It was getting late; the sun had set almost an hour ago. Tsunade sipped her sake as she finished up her paperwork. Being Hokage was a tough job. One more signature and she was done. The sake was starting to loose its taste. Tsunade put the cup and turned her chair around. The Hokage Monument was visible from her window.
The moon shone directly at the face of the Shodaime Hokage. Tsunade chuckled to herself. She had one too many sips of sake. She leaned back on her chair. His face was so clear in her memory.
"How did you do it Gramps? How did you raise this all?"
Without taking a moment to look away from her grandfather, Tsunade held the sake cup once more. The sip she had just taken tasted the best in years. She gazed at her reflection in the sake. She did not see Tsunade the Godaime Hokage. She saw Tsunade, granddaughter of the Shodaime Hokage, running toward her hero as a child. A tear ran down her cheek and fell into the sake. In the ripples, she was enveloped within her memories.
"Grandpa! Grandpa! Wait for me!"
Tsunade was running as hard as she could, without tripping over rocks, to catch up to the Shodaime. He was still walking foward, but at a much slower pace now. His head was turned back at Tsunade and his hand was outstretched. Tsunade held out hers, trying to catch her grandfather's hand with out stumbling.
She reached out as far as she could and brushed the tips of his fingers. Those fingers were tough and callused. They had raised Konohagakure and protected its people many a time. They were the hands of a hero. Tsunade was about to grab on when a loose rock toppled her. She tripped head over heels.
The Shodaime stopped walking and helped her up. She was unfazed at first. But then she began to sniffle. The Shodaime picked her up and held her tight to stop her from crying. He wiped away her tears and turned her head up to his. She rubbed her eyes. The Shodaime smiled and in return, so did Tsunade.
"Don't cry Tsunade. You need to be strong. After all, you'll take care of my treasure someday."
"Your necklace?"
"No. I want you take care of Konohagakure when I'm gone."
"Does this mean you're leaving me!"
"Someday I'll have to. But don't worry. I'll always watch over you."
"What if I can't take care of Konoha? I don't think I'll ever be a Hokage like you!"
"You can protect it in your own way. You know my face on the mountain? If you ever get lost, even on the road of life, my eyes will guide you."
"Do you promise?"
"Heh. I promise."
Tsunade placed her cup back down. There was a slight knock on her door. Shizune walked in. Ton-Ton was at her heels. The little pig sniffed around and then walked up to the Godaime. She then jumped onto Tsunade's lap. After obtaining a cozy postition, Ton-Ton fell asleep. Shizune stepped forward and placed more paperwork on Tsunade's desk.
"It just never stops does it."
"It's your job as Hokage."
"Hmph."
Tsunade turned around again. The moonlight was between the Shodaime and the Nidaime. She looked up at the face of the man whose treasure she was protecting. His eyes seemed to glance at her. His line of sight pierced right through her and sat upon the paper on her desk.
"So are you saying I'm lazy now?"
Tsunade picked up her pen again and started to write.