Chapter 25 – Tsunade

"Talk"

'Think'

Flashback

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto sensei. So…yeah.

A/N: Thank you LadyPinkyofJapan8181 for your support.

Shisui's Thought

'Itachi's first report confirmed Fugaku's suspicion that Uchiha Inabi had an ally and he was the masked man, probably the same man that released the Kyūbi eight years ago. Oneesan said that the masked man has a Sharingan'

'Itachi's second report said Sasuke heard someone's death and its relation with Mangekyō Sharingan. I guess it makes sense now why Inabi killed Keiko. But this information was known to me, Fugaku, and a couple of elders; neither of them were friendly with Inabi. Since Inabi was working with-'

'With or for the masked man? Judging by how he died, I guess for. So, since Inabi was working for the masked man, I suppose he gained the knowledge on Mangekyō Sharingan from him, that makes the masked man knowledgeable about Uchiha clan's dōjutsu. I think it's also safe to presume he had a Mangekyō Sharingan too.

'Wonder if Inabi had awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan? He used to love Keiko, but I thought that water has gone under the bridge and over the dam, But then, he really had no one in his last years of life since Ichirou moved out from his house'

'I hope Ichirou's okay. I'm glad he got a good teammates and a good sensei, maybe I'll let them pick a mission of their choice next time, provided it's within their capacity'

'This is the second time the masked man attacked Konoha, but why eight years apart? Wait…Inabi also was quiet about his desire for coup a few years ago, did it started then? Then…hmmm, I think I understand'

'His first attack caused the Uchiha to be suspicious of, almost led to rebellion. Maybe the masked man banked on that. When it did not happen, he preyed on Inabi. Now it failed again…wonder what he'll do next'

'What do we know about the masked man? He has a beef with Konoha. He definitely has a sharingan and possibly, Mangekyō Sharingan. Does that make him an Uchiha? He controlled the Kyūbi, Madara was reported to have that capability, does that makes him Madara? I thought Shodai killed him. So, he may or may not Madara and he can appear and disappear'

'But then, there's no point speculating on uncertainties. The best thing now is to bring back Tsunade-sama. I hope she likes my proposal'

Tsunade was looking at the proposal in front of her. Godaime Hokage, Uchiha Shisui- 'Konoha has an Uchiha as Hokage? What was sensei's thinking?' is offering her a position as advisor, specifically in Iryō Ninjutsu including hospital administration, training Iryō Nin and teaching basic first-aid at the academy.

'Isn't this what I wanted?' Tsunade asked herself. When she proposed this during the Second War, Dan was the first person to defend her and believed in her idea.

'Dan…' thought Tsunade sadly.

"Nawaki and Dan died protecting Konoha, don't let their deaths be wasted, Tsunade" said Sarutobi Hiruzen when he delivered her the proposal. She was shocked to see her old sensei, but Hiruzen said he was visiting his son, Asuma in the city with his other son, daughter in law and grandson.

After Dan's death, her heart was no longer in Konoha, so she took off. Luckily, due to her service to Konoha, she was not listed as missing-nin.

"I've allowed you to wander off as you were clearly in pain. I hope the time have healed your wound, or at least, dulled the pain" said Hiruzen, knowing that there are some pains you'll take to your grave.

"Tsunade-sama…" said Shizune, her apprentice.

"What do you think, Shizune?" asked Tsunade to her loyal aid.

"I think it's a good idea. But if you are unsure, how about we go back Konoha, talk to Godaime first to get a better picture, and then make your decision?" suggested Shizune.

'Going back to Konoha? That place is full of bittersweet memories for her. Does she want to go back and opened the wound she tried to heal?'

"I'll think about it" said Tsunade.

A week later

Tsunade was walking along the street of Konoha when she saw his sensei's kid with a pair of Academy student, apparently talking about his recent trip.

Then she saw people on the street gave hostile glares at them which surprised her 'What's wrong with these people?' she thought.

"Why are they with Honourable Grandson, where's his caretaker?"

"I heard they attended the Uchiha's funeral, the gall of them"

"I heard the boy stayed at the Stone for over an hour! He must have been recounting his victims!"

"My poor poor sister, she never got over her husband's death because of the demon, now they are walking happily as if nothing happen, why aren't they being locked up?!"

"My brother could never use his hand, oh…the injustice!"

'Ahhh, one of them must be the jinchūriki' thought Tsunade 'Poor Kushina' as she walked to Hokage's office.

After the discussion with Shisui, she walked through a forest to make up her mind whether she'll be accepting his offer or not, when she heard-

"Naruto, Noriko, I want to ask something"

"What's up Sasuke?"

As Tsunade came nearer, she saw a black-haired boy talking to the jinchūriki siblings

"How come…you guys…ok?" asked the black-haired boy.

"What do you mean, Sasuke?" asked the black-haired girl, Noriko, Tsunade presumed.

Sasuke closed his eyes and when they opened, they were full of sadness "I cannot stop thinking about my parents. Every time I closed my eyes, I remembered my father hugged and threw me, and my brother yelling for my mother. How…how you guys overcome it so easily?"

"It wasn't easy, that's why we occupied ourselves with training. When we are tired, we don't think that stuff" answered the blonde boy, Naruto "Besides, I know Keiko-obasan would hit me if I cried and cried and cried. She would have wanted me to keep on moving, and she believed that one day, I'll become Hokage-"

"Dan…Nawaki…your dreams…" thought Tsunade

"So, I will become a Hokage and when I do, I'll go to her grave in my Hokage's robe and tell her that I've made it" continued Naruto as he looked up at the sky.

"So, how about you Sasuke? What's your dream?" asked Noriko.

"I-I want to be like my father. He was the Leader of Keimu Butai" said Sasuke

"So be one. When I'll become Hokage and you'll be Leader of Keimu Butai, we can visit their graves together" said Naruto beaming with confidence.

Tsunade left the scene, she remembered her sensei's words "Nawaki and Dan died protecting Konoha, don't let their deaths be wasted, Tsunade"

End Chapter 25

Iryō-nin – medical shinobi

Iryō-ninjutsu – medical ninjutsu

Konoha Keimu Butai – Konoha Military Police Force

Obasan – aunty