A Mother's Knight

Part 39

Tsunade stood stone faced at the gates of the village her grandfather founded: she was waiting for A, the Yondaime Raikage – a man she knew. She did know a couple of people. But that isn't what has brought her into this position of leadership. This position of danger. There was always something everyday. Always a threat. If she had truly known that she was coming back for this, Tsunade might not have returned to the village. But if she hadn't returned, who would have become Hokage?

Kakashi? She snorted at the thought. The lazy Jonin wouldn't have been selected. But the Daimyo wouldn't have been against the idea. Kakashi was after all a famous shinobi. He was powerful. But he had lazy tendencies. A bit of annoyance about him. It was no wonder he didn't want another genin team. Then again, from what she has heard, Naruto was basically the sensei of Team 7.

If she hadn't come back, this village would have fallen under the cold and brutal rule of Shimura Danzo. He would have worked his tricks. There would have been at war already. The war hawk did love wars after all. He always wanted to dominate. He wanted the Hidden Leaf to rule. Anything that was suspected to be a threat would be eliminated.

Tsunade told herself: coming back had been a right decision. She was here. She was leading this village and if she could avoid a war, then she would do it. She would work any means necessary to avoid going into war. She had fought many wars; she didn't want to fight another one.

She braced herself when A marched closer. His guards shielding him from any attack. He looked menacing. She wasn't going to be apologetic either. She had done nothing wrong. Her shinobi had done nothing wrong.

The slug princess stared when A stopped in front of her, stern faced. There was a lot in his eyes. Anger. A questioning look. A searching look. Good: he wasn't ready to jump on her. She looked at Kakashi and nodded to him. The Jonin got the message and made himself scarce.

"This is some welcome, Hokage." A said sternly.

Tsunade shrugged. "You came unannounced..." she said a bit carelessly. "You did not walk around tearing the forest, did you?" She asked, leading the man toward the Hokage tower.

A glared at Tsunade for the remark. He was angry. He had been angry. He had cried when he learned his brother was gone as well. But he wasn't a stupid person. He could still control himself. He had his moments, but it would have been somehow if he had ended up destroying things on his path. Well, it wasn't like he hasn't destroyed things in fits of anger. Thinking of it, he could have done it.

"Where is your Jinchuriki?"

"Out doing mission..." Tsunade said. Naruto was in... she shook her head. He was out of the village with a certain Yamanaka girl. She didn't know where he was but she figured it was either the Rain or Sunagakure. He had important things to do in both villages.

A didn't say anything. They marched towards the Hokage tower in silence. He didn't wish to start an argument with Tsunade in the middle of the streets with people watching. It would create unnecessary tensions within the villagers. He wasn't here for that anyway.

Once they arrived in the office, Tsunade settled behind her desk and leaned back to her chair. She gave the Raikage a stare, her hands folded across her bust. She wasn't going to say anything to the man until he went on what he came to say to her.

She was nevertheless glad that she was dealing with someone she was familiar with. Someone who knew her and Jiraiya. The fact that he was here could mean he wanted to hear her denials and stare into her eyes when she says her village had nothing to do with the kidnapping of his Jinchuriki.

Naruto had said he could be thrown under the bus, but there was no need at this time. She wouldn't even do it. Naruto was a lot more dangerous than the Raikage. He was needed in this village. He could prove very useful given his intelligence and resourcefulness.