Chapter 365: Is It the Hagoromo Gengetsu I Know?
Konoha.
Tsunade ultimately returned here with Shizune.
Normally, with her personality, she would never come back to the village.
However, the Konoha shinobi who found her earlier had brought a message from Sarutobi Hiruzen, stating that a catastrophe would soon occur in the Shinobi World, affecting everyone.
Moreover, she had been winning continuously during this period, which left her feeling uneasy. Eventually, she decided to return.
She arrived at the Hokage's office without any obstacles.
Tsunade, too lazy to knock, directly pushed the door open.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was sitting in his familiar office chair, with Jiraiya standing nearby.
"Jiraiya, you're back too," Tsunade greeted.
Jiraiya turned around upon hearing her voice, walked towards her with open arms and a big smile, saying, "Tsunade, long time no see! You're looking more beautiful than ever!"
"If you'd like to continue this conversation at the hospital, feel free to take one more step forward," Tsunade said with a cold smile, clenching her fist.
Jiraiya immediately halted, putting on a serious expression. "Sarutobi-sensei called us back urgently, saying something critical was happening in the Shinobi World. I stopped everything and rushed back without delay."
"Move aside," Tsunade pushed Jiraiya away and stood in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen, skipping the formalities, and directly asked, "Spill it, old man. What's this important matter that made you summon us back?"
"No rush, the person in question will be here soon," said Sarutobi Hiruzen, his expression extremely solemn, having just received the latest intelligence from Naruto's team.
This was the first time Tsunade had seen the usually laid-back old man so grave.
"It seems something serious really has happened," Tsunade thought, deciding to hear him out.
Not long after, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the door.
With a loud bang, the door was flung open.
"Old man Third!"
Naruto rushed in, ready to speak but suddenly noticed Jiraiya and Tsunade. He instinctively blurted out, "Huh? Pervy Sage, Grandma Tsunade, you're here too!"
"Pervy... Sage?"
"Grandma... Tsunade?"
Jiraiya and Tsunade's faces darkened instantly.
Before Jiraiya could roll up his sleeves and deliver his usual fiery introduction—
Boom!
Naruto was sent flying by a punch.
"Who are you calling grandma, you brat?!" Tsunade said slowly, retracting her fist, enunciating each word.
"Misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding!" Kushina, who arrived just a moment too late, hurriedly pulled Naruto out of the wall, shaking him to get rid of the dust while explaining.
Jiraiya, now powerless, looked at Minato curiously and asked, "So, who is this kid who looks a bit like you, Minato?"
Minato scratched his head, "Jiraiya-sensei, it's a long story."
"Then keep it short—Naruto is Minato and Kushina's son," Orochimaru, who had just narrowly avoided getting caught in the crossfire, entered the room and said nonchalantly.
"What??"
Jiraiya and Tsunade couldn't believe their ears.
"So parallel worlds really do exist! No wonder Naruto is your son in that world," Jiraiya exclaimed after Minato explained everything.
As a prolific writer in the Shinobi World, Jiraiya was no stranger to the theory of parallel worlds, but he never expected it to be real one day.
"So, Naruto, you're my student in another world?" Jiraiya asked, sizing up the now-recovered Naruto.
"Of course, Pervy Sage," Naruto responded energetically.
"I told you not to call me Pervy Sage! I'm the Toad Sage!"
"But you are a Pervy Sage!"
Naruto and Jiraiya began arguing endlessly over the title.
Kushina watched this scene, feeling deeply concerned.
She was well aware of Jiraiya-sensei's behavior and worried that the Jiraiya-sensei from the other world might lead Naruto astray. Little did she know, Naruto had already created the Sexy Jutsu series of techniques and ghostwritten "Icha Icha Paradise" for Jiraiya-sensei, which became a best-seller.
The argument between Naruto and Jiraiya ended as quickly as it began.
Before long, they were chatting and laughing, arms slung over each other's shoulders.
Having gathered a lot of information, Jiraiya looked at Tsunade in amazement, "Tsunade, I never imagined you'd become Hokage in another world!"
Tsunade, with an indifferent tone, replied, "She is her, and I am me. Don't mix us up. I have no interest in being Hokage."
Jiraiya was about to say more when Sarutobi Hiruzen interrupted, "Alright, Jiraiya, Tsunade, you've been briefed on some of the situation, but you still don't know the bigger crisis that came with Naruto—a crisis that threatens the entire Shinobi World!"
For the next while, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Naruto took turns explaining the whole event, up until the reappearance of Hagoromo Gengetsu in the desert.
The more Jiraiya listened, the more serious his expression became.
Meanwhile, Tsunade became more and more confused.
"Hagoromo Gengetsu? Is it the Hagoromo Gengetsu I know?"
The one she knew was also very strong.
But... the Shinobi World's greatest villain?
Forcing the Five Great Shinobi Villages to unite and still suffering a crushing defeat?
Overpowering the legendary progenitor of chakra and the Sage of Six Paths?
This doesn't seem to match the carefree Hagoromo Gengetsu she remembers.
Finally, Tsunade couldn't help but interrupt, "Um... Is the Hagoromo Gengetsu you know like this?"
Tsunade then described Hagoromo Gengetsu's appearance.
Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned, "Tsunade, how do you know Hagoromo Gengetsu?"
"It's really him!" Tsunade was momentarily dazed.
Facing the confused stares of those present, Tsunade, still in a bit of a daze, slowly said, "I know him... We spent a few days together."
Now it was Sarutobi Hiruzen, Naruto, Minato, and the others who were stunned.
The room fell into a dead silence.
After a long while, Jiraiya asked awkwardly, "So... Tsunade, are you standing before us as a person or a ghost?"
Tsunade's face darkened again as she clenched her fist, "Do you want to experience it firsthand?"
"No, no!"
After a brief exchange of banter, the tense atmosphere finally eased a bit.
Listening to Tsunade recount her experiences with Hagoromo Gengetsu, Orochimaru, deep in thought, muttered, "A honey trap? It's not just indifference."
This indifference was not towards people, but towards power, towards the very concept of life.
Orochimaru recalled the scene in Roran where Hagoromo Gengetsu glanced at him and then ignored him entirely, giving a self-deprecating smile.
Such a person cannot be influenced by ordinary schemes.
"Hagoromo Gengetsu arrived in this world around the same time as Naruto. So, what has he been preparing for during this time?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, frowning after hearing Tsunade's account.
The idea that Hagoromo Gengetsu was just indulging in leisure and pleasure didn't convince him, nor did it convince anyone else present.
"Is that guy really the greatest villain in the Shinobi World?" Tsunade also found it hard to believe.
Just as she was about to ask something else—
Suddenly!
A brilliant light flashed outside the window.
Then—
Boom!!!
The ground shook violently!