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"You want me to what?" Naruto demanded. It was an hour later, and the three of them had accosted him as he was on his way home from training.
"We need you to speak with the Hokage about Suki's marriage," Sasuke explained, his usually emotionless face earnest. "See if you can get her to change her mind about the engagement."
Naruto frowned. "If Suki couldn't get her to call it off, I don't see how I can be of any help..."
"You know the Fifth better than even Suki did," Shikamaru pointed out, recalling Suki's expression when she'd found out about the necklace Tsunade had given Naruto. "You have to be able to say something."
Naruto pursed his lips. He wanted to help. After all, Suki was the reason he and Hinata had finally gotten together. Even if hadn't been good friends with her, he would have wanted to help just because of that. "Actually, maybe I can do something. Come with me."
The four of them sped through the streets of Konoha, headed directly for the tower that housed Tsunade's office. They were past the jounin and up the stairs before anyone had even noticed that they were there.
"What-" Tsunade began, looking up from where she was folding up a series of maps.
Naruto interrupted her by slamming the door shut, and she was faced with four fiery-eyed young chuunin. "We've got to talk, Old Hag."
"Don't call me that, you little brat." Tsunade rolled her eyes. "And you're not allowed in my office without an appointment."
"You have to call off Suki's engagement to that guy back in Takigakure," Naruto said firmly. "You have the power. You're the only one who can do it."
Tsunade gave an exasperated sigh. "Did she put you up to this? As the daughter of the Hero of the Hidden Falls and the Hokage of Konohagakure, it is her duty to marry for her country. There's nothing I can do."
"What about Dan?" Naruto's voice was cold, and Tsunade froze. The other chuunin didn't know what their blonde comrade was talking about, but it had certainly gotten the Hokage's attention. "Shikamaru is Suki's Dan, Old Hag. If you make her marry this guy, you will be killing her."
Tsunade sat down heavily in her chair, almost expressionless now.
Naruto's voice softened. "You may not know her well and you may not understand her, but Suki is your daughter, and I don't think you want to do that to her. You lost the man you loved, the same man who had this." He clutched the necklace she had given him in his fist. "And you have missed him, mourned him, every day since his death. How could you knowingly do that to your own flesh and blood?"
There was a long silence, and Tsunade wiped away a lone tear from her cheek. "Get your friends together. I don't know what I can do about the engagement, since it's been set in stone for years, but we're going to Takigakure."
DUN DUN DUN!
Well not really. But anyway. Sorry it's a short chapter. There's only one more after this, so please keep reading!