DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN NARUTO

Chapter the sixth

Tsunade Senju, the most powerful kunoichi ever known. She is well renowned not only on the field of medical ninjutsu but also her inhumane strength and of course her lineage. She is the grand daughter of Hashirama Senju, the Shodai Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato and the grand niece of Tobirama Senju, the Nidaime Hokage of

Konohagakure no Sato. And now the said, powerful kunoichi and the Godaime Hokage of Konoha fainted from too much shock she could ever receive in one day.

" Well if it isn't my favorite grand daughter." Hashirama said as he poked Tsunade.

" Hashi-kun, is that the way you treat our grand daughter? Carry her and place her on the couch." Mito scolded Hashirama for his childish antics. Tobirama on the other hand released a heavy sigh. At least for once he did not scold his brother for being stupid.

" Mi… Minato-sensei…" Kakashi now out of the genjutsu that he didn't even want to go back into, now stammering at the sight of his sensei.

" Kakashi, it's nice to see you again." Minato said and smiled at his student.

" Ka…Ka…shi… are you reading that horrible porn book in front of my son?" Kushina said in a deep, Kyuubi-like possessed tone. Kakashi sweated. He could feel his knees giving out any moment and cry like a baby.

" No… not at all Kushina-san." Kakashi said protecting his ninja pouch since his favorite porn book is in there.

" Don't you dare listen to him Kushina-chan. He reads that porn book of his everywhere." Kurenai said blankly.

" Very well, we'll talk later Kakashi-kun" Kushina said emitting a dark aura behind her innocent smile.

" Why don't we all go for now? Besides we still have our all out match against Naruto we should go and rest." Shikamaru said as the whole group started to file out except Kakashi, Shizune and Tonton.

~ Still inside the office

" Yare Yare… I didn't expect of all people to faint, Tsunade did." Hashirama said as he brought out some cards and started shuffling it.

" Don't be like that Hashi-kun I'm sure anyone would be like that since she expected us to be dead not alive and kicking." Mito said as she took a seat next to Tsunade.

" Well the other shinobis didn't faint when they saw us." Hashirama retorted.

" Didn't you see the look on their faces?" Tobirama said clearly annoyed of his brother being so dense.

" Oh… wait… this shouldn't be known to everyone just yet. What do we do?" Kushina panicked.

" Don't worry Kushina, Kakashi here will tell them not to spread or speak any word of it." Minato looked to Kakashi and no words need to be told. He poofed out and spread the word. Shizune went out as well as she felt that these people need to talk and she doesn't want to meddle to a troublesome thing that will happen.

On the other hand, Tsunade was slowly waking up. As she open her eyes she saw the faces that caused her to faint, which never happened in her entire life.

" Tsunade-chan…" Mito said as she noticed her granddaughter slowly waking up.

" Ugh, my head…" Tsunade groaned as another headache pounded her head.

" Say Tsunade-chan… let's gamble?" Hashirama said as he shuffled cards in his hand.

" Stop it brother, we need to explain things, then gamble all you want later." Tobirama said.

" What the hell is going on?" Tsunade said as she eyed each of the others present.

" Tsunade-sama, I know this is confusing but give us time to explain." Minato said. Tsunade nodded and they all sat down and explained.

" Tsunade, do you rememner when Naruto went for his mission?" Mito started. Tsunade nodded not wanting to remember what happened before that. Every one noticed her silence and her down mood as soon as Mito started about Naruto.

" Tsunade, you need to tell us what happened before that made him take such mission." Mito said.

Tsunade let out a log sigh and told them everything that happened starting on Pain's attack on the village until the time he left. She didn't left out anything but her confused feelings for him and how he confessed. But this didn't go unnoticed to Kushina and Mito. Being ladies, they know that Tsunade hadn't spilled all the beans.

" Why don't we take a rest and continue this tomorrow?" Mito said as she stood up.

" But what about gambling?" Hashirama pouted. It's been way too many years since he gambled with a human that is.

" Let's take a rest, we need to sort out everything first before your gambling, Hashi-kun." Mito smiled at him but releasing a disturbing aura that made everyone in the room sweat bullets. Kushina gave Minato a look that says ' you don't want to experience like that, right?' Minato nodded furiously not wanting to be the receiving end.

" Tsunade-chan, we can take the empty quarters in the Hokage mansion, right?" Mito asked.

" Ahh, yes Mito-baasama. Besides we don't want anyone seeing you so soon. It would cause a big trouble." Tsunade said as she sighed thinking of the amount of paperwork if the people see them now.

" Take a rest Tsunade-sama, you need it." Kushina said as they filed out of the room. Tsunade leaned her back at her chair and let out a long sigh. First, Naruto came back. Then out of nowhere Hashirama, Mito, Tobirama, Minato, and Kushina appeared out of nowhere. Though she knows what caused to bring them back, she could already feel another wrinkle mark forming in her face. She stood up and went out of her office and decided to take a stroll.

Tsunade didn't know where her feet are taking her. She continued to walk with no particular direction on her mind. Her thoughts are filled with only one person. Naruto. She dearly missed him. She knew for herself that she hurt the poor man. And of course she was aware of her stupidity of lying to him and letting him to take the mission that could have cost his life due to his current status. She didn't know that the stopped at the place where they had dinner together. It was still a serene and beautiful place. She could just stay here and stare at the place. It just calms her mind and heart. The waterfall just fall as they were. The wind is blowing calmly. The trees are swaying to the wind. The moon is shining brightly at the night sky. The stars are glimmering to their fullest, designing the sky. She closed her eyes and absorbed the serenity of the place.

What the hell is wrong with me? Why did I lie to him? I know for myself that I like him too. That is why I did my best to get out of the coma. With him, being my strength. What's the use of my monstrous strength if I can't be honest with myself? I feel like shit when he went away. The council wanted him back because of his jinchuuriki status. Some of the civil council wanted him named as 'rogue' because he ran away and because he is a monster. Now that he is back, why am I feeling that because of me his outlook of life changed? Was it because of me that he lost hope in himself? It is because of me that his heart is breaking. It is because of me that he takes the burden all by himself when it was me who lied about my feelings. I'm such an idiot. Naruto…

Tsunade was so deep in thought that she didn't notice another presence near her.

" Tsunade-sama?" the voice called out.

Tsunade opened her eyes and looked towards the direction of the familiar voice.

" Naruto?" Tsunade was shocked. She wasn't prepared to see Naruto now. She tried to get up but she tripped very unlikely for her. Luckily for her Naruto caught her before she falls. She was suddenly pressed against the well-toned muscle of Naruto. She took notice of his scent, like ramen of course. He got a little taller from the last time she saw him. A blush was trying to escape on her cheeks when she snapped out of her thoughts and hurriedly escaped his grasp.

" Ahh… I'm so sorry." Tsunade said backing away but she hurt her ankle. She lost her balance and fell on her butt. Naruto just looked at her and chuckled. Tsunade was slightly annoyed. Instead of helping her, he laughed. But she felt relieved. She missed that laugh and smile.

" Yeah, thanks for helping me." Tsunade said sarcastically and pouted. Naruto stopped laughing. Both looked at each other then laughed. After a few long seconds of laughing the stopped and Naruto sat down beside her. Silence dawned to them. Not awkward but a silence where both are comfortable.

" So, how are you?" Naruto started looking at her.

" Well… I've been okay… except the hellish paper work." Tsunade half lied about being okay. She was feeling like total crap the entire time he was away.

" Oh… I see… didn't you used the kage bunshin for your paper work?" Naruto asked.

" Well when I tried to use it Shizune scolded me saying it's not proper" Tsunade pouted remembering the time when Shizune found out.

" That's Shizune-neechan for you." Naruto chuckled and stood up.

" Well, I should be going now. Bye." Naruto smiled at her and turned around. Before he could take another step a hand reached out to his jacket. He turned around to see Tsunade on her knees. Her head is down hiding the tears running down from her eyes.

" Naruto…" Tsunade called out to him with broken voice.

" No… I haven't been okay since you were gone…" Tsunade started. She looked into his deep blue eyes. Naruto was shocked to hear the word Tsunade just said. So he sat down ready to listen what Tsunade has to say.

" I haven't been okay since you left. The truth is I was a total shit. I drown myself into sake thinking I would forget what happened and all the things I said to you. I can't do my work properly because every time I try to do it, you fill my thoughts. I was thinking about your well being. Are you eating well? Are you sleeping enough? I can't sleep because I was thinking about your safety. Were you able to get to your destination safely? I don't know what to do if anything happens to you." Tsunade said.

" Why?" Naruto asked.

" I don't know."

" Tsunade, what do you really feel about me?" Tsunade looked at him. She didn't expect the question.

" I don't know. The truth is I am still battling myself about this. I can't answer your question straight with me feeling this way."

" Tsunade, are the things you told me were the truth?"

" No."

" Why? Why did you say those things?"

" Because I thought I would shake the feelings that I am confused off."

" What exactly are the feelings you are referring about?"

" Feelings for you… about you loving me."

" What about it?"

" Well, I had this dream…This is stupid.

" NO. Tell me."

" When I was in coma, I had a dream of you and me. You said you will protect me no matter what because you love me."

" I said that?"

" Yes, and I heard your confession."

" I see… well then what's wrong?"

" I don't know… part of me wants to be with you and part of me opposes. I don't know what to do or what to think."

" Tsunade, I won't change my mind. I will say this again despite on how much you don't want to hear it. I love you."

" Why? You are young and I'm an old hag. We uphold a position in the village. If we will be in a relationship, a lot will criticize and tell that I took advantage of you because I am older and I should know better."

" I don't care about what other people say. Position in the village are nothing. I love you that's all the matter."

" What about your dream of being Hokage? Your friends?"

" If giving up on being Hokage is what it takes to be with you I will gladly give it up. And my friends? If they truly are, they would accept and understand."

" Naruto… we can't just…"

" Tsunade, I love you. As I said before, even if you don't accept my love, at least treat me as a man who really cares for you. I won't hesitate if you need me. I'd gladly take on the strongest person on earth to protect you."

" Naruto, don't throw away your life for someone like me. You deserve happiness that is the best for you and being with me is not happiness."

" Tsunade, I am not throwing my life. Don't you deserve happiness too? You have been through all the shit in life. You deserve happiness too."

" I don't. Everyone precious in my life, Nawaki, Dan, even Jiraiya died because of me and I don't want for you to face that. You almost died when you faced Pain and when you went away."

" Tsunade, don't sell your self short. They died not because of you but it was for you. They didn't die simply because they are precious to you. You are not damned to be alone forever. Open your heart once more and let me in. Give me a chance and let me be the man you deserve. Do you trust me?"

" Yes…"

" Then give us a chance. Trust that it will work out for the two of us. Despite of the age, council and shit, I will love you and protect you with my life."

" Naruto, I trust you. I will let you in and try this relationship but I can't say the 3 words yet to you."

" That's okay. But you will always hear and feel my love for you."

" Thank you."

Slowly their lips touched and shared a kiss. The kiss that longed for each other. The kiss of each other giving their faith and trust to each other. The kiss of love burning within them.

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