"That is not your concern," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, lowering his head again to read documents. "I am the Hokage."
"Are you going to let her ruin everything?"
Bang.
Danzo turned. At this hour, the only one who dared barge into the Hokage's office so rudely was that woman.
"Tsunade, you just got back, so I'll let it go. But at least knock," Sarutobi Hiruzen said without looking up.
Ignoring Danzo's presence entirely, Tsunade flopped onto the sofa. "It's not like you have anything going on anyway, old man."
Seeing no one in the room paid him any mind, Danzo decided not to linger.
"Sarutobi, you will regret this."
That was all he left behind.
Legs crossed, Tsunade showed a faint smile. "What a familiar scene. How long are you going to let him cause trouble, old man?"
"Do not be so rude to Danzo. He has done a great deal for the village as well," the Third Hokage said, setting aside what was in front of him and tapping the desk lightly.
The ANBU outside heard the signal and expanded their perimeter, ensuring no one could barge in the way Tsunade had.
"You ran wild outside for so long, and now you come back just as impatient as ever. I won't ask how Shuji convinced you. What does he want you to do?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's face no longer wore its usual kind expression.
"Sensei." Polite again for the moment, Tsunade now resembled a certain person she had found very annoying lately. "Since you can't do it anymore, just rest."
"If someone even less competent takes over, I might as well keep sitting in this seat, old as I am," the Third Hokage replied coolly.
He naturally had an estimate for how much longer he would serve. With neither Jiraiya nor Tsunade willing to take over, it would fall to the newest generation.
Kakashi was not old enough yet, and his prestige was not high. After a few more years in ANBU, his mission record would look good enough. Then he could be returned to the jōnin ranks, lead students for a few years, and that would be about right.
"You still haven't answered my question. What does Shuji want you to do?" he pressed again.
Shuji's presence in this matter was far too strong. He must have a goal. If Tsunade was willing to return, that meant she agreed with his ideas.
"Nothing much. Just fill in for you for a few years so you can retire properly, old man," the Senju princess said, hand propping her cheek. "That brat is really annoying. I got pestered into coming back."
The Third Hokage had sharp words for his student. "If annoying was enough to get you back, Shizune wouldn't have spent all these years just drifting around with you."
"The Uchiha," Tsunade said.
"What is his plan?"
"He talked it over with Fugaku. Fugaku is willing to compromise."
The Third was genuinely surprised. "Fugaku is actually willing to negotiate?"
He had gone to Uchiha Fugaku how many times, and even extended goodwill repeatedly through Uchiha Shisui. Yet Fugaku had never shown any willingness to talk. Either he stayed silent or said things that were not human words.
Since the clan head would not negotiate, Sarutobi Hiruzen could only work on the next generation.
Agreeing to let Uchiha Itachi graduate early meant he would be unable to take a position in the Military Police Force for a long time. He could only follow the village's regulations and go through the squad process.
Through this method, letting the new generation of Uchiha form bonds with the village was his goal.
The only thing he had not expected was that one escort mission would cost Itachi his squad leader and teammates, making him hard to place for a time.
His last attempt had been pairing Itachi with Shuji. The results had been surprisingly good, so he had thrown Anko into the mix too, to keep her from overthinking all the time.
Now it seemed Shuji as squad leader had been more than qualified, beyond expectations.
Not only had he gotten through to Uchiha Itachi, he had somehow gotten through to Fugaku as well.
"Tell me the details. Not just Shuji's ideas, but yours too," the Third said. Learning that Uchiha Fugaku's attitude had softened, his mood improved considerably. "If possible, I will arrange things in the coming period."
"But some words are not pleasant. I will say them plainly first."
"You cannot be in charge of the village's money."
Tsunade frowned with displeasure. Without control of finances, half the Hokage's real power was gone. "Old man..."
"That is not negotiable. If you want me to feel at ease, deal with that pile of bad debts first," Sarutobi Hiruzen said sternly. "If I let you handle money and someone pulls tricks in the finances later, what then? If things are unclear, the villagers will question whether you misused village funds."
Tsunade was speechless.
The master and student talked for a while longer. There is no need to recount every detail.
Only when Tsunade-hime walked into the old estate in the western outskirts, her mood was not very good.
Returning to the old estate, she was relatively polite and knocked first.
Shuji opened the door. Tsunade's politeness collapsed instantly. Without a word, she shouldered past Shuji and shoved her way in.
Only after walking into the courtyard did she collect her expression again.
"Lady Momoka."
Unlike her bluntness when mentioning Lady Momoka in front of Shuji, face to face with the real person, Tsunade was somewhat constrained.
"Had your fill of fun?" The old woman did not rise. She let Tsunade sit beside her. "I have not left the village in too long. I can barely remember what the outside looks like now."
"It is much the same as inside the village, only with more schools, inns..." Tsunade considered her answer as she sat down.
"And casinos, correct?" A trace of warmth touched Lady Momoka's face. "Still the same habits as Lord Hashirama, Tsunade."
A flicker of embarrassment crossed Tsunade's face. She gave a dry laugh.
"Lord Hashirama loved to gamble too back then. Lord Tobirama issued an administrative order forbidding casinos in the village because of it. So he ran outside to play, and took you along."
"Ahem. That is all in the past. How has your health been lately?"
"Fine. No problems."
After chatting a bit longer, Lady Momoka rose and returned to her room to rest, leaving Shuji to entertain Tsunade.
Tsunade relaxed. Unlike facing Sarutobi Hiruzen, before Senju Momoka, even she had to restrain herself somewhat. With so many things after returning to the village, dealing with this elder from her grandfather's generation felt the most exhausting.
Now that it was Shuji instead, she actually felt much more comfortable.
So she even gave Shuji a decent face.
"I talked to the old man."
"Stay in the village for a while first. Gradually take over some duties. And from Fugaku's side, I need to hear his clear answer with my own ears."
"As for you..." Tsunade's face fell again.
Shuji had been too rude before. Considering she could not take charge and everything had to rest on his shoulders, she had endured it. She had given him the summoning contract and helped with sage training. And she still had to come back.
Though she had agreed herself, the more she thought about it, the more it felt like a huge loss.
Worst of all, this brat still had that look, never a kind word, always infuriating.
"Don't think about resting. Tomorrow you go to the Fire Capital. The old man has a letter for the daimyo," she said with a cold smile. "And by the way, your vacation is over. I canceled it for you."
"How thoughtful of you."
Tsunade grabbed Shuji by the collar and pulled him close. "You ate up all those benefits from me. Don't think that's the end of it," she said coldly. "However many years I'm in office, you are going to run missions until you drop."
"Don't even think about running."
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild