The voice in her mind did not respond for a long time.
After carefully sensing with her own chakra, Tsunade finally confirmed that the Sage's Mark had truly vanished.
"Fine, I'll let it slide for now, but we'll settle this when we get back to Konoha!"
With that, Tsunade stood up, leaving Kamizuki Hikari on the bed to feel the lingering weight of those towering peaks.
*Shff!*
The curtains were pulled open. A ray of sunlight spilled into the tent, dispersing the darkness.
Turning to see Hikari still lazing on the bed, Tsunade shot him an annoyed glare. "Quit lying there! Get up, I need to talk to you."
"Go ahead, I'm listening!" Hikari yawned. He hadn't been sleepy before, but the moment he caught the scent of the bed, drowsiness rushed in like a tide.
Seeing this, Tsunade didn't bother arguing further. She pulled over a chair and sat down.
"You've heard the news about me defeating Ōnoki and the Fourth Raikage A, right?" she asked, clearly excited at the mention of her victory.
Though Hikari's Sage Mark had played a small part, the real credit belonged to her. Without her effort, that mark wouldn't have amounted to much, right?
"Yeah, I heard. Impressive!"
Hikari gave her a thumbs up.
"Right? You think I'm amazing too!"
After a bit of self-praise, Tsunade finally got to the main point.
"I've captured both Raikage and Tsuchikage. Letting them go feels like a waste, but keeping them here won't sit well with the Kumo and Iwa shinobi. What should I do?"
Hikari sat up, speechless. "Why worry about it? Shikaku-senpai and that perv Kakashi are both here. Just ask them. If they don't know, call a jonin meeting. Someone will figure it out."
---
Outside the tent, Kakashi, who had been eavesdropping in a corner, frowned, grinding his teeth as he glared at the tent. He looked like he was about to storm in and drag Hikari out for a spar.
Seeing this, Shikaku hurriedly grabbed him. "Calm down, calm down. Tsunade-sama is still inside. If she finds out we've been eavesdropping, the result will be..."
There was no need to finish that sentence. Kakashi cooled down instantly, his hand unconsciously drifting toward his tool pouch.
'If that bastard Hikari doesn't draw me a few more waifus to heal my wounded heart, I'm not letting this slide!'
---
"I've thought about that too," Tsunade went on, "but I feel like these two could fetch a pretty hefty ransom. If all the money for them goes to me, I could not only cover my debts but also live a carefree life for a while."
The mere thought of a life filled with pleasures made Tsunade even more reluctant to hand the two captives over to the village.
Hikari's mouth twitched.
As expected of the Legendary Sucker, huh?
"If you don't want to hand them over, then just demand ransom directly from Iwa and Kumo. What's the big deal? You captured them, after all. There's nothing wrong with you taking the money, right?"
Tsunade still looked hesitant.
"But if I keep it all for myself, doesn't that tarnish the image of me as Hokage? A Hokage is supposed to be selfless. Wouldn't doing this leave a stain on my name?"
Ugh!
And you're worried about stains your name?
Don't worry. Ever since you earned the title of 'Legendary Sucker', your record's already filled with stains that can't be washed away.
Hikari sighed. "In that case, why not just split it? Half for you, half for the village. That should work, right?"
Tsunade rested her chin on her hand, thinking it over.
Half wasn't unacceptable.
"It's just... how do I say it? As Hokage, there are things I can't exactly say out loud, you understand?"
As someone who cared about appearances, Tsunade couldn't voice such things herself.
What she needed was someone to say it for her.
"Shizune is too close to you, so she can't say it." Hikari pointed out.
Tsunade agreed immediately.
"If not Shizune, then Kakashi?"
Outside the tent, Kakashi's face turned black instantly.
'This kind of dirty job... why is it always me? I'm the only heir of the Hatake clan, you know. Shouldn't you be protecting me?'
Hikari shook his head. "No. Kakashi never involves himself in these matters. If he said it, people would definitely suspect you put him up to it."
"Then that leaves only Hiashi or Shikaku. Hiashi stays out of trouble and wouldn't say it, so... that just leaves Shikaku."
This time Kakashi's face flushed red—not from illness, but from stifling laughter at Shikaku's expression, which looked like he'd just eaten something foul.
Shikaku thought bitterly: 'I've shed blood for Konoha, contributed to Konoha... Hokage-sama, you can't treat me like this.'
Inside the tent, after mentioning Shikaku, Tsunade suddenly looked at Hikari with shining eyes. "Well, I'd feel too embarrassed to say it myself, so… you understand!"
Hikari smirked. "Nope, I don't. And no matter how sincerely you flash those... assets, I'm not—argh!"
*Boom!*
Hikari was sent flying out of the tent, crashing into the ground. Unfortunately for him, the landing spot was exactly where Kakashi and Shikaku were hiding.
"Need a hand?" Kakashi asked with exaggerated friendliness, looking at Hikari buried in the dirt.
Lifting his head, Hikari glared at Kakashi's smug, smiling face.
"Ptuh! Ptuh!"
After spitting out dirt, he stood up. "Thanks for the offer, but I'll pass. Instead, let's discuss something important. Eavesdropping on the Hokage... who do you think should take the blame for that?"
Kakashi's grin vanished, replaced by a grim seriousness.
"Hikari, I think someone with status and responsibility should handle it. Don't you agree?"
Shikaku, who had just been watching, suddenly realized something was off. He opened his mouth to protest, only for Hikari to clamp a hand over it.
"Kakashi, you're right. Shikaku-senpai, eavesdropping on Tsunade-sama is indeed a grave matter. Are you willing to take responsibility for it?"
In a shinobi village, eavesdropping on the Hokage was no small offense.
At worst, it could be labeled as espionage against one's own village—a crime punishable by death.
At best, it meant fines, forced labor, or other disciplinary measures.
Ultimately, it all depended on how the Hokage chose to judge it.
And since the Hokage now was Tsunade, the weight of this crime rested entirely in her hands.
Even someone like Shikaku could only bow his head before such absolute authority.
"...Fine. I get it. I'll take care of it. But the Raikage and Tsuchikage are still imprisoned. Please, ask Hokage-sama to at least visit them soon."
"No problem. Don't worry—I'll agree to that on her behalf!"
Hikari agreed without hesitation, completely unaware of Tsunade's murderous gaze burning into his back!
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