Post Sound Four Liquidation Interlude 1: Eagle ANBU

It had been another typical day—or, at least, as typical as a day could be under the reign of the Fifth Hokage.

He had been following her since morning, moving silently through the shadows, watching, listening. Though Tsunade insisted she didn't need the extra security, especially with Genma and Raido fresh from a mission, the Third Hokage had been adamant.

No risks.

Part of him suspected it was lingering guilt over Minato-sama's death all those years ago. But he would never dare overreach—his role was not to question.

He was a shadow, the silent knife of the Hokage, tasked to watch, listen, and act as needed.

And so, he remained unseen, silent, as the meeting unfolded.

The Hokage's office was dimly lit, the weight of strategy and war pressing heavy in the air.

Tsunade sat behind her desk, arms crossed, while Jiraiya and Hiruzen sat across from her. The old man still occupied his wheeled chair, his voice gravelly yet firm as he spoke first.

"The girl's awake, then? Finally?"

Tsunade sighed, rubbing her temples. "She is. I just received word." Her gaze flickered to the reports stacked on her desk. "Overall, a resounding success for Konoha. Our sources indicate the Land of Rice is stirring, and their Daimyo is beginning to question Otogakure's viability as a long-term investment."

Jiraiya huffed, arms folded lazily, but his eyes were sharp. "That Daimyo isn't going to live much longer." He glanced at Hiruzen. "I'd bet Orochimaru puts another puppet in his place."

"Regardless," Hiruzen said, adjusting his robes, "he's getting boxed in. With tensions rising between us and Iwagakure, it's fortunate we've eliminated Otogakure's immediate threat. That allows us to allocate more resources toward stabilizing Kusagakure." His voice hardened. "It is in no one's interest that Kusa falls. You both remember how merciless the Iwa-nin were toward our border villages during the last war."

The memory surfaced, unbidden—scorched earth, the smell of blood, the silence of a village wiped out to the last child. He had seen Minato and Kushina weep over the ruins of a place that had once been full of life.

It was haunting.

"We all remember," Tsunade murmured, her expression unreadable. Then, her voice firmed. "I'm giving the green light for this operation." She exhaled slowly, steepling her fingers. "We have enough manpower to spare, and this is the best opportunity to end Otogakure's threat once and for all."

Jiraiya raised a brow, watching her carefully.

"And who do you plan to send?"

"Danzo."

The name hung heavy in the air.

Tsunade's eyes were unreadable as she continued. "I'll assign Danzo to lead the operation against Otogakure and Orochimaru. According to Ibiki, we've gathered substantial intelligence from the captured prisoners. We have enough to stage an initial strike."

Jiraiya's lips curled into a smirk, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You're pretty sly when you want to be, Tsunade." He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Using Danzo to weaken Orochimaru while keeping him too busy to interfere with things here. That's smart."

Then, his expression darkened, a rare moment of serious contemplation crossing his face.

"…I just hope you know what you're doing."

"I hope so too," Tsunade muttered, exhaling heavily. "But it's the best option we have. We put Danzo's skills to use while keeping him as a problem for another day."

Hiruzen's lips pressed into a thin line, his expression unreadable.

He knew the former Hokage well—had served under him long enough to understand that his love for the village extended even to Danzo. Perhaps because they had been childhood friends and rivals, or perhaps because Hiruzen had never been able to truly look past their history.

It didn't matter.

Judgment was not his place.

"I do hope you understand the implications of this, Tsunade," Hiruzen said, his voice quiet but firm. "Danzo will insist on personally selecting the shinobi sent to assist in the operation against Orochimaru."

"I know." Tsunade's brows furrowed. "He'll likely make use of his… personal retinue."

She exchanged a glance with Jiraiya, a silent confirmation of what they both suspected but could not openly say. ROOT.

A rogue ANBU cell, still operating in the shadows, despite its official dissolution.

"Regardless, I won't let him get his hands on Sasuke or Naruto," Tsunade continued. "Sasuke, in particular, has already inquired about a post in one of the departments Konoha." A small smile played at her lips. "Something that gives me the justification I need to keep him away from Danzo."

She paused, folding her hands together.

"Meanwhile, Naruto will be under Jiraiya's care—as his official guardian." Her voice was steady, decisive. "And even Danzo wouldn't dare go against Jiraiya to take Naruto. He won't waste political capital on something he knows is a losing battle. He's the most cautious, if not the most paranoid, man I've ever known."

Hiruzen remained silent for a long moment.

Then, finally, he spoke.

"…That's all well and good." His voice was quiet, but there was something weighted in his tone. "But we all know those two wouldn't be his first choice."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Tsunade sighed. "Kimiko."

Hiruzen's frown deepened, his expression caught between concern and reluctance. "Danzo has shown repeated favor toward that girl. More than I've seen him extend to any young ninja in years." He hesitated, then added, "And it's not just because of his past with Shinku."

Tsunade exhaled sharply. "I can see why."

She leaned back, arms crossed. "That girl is… something else."

Jiraiya let out a scoff. "She's gone on more S and A-rank missions in her first year as a shinobi than we ever did as Chuunin. Can you blame Danzo for wanting her? Not to mention the way Naruto and Sasuke trust and rely on her. He sees her—"

"—as a way to influence those two." Tsunade finished the thought bitterly.

Her fingers tapped against the desk, her frown deepening.

"I don't want her anywhere near Danzo, just as much as I don't want Naruto or Sasuke near him. But between the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and the Last Uchiha…" She trailed off, frustration evident in her tone. "My hands are tied."

She shook her head. "Besides, judging from her mission reports and everything I've heard about her… she doesn't seem like the type to question orders."

"That's exactly why you shouldn't let her near him," Jiraiya countered sharply.

Tsunade turned her gaze toward him, expression unreadable.

"Seriously," Jiraiya continued, eyes narrowing. "Don't think I haven't noticed. You keep Kimiko at arm's length. You're more distant with her than any of the others."

Her jaw tensed.

"Can you blame me?" Tsunade snapped, eyes flashing.

Jiraiya raised a brow, unfazed.

"You saw the way she giggled when she summoned that damn lizard," Tsunade muttered. "Not to mention, we're all skirting around the issue of her likely having access to Hanzo and Amegakure's Forbidden Jutsu."

She exhaled, pressing her fingertips against her temples.

"In some ways, she's more concerning than Sasuke ever was."

"That 'damn lizard,'" Jiraiya said, voice edged with irritation, "provided us with valuable intel in Amegakure. The information Kimiko shared with us has already advanced Konoha's Medical Corps significantly—not to mention our Research and Development division." He leaned forward slightly, watching Tsunade's expression shift. "And let's not forget that Iwa-ANBU she brought back. Dissecting that corpse gave us insight into just how much Iwagakure has evolved since our last war with them."

He paused, letting his words settle before delivering the next blow. "She likely saved hundreds of Konoha shinobi because of that alone."

Tsunade's lips pressed into a thin line, but she said nothing.

Jiraiya exhaled, shaking his head. "Should I even bring up the fact that she was the one who ensured Sasuke didn't fall into Orochimaru's hands? Or that, according to Kakashi, she's just as responsible for Sasuke and Naruto's maturity and development as he is?"

"You're being biased," Tsunade said flatly. "You're saying this because she's also your student."

"She is," Jiraiya admitted without hesitation. "And you're being biased because you see Orochimaru in her."

Silence.

A deep, weighted silence.

Tsunade broke it first.

"So you admit it. You see it too, huh?"

Jiraiya said nothing, but his lack of denial was answer enough.

Tsunade exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. "She's just like him when we were that age." Her voice was quiet now, contemplative. "And I don't know why. On paper, she had a perfect family. She isn't an orphan. She wasn't raised in some long-established, bloated ninja clan that could have twisted her with internal politics. And yet…"

She frowned, tapping her fingers against the desk.

"I don't know why she's the way she is. Why she's so desperate to go down the most unorthodox, extreme routes to develop her jutsu. Why she's constantly reaching for more power." She paused, her voice dipping lower. "I can't help but see that damn snake behind her eyes, no matter how polite she is."

"Enough," Hiruzen's voice cut through the air, firm, steady, but heavy with age. His dark eyes flicked between them, unreadable. "If there is anyone who remembers what Orochimaru was like, it is me. I practically raised the three of you."

Tsunade and Jiraiya remained silent, but Hiruzen continued.

"He became what he did because of my failings."

Both of them tensed, ready to protest, but Hiruzen simply lifted a hand, silencing them.

"No. It is true." He took a slow breath, coughing once before continuing. "A student's downfall is always the failure of the teacher. Or so Shinku used to say."

His eyes dimmed slightly, lost in some distant memory. Then, with a sigh, he spoke again.

"I won't argue with you, Tsunade. You are Hokage, and you are not mistaken—she does resemble Orochimaru in many ways." He paused, then added, "But do you know who else she resembles?"

Tsunade frowned. "Who?"

Hiruzen looked at her, his expression tired, but certain.

"Your grandfather's brother—the Second Hokage."

Tsunade's eyes widened slightly, but she said nothing.

"My sensei….Tobirama Senju was a hard man," Hiruzen continued, his voice solemn. "A cruel man, at times. But only when he had to be. He showed no mercy to those who threatened his vision for Konoha. But he was utterly loyal to the village—he did not see it as just his elder brother's project. He saw it as his new clan, his legacy. So much so that he fearlessly died for it."

He leaned forward slightly, watching as the words settled. "He was a great man, despite the darkness in him. He mastered it—used it as a weapon instead of letting it consume him."

His fingers tapped against the cane resting beside his chair.

"That is what I failed to do with Orochimaru."

His voice was soft now, regret woven between every word. "I let his darkness consume him because I tried to steer him away from the path he had already chosen. When, instead, I should have walked it beside him. I should have ensured he never let it define him completely."

He turned his gaze to Jiraiya, his eyes sharp despite his age.

"That is what you must do for Kimiko."

Jiraiya exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck, but he didn't look away.

"She may be cruel, she may be ruthless," Hiruzen continued, "but it is your responsibility as her teacher to ensure she does not become lost in it. You must make sure that, no matter how strong or how dangerous she becomes, it does not define her."

Then, he turned to Tsunade.

"And you, Tsunade." His voice softened, but his words were no less heavy. "As Hokage, as the head of Konoha—your family—it is not your duty to pass judgment on a young girl." His gaze held hers, steady. "It is your duty to look at her as she is, not as you fear she might become."

Tsunade sighed, leaning back in her chair, rubbing her temples as if warding off an impending headache. "…Fine, fine. You're right."

She exhaled, her gaze shifting toward the window. "Well, she's currently fielding offers from multiple departments. I know Tsume wants her in the Tracking Unit because of her hypersensory ability. But Anko and Hayate also want her in Recon and Infiltration. Maybe having either of them as an influence would be good for her."

She tapped her fingers against the desk thoughtfully. "It would keep her close enough for us to monitor, at least."

"We can discuss that another time," Hiruzen interjected, his tone pointed. "You do remember the main reason we're here, don't you?"

Tsunade blinked before sighing. "Oh. Right. Of course."

Her expression shifted, her golden eyes locking onto Jiraiya. "…So." She hesitated, then continued.

"You have reason to believe that Akatsuki is using Amegakure as a base?"

He looked away from the scene, turning his gaze toward the window where a lone bird soared silently through the sky, its wings cutting through the clouds.

As the three spoke in hushed voices, the village outside remained as it always had—alive, moving, breathing. The way he remembered it in his youth.

Just another day in Konoha.