Dosu's Great Escape

Chapter Seventeen: Fraying Tempers

Tsunade was making her way down the road with Shizune when she heard a familiar voice. Looking up, she saw that girl, Tenten, rushing toward her and waving. "Lady Tsunade, Lady Tsunade!"

Tsunade crossed her arms and smiled. "Hmm, I remember you."

Tenten halted, and her eyes went wide. "You do? Oh my god, I'm so glad. I've wanted to meet you for years and years and years-"

Tsunade put a hand on her shoulder. "Easy there. What are you doing out here?"

"Well um..." Tenten glanced back.

And then one of the others from her squad arrived. The Hyuga boy with long brown hair. He landed in a crouch from the trees. "Tenten! You can't just go breaking formation like that! What if we'd been attacked?"

Tenten looked up and rubbed the back of her head. "Sorry, Neji, I just um..."

"Listen, I don't remember ever having a chance to thank you for your help earlier," said Tsunade. "I'd hate to think what might have happened if I'd been captured by the Sound Ninja. Zabuza at least was working for someone with a legitimate grievance."

"We were merely carrying out our orders," said Neji. "Speaking of which, Tenten, we are supposed to be tracking Prince Michiru and his son. Not spring off after your idol."

Tsunade was her idol? She could only assume the Leaf Village severely lacked in female role models. "You were pursuing that caravan?"

"If that's the case, why weren't you with the others?" asked Shizune.

"Well see..." Tenten rubbed the back of her head.

At that moment there was a burst of smoke, and Might Guy appeared with a dramatic pose. "Like I said, Tenten. There comes a time in every man's life when he's got to carve his own path."

"If I'd been Orochimaru, they'd probably all be dead," noted Tsunade in surprise.

"Well, one needs to act based on the measure of ones' opponents," said Guy. "I knew the Legendary Tsunade wouldn't kill anyone over something as minor as a fake arrow.

"And I felt a youthful reality check was in order."

"Plus we couldn't afford to break our cover," noted Tenten.

"Tenten, for the last time, that cardboard box of yours does not hide anything," said Neji. "If anything, it made them more suspicious than if we'd been walking behind them openly!"

"Lee thought it was a good idea," said Tenten in irritation.

"And so he did," said Guy. "There is a simple virtue in ancient tactics like the cardboard box. Tenten is quickly proving herself a master of these."

"Thank you, Guy-sensei," said Tenten.

Tsunade laughed. "As entertaining as all this is, I've got to move on. I've been establishing an international medical relief organization. One that can take care of people who are sick and injured at a low cost. And also support itself without the need for money from any government.

"It isn't easy, and I've had to travel all across the world getting the approval of various Lords."

"Wow, that is so unbelievably cool," said Tenten.

"How are you paying for the medical training?" asked Neji.

"I'm the greatest medical ninja in the world," said Tsunade. "I can teach a few amateurs the basics. Speaking of which, Tenten, is it? I've actually just finished by business in this region and was planning to move on to another.