"That's not your concern," Hiruzen Sarutobi said evenly, lowering his head to focus on the documents before him. "I am the Hokage."
"Do you plan to let her ruin everything?!" Danzo snapped.
Bang
The door slammed open. Danzo turned, frowning. There was only one person reckless enough to enter the Hokage's Office like that.
"Tsunade," Hiruzen said without looking up, his tone calm but weary. "You've just returned, so I'll overlook it this time. But at least learn to knock."
Ignoring Danzo entirely, Tsunade strolled in and dropped herself lazily onto the sofa. "Knock for what? You don't look busy, old man."
Danzo's single visible eye narrowed, but seeing he was being ignored, he simply turned to leave.
"Hiruzen," he said coldly, pausing at the doorway, "you'll regret this."
When the door shut behind him, Tsunade crossed one leg over the other, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "That scene never gets old. How long are you going to let him run around unchecked?"
"Don't be disrespectful to Danzo," Hiruzen said, setting aside the papers and tapping the desk lightly. "He's done much for the Village."
At his signal, the Anbu stationed outside reinforced the perimeter—a clear warning for anyone else thinking of barging in.
"After all these years wandering around, you still haven't learned patience," Hiruzen continued, his gaze sharpening. "I won't ask how Roshi convinced you to come back, but tell me—what does he want?"
"Sensei," Tsunade said, suddenly polite, though her tone carried that familiar edge. "Since you clearly can't handle it anymore, why not just retire?"
Hiruzen's smile was thin. "If the alternative is handing the Hokage's hat to someone even less capable, I'll stay where I am."
He wasn't blind to reality—he knew his era was drawing to an end. But with neither Jiraiya nor Tsunade willing to take the mantle, all he could do was hold the line until the next generation was ready.
Kakashi wasn't yet old or seasoned enough. Another few years in the Anbu, a record of leadership as a Jonin, then perhaps…
"You still haven't answered me," Hiruzen pressed. "What does Roshi want you to do?"
Tsunade leaned back, resting her chin on her hand. "Nothing much. Just to take over for a few years while you finally enjoy that retirement you've been putting off. That kid's a pain. He wouldn't stop pestering me until I said yes."
Hiruzen's tone turned dry. "If persistence alone could bring you back, Shizune wouldn't have had to follow you across half the continent."
Tsunade's smile faded. "Uchiha," she said simply.
Hiruzen's brows rose. "How does he plan to handle it?"
"He's already spoken with Fugaku. The man's willing to compromise."
That surprised even the Hokage. "Fugaku… is actually talking?"
He had tried countless times to reason with the Uchiha patriarch—even sending Shisui as an emissary—only to be met with silence or empty words.
When talks failed, he turned to the next generation. Allowing Itachi's early graduation had been a calculated move—one that pulled the boy out of the Military Police and closer to the village at large.
Then, fate intervened—the boy lost his team on a mission, and reassignments stalled. Pairing him with Roshi had been a gamble, but a successful one. Roshi managed both Itachi and Fugaku—something Hiruzen himself had failed to do.
"Tell me the details," Hiruzen said, tone softening slightly. "Not just his ideas—yours too. If things can truly move forward, I'll make the arrangements."
Tsunade crossed her arms. "Some of this won't be pleasant to hear, old man. So I'll be blunt—"
"You're not touching the Village's finances." Hiruzen countered first.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "Without financial control, half the Hokage's authority vanishes."
"Then start earning trust first," he replied sharply. "Until you clear your debts, you won't be managing any of it. If I let you handle Konoha's treasury, the moment something goes wrong, people will think you gambled the village away."
Tsunade had no comeback. She simply sat back, arms folded, scowling in silence.
Their talk dragged on—a clash between stubborn generations, neither yielding an inch.
By the time Tsunade left the Hokage's Office, her expression was dark enough to make passing Chunin scatter.
When she arrived at the old Senju residence in the western suburbs, she at least had the decency to knock.
The door opened—and whatever politeness she had vanished instantly. She brushed past Roshi without a word, bumping his shoulder as she entered.
Once she stepped into the sunlit courtyard, though, her demeanor softened.
"Grandma Momoka," she greeted, her tone far more reserved than usual.
Senju Momoka sat serenely on the veranda, sipping tea. "Had your fun?" she asked lightly, motioning for Tsunade to sit. "I haven't left the Village in so long, I can hardly remember what the outside looks like."
"It's not much different from Konoha," Tsunade said carefully. "Just… more inns and schools."
"And casinos," the old woman added with a knowing smile. "You really do take after Lord Hashirama."
Tsunade let out a dry laugh, visibly uncomfortable.
"Hashirama loved to gamble too," Momoka continued. "Lord Tobirama even outlawed casinos in the village to keep him in check. He'd still sneak off to play—and take you with him."
"Ahem… that was a long time ago. How's your health?"
"Good enough," Momoka said simply, rising to retire to her room. "You two talk."
When she left, Tsunade visibly relaxed. Facing the old Hokage was one thing; facing a Senju elder was another.
As Roshi poured her tea, she looked at him, expression mixed between exasperation and reluctant admiration.
"I talked to the old man," she said finally. "I'll stay in the Village, take over his work bit by bit, and talk with Fugaku directly."
Her tone hardened. "As for you…"
She glared, memories flashing through her mind—his persistence, his smugness, his nerve. He'd gotten Sage Mode, the summoning contract, and even pushed her into returning to Konoha.
And now he was standing there like nothing happened.
"You're not off the hook," she said, smiling darkly. "Tomorrow, you're going to the Fire Capital. The old man has a letter for the Daimyo. And by the way—"
Her grin widened. "Your vacation's officially canceled."
Roshi sighed. "You're very enthusiastic."
Tsunade grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close, eyes gleaming. "You've racked up enough favors from me to last a lifetime. Don't think you're getting off easy. As long as I'm in office, you'll be running missions until you drop dead."
She smirked. "Don't even think about running away."
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