"Then let her come find me."
"Find you?"
"What? Is there a problem?"
"No, no."
Himan looked as though he was on the verge of tears. He had originally planned to use the village's funds to court a lady. But now, with Kazuki handling things this way, did he even stand a chance?
There was no turning back now. If Kazuki found out he had been using the village's resources to win over Tsunade, he'd be in big trouble!
The next day, as expected, Tsunade came knocking. However, unlike what Kazuki thought, she wasn't here to ask for money.
As soon as Tsunade entered, she casually made her way to the couch, crossed one leg over the other, and took a seat. Karin looked a bit confused, while her assistant, Shizune, apologized,
"Sorry, Tsunade-sama isn't usually like this."
Karin glanced at Kazuki, who showed no sign of objection. She shrugged, saying, "It's fine. Come on in."
"Thank you!"
With polite formality, Shizune quickly trotted over to stand behind Tsunade.
Karin started to prepare tea, but Tsunade stopped her abruptly, "I don't drink tea. Do you have any sake? I want sake!"
Karin looked at Kazuki, who nodded, "Bring it for her."
Soon, a flask of sake was brought over. Tsunade didn't hesitate and took a swig directly from it.
"Ah! Good sake!"
"You must have endless amounts of money to burn, right? You must be able to drink this quality sake every day."
Kazuki was about to respond, but Tsunade continued speaking on her own.
"And then there's that fool Himan. Do you know what I saw when I first visited the Hokage Residence? He was actually drinking on the job in the Hokage Residence, leaving all his duties to other shinobi!"
"I wonder how a fool like that became Hokage."
"..."
Kazuki now understood the real reason Tsunade was here. The money issue was just an excuse, she was here to pick a fight.
"Sometimes, a good product isn't necessarily made of perfect parts. Each part has its own value as long as it fits."
"Isn't the current Konoha stable?"
"Tch!" Tsunade scoffed, "What does Konoha's peace have to do with that fool? You could put just about anyone in that role and Konoha would still be fine!"
"Not necessarily. Remember when Danzo was around? Konoha was often thrown into chaos," Kazuki countered.
Tsunade shifted, switching her crossed legs as she smirked, "So, you've been manipulating the Hokage all along, have you?"
Trying to bait me?
Kazuki smirked, responding calmly, "And what if I have?"
The two locked eyes, neither speaking, as tension built in the room. Even Tonton, cradled in Shizune's arms, sensed the unease, a bead of sweat rolling down her little piglet face.
After several seconds of silence, Tsunade finally broke, angrily accusing,
"Do you know what you're doing? The Hokage is the leader of Konoha, the symbol of its spirit! By manipulating the Hokage for your personal gain, you've allowed dangerous people like Danzo and irresponsible types like Himan to hold the Hokage's seat!"
"If Konoha ever falls, it will be your fault!"
Kazuki picked at his ear with a nonchalant look, "As long as I'm here, Konoha won't face the kind of danger you're talking about. And you…Tsunade, do you really have the right to stand here criticizing me? Where were you when Konoha faced countless crises? Where were you when the Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself? When the Third Hokage laid down his life, where were you?"
"I may be holding onto the Hokage position for personal reasons, but haven't you been avoiding your responsibilities to Konoha out of your own selfishness? And now, after all my efforts to keep Konoha stable, you waltz in here to lecture me? Such an impressive authority you must feel you have!"
"That's not true, Tsunade-sama, she..."
"Shizune, don't speak for me!" Tsunade cut her off.
She may have her reasons for leaving Konoha, but Kazuki was right. She had, undeniably, been avoiding her responsibilities.
"Yes, I left Konoha. I may have been running away from my duties, but I'm back now! And now that I'm here, I have every right to criticize your actions!"
"Oh, really?" Kazuki scoffed, looking utterly indifferent, "You're not even a Konoha shinobi right now."
"I'll rejoin the ranks and then compete for the Hokage seat!" Tsunade retorted.
With her popularity in Konoha, all she'd have to do is speak up, and rejoining would be no issue. Even Himan couldn't deny her.
"Who knows, perhaps being a Konoha shinobi again isn't necessarily a good thing," Kazuki remarked as he scrutinized her. "Besides…has your hemophobia improved?"
Tsunade went silent, responding to Kazuki with her silence.
"Heh, so you still have it? How do you plan on becoming Hokage with a fear of blood? A Hokage who loses their strength at the sight of blood… Can they truly be relied upon to protect Konoha in times of danger?"
Tsunade didn't back down from Kazuki's jibes, retorting, "I'd be better than Himan at least. I'm willing to die for Konoha, while Himan… I'm guessing his strength isn't even on par with an elite Jounin! You expect someone like that to protect Konoha?"
Kazuki shook his head, "The best way for him to protect Konoha is by staying out of things. Konoha doesn't necessarily need a powerful Hokage. In times of peace, most matters don't require the Hokage's direct intervention."
"Humph! Nonsense!" Tsunade downed the rest of her sake and shouted, "Another bottle!"
"..."
"Karin, bring her two more bottles."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, "Don't think you can bribe me. I'm not falling for that!"
"There's no need to bribe you. Just drink and then go home. Don't come here causing a drunken ruckus," Kazuki retorted.
"You!"
"The sake's here!"
The aroma of sake broke Tsunade's momentum as Karin arrived with more bottles.
As night fell, Tsunade, drunk to the brim, was being helped up by Shizune.
"Tell her when she wakes up that Konoha won't be footing her bills anymore. If she wants money, she'll have to do missions under Himan!"
"Understood. Thank you for the hospitality," Shizune respectfully replied.
Though they argued the entire time, Shizune knew that there wasn't much true animosity between the two, nor any real anger.
Tsunade's frustration wasn't directed at Kazuki himself but rather the fact that someone like Himan held a position he didn't deserve. As for Gekko Kazuki himself, she held a certain level of respect—even awe.
Because, as Jiraiya once said—
"Gekko Kazuki—unmatched in strength!"
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The fanfic is finished on p@treon/tambeerg