Chapter 6: Denial
Tenten and Ino were hiding in the women's bathroom.
"Oh god. Oh god. Oh god. Tsunade is gonna kill us!" Exclaimed Tenten as she paced. Ino stood with her back against the wall, arms crossed against her chest. Tenten was still pacing when Ino snapped, "God Dammit Tenten! Stop pacing! Nothing is going to happen because we aren't going to say anything."
"But it's the Hokage! We can't lie to her!"
Ino smiley devilishly, " It isn't lying if we don't say anything. Now let's get this over with," she said as she walked out the door.
Tsunade sat in her office waiting for the girls to show up. She turned to her assistant. "Shizune, I want two ANBU here when those two get here. Maybe it'll scare them enough into talking."
"Yes, Tsunade-sama," She replied as she rushed out of the room. Returning moments later flanked by two men covered by ANBU masks. They stood in front of her desk, "You wanted us Hokage-sama?"
"Yes, I need you to do something for me. I have two young kunoichi coming in and I'm hoping your presence will be enough to scare them into a confession."
"Yes, Hokage," the replied as the fell to one knee and bowed there heads. They went and stood on either side of the desk and waited until the knock on the door came.
"Enter."
Tenten and Ino slowly walked in.
"Sit."
The girls each took a seat and the room filled with silence.
Tsunade looked over each girl, sizing them up. Tenten shifter nervously, wringing her hands. The sight of the two ANBU was unsettling and she was starting to sweat. Ino sat slouched, legs out, arms crossed and jaw set. She wasn't going to talk and those ANBU didn't scare her.
They sat in silence while Tsunade filled out paperwork, Tenten becoming increasingly more nervous as the minutes passed. The Hokage looked up at each girl and said, " So I suppose you don't care that you two have single handedly destroyed our alliance with the Sand with your little stunt, correct?"
Tenten shifter uncomfortably and Ino rolled her eyes.
"I'm confused as to what to do with you two." Tsunade continued. " On one hand I could keep you locked up in and ANBU interrogation room or on the other hand I can turn you over to the Sand to extract your confession."
"We have nothing to confess," spat Ino.
Tsunade sat there staring at Ino, "Ok, well I'm going to take a few days to figure out what to do. As of this moment, you are both on a leave of absence and under house arrest. These two will escort you home." As the ANBU lead the girls out Tenten turned to look at the Hokage. The look was contrite and fearful. She had her. She would give them a week to stew, and then she would turn up the heat.
A week had gone by and she'd been getting daily reports from the ANBU guarding Ino and Tenten. She ordered them to be brought to her tomorrow morning. If they refused to confess to her, they would to someone else. And Tsunade would enjoy watching them break. Nobody defies the Hokage.