The morning sun shone through the large windows of the Hokage Tower, casting long beams of light across the room.
Tsunade sat behind her desk with her sleeves rolled up, a pair of glasses perched on her nose, and a stack of paperwork tall enough to hide Shizune behind. She groaned, picked up another sheet, and signed off another D-rank mission request.
Just as she moved to the next document, the soft rustle of wings drew her eyes upward. A large courier hawk flew in through the open window and landed gracefully on the edge of her desk. Its legs bore a scroll wrapped in a Kirigakure seal.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow and undid the seal, her sharp eyes scanning the message inside.
"Hmph," she murmured.
The scroll was a formal notice from Kirigakure, requesting permission for the Mizukage to visit Konoha personally to retrieve the swords of the deceased Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Zabuza Momochi and Raiga Kurosuki, both of whom had fallen in the Land of Waves at the hands of Hatake Kakashi.
It wasn't a surprise. Kakashi had once told her that the weapons were stored safely in Konoha by Hiruzen awaiting retrieval by Kirigakure's leader. But Tsunade's eyes narrowed slightly as she recalled a certain blond knucklehead's recent comments.
"Oi baa-chan, I think that Mizukage lady likes Kakashi-sensei. She asked all kinds of questions when we saw her!"
"She's not coming for swords. She's coming for Kakashi." A sigh left her lips as she leaned back in her chair.
With a lazy flick of her hand, she signed the official approval for the visit and sent the hawk back with a reply: The Mizukage and her escort are welcome in Konoha at any time.
Tsunade stretched and cracked her shoulders. With the political stuff handled, she stood up, adjusted her robes, and made her way out of the office. Instead of heading home, though, she walked down into the depths of the Hokage Tower, toward the Forbidden Scroll Room.
A pair of ANBU guards nodded and stepped aside as she approached the sealed chamber. With a few quick hand seals, she unlocked the heavy barrier and entered.
Inside, the air was still and cold. Old scrolls lined the walls, each one containing techniques too dangerous or powerful to be taught to the average ninja.
At the center of the room, lying on the floor, was Hatake Kakashi himself.
He was lying on his stomach, elbows propped up, reading an unsealed scroll. His white hair fell forward, casting shadows over his handsome face, which was unusually relaxed.
"Reading scrolls like a good student, huh?" Tsunade arched a brow.
"Morning, Hokage-sama." Kakashi turned his head lazily, a small smirk forming.
"Flying Thunder God… Namikaze Minato version?" She stepped closer and looked down at the scroll. Her eyes scanned the characters.
"Yeah. My sensei's variation." Kakashi nodded and shifted up to sit cross-legged.
"You already have my Grand-Uncles," Tsunade said, curiously. "The Flying thunder god is sealed in the scroll I gave you. Why this one?"
Kakashi picked up the edge of the scroll and tapped the intricate formulas with his finger. "Minato-sensei improved on it. He could mark kunai, throw them, and teleport objects without moving himself. With Tobirama's method, you have to be physically present or use more chakra to maintain the connection."
He paused, eyes softening. "He wanted to teach me. But back then, I didn't have the chakra reserves or the reaction speed to make it work. With the Sharingan gone…my mind's clearer. And with the large chakra reserves I have now… I finally have the power."
Tsunade's gaze lingered on him, her expression unreadable at first. Then she gave a quiet hum and sat down beside him, the fabric of her Hokage cloak brushing his arm.
"You've changed," she said softly. "You're not just Kakashi the Copy Ninja anymore. You're building your own style."
"Trying to," Kakashi said with a shrug as he touched his eyes."Those eyes were never mine. These are."
"By the way, Kirigakure sent a hawk this morning." She nodded. A moment passed in silence before she added,
"Mizukage?" Kakashi tilted his head, already guessing.
"Mm," Tsunade replied, watching his reaction. "Officially, she's coming to retrieve Zabuza and Raiga's weapons. But let's be real… she's coming to see you."
"Who made me so charming?" Kakashi sighed.
"Don't flatter yourself too much." Tsunade snorted and rolled her eyes.
She stood up, dusted off her cloak, and then—without warning, sat herself on Kakashi's lap, facing him.
"This is sudden." Kakashi blinked.
"Anko, Kurenai, and I had a little talk." She looked smug.
"Should I be worried?"
"Depends," she said, placing her hand on his chest. "We've decided. We'll allow two more. Only two more. That's it."
L"You're… letting me?" Kakashi blinked.
"Don't push it." She smirked and leaned in closer.
"I wasn't expecting permission." He chuckled softly and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"You've earned it," Tsunade said seriously, brushing his silver hair back with her fingers. "You've carried so much for this village, for those kids, for us. Just don't go falling for every foreign kunoichi who smiles at you."
"No promises," Kakashi teased with a smirk. "But I'll try."
She narrowed her eyes, then laughed and leaned in for a kiss.
They sat like that for a moment, wrapped in quiet affection between old scrolls of forbidden jutsu and the smell of old ink.
"Minato would be proud of you, you know." After a while, Tsunade pulled back, her voice quieter.
"I hope so." Kakashi looked down at the Flying Thunder God scroll again, his fingers tightening slightly on the edge.
Tsunade stood up at last and dusted herself off. "Come back upstairs when you're done. Shizune will want help organizing the Mizukage's welcome. And I'll need someone to make sure Anko doesn't poison the guests."
"I'll be there soon." Kakashi gave her a tired smile.
As she walked out, Kakashi remained where he was, eyes trailing over the scroll once more.
Minato's version of the jutsu was cleaner. Elegant. Built around finesse rather than raw chakra.