Standard Disclaimers: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters.
A/N: Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed. It really does help keep me in the zone for writing more. Special thanks to Senju54 / Guest. It was really nice to hear your opinion!
Tsunade remained buried in her work, ignoring everything about the world around her for a long time. Her concentration was absolute as she isolated chemical structures, researched compounds and regulated breathing that was becoming increasingly strained.
Normally, the poison wasn't a quick killer. Normally, however, it was ingested and not introduced directly into the blood stream so close to the heart. Luckily, her knowledge and unparalleled control of her own body meant that she could keep herself upright and functioning despite the damage it was attempting to cause. She used her skill to set blocks in place, divert blood, encourage white blood cells and even isolate tissue that was becoming too costly to salvage. With the exception of a little difficulty breathing, she was doing fine.
Which was all very good.
Except that it was taking a great deal of effort.
By the time she'd set the fourth component through its paces, she decided it was probably best to be a little more pro-active. Her hands formed signs and she carefully siphoned off a measured amount of chakra from the seal on her forehead and dedicated it to cell regeneration around her heart.
When the glow of the jutsu faded, she was aware that she wasn't alone.
"You're supposed to be on the roof," she said, forcing her breathing to something less rapid as she turned to face the clone perched on the end of the bed.
"I'm supposed to be on watch," it corrected, visible eye crinkling upwards in humor that wasn't entirely convincing, "Which I can do from here as easily as from the roof." It gestured, "And you are taking a break, aren't you? So I won't get in the way."
This was a fine counter to any arguments Tsunade might have had about the clone being a disruption and she vaguely wondered how it'd managed to time its arrival for it.
"Yes, but only a few minutes," Tsunade said and searched for a way to reassert herself. The contrast between the clone's subtly battle-ready stance and its oh-so-casual drawl gave it to her. She offered it a faint smile and an arched brow, "Could it be that you're concerned?" She snorted and gestured, "Ridiculous. Though, I imagine it would be quite a scandal if I died while on a mission with you. Someone might accuse you of knocking me off just to become Hokage."
The clone smirked but the gesture died as it dropped its eyes and nodded to her chest. "Gray is not a good color on you."
Tsunade glanced down to see spidery thin lines creeping up over her curves towards her throat – a visible marker of the poison's progress through her veins.
"It looks much worse than it is." Tsunade raised her chin, making a show of dismissing the concern. "And I've got plenty of chakra to keep healing myself for quite some time yet."
The clone didn't look overtly reassured. Tsunade wasn't surprised. She'd told Kakashi that things would take at least six hours.
It'd only been three and she was already tapping into her chakra reserves.
Tsunade kept kicking the clone out of the room but, like a bad penny or someone she owed money, it continued to come back. She'd be grabbing a beaker and the warm wash of its familiar presence would politely nudge at her awareness. Then she'd glance over her shoulder only to find the clone leaning against the table by the window, studiously pretending to read the orange covered pornography Kakashi so adored.
She eventually gave up on working in privacy.
Not that the clone was being distracting. No, on the contrary, it was quiet as a mouse. In fact, she found that it was almost … nice… to feel it in the room. Not only did it sooth her instinctive wariness to have a trusted comrade at her side, but it was also good to know that Kakashi himself wasn't running into trouble as evidenced by the continued presence of his clone.
Of course, it was less nice to know that she had an audience to every bout of light-headedness and every cut-short breath. Eventually spots began dancing in front of her eyes and she had to swallow her pride and sit on the bed for a moment.
The clone looked over the edge of its book, studying her, before it sighed. It put the book away reluctantly, "I guess there's nothing for it. Tsunade-sama, is there anything that He can bring you?" The emphasis on the pronoun made it clear who it meant.
Tsunade stiffened up sharply, "No, and don't you dare dismiss yourself!"
The clone gestured at her, indicating the spreading evidence of poison, the paling skin, and the cramping fingers she'd been trying to hide. "He needs to know."
"He does know," Tsunade countered. "He knew when he left and it's not as if he can help at all. Besides, he's dealing with his own mission right now. He doesn't need to be burdened with non-essential details."
The clone's eyes went dark, reacting poorly to either the dismissal of Kakashi's skills or the denial of his right to worry about a team mate. "I seem to recall you gave Him control of the mission." it said, tone carefully light, "Usually that means that He should decide what is essential."
"Not this time," she said flatly. "This falls under my expertise as a medic," her eyes flickered briefly, "and as Hokage." She didn't want to explain herself, she really didn't. But both the clone's expression, painted in the subtle hues of Kakashi's stubbornness, and the memory of their last argument compelled her.
"It's not just that he can't help," she relented, "His mission is essential. And he's going up against at least five enemy nin. Of course he can handle it, but there's no need for him to be distracted by a situation he can't change."
"You don't know him very well if you think that he is so easily distracted, Hokage-sama," the clone said quietly. It looked away, though, and Tsunade knew she'd said something that resonated.
"I know he's not easily distracted," Tsunade agreed. "I just…" she broke off, throat unexpectedly closing and leaving her struggling for breath. The clone straightened, resolute once more, and she blindly reached for a pillow to fling at it, hard and fast. It dodged and the pillow hit the wall with a small explosion of feathers.
"I…said… don't!" Tsunade snarled through gasps. "And I don't have time to argue. I need to get back to what I was doing and… I need to concentrate. Stay and keep me safe or go and leave me at the mercy of an attack."
Naked fact could be very unkind, but she was not above using it.
Torn by loyalty and (perhaps, she thought) even friendship, the clone was silent for a few moments. "He won't be pleased," it said finally.
"No," Tsunade agreed. "No matter what you choose, I imagine he won't be pleased at all. But there's nothing you can do." A precise burst of chakra eased up the pressure in her lungs and she took a cautious breath. Then she stood up and added, crisply, "Except, go back on the roof. I'm tired of seeing that perverted book."
It had been five hours and forty minutes.