Chapter 27 – The Hokage's Burden
The Hokage's office smelled faintly of ink and old parchment. Scrolls were stacked high, mission reports scattered across the desk. Behind it, Tsunade sat with her arms folded, a frown etched deeply into her face.
Shizune stood at her side, pen in hand, though her eyes flicked nervously toward the door every few moments.
Finally, the door creaked open. Jiraiya entered first, his expression heavy. Naruto and Sasuke followed, both with that familiar air of quiet resolve.
"Well?" Tsunade asked, her voice sharp but low.
Jiraiya shook his head. "Nothing. Not even a trace. He's vanished deeper than we thought."
Naruto shoved his hands in his pockets, sighing. "Tch. Figures. That snake wouldn't make it easy."
Sasuke stood silent, gaze lowered, but Tsunade caught the tension in his shoulders.
Shizune cleared her throat. "You… didn't find any evidence at all? No chakra residue? No hideouts?"
"Abandoned, stripped clean," Jiraiya said. "Orochimaru doesn't leave his skin behind unless he wants you to see it."
A silence fell, heavy as lead.
Tsunade leaned back in her chair, eyes narrowing. "He's planning something. I can feel it." Her hand curled slightly on the desk. "And with his body failing, he's desperate."
Naruto spoke up, casual but firm. "He's not gonna get Sasuke. Not now, not ever. Besides—" his grin was sharp, but not arrogant—"if he shows up, we'll just handle him."
Sasuke's lips curved faintly at the corner. "Hn. As if it's that simple."
But Tsunade noticed—neither boy spoke with fear. There was no dread in their voices. Just calm, as though facing Orochimaru was an inevitable obstacle, not an unthinkable danger.
Jiraiya caught it too. His eyes softened. "You two… You're not treating him like an enemy."
Naruto shrugged, leaning against the wall. "He's dangerous, sure. But he's not… evil, you know? More like someone who got lost chasing power."
Sasuke's tone was quieter, thoughtful. "He was one of you. A Sannin. If he'd chosen differently… maybe he wouldn't be standing against us at all."
Tsunade's gaze darkened. Memories of her teammate—brilliant, ambitious, twisted by his own thirst—flooded her mind.
"Don't make the mistake of pitying him," she warned. Her voice carried the weight of experience, of battles lost and friends turned enemies. "Orochimaru doesn't hesitate. He doesn't forgive. Whatever bond you think exists—he severed it long ago."
Naruto met her eyes with that same stubborn fire she knew too well.
"Then we'll just remind him what he lost. If he's too far gone, fine. But until then—we're not scared of him."
The room was quiet again, but this time, Tsunade couldn't quite shake the feeling that these two boys were speaking with the certainty of people who had already seen further than anyone else.
Jiraiya broke the silence with a small chuckle. "Looks like your brats aren't the same as the ones we were back then, Tsunade."
Tsunade exhaled, long and slow. She rubbed her temple, then finally nodded. "Fine. But remember this: whether he's lost or not, Orochimaru is still a predator. If he comes near this village, I want you ready. Both of you."
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a glance—an unspoken promise between them.
"Yeah," Naruto said simply.
"Hn," Sasuke agreed.
As the two left the office, Jiraiya lingered, studying Tsunade's face. He saw the worry buried beneath her hardened words.
"He's not just a threat to them, is he?" Jiraiya asked quietly.
Tsunade closed her eyes for a brief moment. "…No. He's a reminder."
Her hand tightened into a fist.
"A reminder of what happens when a genius chooses the wrong path."
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