Tanzaku Town was a blur of gambling dens and neon lights, and Naruto strutted through the streets, his grin loud as he teased Jiraiya about losing at cards. "You're broke already, Pervy Sage?" he laughed, but his eyes scanned the crowds, wary of threats. Orochimaru was out there, and his knowledge of Naruto's Jinchuriki status was a danger—and a clue. If a rogue ninja knew, the truth was bigger than Konoha, and Naruto would chase it across the world once he was strong enough.They found Tsunade in a tavern, her blonde hair and sharp eyes unmistakable. She was drunk, cynical, dismissing Konoha's need for a Hokage. "The village is a fool's dream," she scoffed, and Naruto's grin hid a spark of agreement. He didn't care about Konoha either, but Tsunade's power—her strength, her medical jutsu—was something he could learn from. He challenged her, his voice brash. "You're scared to take the job, huh? Bet I could do better!"Tsunade laughed, but her eyes were cold. "You? A kid with no control? Dream on." Naruto's grin stayed, but her words stung. She saw him as weak, like the village did. He'd prove her wrong, not for Konoha, but for himself. Jiraiya pushed him to show his potential, teaching him the Rasengan, a spinning ball of chakra that demanded precision. Naruto trained relentlessly, his clones spinning chakra in the forest, his facade hiding his desperation. The Rasengan was power—pure, raw, his own—and he'd master it to roam free, to demand answers from anyone, even a Sannin.Orochimaru's arrival changed everything. He and Kabuto attacked, targeting Tsunade. Naruto's grin was fierce as he summoned hundreds of clones, shouting, "You're not getting her, snake face!" The Nine-Tails' chakra flared, boosting his clones' speed, but Orochimaru's strength was terrifying, his snake jutsu crushing Naruto's attacks. Tsunade joined the fight, her power staggering, and Naruto saw what he needed to become: untouchable, unstoppable, free.
