Path Not Taken 116

Tsunade

Come in, Jiraiya. You just missed the elders storming out.

Tsunade

I haven't seen Koharu and Homura that angry in years.

Jiraiya

I take it the talks went well? Those two looked ready to breathe fire.

Tsunade

Yep. Naruto's been cleared of all charges and promoted to Tokubetsu Jōnin.

Jiraiya

HOW THE HELL DID YOU MANAGE THAT?! The council was calling for his head!

Tsunade

See for yourself. Turns out Naruto wasn't a rogue ninja after all.

Tsunade

He was on a classified S-rank mission to eliminate Azula the whole time.

Jiraiya

A two-scroll verification system? That's top-level security protocol.

Jiraiya

Who had the second scroll?

Tsunade

The Fire Daimyo himself. Not even those old bats on the council can question that authority.

Jiraiya

Why didn't you tell me, Tsunade? I spent weeks searching for him, worried sick.

Jiraiya

(Was I not trusted with this information? After everything we've been through?)