Two times Tsunade won a bet and one time she didn't
Author's Note: A Naruto fic, at long last! I really like this ship though it tends to be sad…and so dead, literally. Oh well, I still wrote this because I had a lot of feelings about it and wanted to write some fan fiction. I'll warn you, this fic jumps around a lot in terms of timeline. It's pretty much chronological, except for this prologue. The story is pretty much what actually happened with Tsunade and Jiraiya, with some added things to sort of…fill the gaps. It also attempts to center around some important moments they had together. Hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of these characters; if I did it would be called Madara and this ship would be canon.
Prologue
Evening was settling into Konoha. The sun was sinking down behind the Hokage Monument, and lights started to flicker on in windows. Tsunade and Jiraiya sat on a bench at the edge of the village and watched the transition from day to night. It would have been almost romantic save for the somber mood that hung in the air between them. A little while earlier they had been talking, exchanging memories and recalling simpler times, but they'd fallen silent now. Tsunade still felt a bit woozy from all the sake she had drunken hours before. A street lamp blinked to life above the pair, bathing them in yellow, and suddenly Jiraiya stood.
"Well…I'd better be heading out." He picked up his scroll of seals from beside the bench. Tsunade clenched her robe in her hand.
"You realize that you'll be heading straight into enemy territory, to face the leader of the Akatsuki? To be able to control that whole organization…he must be a very powerful ninja." she paused and gathered herself, "So, please, please Jiraiya. Come back alive."
He looked at her. Tsunade was the Hokage, and woman known across the ninja world as one of the Legendary Sannin, as well as for her amazing medical ninjutsu. There was no doubt, at least in his mind, that she was a strong kunoichi. In that moment, though, she looked so fragile: her body hunched, her arms thin and pale against the rich green of her robes. Her small body was the container of much pain.
"If I lost you too," she continued, not meeting his eyes, " I'd…I'd-"
"What? You'd cry for me? That'd make me happy," he smiled, "But I doubt it would be the same as when Dan died."
"You idiot," said Tsunade under her breath, gritting her teeth. Of course it wouldn't be the same." Jiraiya chuckled.
"If you're so worried about it, then why not make a bet with me?" he asked, and she glanced wearily up.
"What?"
"You bet that I will die."
There was a sudden intake of breath, and Tsunade's eyes widened.
"Why?" she whispered.
"Because, after all, you've never won any of your bets!" Jiraiya grinned slyly before suddenly becoming serious.
"But, Tsunade, if I do make it back alive…"
He looked at her pointedly, the question clear in his black eyes. She returned his gaze unsurely. It had been the same request for years, and if he had asked her at any other time he would have undoubtedly received a chakra-enhanced punch to the face, but this time all Tsunade could do was stare in shock at her former teammate.
"Joking, I'm just joking, " Jiraiya laughed, trying to defuse the situation, and Tsunade looked down again.
"Don't feel bad," he reassured, "I'm used to rejection. Ever since we were Genin you've been calling me an idiot, and I guess I was an idiot back then. But every time you called me that, it just made me stronger, and I learned to laugh it off."
Jiraiya paused and pulled out one of his Icha Icha books. "I even managed to make a joke out of it. Rejection made me stronger."
Tsunade smiled a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, but remained silent. It was an understanding silence, an assuring silence that hung in the air between them. The two had grown up together, trained together, and what he said was true. She had always called him an idiot, warranted or not. Even now, the word rolled naturally off her tongue.
"It's getting late," Jiraiya sighed, "I really should be on my way now."
"Yes," mumbled Tsunade. Of all the things she could have said. She couldn't manage anything else. Not even "be safe."
The Toad Sage turned and strapped his scroll to his back, and walked away from the Hokage, his wooden sandals clacking against the pavement. Without turning around, he raised his hand, giving her a thumbs up.
"Farewell."
As she watched him walking off into the distance, his long shadow getting further and further away, she placed her bet and hoped with all her soul that she wouldn't win.
And done! With the prologue at least. I know this part was basically just what actually happened in the manga/anime, but I promise later on there is more interesting stuff. This is planned to be about five chapters, longer than this mostly, so stay tuned. And tell me what you thought? Until next time.
-FissionPowered.