her lips.

Kakashi smiled back in that lazy, almost boyish way he always did around her.

"Took you long enough," Tsunade said, standing smoothly.

"Tsunade, it's time to come back to the village. We need you to-" Jiraiya stepped forward eagerly.

He was immediately cut off as Tsunade ignored him completely, crossing the room in three strides and stopping right in front of Kakashi.

Naruto's jaw dropped.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, instantly noting how Tsunade's aura softened when she looked at Kakashi.

Without a word, Tsunade leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to Kakashi's cheek, smirking when he barely reacted except for his eyes curving happily.

"You're late," she teased, echoing his old catchphrase.

"I got held up," Kakashi replied smoothly.

Jiraiya stood frozen, mouth opening and closing soundlessly like a fish out of water.

"Bwahaha! Pervy Sage, your face!" Naruto burst out laughing.

Jiraiya swayed on his feet, his soul visibly leaving his body as he collapsed into a deep, theatrical depression.

It was like the world had ended for him.

"My Tsunade… my beautiful Tsunade… stolen by that damn pretty-boy brat…" he mumbled into the floorboards.

Naruto wasn't done yet. He leaned over, whispering loudly enough for everyone to hear.

"And guess what, Pervy Sage? Kakashi-sensei already has two other girlfriends! Anko and Kurenai~!"

Hearing that, Jiraiya let out a pitiful wail.

"Even Kurenai?! Even crazy Anko?! Kakashi you demon!" he cried, curling up in the fetal position.

Sasuke looked like he didn't know whether to roll his eyes or walk away.

Shizune covered her mouth to hide her smile. Even Tsunade was chuckling under her breath.

Kakashi, as always, looked perfectly unbothered.

"Don't take it so hard, Jiraiya," Kakashi said lazily. "I'm just efficient."

"Efficient at stealing all the good ones," Jiraiya whimpered.

Tsunade ignored Jiraiya's theatrics and focused fully on Kakashi, who extended a hand to her.

"Ready to go home?" he asked simply.

Tsunade smiled warmly, a rare, genuine smile that few ever saw from her.

"Yeah," she said, reaching for his hand. "Let's go."

Naruto blinked. "Wait, that's it? No crazy bickering? No punching people through the walls?"

Tsunade turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "What's there to argue about? Kakashi already asked me to be Hokage a long time ago. And I accepted."

"For real?!"Naruto's eyes widened.

Jiraiya looked like someone had kicked his puppy.

"Come on, brat," Tsunade said, ruffling Naruto's hair playfully. "We've got a lot of work to do fixing that village."

"Alright!" Naruto beamed.

Sasuke, standing a little apart, watched the easy, warm interactions between them all. A small, almost invisible smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

As they left the tea house together, Jiraiya stumbled along behind them, still wallowing in his own personal tragedy.

"Shoulda known… shoulda seen it coming… too handsome… too smooth…" he mumbled under his breath.

Naruto snorted. "Get over it, old man. Kakashi-sensei's way cooler than you anyway!"

"Traitor!" Jiraiya wailed.

Tsunade laughed, the sound full and bright.

Kakashi walked calmly beside her, their fingers brushing briefly every few steps.

They didn't need to flaunt it.

Everyone could see the bond between them, solid, natural, unshakable.

As they neared the town's outskirts, Tsunade glanced sideways at Kakashi.

"You still planning on becoming Sixth after me?" she asked quietly, so only he could hear.

Kakashi's eyes curved into a soft smile.

"Only if you're there to boss me around first," he said lightly.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Tsunade chuckled.

Ahead of them, Naruto was challenging Sasuke to a ramen-eating contest, and Jiraiya was sulking like a kicked dog.

…..

Meanwhile earlier…Orochimaru POV.

The streets of Tanzaku Town buzzed with life, merchants hawking their wares, children weaving between stalls, and travelers filling the air with chatter.

And amidst it all, a single figure moved like a shadow.

Orochimaru pulled his hood lower, concealing his pale skin and unnatural yellow eyes.

Every step was deliberate, and measured.

His fingers twitched inside his sleeves, aching with the pain of severed chakra pathways, a reminder of Hiruzen Sarutobi's final curse upon him.

If he had had Kabuto, this would have been simpler.

But Kabuto was lost and captured by Kakashi and given to Konoha's forces during that messy invasion.

Kimimaro, the only other one worthy enough to stand at his side, was far too sick to move.

So now, he was alone.

A sour taste filled Orochimaru's mouth as he thought about it.

How low he had fallen, the great Orochimaru, slinking through crowded streets like a common thief.

Still… it would be worth it. Tsunade was here and Tsunade could heal him.

The thought of moving his hands again, of feeling the rush of jutsu flowing freely through his veins… nearly made him giddy.

"Patience," he told himself.

Tsunade was foolishly sentimental, he could use that.

A few well-placed words about reviving Nawaki. About reviving Dan. Tsunade's heart had always been her weakness.

He allowed himself a thin smile as he approached the tavern where she was rumored to be staying.

The faint pulse of chakra inside confirmed it, she was there, along with a few others. Nothing he couldn't handle. Although his hands are useless, he can still fight to some extent.