Konoha's Protector

Part 18 Guilt

Ton ton had gotten lost in the village when numerous people mistook her as live stock and juggled her around the town.
It was only due to her persistent struggles that she managed to make it near the hokage tower the next morning.

4 30 am

Tsunade was getting ready in her quarters when she heard a familiar oink and a chunnin called out to her
" Tsunade sama! I know its early but this is an emergency!"

"Come in!" Tsunade commanded a bit anxious

The chunnin came in holding ton ton in his arms

"We found her near the tower just now,
She wasn't supposed to be there was she ?"

"What? No, no she wasnt..." Tsunade said confused

"She was last with shizune I remember...." Tsunade said as she remembered last evening's incidents

"Yeah now that i think of it i havent seen shizune since yesterday evening ......" she remembered

Shizune hadnt come to her with her evening tea which was annoying but Tsunade understood she might have been upset.

"Try finding shizune and if you dont, Ask around everyone you know who was on last evenings duty when they last saw her and report to me immediately!" She ordered

"Yes tsunade sama!"  The chunnin said leaving immediately

Tsunade quickly finished getting ready and left for her office

Shizune......what are you up to....was i that harsh ?

Tsunade thought

She had always scolded shizune from time to time , she had never been so affected as to run away though......no....she wouldnt.....somethings up......

I really hope its nothing and im just panicking for no reason

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"Reporting in!" Said the same chunnin knocking at her door

"Come in!" Tsunade said standing up

"What is it!?" She asked hurriedly as the chunnin walked in

"The last time shizune san was seen was around 6 30 yesterday evening
A chunnin saw her leave the tower with your pet pig." He said

" ton ton will know where shizune went, follow her and search every nook and crany of the place and report to me immediately!"

"Right!" Said the chunnin leaving

Tsunade became increasingly impatient

In around 15 mins however he returned

"We found a place near the outskirts of the village close to the forest where ton ton stopped and started acting out."

" yeah that makes sense I remember shizune going there from time to time. So what did u find?"

" well we dint find her or anything, no sign she was there, except-"

He took a handkerchief out of his pocket and gave it to tsunade

"This" he said grimly

Tsunade took the handkerchief and she instantly knew what had happened

"This is laced with a sleeping dose...." Tsunade muttered

"Should we send out a tracking team?" The chunnin asked

"Call Kakashi right now!" She ordered

"Right!" The chunnin said immediately disappearing

Kakashi appeared in her office a few minutes later.

"It's quite early for you to summon me" Kakashi said inquiring into the sudden call

"Shizune has been taken." She stated

Kakashis eyes widened "what..."

"Last evening" she said holding up the handkerchief laced with a sleeping dose. "Probably a similar case as Kurenai."

"So you want me to go rescue her?" He asked stating the obvious

However he learnt apparently he was wrong

"Of course not, im the one going." Tsunade said in an obvious tone.

Kakashi was astonished.

"Tsunade sama, im aware of your relationship with Shizune san, but you know you cannot do that..." Kakashi told her

"Kakashi I cant, I have to go." Tsunade sighed

"She was probably taken because of me..."

Kakashi looked at her confused

"We had a sort of quarrel yesterday...thats why she went to the deserted part of the village. Thats why she was probably distracted. Thats why she was taken." Tsunade explained with a guilty expression

Kakashi understood her reason

"I understand why you're blaming yourself but you know thats not why she was taken, you're not the one to blame. Please, don't let your emotions get the better of you. The village needs you. I'll go get her back." Kakashi tried to convince her

Tsunade sighed

This is my duty, he is right, i cant just abandon the village, it could as easily be a trap to lure me out....I cant be this immature.

Dammit. I cant even be there for her when she needs me, when shes always there for me....

Tsunade felt a tinge of sadness but understood she would not be able to go to save her, she had to send someone she trusted.

"Fine. I get it. You have to get her back, kakashi. Promise me you'll get her back alive." She looked at Kakashi seriously.

Kakashi closed his eyes for a moment and then looked back at her as his determined eyes met hers.

"Ill make sure of it." He said replied confidently.

"Ill send a backup team as soon as I can, but with the current numbers its looking difficult." She said

"Dont worry, Ill be careful." He assured her

"Youll get the details of where she was taken from from the chunnin, but she must be alive if they're trying to threaten us, so you must be careful to not let them use her life to threaten you." She explained

"Understood, I'll look into it immediately and leave as soon as I finish." He said as he left with a bow.

"Shizune. Please be ok." Tsunade thought with guilt as she was forced to return to work there wasnt a chance she could focus on.

....