Naruto: After Seclusion Becoming Naruto Grandfather

Naruto was snapped out of the Nine-Tails possession mode, not just by Tsunade's punch but also by his own realization. He had felt the tyrannical grip of the Nine-Tails' power, and it left him shaken.

He didn't want to become a slave to such overwhelming energy.

"Thank you," Naruto said quietly, checking himself and feeling relieved. His gratitude toward Tsunade was genuine.

Jiraiya, too, let out a sigh of relief. The sight of Naruto in his tailed beast form had been terrifying, and the Tailed Beast Bomb was a weapon of pure devastation. Watching Naruto regain control eased his fears—for now.

As Tsunade approached, Jiraiya flashed her a wide grin. "Tsunade, I knew you cared about me!" he said, his tone playful.

Tsunade's response was immediate—a solid punch that sent Jiraiya sprawling.

"It's still the same strength… still the same familiar taste," Jiraiya muttered with a nostalgic smile, his face a mixture of pain and memories.

Naruto stared, dumbfounded. "This pervy uncle… is he actually a masochist?" he muttered to himself, horrified.

Even Kakashi turned his head slightly, as though pretending he didn't know Jiraiya.

Tsunade brushed off Jiraiya and looked at the group sternly. "Enough fooling around. I've made my decision. I'm going back to Konoha first."

Her tone brooked no argument. While she felt deeply reluctant to delay her meeting with Uzumaki Chito, her sense of duty demanded she see the state of Konoha for herself. She also needed to visit her old teacher, the Third Hokage, one last time.

Naruto frowned. "Tsunade-sama, if you go back to Konoha, you might not be able to come back," he said, voicing his concern. He already saw Tsunade as part of their team and didn't want to lose her to Konoha's chaos.

Might Guy nodded in agreement. "The current Konoha is not the Konoha you remember. Who knows what they'll do if you return?"

But Jiraiya shook his head firmly. "The village is still the same. It's never changed," he said, his conviction unshaken. To him, Konoha was still the legacy of the First Hokage.

Tsunade raised her hand to silence the growing argument. "Enough," she said coldly, her voice carrying authority. "I'll see for myself what Konoha has become."

She stomped the ground with her chakra-enhanced strength, causing cracks to spiderweb across the surface. The display of power ensured everyone paid attention to her words.

Turning to Naruto, she added, "You go back to the Land of Whirlpools. I'll visit Konoha first, and then I'll come to the Land of Whirlpools to meet Lord Chito."

"But…" Naruto began to protest but stopped when he saw the determination in Tsunade's eyes. She had made up her mind.

Jiraiya, too, felt a flicker of joy at her decision—until he heard the second part about her eventual trip to the Land of Whirlpools. His expression fell. Still, he clung to hope. Once she feels the warmth of Konoha again, she'll stay and become the Fifth Hokage, he reassured himself. The village is still the same at its core.

The decision had been made, and there was no longer a need for conflict. Tsunade stopped the skirmishes between the two sides and turned back to Naruto. "Naruto, tell Chito-sama that I'll visit him soon," she instructed.

Naruto hesitated before nodding. He reached into his pouch and pulled out a piece of seal paper. "This is a protection seal my grandpa left me," he said. "If you're in danger—"

Before he could finish, Tsunade snatched the paper from his hand. "Thank you! I'll gladly take it," she said with a grin, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

Naruto froze, his mouth agape. I shouldn't have shown it to her! he thought regretfully, realizing too late that it was impossible to get it back now.

As Tsunade left with Jiraiya and Kakashi, Shizune stayed behind. Naruto turned to her, puzzled. "Why aren't you going with Tsunade-sama?" he asked.

Shizune's expression was serious. "Tsunade-sama told me to stay behind. If Konoha has truly changed, she doesn't want me to be used as a bargaining chip against her."

Naruto frowned. "If she knows this trip will be dangerous, why is she still going?"

"Maybe it's because she still has feelings for the village," Shizune replied softly.

The group fell silent, each lost in their thoughts. Naruto glanced at the seal paper now in Tsunade's possession and felt a small sense of relief. At least she has some protection.

Meanwhile, as Tsunade traveled back to Konoha, she couldn't help but toy with the seal paper. She ignored Jiraiya's attempts at conversation, her focus solely on the charm in her hand.

What has the village become to make Uzumaki Chito so disappointed? she wondered. I need to see it for myself.

As they approached Konoha, Tsunade began to notice something unusual. Strange ninjas seemed to be lurking everywhere, a development that only heightened her suspicions.

Kakashi's shuriken flew with precision, striking one of the unknown figures in the head.

"Wandering ninjas," Kakashi said, identifying the fifth group of rogue shinobi they had encountered on this journey.

The situation was far worse than when they had left.

Without wasting any more time, the three quickened their pace, racing toward the gates of Konoha.

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