In the scorching heat of August, despite the ongoing Ninja World War, most battles were localized, leaving Konoha Village to enjoy a brief and rare moment of peace.
On a sunlit rooftop, Tsunade leaned lazily against the railing. She had returned to the village, tying her hair into a simple ponytail. Her attire—a refreshing belly-revealing short-sleeved shirt layered over a fishnet top—matched the sweltering summer day.
"Nawaki, happy twelfth birthday," she said warmly, her smile gentle and proud.
Across from her stood Nawaki, his forehead protector of Konoha tied securely. Seeing his sister's smile, he reached for the gift she had brought, though he tried to mask his excitement with feigned maturity.
"I'm not a child anymore. You don't need to give me presents," he said, but the bright gleam in his eyes betrayed his true feelings.
Tsunade chuckled softly, her amusement tinged with affection. "Open it and see—maybe it's something you'll like," she teased, a hint of solemnity hidden behind her playful tone.
Carefully, Nawaki unwrapped the beautifully packaged metal box. His eyes widened as he recognized its contents.
"Sister… this can't be!" His shock gave way to awe.
Tsunade smiled knowingly. "Yes, Nawaki. This is the Hokage necklace, our grandfather's," she confirmed.
Instantly, Nawaki's face lit up with joy. "I love you, big sis!"
Seeing her younger brother's excitement, Tsunade felt a mixture of warmth and concern. She asked casually, "So, Nawaki… I heard you'll be leaving on a mission tomorrow?"
Nawaki nodded eagerly, entirely oblivious to the careful undertone in his sister's voice. "Yes! I accepted it yesterday. I'll leave with Orochimaru-sensei tomorrow."
Tsunade's smile remained gentle, but beneath it, a shadow of worry crossed her eyes. Orochimaru's involvement was troubling—he couldn't ignore the potential danger. Nawaki was her brother and the future of the Senju clan, and she felt an uneasy weight pressing down on her heart.
Trying to lighten the mood, she teased, "I suppose that Uchiha brat in your class beat you to the top spot again? Otherwise, you'd already be my subordinate."
Nawaki grinned confidently. "Even if I were the top, I'd still choose Orochimaru-sensei as my teacher. But Uchiha Ya will definitely make you sweat, sister," he said, his tone playful.
The siblings spent Nawaki's twelfth birthday in laughter, their voices echoing through the summer air. Though yesterday had been blistering, the following day was overcast, as if nature itself mirrored the uncertain days ahead.
The next morning, at Konoha's main gate, Orochimaru led Nawaki's squad as they departed for their mission. Tsunade, hidden beneath the shade of a large tree, watched silently.
Her face was solemn as she studied the scroll in her hands. "A simple C-rank mission… a few wandering samurai… During wartime, even minor intel deserves attention," she murmured.
The details seemed unremarkable, yet something about the situation unsettled her. The mission should have been simple, completed within a day, yet the distance from the village was significant. Who would be reckless enough to venture here without being detected by patrols?
Tsunade knew the answer could only be one thing: danger lurked beneath the ordinary.
She chose not to follow Orochimaru's squad directly. With his presence, any trailing would be obvious. Instead, she resolved to reach the destination ahead of them, her determination fueled by concern for her brother.
Half a day later, shadows danced across the gloomy forest.
Suddenly, a scream pierced the air. A figure's eyes glazed over in shock as a massive snake's coils constricted around them. The snake withdrew seamlessly into Orochimaru's sleeves, leaving the victim incapacitated. Orochimaru's pale face broke into a sinister smile.
"Nawaki… your prowess is evident. Soon, you'll be ready for the battlefield," he murmured appreciatively.
Nawaki, a true scion of the Senju clan, had exceptional chakra, both in quality and quantity. With steady cultivation, he was destined to achieve elite chunin-level combat ability, far surpassing his peers.
Yet before Orochimaru could savor his pride in his disciple, a sudden explosion shattered the air. Flames erupted, illuminating the area with fierce intensity. Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed in disbelief.
"How… is this possible?" he muttered, horrified.
The two Genin accompanying Nawaki froze. They had faced danger before, but this was unprecedented. Flames reflected on their shocked faces as panic set in.
From the shadows, Tsunade's eyes blazed with fury. "Explosive traps? And so many of them!" she shouted silently to herself, analyzing the scene with a sharp mind honed by years of combat.
She had arrived long before Orochimaru's squad and had seen nothing suspicious among the wandering samurai. Yet now the evidence was undeniable: the detonating talisman traps had been carefully set to lure Nawaki into a deadly snare.
A cold truth dawned on her: this wasn't a coincidence.
"Nawaki!" her voice rang through the chaos, and in a swift motion, she flung a pre-prepared corpse as a distraction. The necklace she had given him the day before slipped from her neck and disappeared into the flames, a symbolic gesture with no practical purpose.
With one powerful motion, she swept Nawaki into her arms. A trail of flames marked her departure as she vanished into the forest, leaving only scorched earth and smoke behind.
At this moment, the legendary Sannin had not yet come into full form. Among them, Tsunade was the strongest, Orochimaru second, and Jiraiya last. While Jiraiya had not mastered senjutsu, and Orochimaru had yet to perfect forbidden techniques, Tsunade possessed unparalleled resources as the Senju clan's princess. Her strength, intelligence, and resources gave her an edge that was unmatched, even against seemingly insurmountable odds.
As they moved through the forest, Tsunade's mind raced. She had to get Nawaki to safety and ensure the mission's chaos did not escalate further. Her role as protector, as both sister and clan heir, weighed heavily on her. The flames of the trap had revealed more than just danger—they exposed the calculated malice lurking in the shadows.
Orochimaru's squad would be delayed. The young ninja, talented as they were, could not have anticipated the intricacies of this trap. And even if they survived, Tsunade knew that someone had gone to extraordinary lengths to target her brother.
Her heart pounded, but she remained calm. Every movement was deliberate, every thought precise. The fire around them was not just a threat—it was a signal, a warning. And Tsunade, as always, was ready.
She adjusted Nawaki in her arms, his face pressed against her shoulder, eyes wide with trust and amazement. "Big sis…" he murmured, his voice tinged with awe.
"Shh," she whispered softly. "It's okay. I've got you."
Through the smoke and fire, Tsunade's eyes scanned for threats. Every rustle, every shadow, was noted. Her mind pieced together a puzzle that even Orochimaru could not have anticipated.
By the time the flames subsided, Tsunade had already navigated them to a safe distance. The village, still unaware of the danger, remained blissfully unscathed. But Tsunade knew the war was far from over. Whoever had set these traps had planned meticulously. The question remained: was it truly coincidence, or something far more sinister?
Tsunade's grip tightened on Nawaki. The necklace, once a symbol of family pride, now lay discarded among the ashes. She had no time for sentimentality—survival and strategy were paramount.
Even as the sun began to dip toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest, Tsunade remained vigilant. The Sannin had not yet reached their legendary status, yet she was already demonstrating the strength, foresight, and resilience that would define her legacy.
The day's events had only confirmed one truth: in times of war, nothing was ever truly coincidental. Every encounter, every trap, every seemingly random event was part of a larger design.
And Tsunade, as protector of her brother and heir to the Senju clan, would be ready for whatever came next.
The forest echoed with silence, broken only by the soft labored breaths of Nawaki and the rustling of leaves. Tsunade's eyes, sharp and calculating, continued to scan the surroundings, prepared for the next threat, the next challenge.
The world of ninjas was ruthless, yet she would not allow her family—or her village—to fall victim to it.
Today was Nawaki's twelfth birthday, a day of laughter and joy. Tomorrow would demand vigilance, courage, and an unyielding will. And Tsunade, as always, would be at the forefront.
The Sannin were yet to be fully realized, but Tsunade had already proven one thing: in the shadow of danger, she was the one to be feared.
End of Chapter 6