Konoha Administrative Building, Hokage's Office.
"You look strange, Tsunade," is the first thing the Hokage says upon seeing the sannin enter his office. "I feel you radiate more vitality and youth."
"Even your skin and hair glow more naturally than ever," adds a smiling Jiraiya, leaning against the wall next to a window. "Did you decide to enhance your transformation?"
"Something like that," the woman replies flatly. "Let's just say I had a revelatory adventure on this last mission."
"What are we dealing with?" the Hokage asks seriously.
"A large organization," Tsunade says, her tone equally serious. "At least two S-rank individuals, Shizuki and the leader Akira. Regarding the latter, we're talking about a possible fuinjutsu master and prominent researcher."
Hiruzen shows surprise on his face. "So this Akira is the leader?"
"Correct," the woman replies. "He's an enigmatic and rather strange man, who doesn't fear me in the least and who has a firm grip on a woman like Shizuki and another woman, who's probably just as troublesome."
"S-rank too?" Jiraiya asks.
"I don't know, but we should consider her very close, since she also has the Sharingan," the woman adds.
Both men show great surprise on their faces, with the Hokage bringing a hand to his face and beginning to massage his eyes, as if soothing a severe headache.
"And from what Akira told me, there are more Uchihas under his control," Tsunade finishes adding.
"This is wrong on so many levels," Hiruzen says, preparing his pipe with a large amount of tobacco, "please tell me something good was accomplished at the meeting."
"That Akira guy, what was his request of you?" Jiraiya chimes in.
The woman stares at the two men for a moment, showing a hint of embarrassment. "I can't say what I had to do. I gave my word I wouldn't reveal it to anyone. All I can say is that I performed surgery on someone, nothing against the interests of the village."
"Sounds complicated," the Hokage comments, frowning. "Were you able to ascertain the organization's interests?"
Tsunade makes a hesitant gesture. "More or less. The organization calls itself the 'Divine Order,' composed, according to Akira, of individuals from all walks of life and professions. And while I was unable to ascertain their true intentions, it was made clear to me that they have no interest in entering into conflict with Konoha. In fact, under certain conditions, their leader assured me that we could even have a fruitful relationship and form an alliance."
Both men widen their eyes, expressing surprise at the woman's words. Hiruzen pauses, thinking, while Jiraiya asks, "How sure are you that what that man said is true?"
"Based on what I've learned about Akira and his personality, I don't think he lied. I'd give him an 80% chance that the offer is real," Tsunade declares.
The Hokage's face becomes much more serious than usual. "Did the leader, Akira, say anything about the conditions for an alliance?"
The woman remains silent for a moment, staring at the Hokage, as if trying to see through him. "He said he didn't like Konoha's leadership… And he said that if I were the Hokage, he would make an alliance without hesitation."
Hiruzen expresses regret at Tsunade's first statement, but when she says the second, he ends up forming his strangest face yet, a mixture of disbelief, surprise, and a hint of happiness, before nervously saying, "You, Hokage? Would you be willing?"
This time it's the woman who's surprised by the Hokage's strange expression, but Jiraiya intervenes before she can say anything, "The more I think about it, what are we doing in this situation? Why is it so important that we be the ones to adapt to this new power? I'm not saying we have to enter into conflict with them, but we're showing too much weakness."
Hiruzen puts on a serious face again, "Our geopolitical situation is very complicated right now. Despite winning the last war, we are currently very weakened, especially with our high-ranking potential. Minato is no longer with us, while the aftermath of the Kyubi disaster is still lingering, Orochimaru betrayed us, we no longer have our jinchuriki in any condition to fight, we recently lost the Uchiha clan, I increasingly doubt Danzo's loyalty, and I haven't been at my peak for a long time. Right now, the only ones who can truly be considered S-rank are the two of you, and until the last time I saw you, Tsunade, you weren't exactly in the best mental state. You two aren't known for spending much time in the village, so you're not really aware of our current state. While our potential for the future is enormous, with several ninja capable of reaching great heights, right now we are truly very weakened."
At the Hokage's words, both Sannin fall silent, allowing the old man to puff on his pipe for a moment, before continuing, "Given the size of our village, we should still be able to take on any one of our neighbors without issue, but we are nowhere near being able to handle two or more. If for some reason this new organization, with two or three S-ranks as far as we know, decides to confront us, I can say with certainty that both the Raikage and Tsuchikage would jump at the chance to strike us in the back, and as for our 'ally', Sunagakure, I have very little hope that they would aid us. It is imperative that we come to an agreement with this 'Divine Order', to coexist peacefully or form an alliance if possible."
"Regarding that," Tsunade says, "Akira made it clear to me that they don't plan to compete with Konoha in the mission business, so our coexistence shouldn't be conflictive. He also assured me that he would try to maintain his operations in the regions south of the capital. By the way, my blood problem has already been solved."
The Hokage, for the first time in the conversation, shows a look of relief, while Jiraiya remains concerned, before asking, "But what about the places outside the Land of Fire?".
"Let's leave that question for the future," the Hokage replies, "For now, we must consider the difficult task of convincing everyone to support Tsunade as the next Hokage… Cough, it's a shame, but I'll have to retire again… all for the well-being of Konoha."
The woman is surprised by Hiruzen's words and prepares to debate with him, but her face suddenly turns pale and she quickly moves, grabs a wastebasket next to the desk and begins to vomit.
The two men react with fear, Jiraiya helping the woman with her hair and the Hokage asking, "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
Tsunade wipes her mouth with a handkerchief, "Don't worry, I'm fine. It's just that today I feel a little strange. Even though I didn't drink yesterday, today I've had a very surprising nausea."
"I know you're one of the best medics in the world, but you need to take better care of yourself," Hiruzen says, somewhat relieved.
Jiraiya, for his part, gently pats the woman's back, joking, "Hahaha, anyone who didn't know you would say you're pregnant."
Tsunade, used to dealing with her former partner, responds indignantly, "Don't say stupid things, I never…" The words freeze in the woman's mouth and her face takes on a pallor never seen before. She begins to stare at the two men, her face filled with fear, her lips trembling, and her eyes wide open.
Both men freeze at the woman's abrupt change of heart. She stands up and immediately runs to the office door and disappears from the room, nearly destroying the door in the process.
"But what happened here?" the Hokage tries to ask, but Jiraiya remains frozen, a grimace frozen on his face, and then collapses unconscious to the ground.
Then everything seems to make sense in Hiruzen's head, and he comments quietly, "I never would have imagined it. But who?"
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