The chapter begins with the group looking over Naruto and deciding that they need to get to Tsunade for another reason now- for her medical expertise. They also conclude that she isn’t running from any chakra she senses, again failing to explain how she could sense it.
Jiraiya gets down to business, beginning the search as he posts Shino to watch over Naruto. Hinata finds Tsunade with her Byakugan and shows him to her.
Tsunade has some good luck, which pleases her, but also disturbs her, since it is, as in canon, a bad omen. She recalls that she has encountered Orochimaru, who asked for her help with his arms, and lied about how he lost it. By contrast, in canon, he tells her that he lost them when killing the Third Hokage, and that if he gets them back, he’ll finish what he started (he lies about sparing the village on her request, but she knows that he was going to lie, so it’s likely that she had no serious belief that he would say yes when she asked him)
Tsunade notices Jiraiya and Hinata approaching, and doesn’t like the implications of Jiraiya bringing Hinata here. Shizune greets Jiraiya too respectfully for Tsunade’s tastes, although Shizune is, characteristically, quite well-mannered and polite.
Jiraiya and Tsunade meet, and begin negotiations. Tsunade wonders how many favors Jiraiya pulled to get a Main House Hyuuga to help him, and might be disappointed to hear that all it took was taking her out of the village. Jiraiya asks Tsunade to take a look at Naruto, in exchange for Hinata becoming Tsunade’s servant for six months. Hinata immediately accepts.
Naruto awakens, and has to face the truth of Kurenai’s passing, as the first adult to take his ambition seriously (I think Iruka deserves that honor), and determines that he wants to be the one to kill Itachi. That’s an interesting concept, especially when villains have several characters out to kill them in revenge, and only one character or group can achieve it.
Naruto is informed of what Hinata had to do to secure Tsunade’s cooperation, and Jiraiya makes another request of Tsunade, telling her about her teacher’s condition. She tells him that she can’t heal Hiruzen, and Jiraiya clarifies that he wants her to succeed him. Tsunade, as per canon, finds that an even stupider request, and Naruto, also according with canon, takes offense.
The “one finger” duel begins, and Naruto makes Tsunade wager that she’ll come back to the village if she loses. Tsunade asks why he didn’t decide to free Hinata from her debt, and Naruto points out that she didn’t protest it, and he wants what’s best for her.
Naruto’s Zerg Rush of clones falls flat, as Tsunade splits the street with a finger. While in canon, Naruto threw her off balance by declaring his ambition to become Hokage, reminding her of her dead brother and lover, here, he Chakra Pulses her, removing the genjutsu, and causing her to start strangling him, violating her self-imposed rule. Tsunade admits defeat and wants to meet his teacher, unaware that she’s already dead.
All that came off as somewhat abrupt; Tsunade’s canonical development was more gradual, and she gradually warmed up to Naruto, and, in a moment of epiphany, decided to reject Orochimaru’s offer, despite having planned to accept in spite of her reservations. I’d rather Tsunade accept the position because of a change of heart, rather than because she lost a bet.
It also cheats Naruto out of the chance to learn Tsunade’s backstory and sympathize with her to an extent, while also proving her wrong.
Tsunade hears from Jiraiya about Kurenai’s death, and the person Kurenai was while she was alive, with her being given most of the credit for what Naruto and Hinata are.
Sasuke wakes up, and declares his intention to go after Itachi. Shino accepts, telling Sasuke Itachi did not act as an Uchiha, but Naruto says that Sasuke will only get to kill Itachi if they don’t kil him first.
The group returns to the Leaf Village, while Orochimaru concludes that he’d be at a disadvantage. It does make sense that Orochimaru wouldn’t fight Jiraiya and Tsunade together, as well as their additional allies, but it’s a bit disappointing that the Sannin Battle is being skipped over. Kabuto calls Orochimaru “-domo”, which sounds like a condescending or humble plural suffix (for example, if you’re trying to be extremely formal, you might say “watakushi-domo” for “we”). If the author often has inconsistent Japanese Honorifics, he might be better off going with the English manga/English dub and using equivalents like “Lord Orochimaru”.
Upon their return, the Chunin at the gate summons Jiraiya to the Hokage’s office. Naruto notices villagers worried he would lash out in anger over Kurenai’s death (although by the time Jiraiya dies in canon, they already sympathize with Naruto for his loss), but Naruto vows to keep his emotions under control like she taught him to do so.
The group enters the office, trying to keep themselves together, and Hiruzen tells them that Kurenai’s memorial service will be held the next day, and that Shino should ask in advance the next time he goes out of the village.
Jiraiya finds Naruto at his apartment, and, after telling him about Kurenai’s funeral, reassures him that there was nothing he could have done at his skill level, and it’s his job to get strong enough to kill Itachi. Jiraiya also says that It Never Gets Any Easier to lose someone, and dosen’t want to know Naruto if he does find it easier, and ends up like Danzo’s men or Itachi.
The funeral takes place the next day, and the ninjas wear the black formal uniform for the funeral of any dead ninja at Jonin rank or higher (although so far, the only funerals that have been held are for people of Jonin rank or higher- technically the rule might apply, but it doesn’t make much sense.)
Naruto considers it unfair that Kurenai had to die, and believes Hiashi is watching Hinata like a hawk for anything "improper."
Hinata ponders her reasons for becoming Tsunade’s servant- to get her invested in the village and to cure Naruto, but most of all, to get away from home. Hinata fondly remembers her “convalescence”, comparing it to her time with her Missing Mom.
Kurenai is said to have been praising Hinata, rather than reminding her of her foolishness, which is a good touch, albeit one that came a bit late. It does, however, raise a good question about what good her father’s reminding her of her failures does, although it closes off any remote hope that he has good or even understandable intentions.
Hinata remembers Kurenai’s last reques- to help Naruto- and goes over to him, along with Shino, as grief threatens to overwhelm Naruto.
As expected, Hiashi is infuriated at what Hinata does, but then Asuma and Kakashi step in, first casually talking about Kurenai, and then telling him that if he doesn’t leave the kids alone, they’ll share how to deal with the Byakugan and/or beat him up. His attempt thwarted, Hiashi leaves in a huff as the chapter ends.
What I liked
- Kurenai’s funeral, especially Hinata and Shino comforting Naruto, and Asuma and Kakashi preventing Hiashi’s interference
- Jiraiya’s talk with Naruto
What I didn’t Like
- Tsunade came around too easily, condensing an entire arc into one chapter.
- Skipping the Sannin Battle, even considering the reasons
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