"You're the granddaughter of the First Hokage, the student of the Third, and the sister of Nawaki. You were meant for this," Kakashi said. "You were born to protect the village."
"That village betrayed my family." Tsunade frowned.
"I know," Kakashi said. "It's not the same village it used to be. For you after Nawaki died… after Dan died… things fell apart."
He paused and looked straight at her.
"You remember the Hyuga incident?"
"Yes." She said, her expression darkening. She remembered this shameful thing her teacher did.
"They gave up a comrade. Chose peace over loyalty," Kakashi said. "That's not the village the First Hokage built."
Tsunade said nothing, just clenched her fists.
"My father, Sakumo," Kakashi continued. "He saved his teammates over the mission. And what did the village do? They shamed him. And he took his own life."
"I… I didn't know." Tsunade looked shocked
"I was just a kid," Kakashi said softly. "But when I joined the ANBU, I started digging. I found out the truth. The public hated him… but the ones who made it worse were the elders. Danzo. Even Hiruzen didn't defend him."
"Are you sure?" Tsunade's eyes narrowed
"I heard it from the other two consultants' own old confidants, as Danzo is too wary and all his people have a seal under their Tongue."
"That old snake Danzo…" Tsunade clenched her jaw. She knew that Danzo was an evil bastard just from his chakra alone.
Kakashi looked down for a second, then lifted his head. "There's something else."
Tsunade turned to him.
"After Nawaki died… his body was taken by Root before you found him and his organs were removed." Kakashi didn't know if this was true or not but he said it anyway Root back then was indeed experimenting on people to attain the wood style of Hashirama.
"What?" Tsunade's voice was sharp now.
"Danzo and the village wanted to see if he could create another Hashirama," Kakashi said. "I found the files. Also, I found a test subject and guided him in Anbu and he can use wood style."
Tsunade stood frozen. Her chakra flared for a second, golden and wild. Her face twisted with fury.
"Those monsters…" She had her suspicions before and because she found something wrong she became very disappointed and left the village with Shizune.
And she didn't expect that they would have someone who successfully attained wood release.
Before she could explode, Kakashi stepped forward and hugged her tightly. He placed one hand gently on her head, fingers sliding into her blonde hair.
"It's okay," he whispered. "I'm here."
Tsunade's body was shaking, but she didn't push him away. Slowly, her breathing calmed down.
"I'll kill him," she muttered.
"We'll deal with him," Kakashi said. "But first… I want to clean this village. And to do that… you need to take the seat of Hokage. Be the Fifth. I'll follow you."
"And soon are the chunin exams. We'll start after that." He said. He didn't want to bring Tsunade back so early as it may scare Orochimaru.
Tsunade stayed quiet for a long moment. Then, in a low voice, she asked, "What are you planning to do after the exams?"
Kakashi pulled back just enough to look at her face. "I'll come get you. We'll return to Konoha together. I'll challenge the old system. And I'll run for Sixth Hokage. But only if you take the Fifth seat."
Tsunade stared into his eyes. They were calm. Steady. Filled with something she hadn't seen in a long time, hope.
"You're serious," she whispered.
"I always am," he said with a smile on his face.
Tsunade glanced down, realizing she was still in his arms. "How long are you going to hold me like this?"
Kakashi smiled and gently tightened the hug. "A bit longer."
Tsunade let out a short laugh through her nose. "You're a pain."
She gave him a light punch on the side. Not hard, just playful. But he didn't let go.
"Still not letting go?" she asked.
"Nope."
"…Idiot," she muttered.
But she didn't move either.
She rested her head lightly against his chest. His warmth calmed her. For once, she didn't feel alone.
In that quiet moment, Tsunade's thoughts drifted. She thought about her brother, about Dan, about the dreams they once had.
Then she thought of the silver-haired man holding her right now bold, strange, and full of surprises.
Maybe… maybe it wasn't too late to believe again.
And so, under the evening light, Tsunade stayed in Kakashi's arms, her heart lighter than it had been in years.
After some time they had returned to the quiet inn. Tsunade and Kakashi sat at a small table outside. A few empty sake bottles were already on the table. Tsunade was a little tipsy, her cheeks pink from the drink.
"You're really something, Kakashi," she said, swaying a bit as she poured herself another cup.
"Good or bad?" Kakashi asked as he leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed.
"Too good. That's the problem." Tsunade pointed at him with her cup.
"Problem for who?" He asked with some amusement in his tone.
"You've got that perfect hair, handsome face, calm attitude. And you're strong. What else does a woman want?" She huffed and looked away.
"Don't let Kurenai know that." Kakashi chuckled.
"She already knows that." She said as she glanced at him.
"Know what?" Kakashi asked.
"That I think you are dangerous."
"She did say I could have a second girlfriend," Kakashi said with a smirk on his face.
Tsunade leaned on the table, her chin in her hand. "That woman's either crazy… or really confident."
"Maybe both," Kakashi said with a grin.
"So, you really have permission you were not joking the other day?" Tsunade laughed as she asked him.
"Yup," he said, sipping from his cup. And to be honest, he didn't expect Kurenai to do that.
"You know what I like about you?" Tsunade stared at him for a moment and said.
"What?" Kakashi looked back at her with curiosity.