HOKAGE TOWER
The silence grew heavy inside the room, but Tsunade didn't take her eyes off Fukasaku. Her breathing was already controlled, and her firm posture showed she wouldn't break at that moment, even with everything collapsing inside.
'Jiraiya… you were always an idiot…' The thought came dry, without softening. 'And even so… you shouldn't have died like that.'
She closed her eyes for a second, holding back what needed to be contained.
'Naruto… what did they do to you…'
"I can't stop now." She spoke quietly, more to herself than to him, keeping her head held high. "Not with this happening."
Before any other word could come, a voice came from outside.
"Tsunade-sama, Danzō is here!" Shizune shouted from the corridor, firm enough to cut through the door. "He wants to come in, but I didn't authorize it!"
The name was enough.
Tsunade didn't change her expression, but her gaze hardened instantly.
'Right now… you show up… you damn old man.'
She understood.
Shizune wasn't just informing.
She was buying time.
Tsunade slightly turned her face to Fukasaku, already making the decision without hesitation.
"Go through the window." She spoke directly, leaving no room for discussion. "Find Kakashi and tell him everything."
Fukasaku didn't respond immediately, just holding her gaze for a second.
"You want him to know before everyone else."
"I need him to know now." Tsunade kept her tone firm. "He can't find out any other way."
Fukasaku nodded.
"Understood."
He moved without hesitation, jumping toward the window and disappearing right after, leaving no presence behind.
The room was empty.
Tsunade took a deep breath once, adjusting her posture and erasing any trace of what had just happened. Her face returned to complete control, cold enough to deal with what was coming next.
The door opened.
Without warning.
Danzō entered as if he didn't need permission, maintaining a rigid posture while his gaze quickly scanned the room before stopping on her.
"Tsunade-hime." He spoke low, but direct. "It seems the village is… unstable."
Tsunade didn't respond immediately.
"You don't have the right to come in here without authorization." She kept her tone firm, without raising her voice.
Danzō ignored it.
"I received an interesting report." He continued, without taking his eyes off her. "A new Uchiha… inside the village."
The focus shifted.
Tsunade showed no immediate reaction.
"So you already know." She replied simply.
"I know enough." Danzō took a short step forward. "And I know that someone with that kind of power shouldn't be left uncontrolled."
"He's not yours." Tsunade responded instantly.
Danzō didn't back down.
"This isn't a matter of possession." He kept his tone steady. "It's a matter of security."
Tsunade crossed her arms slightly.
"Then say what you want."
"I want him handed over to Root." Danzō answered directly. "Under my supervision."
"No." Tsunade replied without hesitation.
"Don't be foolish." Danzō advanced half a step, his voice low but filled with pressure. "This isn't a decision you can make alone. As soon as I speak with the other council members, that Uchiha will be handed to me. I just want to avoid wasting time."
"Then you'll waste it." Tsunade held his gaze firmly, without backing down. "If you want to get to Riser, you'll have to go through the council. Until then… get out of my office."
Danzō didn't move.
The silence that followed wasn't indecision.
It was restraint.
'She's challenging me directly…' The thought came dry, controlled. 'In front of everyone…'
"You're making a mistake." He spoke lower, but the irritation was already there. "This kind of decision—"
"It's already been made." Tsunade interrupted instantly, not allowing continuation. "And it's not up to you to question it."
Danzō tightened his grip on the cane slightly, his body still, but the tension obvious.
"You're putting yourself above the village." He replied, his tone hardening. "That's not leadership."
Tsunade didn't look away.
"Are you planning to rebel?" The question came directly, cutting off any room for interpretation.
Danzō froze for a second.
The accusation wasn't light.
"How dare you accuse me of that?" He replied immediately, his voice firmer. "I've defended this village since before you were born."
"Then keep defending it." Tsunade took a step forward, sustaining the pressure. "But within the hierarchy."
Danzō didn't respond.
"I am the Hokage." Tsunade kept her tone steady, but now without room for argument. "And until the elders are called for a meeting… my order is absolute."
Silence returned.
Danzō held her gaze for a few seconds, evaluating every word without trying to hide the discomfort.
'She won't back down…'
"I understand." He finally replied, regaining control of his tone. "Then let's take this to the council."
"Do that." Tsunade responded without hesitation.
Another second.
Danzō turned his body.
"But when this reaches them…" He spoke without looking back. "You won't be able to hold that decision."
"Then try." Tsunade replied instantly, without raising her voice, but without backing down an inch. "And see who loses first."
Danzō stopped for half a second, his hand gripping the cane tighter before moving on.
"You're betting too high." He spoke, already opening the door. "And this time… there won't be a second chance."
BAM
The door slammed shut.
The impact echoed through the corridor, making it clear he hadn't left satisfied.
Tsunade didn't move.
'He's going straight to the elders…' The thought came quickly. 'And he'll try to force this.'
knock knock.
"Tsunade-sama… may I come in?" Shizune's voice came from the other side, controlled but quick.
"Come in." Tsunade replied without taking her eyes off the door.
Shizune opened it and entered immediately, already searching her face.
"Danzō—"
"I know." Tsunade cut her off instantly. "Listen carefully."
Shizune stayed silent.
"Only let Kakashi in." Tsunade kept her tone firm. "Anyone else… is forbidden."
Shizune nodded without hesitation.
"Understood."
She turned and left right after, closing the door carefully.
Silence took over the room again, but now it wasn't external tension. Tsunade remained standing, staring ahead without focusing on anything specific, as the weight of the information came back stronger.
'Jiraiya… you always came back…' The thought came slower, different from her usual pattern. 'Even after disappearing… you always came back.'
She clenched her hand slightly, maintaining control.
'And this time… you won't.'
Her breathing grew heavier for a second, but she didn't look away. Her body didn't give in, her posture remained firm, as if any weakness at that moment was unacceptable.
'Naruto…' The thought stalled for a moment. 'What happened to you…'
She closed her eyes for a second, organizing everything again before continuing.
'This isn't the time to stop… not now.'
Time passed without interruptions, but the weight didn't lessen. Tsunade remained in the same place, maintaining control as each piece of information settled into what was coming next.
knock knock
"Godaime-sama… it's me." Kakashi's voice came from the other side of the door, direct and without hesitation. "May I come in?"
Tsunade opened her eyes.
"Come in."
The door opened immediately, and Kakashi entered with his gaze already fixed on her, but before any word could be said, a presence appeared by the window.
Fukasaku entered silently, landing inside the room as his gaze quickly passed over both of them.
"So you already called him." Fukasaku spoke directly, without preamble.
Tsunade nodded slightly.
"It was necessary." She kept her tone firm. "You've done your part."
Fukasaku didn't look away.
"I'm returning to Mount Myoboku." He spoke without hesitation. "I've done what I needed to do here."
"I expected that." Tsunade replied without changing her posture. "Thank you… for bringing the message."
Fukasaku held her gaze for a second.
"Take care of what comes next." He spoke low.
The seal formed.
POOF
His body disappeared instantly, pulled back by reverse summoning, leaving only the two of them in the room.
The silence didn't last.
Tsunade turned her gaze to Kakashi.
"Naruto… and Sasuke." She kept her tone firm, without preamble. "They are now nukenin."
Kakashi didn't react dramatically.
He simply tilted his head slightly, accepting the information.
"Understood."
Tsunade didn't look away.
"Inform Sakura." She continued directly. "You were her first sensei… she needs to know before this becomes public."
Kakashi nodded.
"I understand." He kept his tone steady before continuing. "But, Godaime… are you alright?"
Tsunade didn't respond immediately.
Her gaze remained firm, but without shifting.
"No." She answered directly. "But I'm the Hokage… and I have to do what a Hokage needs to do."
Kakashi held her gaze for a second.
"Then I will carry out my orders."
Tsunade didn't respond.
Kakashi turned his body.
And disappeared instantly.
Tsunade remained still for a second, keeping her gaze fixed on the now-closed door as she reorganized the next decisions.
'Now I need to find Riser…' The thought came directly, without room for doubt. 'I won't be able to protect him here.'
She clenched her hand slightly, her reasoning moving fast.
'Danzō won't stop… and when the council gets involved… it'll already be too late.'
Tsunade turned her body toward the window, without hesitation.
'He needs to leave the village… as soon as possible.'
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