"Tsunade-sama."
Shizune lifted her hand and knocked on the door.
She waited a few seconds, but there was no response from inside.
"Tsunade-sama!" she called again, raising her voice this time.
"Quit making noise!" came a drowsy voice from inside.
Tsunade rolled over in bed, and with that movement, two long pale legs slid into view from under the blanket.
"Tsunade-sama, Kitazawa says he has something important to discuss with you!"
As soon as Shizune finished, she pushed the door open and walked in.
"Kitazawa?" Tsunade mumbled sleepily, turning her body over again.
Shizune glanced at her instinctively, then immediately fell silent.
There was just… no comparison to be made here.
At the same time, she felt oddly relieved that Kitazawa wasn't the one seeing this messy scene.
"Wasn't Kitazawa heading to the Land of Grass?" Tsunade asked, sitting up. She covered her mouth and yawned lazily.
"He should've returned yesterday," Shizune said after a moment's thought. "With his personality, he wouldn't be here without a good reason. I'd say it's almost definitely something urgent."
"Could it be Naruto?" Tsunade swung her legs over the bed, then quickly shook her head. "No… if something happened to Naruto, he wouldn't be looking for me first."
"Tsunade-sama, maybe you should change out of your nightgown," Shizune reminded gently.
"True. No reason to let that guy get a free show." Tsunade gave herself a quick once-over, noting just how much she was showing.
"…?"
Shizune froze. Why did that sound like there was a backstory between the two of them?
Tsunade didn't explain. She turned to the wardrobe, pulled out her usual sleeveless top, and slipped it on.
With a quick motion, she tied a black sash around her waist. The simple outfit instantly had a sharper outline and a hint of her usual presence.
"What's this about?" she asked, walking over to Kitazawa barefoot. Her tone was casual, but her eyes were alert. "If this isn't urgent, I'm tossing you out."
There weren't many people who could disturb her sleep and not pay the price.
"It's urgent," Kitazawa said without hesitation. He knew she wasn't bluffing—this was the same woman who could punch Jiraiya several meters through the air. Throwing him out would be nothing.
"I came across a very unusual ninja in the Grass Village."
He then repeated to Tsunade exactly what he'd already told Yūhi Kurenai.
Tsunade's pupils narrowed as she froze in place. She hadn't seen the person herself, but the image was already forming in her mind. In a world this large, coincidences happened, but red hair and a massive chakra reserve? That almost certainly meant an Uzumaki.
"I never thought there'd still be members of the Uzumaki clan alive," Tsunade said slowly, her tone filled with surprise.
Konoha—and more specifically, the Senju clan—had deep ties with the Uzumaki.
The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, had married Uzumaki Mito, who was the first Nine-Tails jinchūriki.
The second jinchūriki had also been from the Uzumaki: Kushina, wife of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato.
"The Grass Village really has some nerve," Tsunade said, her voice dropping cold as she clenched her fists. "Come on, we're going to see the old man."
Small as it was, Grass was still a hidden village. Matters involving two villages had to be handled through the Hokage.
Kitazawa followed her all the way to the Hokage's office.
"Tsunade-sama," Anbu operative Haru stepped forward to greet them. "The Hokage isn't here yet."
"Then get him here. Immediately," Tsunade ordered without the slightest hesitation.
"Yes, ma'am."
If it were anyone else, Haru would have ignored them—or even punished them for disrespect. But Tsunade was different. He was sure that if he ignored her, she'd storm the Sarutobi clan compound herself.
It wasn't long before Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived. His gaze landed on Kitazawa with mild confusion before he looked back at Tsunade. "What's happened?"
Tsunade wasn't one to show up before office hours, especially in peacetime. For her to be here now meant it had to be something serious.
"Do you remember the Uzumaki clan?" Tsunade asked.
"Of course," Hiruzen said gravely. "Does this involve them?"
His first thought was that she had tracked down the ones responsible for their destruction—a problem that could escalate quickly. The Uzumaki weren't an ordinary clan; they had ruled the Land of Whirlpools, their strength on par with a small hidden village. To wipe them out in one night had to involve one of the Five Great Villages—most likely Mist or Cloud.
"Kitazawa found an Uzumaki ninja in the Grass Village," Tsunade said plainly.
"What?" Hiruzen's eyes widened, but when he heard it was Grass and not Mist or Cloud, he looked a little relieved. Konoha couldn't afford another shinobi war.
"Are you sure?" he asked Kitazawa.
"One hundred percent," Kitazawa replied, describing the woman's features again.
"Then it's almost certain," Hiruzen said after listening carefully.
"What's your plan?" Tsunade asked, her tone sharp.
"The Uzumaki are our allies—we have to save her," Hiruzen answered without hesitation. Refusing would only provoke Tsunade's temper, and Naruto—half Uzumaki—would also hold it against him in the future.
"The question is how to do it," Hiruzen continued. "Grass isn't a threat, but the other villages might see it as an excuse to interfere."
"What excuse? Helping an ally is our right," Tsunade shot back immediately.
"As Hokage, I can't act rashly," Hiruzen said with a hint of awkwardness.
"Then I'll go myself," Tsunade said firmly.
"I think we should discuss this first," Hiruzen urged. "Marching straight in might make us look too overbearing."
"Hokage-sama, Tsunade-sama," Kitazawa said, stepping in. "I have an idea—start with diplomacy, then be ready for force."
"What do you mean?" Tsunade asked, her tone easing slightly.
Kitazawa explained: send Grass a formal letter stating the facts and demanding the Uzumaki's release. If they refused, they'd be in the wrong, and Konoha would have full justification to act.
"This is a good approach," Hiruzen said, eyes lighting up. If Grass complied, it would raise Konoha's prestige; if not, they would have a legitimate reason to move.
"Then let's do it," Tsunade said coldly. "Every minute wasted means she suffers longer."
"You'll handle it, like when we rescued Yakushi Kabuto," Hiruzen said with a smile. "I'll put Anbu under your command temporarily."
"…Again?" Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "Do I look that easy to trick?"
"This isn't trickery—it means you'll deliver the letter personally," Hiruzen explained. "If Grass tries to destroy evidence, we need to be ready."
"Fine," Tsunade said after a pause. She understood the risk.
"I'll write the letter now. Go to Anbu and assemble your team," Hiruzen said, pausing to add, "Remember, we're rescuing, not attacking—don't bring too many."
"I'm not a kid," Tsunade said with a dismissive wave. "Two squads is enough."
"Eight Anbu with Tsunade to Grass," Hiruzen ordered Haru.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Haru replied.
Tsunade stayed in the office, lounging on the couch. Kitazawa sat down beside her, while Shizune stood behind like the secretary she essentially was these days.
Haru was quick to return with eight Anbu. Kitazawa immediately spotted Kakashi's silver hair and gave him a wink. Then his eyes landed on the other familiar figure—Uchiha Itachi.
"These are the Anbu team leads, Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi," Haru introduced.
No wonder they looked familiar. Kitazawa wasn't surprised—Haru's choices were excellent. With Tsunade, Kakashi, and Itachi together, even Cloud wouldn't be out of the question.
The thought of Yamato crossed Kitazawa's mind—both times Tsunade had temporarily commanded Anbu, Yamato hadn't appeared. Was Hiruzen hiding him to avoid stirring up the Wood Release experiments and Danzo's involvement?
The office grew quiet except for the scratch of Hiruzen's pen. Itachi's gaze fell on Kitazawa. Technically, he was the only outsider here, which only highlighted his closeness with Tsunade.
"Done," Hiruzen said, handing the letter to Haru, who then passed it to Tsunade.
"We leave now," Tsunade said, tucking it away without even reading it.
"I'll come with you," Kitazawa said.
"Aren't you teaching?" Tsunade asked.
Kitazawa glanced around, then leaned in and whispered something to her.
"That works," Tsunade said with a faint grin.
Hiruzen resisted the urge to ask what that was about.
In his mind, Kitazawa's system prompt appeared—
[Mission: Escort the Uzumaki mother and daughter safely to Konoha.]
[Reward: Fire-Sealing Method.]
[Accept?]
He accepted immediately.
His whispered plan was simple: if Tsunade went, Grass might give them up easily. If they didn't, she'd have a perfect excuse to hit back—which was exactly what she wanted.
Once they left the office, the Anbu melted into the shadows. Tsunade, Shizune, and Kitazawa headed for Grass. That night, they set up camp. Kitazawa took the opportunity to chat with Kakashi and Itachi, learning that Grass was divided into two factions—the militant "Grass Fruit," who wanted to use the Box of Ultimate Bliss to rule the ninja world, and the peaceful "Grass Flower."
By the next morning, they reached the gates of Grass Village.
"Kitazawa, you go," Tsunade said, handing him the letter.
"Shizune, you're with me—it'll look better if there are two of us," Kitazawa replied.
"Kakashi, Itachi," Tsunade called.
"Ma'am," they answered, appearing instantly.
"Go into the village and quietly locate the Uzumaki," Tsunade ordered. Both nodded and vanished.
Kitazawa and Shizune approached the gates, where two Grass shinobi quickly stepped forward.
"Konoha ninja," Kitazawa introduced them evenly.
"What business brings you here?" one asked.
"This is a letter from our Hokage to your leader," Kitazawa said in a calm, serious tone. "If you refuse, the consequences will be serious."
"Are you threatening us?" the younger one demanded.
"It's not a threat—it's a notice," Kitazawa replied with a smile. "Go quickly. The longer you take, the less anyone can guarantee what'll happen."
"Don't think you can act arrogant just because you're from Konoha," the younger one said angrily, gripping his sword.
"Sorry—being from Konoha means I can," Kitazawa said with a shrug.
Shizune stared at him, baffled. She didn't know what he and Tsunade had discussed, but it was now obvious he was deliberately making it less likely Grass would cooperate.
"Go inform the leader," the older one said, stopping his comrade. "And make sure you repeat his words exactly."
~~~
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