Chapter 4

Tsunade Senju had many titles.

Legendary sannin.

Greatest medical nin.

One of the most powerful kunoichi in history.

Legendary sucker

Oba-san.

Some titles were over exaggerated, others downright degrading, but the title she hated, no despised the most - was in fact, the one that gained her the most reverence and distinction.

Godaime Hokage. Fifth Hokage of Konohagakure.

Of all the people...who thought it was a good idea to give her the dammed hat?

Sure, being Hokage had its perks. Those who have achieved the title of Kage obtained command over one of the five most powerful Hidden Villages and were generally the most powerful ninja in their respective villages. After all, Kage status was only granted to individuals who had proven their loyalty, strength and dedication to their people. They stood at the pinnacle of the tens of thousands of shinobis in the world, and it's not an overstatement to say that these five leaders maintained some mentality of peace. Some.

To be Hokage, one of the most powerful leaders throughout the lands, handpicked and nominated out of numerous competent candidates within the enclosed walls of Konoha, was quite flattering.

However despite the Hokage's power, despite a kage's prominent prowess on the battlefield, despite their… for lack of better description, eccentric behavior; there was one thing, one monster, that no kage could ever hope to defeat. Even with their authority, their aptitude, and their downright devastating chakra they were forced to trembling knees. Even with their respective shinobi forces they still bowed down to this enemy, cowering in its murky shadow...

...Paperwork.

Drawing air through puffed lips, Tsunade betrayed a drawn out sigh, her tone dripping with exasperation. The breath of air sputtered off pathetically into empty silence, only emphasizing the utterly depressive air that surrounded the sannin. Long eyelashes flickered, and underneath fair colored hair, eyes sweet as honey yet hardened to ice peered through a single pane of glass. The simple portal to the outside stood strong, a barrier between Tsunade and the torrent of rain.

Glass reflects the truth.

How true. Tsunade saw, not the proud woman that healed and protected with power. No, her eyes only saw a broken woman, shackled to memories that refused to fade. Past endeavors that refused to dull and still hurt like a jagged blade twisting her heart into a bloodied mess. Her shattered oaths forever scratched into mind by the clawing grasp of her doubts and fears.

Slender hands fingered the cool surface and trailed the droplets of rain that glistened on the other side.

A deep sense of longing threatened to sweep her of her feet. How simple would it be to sneak out, to let the icy liquid numb her pain. No one would have noticed; she was a sannin. Of course she would then precede to travel to the nearest bar - alcohol was certanitly a great way to dull the pain. She'd get drunk, pass out, and block out all her jumbled up emotions, plus avoid doing paperwork. The perfect plan.

Yet even as those thoughts flitted in a mirage of colors, she shook her head vemously. She was known for slacking but the sheer amount of paperwork even frightened Shizune. Pulling her fractured composure back in order, the steely glint of a strong and confident woman swirled into the depths of warrior eyes. With renewed confidence, she glared at the very bane of her existance.

Reluctantly reaching for her brush the fith hokage worked her way through the large piles of paperwork. The light bristles of her brush casting dark ink in contrast to startling white paper.

Black forms shifted amongst the forest, they're fleeting forms weaving with efficient grace. In silence they traveled, bone white masks glistening in darkened shadows. Draped over their shoulders, a pale figure lay, deathly still, with only the slight breaths of air betraying reluctant life.

The living world was a beautiful yet polluted place. With mankind, came ruin to the enviorment and there were few places left untouched by their greedy gripping hands. A small forest, secluded in a small valley was one of these last places. A hidden sancutary for the small wildlife who prospered from the clear running streams and uncontaminated air.

A single deer trodded up the river bank, it's dainty hooves leaving light indentations along the ground. The animal's ears perked up and two chocolate colored eyes peered in curiosity at a hovering rice paper paneled door. Gentle bell like sounds emitted from the glowing door as it slid open and a black butterfly fluttered out. A flash of white and the door faded away, leaving a shinigami in its wake.

Toshiro weaved in and out of the sturdy trees, taking caution not to disturb a single fluttering leaf. With the silver light of a gleaming cresent moon piercing a cloudless night sky, teal eyes peered into the darkened underbrush. He pushed on, not knowing that a shadow had drifted over the quiet forest.

Tsunade's annoyance steadily grew as her aide brought stack after stack of unfinished paperwork. The spindly hands of her office clock ticked in the same damn rhythm it had ticked to for the past five hours. The constant drum of rain had finally trickled to a stop, but Tsunade didn't even bother glancing through her window, the darkened sky betrayed late hours. Besides, her clock had well passed twelve.

Switching her attention, honey colored eyes bore into the mounds of paperwork. If looks could kill the innocent sheets of paper would've already crumbled and burned a hundred times over in the fieriest pits of hell. Unfortunately, to her utter disappointment, they didn't disappear. She was literally drowning in a sea of kanji and put-off paperwork from three weeks ago. When had her life started to revolve around rolled up papers? It was pathetic.

She plucked up a lone scroll precariously balanced on the edge her desk, with forced movements. Eyes widened in surprise as they read the black-painted kanji.

What the hell?

"Why in the world does the Academy need three hundred cans of paint and hairspray?"

Paint she could agree on; the school's wallpaper originally white until Naruto came along, was currently a disgustingly eye-blinding bright orange. No, not even a pretty pastel sunset, but rather a neon orange, one would see fit on a glowing billboard sign. In fact, the walls did not even begin to cover the damage one pre-genin had caused.

But hairspray?

Tsunade tossed the stupid scroll over her shoulder with little regaurd, aggravated by the incredulous request. There was a moment of blessed silence, until a shuffling sound and a giant shadow loomed above the sannin. The scroll had disturbed an unstable stack of papers, which tilted back and forth, teetering over the 5th Hokage's head. Tsunade paled dramatically and gasped in horror when an avalanche of parchment, ink and brushes rained down on her head.

"Lady Tsunade? Are you okay?"

With no response, the worried aide slammed the door open expecting the worst; only to face a wave of unfinished records, charts, important documents and treaties spilling out with the velocity of a tsunami. As not even the most skilled of shinobi could avoid the colossal wave of literature, the aide had no lingering chance against the torrent. She was swept up in its clutches and her lingering shrieks were muffled as she was submerged.

Tsunade emerged from the settled pile of paperwork. Goddamit! This was the third time this week.

Wading through the white sea she slumped into her chair, having not the energy to sit up straight nor the patience to do so.

Long strands of blond hair hung languidly in disarray, whilst rumpled clothes betrayed Tsunade's wrecked composure.

To many, it simply looked as if the kuonichi was suffering from a loathsome hang over. A good assumption, however incorrect it was. In fact, the sannin wished that a hangover was the cause of this wrecking pain, but of course life always had to be difficult.

Tsunade sighed once again. The pain emanating from her temples pounded away in unwanted rhythm. The ringing gongs clashing inside her mind, most assuredly caused by a throbbing migraine.

A migraine with the equivalent pain of a minor head injury.

Besides the paperwork, the cause of her blinding headache was one hyperactive orange knucklehead; who happened to be host of the most powerful of the tailed demons, and one silver-haired perverted Hatake; who happened to posse a single sharingan, subsequently one of the most powerful kekkei genkai in history. A genin and a jounin.

One a boy she loved dearly, the other, a loyal and faithful shinobi. Both annoying brats.

She needed to keep them both safe for various reasons…but how was she supposed to do that when they seemed to attract infinite amounts of trouble? The amount of times they ended up confined in a hospital bed was, put simply, ridiculous.

First the whole chunnin fiasco and now this? She couldn't handle the kyuubi along with the threat of Oroachimaru. Tsunade slammed her fist against her desk, oblivious to the small cracks her fist had created. The most obvious question for Tsunade, and proably the most important was how in the world had the tailed beast escaped the seal? Tsunade pondered this question for a couple of minutes, mind racing for answers. But the fact that she barely knew anything about the stupid seal prevented her from even coming close to a plausible answer. Perhaps she should hunt down Jaryia?

At least Kakashi had taken Naruto to the hospital so that the drained boy could regain the chakra that the chakra tag had stolen. There one problem solved. A million others to go.

She cradled her head, massaging her forehead with vigorous movement in vain. The high-pitched ringing did not subside and to her disbelief, it seemed to increase with every passing second.

"I've had enough!"

Slamming her hands onto the wooden veneer of her desk she shoved the mountain of paper aside. The white sheets, stacked in random piles, toppled to the ground. They scattered, flying like leaves in the fall's wind, to finally rest on stone paneled floor. Steady hands pulled jar after jar of kami gifted liquid from her desk. The ceramic jars were wielded as duel weapons in perfectly manicured hands, void of wrinkles. The slug sannin gulped down bitter liquid, revaling at the buzz of alcohol. All dignity abandoned she reached for another...

...only to have four, sopping wet figures fly through her window.

Four shadows cloaked in secrecy kneeled before her, the unmistakable masks of ANBU adorning their faces.

Tsunade groaned. Slamming her head in defeat onto the desk.

Only to whip her head back up with a jolt.

All tiredness drained from her body and she got up from her desk placing the body grasped in Raven's arms on the floor. She pushed up her sleeves and opened the boy's scarlet stained shirt, eyes narrowing at ripped flesh and welling blood. Activating a standard healing chakra, she reached out to probe the white haired boy's clotting wound, fully expecting the green tendrils to connect. Tsunade frowned at the unexpected result. She pushed more energy experimentally, and her brow creased even more when her green chakra refused to enter past the stranger's clammy skin. It was as if there were an invisible barrier protecting him. Glowing green light bathed the boy like a second layer of skin as the chakra poked and prodded, looking for an entrence. Confusion danced through her head.

Deciding that saving this brat's life was slightly more important, she pushed all her bewildered thoughts aside, storing them in the back of her mind. Questions could be asked later, hopefully accompanied by answers. Though with her luck, she'd probably end up with more questions, no answers, and a major migrain. Again. Tsunade stopped that stream of thought and instead cut off her stream of chakra. She looked pointedly at the ANBU standing off to the side. They stared back. She rolled her eyes, maybe they had stayed in the rain a little too long. "My chakra can't heal him! I need standard medical supplies."

Raven reached into her pocket, grabbed a small bag, and handed it over. Tsunade reached into the opening, and pulled out a rolled up bandageds. Like a well oiled machine, with the prescision born from decades of practice and field experience she meticulously bound the wound.

She paused as Shuzine came running in.

"Lady Tsunade, I felt your chakra flare-?"

Tsunade thrust the bloodied boy in her former apprentices hands. " Take him to the hospital, don't let anybody see, and treat him the old fashioned way, try to keep him stable, I'll get to the hospital as soon as I can!"

Looking quite mistified, the raven haired jounin disappeared with a puff of smoke.

The sannin huffed and placed her hands on her hips. She ignored the puddle of blood at her feet, someone could clean it up later. She had more important matters to attent to. Her green robe flared out as she spun towards the ANBU. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she glanced mournfully at her sake before rotating her vision towards Tiger. "What the hell happened? "

Taking the cue, the masked hunter approached with skill full ease, acknowledging the stronger presence before him through a graceful bow.

"While heading back to the village, we discovered blood trails. All of us split up in a standard search formation. Raven was the first to come in contact with the boy. She attempted healing chakra, but to no avail, and achieved the same result as your's did." As an after thought, Tiger added - "He was found in the western forest of Konoha's gate, far from any villages."

Tsunade's steely stare raked across her drenched shinobi.

"Are you sure there was no one else there?"

Tiger shook his head, at the simple action water droplets cascaded through the air leaving shimmering dots of liquid on the floor. "No one sensed anything out of the ordinary."

Catching sight of something blue hidden among shades of black, gray and white she merely tilted her head in inquiry.

Raven stepped foward, the shadows trailing in a cloak of darkness; taking the bloodied hilt, she handed a sword to the sannin. An involuntary shiver rushed through the Hokage's body at contact of the stylized sword. Odd. Perhaps she'd had a little too much to drink. The proud women brushed the feeling off and thrust the sword back into Raven's arms.

"I want you to guard the boy," she ordered, looking at Tiger. "When he wakes up, if he wakes up, I want you to alert me."

"Yes hokage." Four voices in unison spoke, heads bowed in reverence.

"Dismissed."

The figures faded in to the shadows, eager to carry out their orders.

Tsunade sighed, the sound fading into nonexistence.

...

"Goddammit."

Naruto was drowning in a sea of red.

It hurt.

It burned.

Shards of broken glass scratching at his mind.

Fire, orange flames consuming...

Roars, screams, cries of agony

Sobbing...

White coats, with black symbols

Swords...

...that slashed, hacked.

A seal. A yellowed haired man. Dead woman. Orange mask.

Dead. Dead. Dead.

Sealed, souls taken.

A decieving smile. Soft spoken words.

Sha-

Darkness.

Ramen.

Huh?

Blue eyes flickered open, squinting against the brightness before fluttering shut. Previously clenched hands relaxed, slowly unfurling into stark white sheets. An inaudible gasp of air escaped as the genin slipped into a foggy rest.

Ramen filled dreams replaced horrid nightmares, and by the time Naruto woke up, all memories of pain, despair and darkness would be forgotten.