The Swirling Tides

Chapter 20: Perturbing Predicaments

Hokage Office | Konoha

Sarutobi Hiruzen was not a happy man.

While shameful for him to realize, it was an undeniable fact that all t. He really didn't know why he couldn't have had one decent student.

Jiraiya was, quite simply, an idiot. Sarutobi didn't blame him for being perverted as he himself was admittedly a closet pervert, so he really couldn't blame his student there. What he did know though was that Jiraiya didn't realize when he should put his vices aside and act responsible. There is a time and place for everything.

And then there was also the problem of him being too idealistic. Ever since the retarded old toad sage on Mount Myōbokuzan had fed the boy his bullshit about the prophecy child being trained by him, the pervert had been constantly roaming the lands to find someone like that. Only to get a Rinnegan wielder killed (or he was just making that story up), and his second student Minato was already dead.

'The Rinnegan would have surely been a valuable asset to Konoha. Why couldn't he bring those three children here? They'd have been safer in the village and would have helped boost our reputation and defenses. But because of his foolishness, we're deprived of such valuable assets for no reason… And even now he's after that prophecy? Doesn't he realize that Konoha is above stupid prophecies? His loyalty must lie with the village before anything else!'

Then there was Senju Tsunade. Words didn't even begin to describe Sarutobi's disappointment in her. Abandoning Konoha so that she can mourn the loss of two people by gambling and drinking?

'Well sue me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that seem like celebrating? Besides, doesn't she see that Konoha matters more than her stupid dead family? If Tsunade was in Minato's place, would she have allowed Kyūbi to be sealed in Nawaki? I know the answer would be no… stupid woman.

Tch… such a disappointment… She doesn't have what it takes to be a Hokage. I can't believe she's related to Hashirama and Tobirama sensei…'

The only student he was even remotely proud of was Orochimaru, but that pride was crushed too when the snake sannin had betrayed Konoha. Betraying Konoha was like stabbing a spiked pole up Sarutobi's stinky old wrinkly ass. He did not like it.

What irked him most was the fact that all three of them were giving him constant grief.

Jiraiya had some apparently important information, but he had no way of acquiring it right now. 'Curse him! Why did he have to go peeking right before delivering the information? And did that bitch have to beat him into a coma?'

Then Tsunade refused his order to return to the village before the chūnin exams. It was times like this that his 'kind old man' image worked against him. 'She probably thinks 'the spineless old idiot probably won't do anything if I don't return'. The deluded bitch needs to be reminded who her sensei is. Perhaps an interrogation session with Ibiki will take care of that.'

Of course, he won't order it directly. The council will be doing it 'behind his back', and when he finds out he will be furious, but there won't be anything he could do about it. He giggled.

Arranging ANBU teams to retrieve her without her consent was giving him another headache though. Regardless, she will be here soon. Expect her surprise when she encounters a wood user in the ANBU team. If nothing else, the hope of having a living relative will draw her in. Orochimaru's lab rat was such a nifty little thing sometimes, and skilled too!

He would have given his snaky student a pat on the back if he weren't a traitor.

His mood deflated though. Bad things were happening, and he would be more assured if one of his students was here. For all her vices, Tsunade was still stronger than any Jōnin he had. And a major political figure too, thanks to being Shodaime's granddaughter. Having her here would definitely help him greatly.