Takuya stifled a yawn, waving it off with a sigh. "I haven't been sleeping well lately. The camp's always too noisy, so I can't even sleep in."
"If you really wanted a lazy morning, I doubt Orochimaru would give you trouble over it," Tsunade replied with a grin. "You caused so much chaos in the Hidden Mist Village; he'd be inclined to grant you some leeway for a job well done."
"Sleep? I wish." Takuya shook his head, thinking back to how things had been at the camp. "Our team's tent was set up near the Uchiha's area, and those guys start their drills and patrols at the crack of dawn."
Because the police duties had shifted, and without any explicit pressure on the Uchiha, Orochimaru had assigned the camp's internal patrol duties to Fugaku Uchiha. With the Uchiha clan's dedication, they'd wake up at dawn and stay vigilant till late at night. Takuya was amazed they hadn't dropped from exhaustion.
Tsunade chuckled, imagining it. "You should be glad you were next to the Uchiha. If you'd been stationed by the Hyuga, you wouldn't have slept a wink all night."
Takuya could only shake his head. The Uchiha managed the inner camp while the Hyuga handled the perimeters, given that Byakugan was far better for long-distance surveillance than the Sharingan. If he'd been positioned near the Hyuga clan, he'd have had no choice but to protest to Orochimaru.
"By the way…" Takuya, remembering Jiraiya's request, put down his barbecue skewer and gave Kushina a nod, signaling her to shut the door and hang a "Do Not Disturb" sign.
Kushina quickly got up and did as he asked, while Tsunade raised an eyebrow. Takuya must have something serious to discuss. After a brief hesitation, she set her drink down, deciding she'd need a clear head to think it over.
Once he'd confirmed that no one suspicious was nearby, Takuya began, "Jiraiya came to me with a concern. He believes Orochimaru is becoming a problem—and possibly the Third Hokage as well. He's worried that if things continue as they are, the village will head down a darker path. So, he asked me to see if you would consider stepping up as the Fourth Hokage."
"The Fourth?" Kushina looked at Tsunade in surprise.
Tsunade nearly choked on her drink, coughing and thumping her chest to catch her breath before giving Takuya an exasperated look. "Is he serious? Why doesn't he run for it himself?"
Becoming Hokage? Tsunade didn't even have the energy for her current post as head of the Logistics Department—being Hokage would make getting a full night's sleep nearly impossible.
"Wait a minute! What's going on with Orochimaru?" she asked suddenly, catching onto the real point.
"He's partnered up with Danzo," Takuya explained, "and they've started sidelining Senior Sakumo. You tell me—what's that sound like?"
The partnership between Orochimaru and Danzo was no secret; everyone knew it, though few openly acknowledged it. After all, who Orochimaru associated with was his own business; even the Third Hokage couldn't intervene in that.
"Jiraiya's worried that Orochimaru might become Hokage?" Tsunade frowned, trying to piece things together. "But that doesn't sound like Jiraiya. Normally, he wouldn't care if it were Orochimaru, Danzo, or even me becoming Hokage, as long as the village was safe. If he's asking this, there has to be something more…"
Takuya nodded. "They've been tracing missing supplies," he hinted, watching Tsunade carefully.
The alliance between Orochimaru and Danzo didn't bother Takuya much, but he wasn't opposed to adding a bit of pressure on Danzo. After all, if Danzo could manage to pile up Sharingan in secret, there was no telling what he might pull next.
As Tsunade sobered up from her mild tipsiness, her mind started connecting the dots. Danzo's constant siphoning of resources wasn't merely for show; it made sense that he'd be supporting some of Orochimaru's research. This kind of alliance meant that both had clear stakes and motivations—Orochimaru sought funds, equipment, and specimens, while Danzo was interested in the results and abilities that came from those experiments.
"So, he's propping up Orochimaru's research with all these supplies?" Tsunade's expression grew serious. "I'll look into this, but as for the Fourth Hokage business, tell Jiraiya he can fight for it himself if he cares that much. Count me out."
Takuya couldn't help but smile. He'd guessed Tsunade would feel this way, but Jiraiya had insisted on making an effort. And now, it was his job to report back.
"You really don't want to be the Fourth, Tsunade?" Kushina asked, a hint of excitement in her voice. If Tsunade became Hokage, maybe she'd finally be allowed outside the village.
Policies often revolved around the people enforcing them. It was the Third Hokage's strict rule to keep jinchuriki within the village limits. With a new Hokage, she might get more freedom.
"Don't even think about it," Tsunade said, playfully shoving Kushina's face back. "You think just because I'd become Hokage, you'd get a free pass to leave the village?"
"Well, if I can't leave freely, I could at least go on some missions outside, right?" Kushina muttered, looking hopeful.
Tsunade found herself nodding. "That… that sounds reasonable."
"Wait! What am I saying?" She glared at Kushina. "I never said I wanted to be Hokage! The very idea is absurd."
"Just now, you practically agreed to it, Tsunade," Kushina teased.
"That was a slip-up! Don't twist my words!" Tsunade huffed.
"Well, in any case," Kushina said with a determined look, "if I can't leave by the end of this year, I'll sneak out myself."
"You—" Tsunade glared, her chest heaving in frustration. As strong as Kushina was, if she truly wanted to leave, it would be nearly impossible to keep her contained. After all, no amount of security is infallible.
"You're not going to say anything about this?" Tsunade kicked Takuya's leg under the table.
Takuya only chuckled, "Honestly? Going out occasionally could do her some good. Anyone would go mad if they were kept in one place for too long."
"…" Tsunade fell silent, but after they'd finished eating and had walked Kushina home, Takuya returned to his house, only to find Tsunade sprawled out on his couch, the smell of sake lingering.
As he entered, she sat up, still tipsy but clear-headed enough.
"Just don't tell me you're also here to convince me to compete with Orochimaru for the Fourth Hokage position."
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______________SAD 😔________________
Today has been a truly unfortunate day for me, filled with one bad event after another. Normally, I don't share much about myself on this platform, but today feels different.
It all started early in the morning at 8 AM when I went to take a driving test for a taxi license. Unfortunately, I didn't pass. I wasn't too upset about it because I acknowledge it was due to my own inability to meet the requirements. I accepted it and moved on.
Afterward, I went to school, and after classes, I decided to hit the gym, which is located nearby. I placed my winter jacket and pants in the locker before starting my workout. However, when I finished and returned to the locker, I was shocked to find only my pants—my winter jacket was gone.
To make matters worse, it's currently winter in the city I live in, and the weather is brutally cold. Knowing I couldn't leave without trying, I approached a staff member at the gym and explained the situation. He helped me search for the jacket, but we couldn't find it anywhere. He advised me to report the theft to the police, which I did.
After filing the report, I had no choice but to walk home—about 15 minutes in freezing weather, with temperatures at -7°C, and no jacket. It was a miserable and chilling experience, both physically and emotionally. This day is one I won't forget anytime soon.