She had never seen him that depressed.
It was like a dark cloud hung over him, obscuring the normally bright smile and laughter. Sad and angry and frustrated, she almost couldn't recognize him. Almost. She had been watching him too long for that.
She supposed it was a little pathetic really, her or him, it didn't really matter. Though if she had to choose it would be her. At least he had a legitimate reason.
Jiraiya-sama was dead.
His blue eyes had widened and his fists clenched, the dirty tracks on his face were awash with fresh tears. "What?" he asked incredulously, nervously shaking, "Ero-sennin die? The old fart couldn't have..."
But he had, she could see it in the Hokage's perpetually young face, "Naruto..."
"No!" he shouted, surprising even her, "He was a legendary Sannin! No one could beat him, he too stubborn to die!"
She looked at him, they all did. Not knowing what to say, not knowing if she should even try, she remained silent, watching him fume and rage and cry.
"That's enough," Tsunade-sama said stonily.
"And what about you, old hag?" he shouted, leaning over her desk and slamming a fist down on the surface, "He was your team-mate and that's all you can say? That's all he meant to you-"
"That's enough!" Tsunade-sama brought down her fists on the desk and it splintered in two, "Get out of my office, all of you! I'll deal with your failed mission later!"
She couldn't help but recoil at her words. The mission was a waste, resulting only in Uchiha Sasuke slipping through their fingers.
"Tsunade-baa-chan..." he started.
The Hokage turned her piercing gaze on him, "I said out."
"But..." a slight shake of Kakashi-sensei's head was all it took. Letting out a frustrated growl he marched out, banging the doors open and letting them slam shut in his wake. She wanted to follow, she didn't think she could.
However, she left with the rest, the quiet sobs fading behind her.
Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine.