Naruto: After Seclusion Becoming Naruto Grandfather

"Tsunade, if you're being threatened by them, just say so, and I'll save you," Jiraiya said, his voice heavy with concern. Seeing Tsunade with Naruto and the others gave him an uneasy feeling.

"How could Naruto threaten me?" Tsunade replied, rubbing Naruto's hair into a messy tangle. Her mischievous smirk revealed her intent—it was payback for earlier.

Naruto gritted his teeth in frustration but could do nothing. He couldn't overpower Tsunade, and worse, it seemed like his grandpa, Uzumaki Chito, was overly fond of this "old woman." For some reason, Naruto felt as though his status had dropped a notch.

Jiraiya frowned. "Tsunade, don't you realize that the people around you have betrayed Konoha Village? Naruto Uzumaki and Might Guy are both considered S-class traitors now."

His tone grew heavier as he continued. "They didn't just leave the village—they attacked it. During the attack, even the Third Hokage was…" He paused, unable to find the words. How could he explain the strange state of the Hokage, caught between life and death?

"He's not dead, but he's not alive either," Jiraiya finally muttered.

Tsunade froze at the mention of Hiruzen. Despite her bitterness toward him, she couldn't deny the deep bond she shared with her former teacher.

Uzumaki Chito had deliberately avoided telling Tsunade about the current state of Konoha, so she had no idea what had transpired. Jiraiya's words hit her like a storm, leaving her momentarily stunned.

"Tsunade," Jiraiya said earnestly, "we need you to return to Konoha and take over as the Fifth Hokage. The village needs you now more than ever."

His sincerity was clear. Among those left in Konoha, only Tsunade had the qualifications and stature to assume leadership. Jiraiya himself had no interest in the role, and allowing Shimura Danzo to take over was unthinkable. Both he and Hiruzen agreed that Danzo's methods were too extreme and would lead the village to ruin.

"I…" Tsunade hesitated. Her heart was in turmoil. She wanted to stay with Uzumaki Chito, whom she deeply missed, but the Third Hokage's condition tugged at her sense of responsibility. She couldn't abandon Konoha in its time of need.

Naruto, watching Tsunade's inner conflict, grew agitated. In his eyes, Jiraiya was the one sowing doubt in her mind.

"Isn't it convenient for this white-haired guy to show up and try to take someone from us?" Naruto said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

He clenched his fists and added, "I'm not going to let you take her away. Get ready to fight."

Naruto's challenge left no room for further discussion. He glared at Jiraiya, whom he saw as an obstacle to his plans. In Naruto's mind, there was no way he'd let Konoha's people take Tsunade, especially since she and Uzumaki Chito seemed to share a deep connection.

Jiraiya noticed Naruto's readiness to fight and sighed. He's grown stronger, he thought, though he didn't relish the idea of fighting his former student's son.

From the forest's shadows, a silver-haired ninja emerged, his face partially obscured by a mask and his forehead protector covering his left eye.

"Kakashi," Jiraiya said, nodding toward him.

Kakashi had joined Jiraiya on this mission, but his focus was entirely on Guy. His gaze betrayed his inner conflict. "Guy," Kakashi said quietly, "why did you betray the village?"

Guy remained calm, meeting Kakashi's gaze without flinching. "Betray the village? You know as well as I do that Konoha isn't the same as it once was," Guy replied. "I've always been loyal to the village—the village where the Will of Fire burns bright wherever there are leaves. But Konoha has changed. If the fire has gone out, I have no choice but to create a new Konoha myself."

"Create a new village?" Kakashi echoed, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Then show me what you have that's strong enough to build a new village."

In an instant, Kakashi closed the distance between them. Guy's reaction was immediate—he opened the first four gates, his body enveloped in a green chakra aura, and intercepted Kakashi's attack with one hand.

On the other side, Naruto and Jiraiya continued to face off.

"Naruto, you've grown so much stronger," Jiraiya said with a sigh. It pained him to see how far Naruto had come, only for him to be labeled a traitor. He could have been Konoha's future, Jiraiya thought sadly. If only things had turned out differently.

Naruto, however, didn't share Jiraiya's sentiment. He was determined to prove himself, his fiery resolve burning brighter than ever.

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