Yosh! The next chapter! More TsuneKaku fluff (wink). The secret relationship between Tsunade and Valencia revealed!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 8: Time can not heal all wounds.

Tsunade had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. She only felt this way two times in her life. She felt like this when Dan and lil brother died.

'I'm just going senile' she thought. 'I'm sure it's nothing. Nothing at all.' She walked down that hall to leader's room. Knocked once and entered.

"Did you have to strap me down to the bed?"

Tsunade laughed. She laughed like crazy. She laughed like she had never laughed before. After the others had left she grabbed the leader, dragged him back to his room and took 5 in' tick rope and tied him to the bed. She knew one thing and that was there was no way he was getting out of bed until he was fully healed.

"It's your own fault for getting out of bed when I told you not too." She placed a hand on his forehead. He had fever. "Do you feel too cold or too warm?"

"Too warm." He said simply. She pulled a small flashlight from her pocket and shined it into his eyes, one at a time. 'His eyes are not dilated.' She grabbed his wrist and took his pulse. 'His pulse is slightly off.' She put a hand on his chest. Her eyebrows furrowed. 'Why is his heart beating so fast? He hasn't moved at all.' She focused her chakra into the palm of her hand. Green chakra covered her entire hand. She held it over his chest. 'That should do it.' The green chakra faded. 'His heart beat is normal, for now. I should check on him regularly.

"Oh Tsunade." Konan entered the room carrying a tray of food. "He can eat right?" Tsunade nodded.

"I'll be back to check on you later." She said to leader. His head twitched, indicating he heard her. Tsunade smiled and walked past Konan.

"If anything irregular happens get me right away" She whispered urgently to the blue haired kunoichi. Konan turned to look at her. Her eyes flush with worry. Konan took a deep breath and forced her face neutral and gave the sannin a small nod.

Valencia and some of her followers were jumping through the trees carrying the Akatsuki's un-moving bodies.

"When we reach their base you are to leave." She yelled to them. Her followers grunted in understanding. "Good."

Tsunade was walking out of the kitchen with a bowl of microwave ramen when a plant man came out of the wall. She nearly chocked on the noodle she just ate.

"You're the new one correct?" It asked. Tsunade saw that he was wearing a black cloak.

'He must be in the Akatsuki' she thought.

"Some wretch is invading our turf.." Tsunade chocked again on the same noodle. How the heck did this guy have two completely different voices?

"Go and get rid of them."

"Please." His other voice added.

"Um… ok?" She slurped down the rest of her noodles and ran down the hall.

"Waiting is such drudgery." Valencia said to herself. The Akatsuki laying on the ground around. She yawned. "I do hope he hurries up and gets here already…. Oh you're awake?" With amused curiosity she crouched down next to the masked Akatsuki's stirring form.

"He who?" He asked. His breathing ragged.

"Your true leader."

"Pein is our leader." He grimaced as his head throbbed painfully.

"No he's not. He is just a figurehead. Your real leader is working behind the scenes."

"What do you want?" he growled. His energy slowing coming back to him. Valencia smiled.

"I want revenge."

"Why?"

"Because I was used." Her smiled was gone. Rage vibrated through out her entire body. She hated him with all her heart. He who played with her feelings like toys. To be used while fun and interesting then tossed out with the rest of the junk. No she could never forgive him. She could never forgive that cheating, lowlife, cold hearted snake.

"Ugh." Kakuzu was dizzy from the pain. It hurt to move, heck it hurt to stay still.

"Don't worry." She smiled and rubbed his face. "It will all be over once I-" She froze. She knew that chakra signature. Of course she knew it. She knew it as well as her own. She did after all spend 10 years training it. "Tsunade" She breathed. She immediately straightened and stared at the giant rock 20 feet from where she was standing.

Tsunade released the seal protecting the entrance to the base and jumped out. She came out on the side of the rock. With amazing speed and power she leapt over the rock and landed on the other side. She quickly glanced at the un-moving Akatsuki members bodies. She wanted to heal them but knew that she had to deal with the intruder first.

Valencia watched with utter bewilderment as a blonde haired woman came up and over the rock and glance at the Akatsuki laying around her. The woman had not seen her yet.

With chakra already built up in her fists Tsunade put on her fiercest glare and looked at the intruder.

Valencia watched blankly as the woman's face turned from ferocious to shocked.

"Ma-" She started but could find the strength to finish her sentence.

Tsunade couldn't believe it. There she was. The woman she admired most in the world.

"Long time no see Tsunade" The woman said brightly to her. Her face in a wide smile.

It was her master. The one who taught her everything she knew about her strength and medical jutsu. She trained under her for ten years. And because of that training she, Tsunade, had become one of the most famous kunoichi in the ninja world.

"Why are you…?" Tsunade trailed off. Her master continued to smile at her.

"I missed you Tsunade."

"Bu master!" Tsunade choked on her words. Her mind was still trying to wrap around meting her master.

"Do tell me Tsunade. Are you with the Akatsuki?" Her master's smiled faded, leavening her face deadly serious. Tsunade nodded. She still couldn't speak.

"I see… You are worried about them are you not?" She stared at the masked mans face. He was still conscious and hanging on to every word. Tsunade didn't notice Kakuzu. All she could think of was her master.

"Y-yes." She stammered.

"I see." With agonizingly slow movements she placed her hand quickly and gently on the masked nins face. Kakuzu's eyes widened as all of his pain disappeared and his body returned to normal. "You see Tsunade." She walked over to the next Akatsuki. "I never taught you everything I know about medical jutsu." She placed her hand on their head and moved on. "With a single touch I can completely control a person's entire genetic code." She continued moving from Akatsuki to Akatsuki. When she reached the last one she paused. "I can create new cells with little or no energy at all." She placed her hand on the last Akatsuki and stood up. The others were staring to stir. "Tsunade. I am the Akatsuki's enemy now. Never forget that." And she was gone.

"Ugh." Tsunade's attention snapped in the direction the sound had come from. Kakuzu had tired to stand up. He found that he could but barley. Tsunade rushed to his side and steadied him.

"Come on." She said. "Let's get you guys in bed.

Tsunade had successfully got all of the Akatsuki into their rooms and sleeping soundly. She was doing her rounds of all the rooms. Checking on their conditions. Everyone stirred but never woke up.

'They will eventually' she thought. She knocked on Kakuzu's door and entered. She found him sitting up in his bed, staring off into space.

"How are you feeling Kakuzu-san?" She asked standing next to his bed. From looks alone she couldn't see anything wrong.

"I'm fine, just tired." He said. Tsunade nodded but still placed her hand on his forehead. He tensed slightly.

"I'm just checking your temperature." She explained. He ignored her and stared at the wall. Tsunade stared at his face. This was the first time she saw him without his mask. He had long, very spiky, jet black hair. Stitches ran all along his mouth. His deep green eyes blank.

"How do you know that woman." He said suddenly. With more speed than she expected from him in his weakened state he grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer to him. His green eyes glaring into her liquid brown ones. Tsunade gulped. Her heart was racing.

"She was my master. I trained as her apprentice 34 years ago." She couldn't look away from his eyes. Nor did she want to.

"Who is she?"

"I don't know. All I know her as is master. We trained in Rain, before the civil wars. She taught me everything I know about medical jutsu. She also taught me my insane strength." She continued to stare into his eyes. For what felt like hours they stayed like that. Staring into each others eyes. Tsunade felt a slight pang in side of her. Her heart was still beating fast. She forced her heart so slow down. But it wouldn't. She didn't understand. Why was this man, this S-rank criminal conjuring up these old feelings that she locked away so long ago?

Kakuzu found himself thinking about the feel of her skin. It was soft and- no! Why was he thinking such things? He was questioning her about their target, that woman. He couldn't be side tracked now. He stared into her eyes. Her rich, liquid brown eyes stared unwaveringly back. Kakuzu tried but the more he stared at her the more he seemed confused as to what to say next. He could ask more questions but… the feel of her smooth skin irrupted his thoughts again. Dangit. Why was he thinking about that again? He was 91 years old for Pete's sake. He couldn't be interested in this woman. There was just no way. Or was there? He had abandoned all desires minus his desire for money. He locked away all parts of him that had nothing to do with money. Even the need for intimacy. Is this some sign? He questioned. Was he supposed to love once again? Yes he had fallen in love, once long, long ago. Before he was abandoned by his village. But his love was never returned. So he forgo the need for love. And for 80 years he was successful. Until now. His mind memorized every aspect of her face. Her looks were… tolerable.

The more Tsunade gazed into his eyes the more this feeling rose up inside her. It was the same feeling she experienced with Dan.

"You should go check on the others." He suddenly said. Pushing her roughly away from him. Tsunade staggered then straightened. Her face oddly blank for someone who liked to show a lot of expression.

"I'll be back." She said quietly.

Tsunade had not taken five steps before she collapsed onto the wall. The hallway devoid of any other living thing. Tears stung her eyes and as clutched the necklace that hung around her neck. A thin blue crystal on a black cord. It was the necklace of the first Hokage, her grandfather. The tears rolled down her face. Her stifled sobs breaking the dead silence.

'Oh Dan' She thought bitterly. 'Why did you have to leave me? They say that time heals all wounds but that's not true is it? For 14 years she still mourned for her dead lover. For 14 years she blamed herself for his death. All because she wasn't strong enough. She stiffened as a tender hand was placed on her shoulder but quickly relaxed. She didn't even have to open her eyes to see who it was.

"It's all right Tsunade-san." Konan said. She held Tsunade as she cried. Tsunade cried for Dan. She cried for her brother. She cried for Jiraiya, she even cried over her ex teammate, Orochimaru. She cried and cried and soon her head rested limply against Konan's shoulder. Even while she slept she cried. Konan held her the entire time. She may not know exactly what was bothering Tsunade but she was going to try her very best to help her. Tsunade did after all save the people closest to her.

Valencia was back at her rebel camp. Every head turned to look at her. Many exuberant at her return, others worried. Usually she was so cheerful but now, a grim haunted look adorned her face. Without a word to her comrades she walked to her tent at the far end of the camp. She walked, oblivious to the merriment around her. The laughs of young teens eager to prove their worth in battle. The bright, welcoming fires that crackled weakly in the moist air. With a practiced movement she undid the tie on her tents flap and slowly lowered herself onto the fold out mat. She held her head in her hands.

"If only I could heal the wounds of the soul." She whispered. "If only I can heal my wretched soul. If only I can rid myself once and for all the shadow he holds over my poor, abused heart! I should kill who ever said "Time will heal all wounds." I have been living with this… this torn and crippled soul for a hundred years. I will never forgive him." She laughed like a crazed maniac. "I will never forgive you…. Madara Uchiha!

Ooh… what will happen next? Will Kakuzu and Tsunade face the feelings they have tossed aside?

Preview for next chapter: Then situation in Rain has worsened. Valencia and her followers are launching an attack in Amekagurke. A subordinate of Pein's seems to know who this woman is but will they believe him? Kakuzu finally takes things into his own hands…

Me: Hello! (Points to a script hanging from a rope above a large tank filled with sharks and…. Kisame? (O.o) ) KISAME GET OUT OF THERE!

Kisame: But I'm related to two of them!

Me: Have the reunion later!

Kisame: awww (leaves)

Me: (clears throat) Anyways. (Points at script again) Review or the script gets it! (Lightning flashes and Orochimaru's theme song (the one from the actual anime) plays) MAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!