Loud bangs and movement of furniture being dragged across wooden floors. That was mostly what Anko heard happening among the chambers in the Hokage Tower.
"Hey! Quieten down! Be more gentle with my shit!"
She could tell it was in one ear and out the other, based on the grimaces they exchanged when the Fifth looked away. They stirred up dust that hadn't been touched in years, shifted everything around, changed everything abruptly because they were told to do so.
"Christ, these boxes are heavy," Tsunade grouched, obviously having a hard time holding them up with such a full chest. "are we not paying somebody to do this?"
"Milady, they're all here working," Shizune reminded her carefully, "and besides, you're almost completely out of office now. You must get used to doing things on your own."
"He hasn't sworn in yet!" She said irritably, "I'm still Hokage! And with the way it's going, I'll be Hokage for another five years. Send word to Kakashi and have him meet me here first thing tomorrow morning. Immediately! We haven't even gone over the basics of each filing cabinet, where everything goes.. I'm fucking stressed to high heaven! So I'm still in charge, damn it!"
The Sannin barked out some more orders, followed by complaints and corrections. Despite previously scolding those for being too rough, she tossed the box down angrily.
She grabbed a tall bottle filled to the brim with clear liquid, shaking her head at everything that was going on. "I don't know if I can handle this. Aren't cold feet supposed to be what men get before a wedding or something?"
Anko took an uncomfortable seat on one of the closed boxes, containing books or something sturdy. It hadn't been light. "I don't blame him for putting it off. I wouldn't want the job either. All this work, you've gotta be kidding me."
Tsunade helped herself to a prolonged gulp. "Well, I don't want it any more either. I've dealt with people for a long time now."
"I can't deny the amount of responsibility it takes," She continued, almond-colored eyes focusing on nothing in particular. "but it's one of the most rewarding jobs.. It has made me happier than I've been in a while. Older and wiser, maybe, but happy."
The Jōnin crossed her legs, staring at the barren room. Everything seemed so big. "So, you're ready to retire?"
"Hell yes," The Fifth gestured in the direction of the Monument. "I wouldn't pass the title down if I didn't think Kakashi could handle it. He'll do fine."
"I've been meaning to ask you this, but.." She trailed off, an uneasy gaze flickering to Shizune. "what about Orochimaru? Where is he?"
Tsunade's mouth formed a straight line, like she knew exactly what had been troubling her all along. "He is free to do as he wishes."
"What? Even with him being accountable for so many lost lives? Really?"
"He faces no pending charges," She kept a straight face, "but don't think he isn't under constant surveillance. Kakashi can decide how to proceed with those actions."
Anko felt like she could break down into tears if pride weren't a factor, "I don't think that.. I couldn't handle seeing him here."
"I'm sorry, Anko," She offered sympathy, "he played a major role in saving me during the war, but the decision was not entirely mine. He should not bother you. Regarding the matters of Sasuke Uchiha, I cannot say. I imagine he'll also be pardoned."
The younger woman bit her lip, loathing life silently for a moment. She wasn't sure how to feel on the whole Uchiha matter. She didn't agree with the following of Orochimaru, and typically hated anyone with any sort of affiliation. She knew how it was. The bias would be real, especially concerning his former mentor. He was a traitor. By definition, traitors deserved to burn.
"Do you know how long ninja take to tend to their injuries?"
"Uh, I don't know... are you going to tell me?" She was still a kid, concentrating on messily wrapping a scrape she had gotten from one of her teammates hours ago. It had reopened during their trek. Everything he said was like a riddle she couldn't solve.
"Not even half as long as you're taking."
"Hey, Sensei, guess what?" Anko proclaimed, bursting with excitement and uneducated youth. "I wanna try to learn about healing and all that! Just like Tsunade, wouldn't that be cool? She's pretty strong. Then I could help my teammates when they get hurt or something. What do you think?"
Orochimaru did not entertain her long, "Your control is not very smooth. Don't waste your time."
"I could do it!" She wanted him to agree, "I would learn. Tsunade seems like she would make a great Hokage one day maybe. The first woman, 'ya know? Like, you'd obviously be the best Hokage but she would be awesome, wouldn't she?"
He chuckled, "A woman like her will never become Hokage."
"Why not?"
"Don't worry, child. I'll teach you what you need to know and you'll progress into a fine prodigy."
"Okay!" Anko stuck to him like cling wrap, stretching his sleeve. "when are we leaving for our next mission? When should we go get the rest of our team? Let's ask. I'm so ready!"
"I'm afraid it won't be that kind of trip," Orochimaru did a quick once-over of his maps. "and please, do keep your pesky questions to a minimum."
She looked up into reassuring, slit eyes. Don't doubt yourself, everything will be okay because he will teach you what you need to know. She would be the first to understand nature, unsolvable mysteries, every possible wonder of the world. He would teach her all he knew as well, and one day she would pass on his teachings. She couldn't wait for him to become Hokage, so then she could brag about the fact that she was his best student, and he chose her.
"Here, try some! You have to try some, Anko! Lighten up!" An already tipsy Tsunade waved the bottle at her. "I'm taking a break."
So she did, because sometimes memories were haunting in themselves. She had been a naive child, who grew into a twisted adult by default. Never got the chance to be normal.
"I'm retired! Shizune, calm down," The blonde began to scare off those nearby. "I do as I damn please."
"Those aren't from my desk, are they?"
"Yes ma'am."
"'Gimme!" She thrust her arms under a cardboard box, contents of colorful magazines and graphic illustrations. "these would be hard to replace."
"Erotic literature?" Anko guessed, peeking inside.
"That term almost sounds acceptable!" Shizune scolded, embarrassment turning her features red.
Tsunade smirked, wondering how she would have gotten through without them. "Wouldn't want Kakashi to see my dirty little collection."
She returned the smirk generously, "He has his own, I'm sure."
The Fifth let out a boisterous laugh, partially fueled by the morning buzz. "This is why we get along, Anko! We have to go out more often. It's like a new beginning! We'll get black-out drunk, it'll be great. I am retired, after all!"
Speaking on the start of new beginnings, her thoughts drifted toward him. The famous, delayed future Sixth. She had woken up early to disarrayed sheets and blinding sun. He was a mysterious, solitary man who stayed away, to himself a lot. Half the time gone before she even got the chance to fucking wake up. And if he had been conscious enough to pick up on the energy of her nightmares, she would've also taken a leave.
A few days have gone by.. where I haven't seen you and you haven't seen me. I know you, so your actions stay reasonably foreseeable.
Rang very true, because it truly happened like clockwork. She found him, whether he be at home or lurking about the village, when they both had nothing better to do. They would enjoy each other's company at convenience, not horribly often or anything. At first only when their schedules allowed. She couldn't name the honest foundation for their relationship. Maybe it was conversations that ran deep, maybe a couple of shared opinions, or maybe just mutual attraction.
But if she happened to forget, or became too caught up in the rush of life, a week or two would pass and he'd humbly seek her out instead. Act as if it were an accident, crossing paths near her favorite restaurants or usual routes. He would not go to over the top, overly-romantic limits like climbing through her window half past midnight. He wouldn't make bold moves. They were not prominent enough to be noticed anyway.
He would surprise her on predictable occasion with sweet foods, usually to forgive any differences they may have had beforehand. A sure fire way to win back her affection, so she didn't mind settling after that. They tried to not be an argumentative pair.
Anko hated that he would not be able to come around routinely; she would lose him to the unmanageable weight of a role she couldn't believe he ever wanted. He would be preoccupied with reports and politics, and for a while, agree to do nothing besides serve the village. She felt like he wasn't ready, because she wasn't ready.
Just a few more days.