A/N: I am continually surprised by how many people have read this story. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this latest installment.
Chapter 4.
"I really must insist!" Hyuuga was growling. "I do NOT approve of these people being allowed unfettered access to the village. They are outsiders, and after seeing the fighting ability of this Iroh they are obviously ninja sent to spy on us."
The elders looked impassively and turned to see what Tsunade would do. The Hyuuga clan was powerful and not one that should be slighted, but Tsunade disliked the idea of mistreating a guest of the village.
"My Choji came home crying just a little while ago!" The massive Chouza spouted indignantly. "He's shut himself in his room and won't come out claiming to have disgraced the clan somehow. All Ino will tell me is that Iroh put him to shame somehow."
Tsunade really hated these meetings. She didn't know how Sarutobi-sensei ever managed. She'd even read his journal, and for the life of her she couldn't imagine how he dealt with the stress of constantly hearing these people whine. She then grinned broadly as a wicked little plan to have some fun with the village elders hatched in her mind.
"I'm certain Iroh-kun wouldn't mean any harm to anyone. He's one of the gentlest men I've met." Tsunade said sweetly with a wistful sigh put in for good measure. The resulting silence was deafening as everyone gathered looked at each other and eye twitches seemed to break out everywhere in epidemic proportions.
"Be that as it may…" Hiashi said slowly, "We still cannot let them just roam the village unattended.
"Good point." Tsunade said with false appreciation. Sarutobi had been right. Messing with Hiashi did prove amusing. "Since Naruto already knows these young people, I'll have him watch over them." Go for the bait…
"That boy won't be nearly enough to watch all five of them." The Hyuuga patron snorted.
Gotcha. "You know, you're right. I'm going to assign Hinata and Neji to the task as well. Between the two of them, they'll be able to watch them better than anyone else in the village."
Hiashi's mouth worked noiselessly, for once, as Tsunade leaned her face against her fist with a casual glance at her quarry. "True, but this Iroh is powerful, I think you should assign a shinobi with more experience."
"Oh, don't worry. For the safety of the village, I'm having Iroh moved to quarters closer to the tower. I'll be keeping an eye on him personally. I imagine we'll be seeing a lot of each other from now on." The Hokage said with her most winning smile and another wistful sigh added in for good measure.
Tsunade could feel the temperature in the room drop considerably, which would have explained the sudden chills everyone seemed to be getting. She had to put on her best face to keep from laughing. She hadn't seen the village elders this addled since the discussion about what to do when Naruto became sexually active.
"Very well." Hiashi said stiffly rising to leave. "I'll notify the two of them immediately."
Tsunade nodded and dismissed the pompous pain in the rear from the meeting. Everyone else got up to leave as well. As everyone left, Kurenai lingered behind. She tended to attend the meetings to stay abreast of goings on in the village more than any real need to be there.
"Are you sure what you're doing is wise?" The insightful jounin said after everyone was gone.
"Don't worry, I know Hinata is your student, but she is also a trained shinobi. Besides, Iroh and his group are harmless. I know more about this situation than I'm letting on." The older woman reassured her.
"I mean this game you're playing with everyone. Some of those people seemed to be taking you seriously." Kurenai scolded.
"I wouldn't worry about that either. I mean really, like I have time to devote to a relationship. Besides, I have old wounds that still haven't healed that would get in the way of anything like that." The legendary healer replied sourly.
"I know; that's why I was warning you to be careful." The mysterious genjutsu user remarked. "Some pains don't heal on their own, as a medic-nin you already know this."
With that, Kurenai faded from the room leaving Tsunade to wonder if she'd ever really been there. Snorting unpleasantly, Tsunade got up to head back to her office.
Shizune was starting to leave when Tsunade finally returned. "Hokage-sama!"
"Please, Shizune. I've just spent the day arguing with elders, clan heads, and jounin who think I'm twelve all over again. I'm having a drink and then I'm taking a nap." Tsunade said as she walked over to her desk to retrieve her sake bottle. She rustled around for a moment before she looked up.
"Where did you hide it this time?" Tsunade demanded.
Mollified, Shizune pointed to the bookcase where the Hokage pulled out the bottle from behind a few books. Shizune hated to see her drink, but after such a long hard day she supposed it couldn't be helped.
Shizune watched as Tsunade pulled the cork and stood there looking at the bottle.
"Is something wrong, Tsunade-sama?" The young woman asked slowly.
"I have lost many things in my life…" Tsunade whispered, barely audible to Shizune's ears. "On second thought, I think I'm only going to have some tea. Have Sakura bring me up some tea. I think it will help me sleep."
Shizune stood there stunned as her mistress walked from the room after putting the sake bottle back on the desk. She never looked sad, but the melancholy in her voice told her exactly who she'd been thinking of. For her to turn down sake at a time like this…
Shizune suddenly dashed to the window and threw it open. "SHE'S DRINKING TEA!!!"
Panting, Shizune looked up into the startled face of Jiraiya. His hair was blown out behind him from the force of her yell and the old man was clutching his ears.
"I know I heard!" The old lecher complained. "And it'll probably be the last thing I hear too."
"Oh, I'm sorry Jiraiya-sama, I was just shocked and surprised is all." Shizune replied in embarrassment.
"What was that about socks?" Jiraiya said rubbing a finger in one of his ears.
"Tsunade-sama didn't go drinking, isn't it wonderful! She's drinking tea like Iroh-san." The assistant beamed.
"Likes who?" Jiraiya said in shock, still holding his ears.
"Tsunade-sama is finally getting on with her life!" Shizune continued to chatter. "I just love it!"
"Getting on with her life… love?" Jiraiya asked in confusion, squinting at her as he tried to decipher what she was saying.
"I better go get some tea! Iroh-san is always talking about Jasmine. I think I'll go get some of that." Shizune said darting out the door.
Jiraiya sat on the side of the building and massaged his aching ears. Shizune had a voice like a sonic cannon when she put her mind to it. Still dazed, he tried to think clearly. Tsunade apparently liked Iroh. Tsunade was getting on with her life, maybe even falling in love. And what was Shizune saying about socks and her prize?
Jiraiya shook his head sadly. Having a couple of shots before coming to see if Tsunade wanted to join him after her meeting was looking like a mistake after all. Jiraiya got up and wandered towards Kakashi's place. One thing was certain, Iroh had to go.
Aang looked back at the crowd of village girls walking behind him. "I hope that finding an air nomad girl that will like me is this easy."
Katara looked over at her friend and smiled. "Don't worry Aang, not all girls fawn over pretty boys. A lot of girls find powerful men attractive, and not just their strength. Most of those girls have either seen or heard of your abilities and find it attractive."
"So is that why YOUR pulse quickens whenever he starts bending?" Toph asked smartly.
Katara stood there stunned for a moment trying to think of something to say as she was sure her face had started reddening. "Well, usually our lives are in danger when he starts using his full power." Katara said uncomfortably.
Aang was looking at her with stars in his eyes again. Then he seemed to get a little melancholy. "I guess, but I wish people would see me as more than just the Avatar. I'm more than just a powerful set of bending genes."
"Yeah, just like girls don't like being seen as nothing but a nice set of... teeth." Sokka said quailing before the baleful stares from Toph and Katara. Aang chuckled at his friend's discomfort, but Toph still had a little venom to loose on the Avatar.
"What are you laughing for? Your heart skips a beat every time Katara bends over." Toph reported maliciously. This time, Sokka was the one rolling on the ground while Aang turned three different shades of red, arrows included. Katara couldn't help but smile and blush a little.
Katara's blush died quickly as Zuko approached the four of them. Apparently, he'd finally awoken from the involuntary 'nap' he'd been given earlier.
"I see you're finally up." Aang said sheepishly.
"Yeah." Zuko said rubbing the back of his sore head. "Does anyone know why girls keep following me around?"
"Not really." Aside from the obviously muscular rear end that is. Katara thought to herself privately.
"I hope uncle didn't let slip that I was a prince. I get enough of that back home." Zuko groused.
"Don't worry, once they get to know you I'm sure they'll all go back to avoiding you like the rest of us do." Toph reassured him.
"Yeah, I hope… Hey!" The scarred fire prince flared at the young earthbender.
Katara laughed. 'Muscular Rear End' pretty much summed up Zuko's personality, or lack thereof, too.
"So how'd you find us?" Sokka asked looking back the way he'd come. "We're nowhere near the apartments."
"Some pink haired girl that's a friend of Naruto's said you'd be out this way, said you'd gone to eat barbecue or something." Zuko griped.
"Oh, that was me. Aang, Katara, and Toph all went for ramen again." The Water Tribesman replied.
"What's got you in such a foul mood?" Toph asked the prince.
"Well, Naruto called me something and I'm not sure how to take it." Zuko said uncertainly.
"I'm certain he didn't mean anything by it. Naruto seems pretty quick to speak without thinking." Katara said thinking. "What did he call you?"
"Well, after his pink haired friend left, he looked at me in disgust and called me a super-emo, Sasuke substitute." Zuko confided. "Does that mean anything to the rest of you?"
"Not a clue." Sokka remarked.
"What else is usual?" Toph said rolling her eyes. "Let's get back to the apartment, the tide's coming in on the sea of raging hormones and I want to get to higher ground."
Everyone followed the young girl back, who seemed to know where she was headed. It was then that they ran into the procession. Katara looked up into eyes as white as Toph's. The older man looked down at the five of them and then settled his gaze on Toph.
"You five are the visitors I assume?" The gentleman said shortly.
"Thankfully" Toph shot back smartly.
"I see." He said looking down at the girl. "Allow me to welcome you to Konoha. I am Hyuuga Hiashi. My daughter and nephew have been assigned to show you around." He said nodding to the pair standing close by. "Do you require anything; food, supplies… shoes?"
Katara followed his disapproving stare down to Toph who was standing in front of him defiantly. "Toph doesn't wear shoes."
"I see." Hiashi replied neutrally.
"Least that makes one of us." Toph shot back before clearing a path for them all to walk back to the apartment. Everyone in the street, Hiashi included, found themselves moved aside three feet as Toph continued walking.
"How?!!" Hiashi sputtered.
"Toph's element is Earth. Please excuse her; she tends to be a little short with people." Katara tried to explain. The last thing they needed was Toph angering the entire village.
"Short, period actually." Zuko said before a rock sent him to his second nap for the day.
"But how can she see to…" The older man asked.
"She doesn't, her sense of touch is elevated to the point where she doesn't need sight. She can feel vibrations through the ground and can use her hearing to pinpoint where people are. She's the most powerful earthbender alive." Sokka explained.
"Hello! I'm still standing right here!" Toph said caustically. "I'm blind, not deaf. Besides, it's the most powerful earthbender that's EVER LIVED, and don't you forget it."
"Interesting." Hiashi said as he studied the girl. He then turned to his two family members. "Hinata, Neji, please come see me after you're done today. I have something I need to discuss with you."