AN: Hi guys! Thank you so much to everybody who continues to pay attention this this fic of mine! You are all appreciated!


A month passed before anything else of note happened.

Informing the ANBU, jōnin, and tokujō forces hadn't actually been that dramatic, Kushina remembered ruefully. She had been so prepared too, to get fired up in defence of her child and set those bloody ninja's minds straight – and then she hadn't even needed to.

Well, a lot of them hadn't even known the term 'jinchūriki' in the first place. Her lecture had ended up being more educational than anything, a fact that Mikoto had taken unnecessary delight in. The shinobi had, bafflingly, been more interested in the fact that Kushina and Minato had not only been married, but that they'd had a son. The giant demon fox in said son's gut, while concerning, didn't warrant quite the same level of attention.

(Kushina would never figure it out, but the expression on her face each time she made the announcement practically dared anybody to tell her they had a problem with her son. And even aside from the fearsome reputation of Konoha's Red Hot-Blooded Habanero, the shinobi of her village trusted her. They had trusted Minato. Between her previous experience and his sealing prowess; any kid of theirs would be more than a match for the Kyūbi, they were sure.)

So Kushina spent a good four weeks doing paperwork, attending the last of the funerals, doing more paperwork, getting Mikoto to do her paperwork – and searching for Tsunade.

The last had finally paid off.

"She's definitely in Hi no Kuni, then?" The redhead asked, leaning forward eagerly. "She's still around?"

Karasu, the ANBU reporting to her, inclined their head. "Yes, Hokage-sama. Tsunade-sama is currently taking part in a gambling tournament in the Capital. Shizune is with her."

Whooping loudly, Kushina leaped up and grabbed Karasu's gloved hands. "Thank god! She didn't see you, right?" She didn't want the woman to make a break for it, after all.

"Not to my knowledge, Hokage-sama. I did ensure to make it look as though I was only passing through on a mission though, just in case."

Kushina nodded approvingly and re-seated herself. "Good job. Thanks for your hard work, Karasu-taichō. You may return to headquarters."

As the ANBU captain was disappearing out the window, Mikoto returned through the door, bearing another armload of paper. "Who was that, Kushina-chan?" She asked, depositing her armful on the redhead's desk. Kushina eyed it resentfully.

"ANBU," she replied absently, reaching for the page at the top of the stack. "They found Tsunade-hime."

"Oh?" Mikoto scooped Sasuke out of his crib next to Naruto's and gave Kushina a curious look. "What are you going to do?"

The grin that split Kushina's face in response to her question told Mikoto that whatever her friend's plan was – trouble would follow.


"Absolutely not."

"Ahaha! It's non-negotiable, I'm afraid. I'm going after Tsunade-hime, and Miko-chan is in co-charge while I'm gone." A pause. "With Shikaku-san. Mostly Shikaku-san."

Kushina once more had the Advisory Council in her office, lined up and looking displeased, as usual. While she didn't trust any of them are far as she could throw them, she could acknowledge that being old had its perks; they knew how shit worked. So Kushina was temporarily allowing them to keep their AC title (to be revised when she got more used to her duties as Hokage).

"I really must insist that you reconsider, Godaime. Now is not the time for our Hokage to be leaving the village on a wild goose chase." Koharu said, tone reprimanding.

Hotaru nodded. "Not to mention the danger to yourself. Konohagakure has already lost two Hokages - we cannot afford to lose another so quickly."

"Nice to see you have so much faith in me." Kushina muttered petulantly, although she knew that they were only speaking sense. It was somewhat irresponsible for her to be leaving the village during such a vulnerable time. Kushina and Konoha both had some pretty powerful enemies; the Elders probably thought she was taking an unnecessary risk.

However. Despite understanding their concerns, Kushina was still intent on following through with her plan. Senju Tsunade was one of the most stubborn women she had ever met in her life. Kushina liked to think that she was equally as stubborn; thus, she was the person with the best chance of convincing the Slug Sannin to not only return to Konoha, but to stay.

It was so incredibly important to Kushina that Tsunade come back to the village. She was the strongest kunoichi Konoha had ever had, as well as the greatest medic alive (probably). Even if, god forbid, Kushina failed at convincing her to return permanently, establishing this contact as the Godaime Hokage was a crucial step. This was one thing that she wouldn't ever give up on; she would continue to harass Tsunade until one of them kicked the damn bucket.

The presence of the female Sannin would do so much good for Konoha. Kushina was determined to do this for her people.

For once taking the time to completely, earnestly explain herself to the council dinosaurs, Kushina could see them warring with themselves. They agreed with her reasoning (possibly for the first time ever), but they still had their original concerns.

Kushina steepled her fingers on her desk in front of her. "Look," she said, tone serious. "I know it's risky. But I really believe that bringing Tsunade-hime back is worth that risk. I won't do anything unnecessary. I won't be alone. And I'll come back to the village as soon as possible. I just need to be the one to make this first step."


In the end, Kushina got her way.

She left not two hours after she managed to convince the council. Standing at the village gate, with her ANBU guard plus one waiting patiently, Kushina said goodbye to her son for the first time. It made her heart heavy, that she was leaving him so soon, but Kushina knew that it had to be done. She pressed a kiss onto Naruto's forehead and passed him over to Mikoto.

"I love you, baby." She whispered, stroking his little blond crown one more time.

Mikoto smiled. "I'll look after him, Kushina-chan. You just worry about bringing Tsunade-sama home."

Kushina nodded firmly. "I will, dattebane." And then she grinned. "Have fun being in charge of the village while I'm gone, Miko-chan."

She winked, turning around and leaping for the trees, Mikoto's amused shouts echoing behind her.

"Co-charge, Kushina-chan! Co-charge!"


Running through the gigantic trees of Hi no Kuni was always exhilarating for Kushina. Jumping from branch to branch, ducking and dodging and leaping at full speed; it was the type of fun that would always be unmatched.

Of course, she thought wryly as she moved, she didn't know when the next time she would be able to leave the village would be. So she savoured the feeling, putting her all into every movement and trying to commit the moment to memory.

"Are you having fun, Kushina-nee-sama?"

The dry question came from behind her. Kushina laughed, throwing a glance back at Kakashi, who was loping along, watching her with a fond crinkle around his eye that told her he was smiling.

"I am, 'Kashi-kun." She admitted easily. "I haven't been outside of Konoha in months. It's nice to stretch my legs a bit."

The teenager put on a burst of speed, moving so that he was running along beside her. "Do you have a plan for bringing Tsunade-sama back?" He asked, blinking at her inquisitively.

"Not at all!"

Kakashi almost fell out of his tree.

Then he smiled, shaking his head. "Do you think it'll come to a fight?" He had a lot of faith in Kushina's fighting prowess – she had been more than a match for Minato-sensei, after all. But Senju Tsunade was a legend. It was even in the nickname she shared with her teammates: the Densetsu no Sannin. Battling her would be tough.

"I really hope not, 'Kashi-kun. Tsunade-hime is primarily a taijutsu fighter, and her physical strength is no joke. I'm strong – I became Hokage, for god's sake! But I would rather not test myself against one of Konoha's finest. Not over this." There was a new solemnity in Kushina's grey-violet eyes that hadn't been there before the Kyūbi attack.

"Not over this," Kakashi repeated. "But in other circumstances?"

Bouncing quickly back to her usual self, Kushina flashed a grin at him. "Hell yeah! Why wouldn't I?"

"Because she could kill you?"

"Ha! Like that's ever stopped me before, dattebane!"


Once they reached the capital, Kushina had her ANBU guard spread out a little more. She didn't want Tsunade to see them as an attempt at a show of force. They were there to protect their Hokage, and that was all.

Only Kakashi stayed by her side as she wandered around, poking her head into all the bars and gambling dens that they passed. Searching for Tsunade always took longer than for anybody else; the last Senju had impossible chakra control, and only the best of the best sensors could find her that way.

They finally struck gold in the early evening. Kushina, although technically on a (very important) mission, had actually had a pretty good day, traipsing around with Kakashi. They'd stopped for lunch, where Kushina treated him and her ANBU guards to barbeque. They had tried to protest, but Kushina was a good boss, goddammit!

Anyway, it was almost dark when Kakashi nudged her, indicating the pale blonde head in the back corner of a particularly sleazy bar. Kushina grinned, ruffling his hair, which he endured with a fond eye-roll.

"Well done, kid." She said, walking right on in and sliding into the opposite side of Tsunade's booth. Kakashi hesitantly followed. "Hello, Tsunade-hime, Shizune-chan!"

Deep brown eyes narrowed at her. The teenage girl sitting next to the Sannin gaped, gaze switching between the two Konoha-nin. Kushina beamed innocently back.

"Che." Tsunade scoffed, tossing back her remaining sake. "What do you want, Kushina?"

Kushina sighed, leaning her elbows on the table, hands clasped under her chin. "I assume you already got the news?"

The older woman nodded sharply. "Jiraiya found me before he left the country." She paused, and her face softened minutely. "I'm sorry about your husband."

"Thank you." Kushina pushed down the wave of grief that threatened to swamp her whenever Minato was mentioned. "I'm sorry about your sensei."

"Sensei was old. He knew exactly what he was getting into when he went up against that thing." Tsunade poured herself another cup of sake. "I'm more surprised that you would accept that cursed position after what happened to them."

Despite her casual words, Kushina saw the way that Shizune had stiffened, stopping herself from leaning comfortingly against her master. Old Sarutobi may have been, but he was an important pillar of strength and support, to the village as a whole, but particularly to his three students. Orochimaru had even stopped being a creepy weirdo (temporarily, Kushina was sure).

"I don't believe it's cursed, Tsunade-hime," was all she said though. "I believe that Konohagakure has been blessed with four leaders who were willing to lay down their lives for the people who lived in her walls. And I believe that anybody who has truly dreamed who wearing that stupid hat were special blessings, both to the village and to those around them personally. They were overflowing with the Will of Fire, and Konoha was lucky to have them join her ranks."

She paused, watching Tsunade's face. In the past, the woman had not taken kindly at all to people bringing up her deceased lover and brother. Indirect as Kushina had been, she knew she was still walking a fine line.

When Tsunade merely continued to stare at her, Kushina went on. "Even though I'm the Godaime, I'm not only inheriting the dreams, wishes, and ambitions of the four who came before me. I've been entrusted with the hope of every single person who has ever loved Konohagakure. And I intend to fulfil those wishes. I know the hazards, 'ttebane. But being a shinobi is a danger that I chose. Being the Yondaime's wife was a danger that I chose. And now, being Hokage – I chose this too."

Kushina clenched her fists. "But I also have a son. A baby boy, who still has a long life of choices left to make, and I want to be there to see that. He didn't choose to be born. He didn't choose to be the son of two Hokages. So I have to live, and keep living, so that Naruto will be protected until he reaches an age where he can make his own decisions. No stupid curse is going to take that away from him."


Staring into grey-violet eyes burning with righteous fire, Senju Tsunade felt an old well of hurt rise up. Gods but that look was so familiar.

"You know I'm haemophobic, right?" She asked abruptly.

At her side, Shizune stiffened. A wave of fondness rushed through Tsunade's veins. The kid was always so sensitive to any perceived slight towards her master – even if said master was the one to say it.

Across the booth, Kushina tilted her head, the fire in her eyes dampening. "I know, 'ttebane. You're still the greatest medic to ever live, though."

Tsunade's mouth quirked up at the corners. "Flatterer. Is that why you personally came to drag me back?"

The redhead laughed, cupping her chin in one hand. "I didn't come to drag you, Tsunade-hime. I just came to ask, and remind you that you still have a home with us."

"And then harass me without end for the rest of my life, should I refuse?"

"Of course," Kushina said it without shame. "I won't ever give up on you, Hime."

Kushina said it as a title and Jiraiya had always used it as a nickname, but the sound of it set off a flood of memories from years long since passed: missions and lazy days alike from her time as a genin, back when she and her teammates were naught but precocious little brats. Laughing with Sensei and Orochimaru while Jiraiya ranted and flailed foolishly. Grinning proudly when the three of them were promoted to chūnin at the same time and Sarutobi-sensei took them out for dinner to celebrate. Watching her teammates indulge Nawaki's requests for help with his tai and ninjutsu-

Tsunade withheld a sob, remembering how excited her baby brother had been. She had felt such love for Jiraiya and Orochimaru then.

"Alright, Kushina," Tsunade said steadily, holding tight to the image of Nawaki's beaming face. "I'll come back if you can do one thing for me."

Her three booth-mates goggled. Tsunade didn't even have to look to know that Shizune's mouth had dropped open completely. The silver-haired kid who had accompanied Kushina was looking at her with his one grey eye comically wide.

And Kushina…

Kushina's eyes were blazing again, determination writ across every inch of her face. "Name it, Tsunade-hime. Name it and I'll do it."

Slowly, achingly slowly, Tsunade brought one hand up to her neck, lifting the simple green crystal that hung there. "We are going to fight. And if you can get your hands on this – then I will return to Konoha. Permanently."


AN: Well, there we go! I hope you liked it :). As always, let me know what you thought!

- Kelly