Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
"Is it true that Akasuna no Chiyo is dead?"
Sasori looked up in surprise, red-brown eyes fringed in kohl scanning Tsunade's face before answering. "Yes, she is."
The way Tsunade reacted was totally uncharacteristic of what Sasori expected of her; she frowned and nodded. "I'm…sorry to hear that."
Sasori narrowed his eyes, peering hard at the Hokage. He sensed something "off" about this whole thing. "Tsunade-sama, if the positions were reversed, Baachan would not lose any sleep over your death."
The cold night air got a little colder with Tsunade's harsh laugh. Sasori tilted his head to one side, slightly; Chiyo had the same laugh. "And I don't lose any over hers. It's just that…" her smooth, flawless face contorted in frustration "…Sasori-san, are you familiar with the concept of a worthy opponent?"
He was, and nodded. Plainly frustrated and glad to vent, Tsunade burst out, "She was a thorn in my side, but I enjoyed outplaying her. It actually presented a challenge. She was the only one in that whole village I could enjoy outplaying."
Sasori took a moment, only a moment, to come to the conclusion that, in one fell stroke, Tsunade had confirmed what Chiyo had always vehemently claimed of her, that she was a hypocrite.
Even with the somber mood, Sasori couldn't pass up the opportunity to offer insight. "I'm sure Baachan felt exactly the same way about you, Tsunade-sama."
It was a lie, a smooth, bald-faced lie. If Tsunade had been the one who died, Chiyo would have roused herself to make the long trip to Konoha just to dance on her grave.