TSUNADE/FIFTH HOKAGE

First Manga Appearance: Chapter 149
First Anime Appearance: Naruto Episode 85
Name Meaning: A mooring rope, Wife of Jiraiya in mythical tale
Hidden Village: Leaf Village
Rank: Hokage
Age: 54
Notable Features: Legendary Sannin, Summons slugs, Bad gambler
Notable Quotes: "From now on, I too shall bet my life!"
See also: Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Third Hokage, Shizune

HISTORY:

One of the Legendary Sannin, Tsunade left Leaf Village to devote her time to her gambling addiction. She has a blood contract with slugs and calls upon them as needed.

The granddaughter of the First Hokage, Tsunade was taught by the Third Hokage when she was a Genin. Later in life she would lose her younger brother Nawaki and her boyfriend Dan in battles. These two events made Tsunade distraught. Both men had stated before they died that they dreamed of becoming Hokage. This made her feel such a desire was foolish, driving people to take actions they shouldn't. As she aged Tsunade began to use jutsu to alter her appearance and always appear in her twenties.

She and her apprentice Shizune left Konoha behind and traveled the Fire country to satisfy Tsunade's gambling addiction. It was during this period she was approached by Orochimaru for help. Orochimaru told her that in exchange for her healing his damaged body, he would bring her boyfriend and little brother back from the dead. Tsunade was given a week to determine what she wished to do, during this period she was tracked down by Jiraiya and Naruto to ask her to be the new Fifth Hokage.

She felt the position was not worth the trouble and that it is only a fools desire to take the job. Tsunade was tempted at first to help Orochimaru, but the honesty and determination Naruto exhibited in facing Orochimaru and his strong desire to become Hokage reaffirmed her loyalty to Leaf. It quickly became a three-way Sannin brawl with Orochimaru, Tsunade and Jiraiya fighting. Orochimaru was defeated and he retreated. Tsunade then accepted the offer and became the Fifth Hokage. She thanked Naruto and challenged him to never give up his dream to replace her some day.

When Tsunade formally became Hokage she and Naruto shared a tenuous relationship. Naruto often became frustrated with the respect she gave him when assigning missions; however she never really lost faith in the boy. When Naruto came back to Konoha after training with Jiraiya, her advisors recommended Naruto be kept within the village to protect him from Akatsuki. Tsunade believed Naruto could handle himself and his history as a Jinchuuriki meant he was best suited to help others like him in the world. Only time will tell whether this important decision as village leader will be the best for Konoha...