Koharu's POV

I opened the door to Tsunade's office and of course she wasn't there. Figures. I squinted at the open window. She has been pretty stressed lately... Can't say I blame her. I placed the stack on her desk.

There has been an abnormal amount of paper work, I don't ever recall Hiruzen having to do this much. Fate and Destiny must be making her pay for something or maybe Hiruzen just pushed it all off. Either one made sense to me. Although it could just be Tsunade's bad luck.

I have always found it odd that Tsunade lost every bet and gamble while Nozomi won hers. Nozomi... Now there was a girl who was hard to understand. Powerful but no self-confidence. A mind for politics but hates political affairs. Compassionate but tough. She contradicts herself in so many ways.

She pissed me off with her cunning and well thought-out comments. Saying how stupid politics were, but would always eaves drop on council meetings. Would often interrupt and come up with more and better ideas than any of us could come up with. She interrupted Daimyos, Kages and Village Leaders from many countries and would often amaze them with her logic and heart. It got to the point where she just sat in at meetings, not even bothering to conceal herself. She drove me crazy! I hope she's giving Orochimaru Hell for all of Konoha right now.

Flashback

Hiruzen and the Raikage had somehow gotten into an argument over the Hyuga Incident.

"And I say it was your fault!" Raikage shouted, he had always been headstrong.

"Well-!"

"WILL YOU TWO SHUT UP ABOUT IT!" Nozomi kicked down the door with her amazing strength, though nowhere near on par with Tsunade's. "It's Kumo's fault for breaking the treaty BUT!" Nozomi shouted before the Raikage could interrupt. "But," Nozomi said much softer, it had a calming effect on the two Kages. "Hiashi didn't have to kill that Kumo Shinobi, he could have simply knocked him out and that be that. It was both Villages faults in a sense but Kumogakure did provoke the situation. Its ancient history and let it be."

Ā gapped at the eight year old girl. Nozomi was smiling as she left the room.

"Who does that brat think she is?" Hiashi Hyuga exclaimed after Nozomi left. "She has no idea-!"

"I think she sees the extra degree that you don't." I shot at him. The expressions on Ā's and Hiashi's faces was priceless. I almost hated to admit it at the time but Nozomi was right.

End Flashback

I felt a twinge of pride in Nozomi that day. Both Villages had been so stuck on one way of looking at things and that was their own. But Nozomi never thought from one point of view, she looked at everything three hundred and sixty degrees. I may call her an insolent, disrespectful, temperamental brat but she was defiantly a brilliant, kind, compassionate child. A young woman who kept the pro's and con's for both sides into consideration. She really has to be giving Orochimaru Hell.

Jiraiya's POV

It was weird to wake up and not see Tsunade and Nozomi virtually asleep at the breakfast table. I had always looked forward to Naruto snatching Nozomi's breakfast and Nozomi making something even better than what she had been eating to screw with Naruto. You think the kid would learn by now.

Tsunade was almost always gone before I got up anymore just to bury herself in paperwork (which she hates) to shut out the rest of the world. Even after I got her to cut work last week she still did the same crap. She was in a deeper depression than when the Mina Twins died.

Time for drastic measures.

I walked through town slowly, trying to think of what will send my wife over the edge.

"Hey Grandpa Jiraiya." Shikamaya walked up to me.

"How've you been?" I asked.

Shikamaya shrugged. "I've been better but I've been worse." Shikamaya fingered the blue and green paper flower in her hair. "Grandma Tsunade's been so depressed lately."

"I had her out of it for a little while but..." I shrugged in defeat.

"She'll get over this whole 'My life sucks' stage soon."

"You don't." I kidded, nudging my granddaughter playfully.

"That's the Nara in me." Shikamaya said dismissively. "I just wish I knew why she was acting like this."

"So do I... Got any ideas on how to snap her out of it?"

"Weeellll..." Shikamaya said cunningly. "I might have something in mind..."

"Anything to get her to stop acting like this."

"Alright then..." She stood on her toes and I knelt down so she could tell me her little plan.

Dam she's a fricken genius! But why did all of her plans involve me getting beat up?

I took a deep breath before I entered Hime's office.

"Jiraiya I'm not cutting work again." She said not even looking up.

"Alright. I just wanted your opinion." The look on her face was just how I thought it'd be.

'What did he do now?' Hook. Line. Sinker. "Fine what is it?"

"This." I rolled up my sleeve.

"YOU FUCKING BAKA!" Tsunade punched me square in the face. When did she move? Dam I forgot how fast she was! "WHEN IN THE HELL DID YOU GET THAT? ME AS A PREGNANT PIN UP MODEL? YOU BASTARD!" She punched me with each word. Shikamaya if this doesn't work you are in so much trouble!

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING!" she continued punching me. I have no idea why ANBU weren't bursting into the room.

She collapsed out of mental and physical exhaustion. I hated seeing Hime cry like this but she needed to let it go. "Let's go home." I whispered in her ear. She nodded, I wrapped an arm around her small shoulders and we disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Tsunade's POV

I felt so hollow. So empty. Everyone was slipping away. Minako, Minato, Yahiko, Nagato, Nozomi, Nawaki... I lost so many and I'm losing more. Who's next? Konan? Naruto? Shikamaya? Jiraiya?

No... God, please no... Stop taking everything away from me... Please... Please...