Butterflies
"Me? I'm nobody. I'm not skilled like Uchiha-san. I am not passionate like Haruno-san. I am not smart like Nara-san. I'm not as strong as Chouji-san. I'm not as collected as Aburame-san. Or as pretty as Yamanaka-san. I'm not as confident as Inuzuka-san. If anything, I'm like Hyuuga-san, socially awkward. Oh wait, no, she's just shy. The socially awkward one is me." OC! Team 7 remix!
Chapter 78 – No good deed…
8-8
"Mama, papa… It's me again." I say, clearing the headstones of the dirt that had accumulated since my last visit. I lay the flowers I brought in the vases I keep here. Cherry blossoms for papa, his favourite. White plums blossoms for mama, her least hated – she was never one for flowers.
"Life has been… weird since my last visit. To see two strangers wearing your skin, two traitors bearing your DNA. How do you even begin to process that?" I ask the headstones, sitting on the plot between them. My grave. My resting place.
"Chouji and I still haven't made anything official, no matter how much people beg us to. We aren't ready, you know? He's still focusing on his recovery, and I'm… still too broken to take the risk." I explain, thinking about the absolute insanity my life has become.
"He doesn't have any answers for me either, you know. On what to do. On how to feel. I mean, if I were to be given to leeway to decide their fates… what do I pick? The only logical outcome is their execution. There's no other option, none that offers any kind of realistic solution. I mean… they could be plants. They could be… they could be anything… but…"
Tears seem to come easily while I'm here. Maybe it's because I'd trained myself to allow it. Maybe it's the knowledge that one day I'll be buried here. Maybe it's because I know people don't bother other people in a cemetery.
"What would that do to Hoshie and Kenshin? If their parents are traitors, doesn't that cast suspicion on them? Doesn't that mean they'll start their lives here in Konoha with two strikes against them? And the baby on the way? What of their fate? Would Senju-san allow a motion to postpone the execution until after the baby is born? And how do you even begin to explain that to a child when they're old enough to understand? That their birthday doubles as the day their traitorous parents were executed. What would that knowledge do to them?"
As usual, the answers don't come. Not from life, not from the headstones. And certainly not from the two idiots bearing my long dead parents' identities.
I wipe away the tears, standing as tall as the weight on my shoulders will allow. "I'll come back next week. To let you know how the Council meeting goes. There hasn't been word yet… but I know Shimura-san. He'll start barking sooner rather than later. Please… watch over me… mama… papa…"
Happy with the short visit –staying here isn't a good idea, not for me– I turn to Miwako and Satsuma. "Let's go."
8-8
The walk towards the exit is in silence. It usually is. Tsu and Hitomi never have anything to say while here. Even if we visit Tsu's father's grave, she… she grieves too completely to say much while we're here. Hitomi never bothers to visit her parents. She often wonders why they had a child to begin with – to damn them to a life in the Cadet branch of their clan, a fate worse than death. Not that she ever puts that into words… no, it's her eyes that tell her tale.
"Why do you need glasses?" Satsuma asks.
"Because I am near-sighted." I say, knowing that's not what he means.
"You weren't born with it. And Miwako doesn't remember you needing before she left." He presses. Yes, I know what you're asking.
"Are you sure you want the answer?" I give him one last chance to drop this.
"Yes." Alright. Don't say I didn't warn you.
"The spring after I buried my parents." I begin, thinking back. "I stayed too long. Even though it was the rainy season. Even though it was still just barely not freezing. I fell asleep, curled up on my grave. I woke up in the hospital two weeks later, still recovering from pneumonia, but there wasn't anything that could be done for my eyesight. They were amazed I didn't go blind."
They flinch. I warned you. I did. "That's why I don't visit for very long. The temptation to stay never goes away."
"You survive things you logically shouldn't." Tsu offers – her way of trying to tell me that Miwako and Satsuma should survive this, when they logically shouldn't.
"Not in my hands." I remind her, shrugging.
"What you want and what you get aren't always the same, Aya." She isn't going to give up that easily. "Would it kill you to want more?"
"It did kill me, Tsu." I point out, my tone neutral. "Just because I continue to survive, doesn't mean the outcome changes."
"Then who saved me?" Tsu isn't giving up. "Who saved Hitomi? Who saved Kin and Tayuya? Who saved Sakiko and Yasu? Who trains our pack day in and day out? Who has been the cornerstone that continues to keep loose pieces in balance? Who is the central pillar that keeps the den from collapsing?"
I don't even think about it. "Naruto."
Cat appears in front of me. "Council meeting within the hour." I don't wait for him to say it, why would I? I knew Shimura-san wouldn't wait long.
"Nn." He nods, before disappearing once again.
"Well. Let's get you two back to the den. I've got your mess to clean up."
8-8
"Thank you all for coming." Senju-san starts the meeting. "As you all know, Namikis Satsuma and Miwako arrived a week ago. Namiki Aya detained them, and called me, the Jounin Commander and the Anbu Commander in immediately, demanding an investigation into two plausible spies. The investigation and interrogation of Satsuma and Miwako has taken a while, given that this investigation included documents from Mist to corroborate their stories, and to fill in the gaps our own administration had on the pair."
"As you no doubt have noticed, Mizukage-sama is once again here to advocate for Satsuma and Miwako. She believes that they should be given the chance to live out their lives, though given no active role in Konoha's military or hospital for the sake of their already fragile mental states." Senju-san really knows how to lay things out, when she wants to. "Before any of you ask, I've conducted their physical, mental and emotional evaluation myself. Yamanaka Inoichi has confirmed my findings, and agrees with both the prognosis and course I have chosen. As such, I am not here to ask what we will do with the pair… I am here to inform you of the only logical outcome of the investigation."
Well, moment of truth. What is their fate?
"Hokage-sama, if I may?" Terumi-san sticks her nose where it obviously doesn't belong. Still, Senju-san allows it. "I have worked with both Satsuma and Miwako for many years. Closely, in fact. They were in no mental state to be allowed out on missions, but they were the best medic and guard we had. They both worked tirelessly to aid our people, to heal our people, to heal themselves."
Appeal to emotion. It's how you know this is a losing battle and there's no other way to get the result you want.
"I'd kept the two of them swamped after the civil war ended, simply to prevent them from returning to Konoha. Knowing that they face branding as traitors and execution. And yet their conscience could no longer allow them to stay away from their eldest daughter, not while knowing how long they'd allowed her to suffer in their absence." She's addressing the council, but she's speaking to me specifically. "They knew the risks, they knew that their lives were all but forfeit should they return. That's why they didn't turn themselves in on arrival. They needed to see their daughter."
How touching.
"A truly moving tale." Shimura-san drones, obviously believing this to be nothing more than grandstanding.
"I have told no lies since arriving in Konoha. Everything I say is verifiable." She presses, still only looking to me. "They love you, Aya. Whether you want to believe it or not, the truth doesn't change with your perception of it."
"If that is all Terumi-san has to say? I believe Senju-san wished to inform us of the fate of the two you clearly wish to aid." I drone.
"… How can you justify this, Aya? To aid so many that have no connection to you, and yet be so easy to accept you parents deaths?" She's really barking up the wrong tree.
"My parents are dead, Terumi-san. They have been for over eight years. And I already told you that they should have stayed dead." She doesn't look like she's ready to back down. As if my opinion of them bears any weight in their already decided fates. "I would kindly remind Terumi-san that her position of Mizukage doesn't give her any power in Konoha. All you have here is a voice in a sea of other voices. Senju-san is the one to decide their fates. We must abide by that, and you would do well to remember that you, too, must abide by it."
"So you would have them pay for being human? You would treat their desire to see their eldest child as an act of treason and kill them for it?" She isn't giving up. I shake my head, annoyed with her.
"Terumi-san. Let me explain this simply. Should two Mist shinobi aid Konoha over the course of eight to ten years, then return to Mist to see their child… they wouldn't even get a trial. They'd be executed on the spot. Is that accurate?" I meet her gaze, unaffected by her wonderful story. She doesn't answer, stubbornly staring me down to get me to see her side of things. "You ask that Konoha offer a fate you wouldn't offer in Mist."
"If I were trying to sway the decision, I would be in Hokage-sama's office talking to her privately. Not in the council chambers squeezing in what little time I'm allowed to talk to you directly." She presses.
"Funny. That you believe your words hold any weight in the Namiki clan. Perhaps I should visit Mist to see if my words would change things in the Terumi clan." I counter. "Now, I believe you are wasting our time, Terumi-san. Be silent and allow Senju-san to say her piece."
"…" She opens her mouth to say something, anything. Words have finally failed her. She steps back, obviously hoping for something more than she got.
"Now that this has been sufficiently discussed." Senju-san begins, sounding amused. Somehow I get the impression that she and Terumi-san discussed this, repeatedly, and Senju-san is amused that she tried anyway. "The sentence is as follows. Satsuma and Miwako are not to be branded as traitors. They did not betray Konoha, nor did they actively work against her or her interests."
"Hokage-sa-"
Snap!
And so, we have the first councilman on the ceiling for this meeting. "I believe Senju-san said she isn't here to discuss the matter." I warn, my tone showing how much this situation is grating on me. "Please continue, Senju-san."
"Thank you. Satsuma and Miwako did not betray our village, however, they are guilty of scores of other crimes, including revealing secrets under torture, during the Fourth Mizikage's reign. As such, the only logical outcome is life imprisonment without the chance of parole." Softie. Not that I'm much better most of the time.
"They are to spend their days in prison." Shimura-san seems upset, though he hides it well. "Which prison?" So I'm not the only one coming to that conclusion. Interesting. Still…
Snap!
And so, we have our second councilman on the ceiling. "Shimura-san. Learning from history usually means not repeating past mistakes. Senju-san is not here to discuss the matter. She is here to inform us of it." My tone is slowly souring. "Now if no one else feels they are above the Hokage…? Good. Senju-san?"
"Where the prisoners will live out their days is not something I feel the need to reveal. They will be guarded around the clock. And they will never walk freely among us again. They will pay for their crimes, legally and ethically. That is all this council has need to hear." Senju-san lays it out. I nod. A slap on the wrist, if you ask me. Had it been anyone other than Senju-san, they'd be dead already.
"Meeting adjourned."
8-8
"Aya, would you be against Mei entering?" Senju-san asks, standing outside my gate with Terumi-san and Katou-san.
"My ability to work with her in a professional environment doesn't mean I won't be tempted to break her in half in a private one." I warn. "Why would I want her in my den?"
"Because she wants to talk to you." Senju-san soothes.
"Now that we know why she wants in, why don't we try answering the question of why I want her in?" I glare at Senju-san, warning her that she's risking not entering herself. "I'm in no mood for games, Senju-san. Answer the question."
"Because I believe what she has to say might offer you closure."
"Senju-san, the sentence has been decided. What closure could-"
"Please, Aya… I'm asking you to trust me." She presses.
"So much appeal to emotion in one day." I complain, opening the gate. "One chance. Screw up and you're both out on your ear."
8-8
"No, Imouto-chan, I didn't forget. As soon as I'm done with these two, I'm taking you shopping as I promised. Don't forget that you need to spend some time with your parents. It wouldn't do if you ignored them." I pet Hoshie's hair, trying to get her to calm down. I don't have the heart to tell her that Miwako and Satsuma were sentenced to life in prison, let alone not knowing when they'll be collected. I have my suspicions, but suspicions can be wrong.
"Alright! But, you promised, Aya-nee!" She grins, eyes twinkling with so many positive things at once.
"I know. That's why I'm saying you should go spend some time with them now, so that we can get going as soon as I'm done. Now hop to, young lady." I roll my eyes, trying to act annoyed with her. She grins, seeing right through me. I'm glomped, told I'm loved, and left alone to deal with my newest headache.
"Yasu-nee, do you have any quick snacks, and maybe some tea for us?" I ask, revealing why I head to the kitchen, instead of my office.
"Three people?" She asks, not even looking to me.
"Uh huh. It seems Senju-san and Terumi-san have something interesting to say. Again." I huff. "I really can't figure out why I'm such a centrepiece these days, can you?"
"Because you're adorable." She teases, a smile in her voice. "I'll send Kin with the tea, when it's ready. But… I only have muffins for now. Is that okay?"
"Something is always better than nothing." I shrug, already adding snacks to my mental shopping list.
"Sweetie, mom's already out doing the shopping, so take that off your list. She should be here soon, but I figure you won't want to wait."
"We'll be waiting on the tea anyway. It's not a big deal." I say, hugging her. She kisses my brow, murmuring something I can't quite make out. Then she shoos me, obviously wanting to get back to Kin's cooking lesson. "We'll be in my office when mom gets here."
"Sweetie, the muffins. We both know you could use some chocolate." Can't argue with that.
8-8
In my office, I invite Senju-san and Terumi-san to sit on the couch. Tsu and Hitomi sit on the corners of my desk, obviously tense and ready to spring into action. I grab a muffin, sniffing it –mostly out of habit– and taking a bi…
Sniff, sniff.
"Tomi…?"
"What? She started it." Hitomi defends, a smile in her eyes. Kin and Hitomi. Interesting.
"Make sure to explain her that we're okay with it. I haven't had the time to as yet." I say, easing myself onto the couch opposite my guests.
"Yasu-san walked in on us." She says, grinning this time. So that's why Yasu-nee's been dragging her into the kitchen to spend more time with her. Hmm. Some things never change.
"And her stupid bathing habits?" I press. It's not like I mind if anyone overhears this, after all. So long as Hitomi doesn't mind talking about it, it's fine.
"I… may have been… discussing that with her… when Yasu-san… walked in." She's not blushing, not overtly, but she is blushing so bad on the inside.
"Ah." They were bathing together, and probably getting… frisky… when Yasu-nee walked in. Knowing Yasu-nee as well as I do, she probably congratulated them and went about her business like nothing happened. And yes… I know they were getting frisky. Hitomi's no longer a virgin, after all. "Congratulations, by the way."
She smiles, blushing a little.
"… Her and Kin?" Senju-san guesses.
"Namiki clan business. If Hitomi wishes to announce it that is her choice." I say.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Hitomi says, beaming this time.
"… You're okay with…?" Terumi-san obviously isn't used to how Namikis operate. Not if this surprises her.
"It isn't my place to tell Hitomi who to fall in love with, or share her bed with. If she falls in love with and wishes to pursue a female, male, or someone not readily identifiable as either, that is her choice." I explain simply.
"Hnn…" Terumi frowns thoughtfully, nodding – surprised, but obviously impressed.
I shrug, rolling my eyes shaking my head in a sort of confused amazement. Why is it that doing the right thing amazes people?
Ten minutes later, Kin comes in with tea and the snacks mom brought back. Biscuits, and some fancy chocolates. Perfect for this kind of meeting.
"Ah, Kin. Hitomi just gave us the good news. Congratulations." Senju-san says, smiling warmly. Kin looks about ready to pass out from the shock, her full attention zoned in on me.
"Nn. Congratulations." I say, smiling. But that seems to press all the wrong buttons. "Kin, I knew it was a possibility. And everyone knows Hitomi's into girls. It's not a big deal." I soothe, hoping she doesn't pass out. "By the way… I haven't heard anything about Ao-chan and Hiro?"
"… How could you not hear about them? They're…" Kin begins, catching herself. Her eyes are wide as dinner plates.
"The cutest couple ever?" I tease. "I was there when they hooked up. Again, Kin, it's not a big deal. Relax."
She doesn't look like she's relaxing. At all. "Tomi, will you please help your mate to breathe? I'm not in a CPR mood."
Hitomi doesn't miss a beat, walking over, helping Kin to put down the tray on the coffee table in front of me, and tugging her over to the desk where she was standing before. Her arms are protectively wrapped around Kin's middle, whispering that there's nothing to be worried about into her ear. I smile. It isn't often you see Hitomi's nurturing side come out, so I treasure the moments it does.
"Tsu, you mind…?" She nods, moving to close the door and activate the seals for me. "Now, Terumi-san, you have something you believe I wish to hear. Please, by all means." My tone is far more reserved, colder.
"Yes." She begins, grabbing a biscuit to collect her thoughts. "The reason your parents didn't return before now."
I'm tempted to halfway correct her, but I'm no longer in the mood. Tsu will just get on my case again when the meeting's over.
"It was because your father is apt to have an episode whenever he sees a beach, for reasons we have yet to discover." She explains. "He… was only able to travel this time because he was either blindfolded or comatose for certain parts of the journey."
"Terumi-san, I don't know why you keep making up little tales like this. Satsuma is a medic and, according to sources, a jounin. The way you portray him, makes him seem like a petulant genin, at best." I intone, unimpressed. "Now, I do not believe you are here to once again discuss matters like this for the sake of idle curiosity. You both wish for them to serve their sentence in my den under Anbu guard."
They share a look, shocked. "I warned you twice not to underestimate me, Terumi-san. That's twice more than most get." I say, biting into the muffin. I make sure to chew and swallow before continuing; covering my mouth just in case. "Now, what would happen if I were to refuse?"
"Aya~aaaaaa." Tsu warns. I turn and glare at her. "Don't give me that look. Hear them out, weigh the pros and cons, and then decide. Don't just discard the option out of hand."
"Fine. Senju-san. Plead your case."
"Well-"
"You're Terumi Mei, of Mist. I was talking to Senju Tsunade, of Konoha." I cut her off. "And frankly the only reason I haven't kicked you out, is because I know Tsu and Hitomi are going to give me a headache over the timing. Play you're cards right, Terumi-san. Because you are tainting Senju-san's standing with us, not your own."
She obviously doesn't like that. "Now. Senju-san, I'm listening."
"This is the only option that works out in everyone's interest." She begins. "They can't get off Scott free. Their crimes aren't execution worthy, not in my eyes. And this way, the council doesn't have to keep bothering you about Namiki babies, seeing as your parents will have nothing better to do than to work on themselves and raise their children."
I nod understanding – though not agreeing with her. You don't give mentally unstable people children to ra… then again, I'm pretty unstable myself from time to time. I sigh.
"So, I would place them in the care of the Namiki clan, to serve their sentence here in your compound."
"You do realise that Shimura-san will find out, and that he will be up in arms about this?" I remind her. "No one will consider this a prison. No one will consider this a sentence. At best, you might convince them this is house arrest, but even that is questionable."
"Ah, but that's why showcasing your open dislike for what they've done was so important." Even Terumi-san looks surprised by that. "No one in their right mind would want to be so near you for long periods of time if they know you're pissed with them. And now everyone in the village will know that you are pissed with what your parents did. They will literally be under your thumb for the rest of their lives. Yours to order around, to command, to push around. Even Danzo will have to admit that's worse than being in prison."
"Senju-san, you lie well, but you don't fool me." I counter. "You want them here because we also double as a rehabilitation centre. You want them fixed. And you want their children to grow up with them." I point out. "Shimura-san will figure that out in a heartbeat. And I don't play cat and mouse politics games. If he asks the right way, I will speak my mind. You risk political fallout over this."
"I'm aware. Now tell me, do you have another option that works better for the reasons I've laid out?"
"Senju-san, I'm still very much convinced they should both be executed. Heedless of what you believe, they are traitors to their village, and they're certainly traitors to the Namiki clan. You can dress that up as much as you want, cover it in all the makeup money can buy. But a swine remains a swine, even in a kimono, tiara and wearing pearls." I say, my tone deathly serious.
"Having said that, you at least make some good points. We have a few prisoners here that are kept secure and under surveillance around the clock. And we can offer them a stable enough environment for their mental rehabilitation, which a prison would not. I however do not appreciate you sticking your nose into Namiki clan business, suggesting they be used as breeding stock. And no, I don't care if that is or isn't how you worded it. Miwako might have some 'fertile years' left in her, but I do not play that game and you know it. Regardless if they are prisoners, I don't deal in those matters."
"And that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface with all the Anbu Operatives in and out asking when the execution is. Who will explain to them why two known traitors are being given a slap on the wrist?" I ask, curious what she has to say about any of it.
"I refuse to brand them traitors, Aya. Not for their sakes, but yours, Hoshie's and Kenshin's. You know how the village will react to that." She says. "And as Hokage, it's my right to brand them or to not brand them traitors."
Point. I can appreciate her reasoning as well.
"As for the Anbu? I will speak with Dragon. She will handle that for us." Fair enough. "And I'd… prefer it if Inoichi were here at least once a week to work with both of them. To see if there's anything that can be done for them. And for you." She did NOT just go there!
"Senj-"
"Aya, if you fight me and that last point, I will pull rank and order you into therapy." She warns. I cross my arms, quietly seething. "You have mental and emotional scars you haven't even begun to heal. And you have a habit of burying yourself in your work to not have to face that."
"She who lives in a glass house…" I remind her. She winces. "If you wish to order me, then do so. I will gladly ignore that order, Se-"
"Aya, please." Tsu begs. "I'll go if you will."
I sigh. Great. I've been begging her for how long? And now she's willing, if only to drag me along for the ride.
"I think I'm going to start asking you to wait outside for these meetings, Tsu." I glare at her.
"Go with me?" She completely ignores me. "Please?"
I roll my shoulders, hating the tension I keep finding there, and biting into my muffin.
"Thank you." She says, meaning it. I take another bite of my muffin, hating that I keep giving in.
"As for considering them breeding stock." Senju-san says, smiling at the little victories already in her pocket. "It's none of my business if they never have another child, or have another ten. I referred to raising them, not having them."
"A politician's silver tongue. That's why I'll never want to be Hokage." I complain.
"Will you agree to house them in your den?" Senju-san asks, her eyes almost begging.
"… I'm seriously going to start hating you eventually, Senju-san. You know that."
"Thank you, Aya." She says, meaning it.
8-8
Tsu is sent to call Miwako and Satsuma, so the situation can be explained to them. Not surprisingly, Senju-san sends for Dragon as well – two birds, one stone. I sit through it, listen to every word said.
I'm not sure why I need to be here for this, though.
"So how does Aya feel about this?" Miwako asks. I snort, unamused.
"It's still my opinion you should be executed. But that isn't my call to make." I say, glaring at Senju-san.
"… I see."
"Don't even try that shit with me, Miwako. If you'd trained your mate properly, he'd never have been captured. He'd never have broken under the torture. And your mooning over a ghost is not helping your case in the least." I grind out. She winces.
"Aya." Satsuna calls me. "We can't change the past. You know that."
"Ah. Thanks for the update. I'll be sure to make a memo of that." I drone sarcastically. "Look. My stance has been made perfectly clear. I believe both of you are undeservingly getting little more than a slap on the wrist. So don't come playing the sympathy card with me. I am your jailor, and you had best respect me as such. Because I promise, one toe out of line and I'll be your executioner, orders or no."
"Jailor or no… you are still our daughter." Satsuma tries.
"Biologically." I point out. "Now, can we please get on with this supposed sentencing? I have more important things to do."
"… What can we do to make things right, Aya?" Satsuma tries again.
"Senju-san. Are they legally in my custody?" She nods.
Snap!
Satsuma is on the ceiling, mouth covered to keep him silent. "Much better. And Miwako, don't push your luck. I can do the same to you without risking your pregnancy." I warn, glaring at her. "Now, continue with the sentencing."
"He can still hear me, right?" I nod, wondering why this is the first time she's even asking that. It certainly isn't the first time she's seen people crawling around on a ceiling in that jutsu. "Good. You will both be prohibited from leaving this compound. Not even under guard. Anything you need will be provided here. The Namiki clan will be reimbursed for anything that can be proven is needed, and they will be paid the standard fare for housing two jounin ranked prisoners of the state. You will also attend mandatory weekly counselling sessions. Refuse this, and I will make other arrangements. I'm sure Aya would miss you like a toothache." I snort, fully agreeing with her.
"Counselling… Now I know this is a prison sentence." Miwako complains.
"Yeah, and guess what? You idiots had to drag me down into it as well." I complain, glaring at nothing in particular.
"Actually, you agreed because you love me so much." Tsu coos, a grin in her voice. I just bite into what's left of my muffin. Now I feel like a peach. And some cherries.
8-8
End Chapter 78
8-8
A/N: Just want to point out several key factors before anyone else is tempted to. Executions are actually quite rare in Konoha. Don't believe me? Mizuki and the Legendary Stupid Brothers (Fujin and Raijin) were imprisoned. One was a confirmed traitor that tricked a student into stealing the Forbidden Scroll and confirmed he was going to offer it to Orochimaru, and also broke the Third's Law to talk about Naruto being the Nine-tails jinchuriki. The other two killed their teammates during a mission and didn't understand they would get in trouble for it. None of them were executed.
Is Tsunade being overly soft? Yes, without a doubt. Is she a dictator of a military regime? Yes, without a doubt. She is also a medic who tries to save lives whenever she can. Her core mind-set is to fix people, even though she will break you if you oppose her. Miwako and Satsuma are cooperating, and clearly need to be fixed. Tsunade would send them to prison in a heartbeat if they mess with the delicate situation, but... More good might come from housing them in the Namiki compound. Good for Hoshie and Kenshin, but also for Aya.
And that's ignoring that Tsunade wouldn't complain if Miwako 'pops out' a few more babies. I mean, look at Aya? Can you imagine what Hoshie and Kenshin will be like under Aya's careful tutelage? Now, add the baby on board? And more plausible Namikis if Miwako is allowed to be housed with Satsuma? There are reasons why this works out better, even if she isn't advertising or pushing for them. After all, if Miwako got pregnant in the middle of Mist's civil war? She'd get pregnant again in a heartbeat in a safe environment surrounded by people that would care for the new addition.
Tsunade is just planning ahead. Soft, gentle, yes. But that's military grade planning.