Kitazawa arrived at Tsunade's residence right at nine in the morning.
He knocked lightly on the door. No answer.
He waited a moment, listening. Still nothing.
Did Shizune already leave?
It wasn't impossible. Since Tsunade was heading to the Fire Capital with him, Konoha's day-to-day administration would have been handed over to her aides and secretaries for the time being.
With that thought, Kitazawa sighed, fished out the spare key Tsunade had given him, and unlocked the door.
The house was quiet—too quiet.
Tsunade had drunk quite a bit the night before; she was almost certainly still sleeping.
On the coffee table lay a folded note written in neat handwriting. Shizune's, of course.
Kitazawa, I've gone ahead to the Hokage Office to finalize the paperwork. Please wake up Lady Tsunade and prepare breakfast.
He smiled faintly. So she'd left him in charge of the morning chaos.
As for Rina Uzumaki, she was now head of the Finance Department and had already gone to work. Karin, meanwhile, had followed Shizune to the Hokage Tower.
That left only one sleeping Hokage in need of a wake-up call.
Kitazawa walked quietly to Tsunade's room and turned the knob.
The door creaked open.
She was asleep on her side, breathing softly, her golden hair spilling across the pillow.
The sheets clung loosely to her form—her pajamas rumpled just enough to reveal a silhouette that could make any man's heart skip.
Kitazawa closed the door immediately, shaking his head with a faint chuckle.
He headed for the kitchen.
After rummaging through the refrigerator, he decided on something simple but hearty—char siu ramen.
He'd already eaten breakfast with Kurenai earlier, but Tsunade would definitely need a hangover cure.
The aroma of steaming broth soon filled the house.
When the ramen was ready, he returned to her door and knocked.
"Oi, wake up—"
The door suddenly swung open.
A very irritated Tsunade glared out, hair messy, eyes half-lidded—but when she saw who it was, her expression froze.
"Were you about to curse at me?" Kitazawa asked innocently.
"…Why are you here?" she shot back, skipping the question entirely.
Kitazawa tilted his head. "Why do you think?"
"I—"
Realization dawned. She had, in fact, told him to come.
A glance at the clock confirmed it was already half past nine.
"Give me a moment," she muttered, clearly flustered, and closed the door again.
A few minutes later, she reappeared—refreshed, dressed in her usual sleeveless top and dark blue trousers, her long blonde hair tied neatly.
"Let's go."
"Eat first."
Kitazawa caught her wrist gently. "I made ramen."
Tsunade blinked, momentarily disarmed. "…Thank you."
They sat across from each other at the small dining table.
For a while, the only sound was the quiet clink of chopsticks.
But Tsunade could feel his gaze on her—amused.
And suddenly, flashes from the night before flickered in her mind: the warmth of sake, his steady voice, the kiss she hadn't quite resisted.
Her heart gave a small, unwelcome flutter.
Idiot, she scolded herself silently, biting her lip.
"Doesn't suit your taste?" Kitazawa asked, watching her hesitate mid-bite.
Tsunade glanced up. His eyes were calm but teasing, and the sight of his faint smile only made her more self-conscious.
"No," she said quickly, regaining her composure. "It's good."
After breakfast, they finally departed.
"It's been so long since I left the village," Tsunade sighed, stretching her arms as the wind brushed through her hair. "I should've known better than to take the Hokage position."
Kitazawa smiled, walking beside her. "If you want a break, just leave things to Shizune and the others. They can handle it."
"I'd like to," she said, shaking her head, "but I am the Hokage."
Kitazawa chuckled. "You say that, but you don't sound too convinced."
Despite her grumbling, he knew the truth—Tsunade was meticulous when it came to her duties. Lazy as she acted, she never shirked her responsibilities.
Konoha under her leadership was stable, secure, and thriving—proof of her capability, even if she'd never admit it.
The two ran at an unhurried pace, chatting as they followed the main road toward the Fire Capital.
At their usual speed, they could have reached it by evening.
But neither seemed eager to rush.
By sunset, they'd only covered half the distance.
"Let's stop here for the night," Tsunade said, spotting a quiet river nearby.
"Good idea."
Kitazawa unsealed a storage scroll and began setting up camp.
A single tent sprang into form with a puff of smoke.
Tsunade watched, raising an eyebrow. "You're not setting up another one?"
He turned with an easy smile. "During missions, it's safer to sleep in one tent. And there are two sleeping bags—are you worried about something?"
"Hmph." She folded her arms, glaring faintly. "What would I have to worry about?"
The corner of his mouth curved. "Exactly."
Realizing she'd fallen for his bait, Tsunade huffed and looked away.
"I'll get the water," she muttered.
Kitazawa nodded. "Perfect timing. I'll start dinner."
By the time she returned with a bucket of water, the fire was already crackling.
The flames danced warmly, casting long shadows across the riverside. The scent of grilled meat and herbs filled the air.
Tsunade sat down on the picnic blanket he'd laid out, resting her chin on her hand as she watched him cook.
The orange glow flickered against his face, outlining the sharpness of his jaw, the calm precision of his movements.
Somewhere between the warmth of the fire and the rhythm of his hands, her gaze softened.
When was the last time I felt this peaceful?
The thought lingered, gentle and dangerous.
Tsunade looked up at the sky, where the stars were beginning to bloom—bright and distant, yet quietly beautiful.
And for the first time in a long while…she smiled.
"Alright, let's eat."
Kitazawa set the food on the small table beside the fire and took a seat across from Tsunade.
She glanced at the spread—grilled fish, rice, and perfectly simmered vegetables—and couldn't help but smile faintly. "You know, this is the first time I've eaten so well during a mission. It almost feels like an actual trip instead of work."
"Occasional relaxation helps clear the mind," Kitazawa replied, his tone easy but warm. "Though since this is technically a mission, we'll skip the alcohol."
Tsunade gave a soft hum of agreement. Truthfully, she didn't dare drink much tonight anyway—not after what happened last night.
After dinner, the two settled near the bonfire, the firelight casting gentle orange shadows that flickered across their faces. The night air was cool, and the river nearby murmured softly, blending with the crackle of flames.
Kitazawa patted the space beside him on the blanket. "Come here. I want to discuss something with you."
Tsunade hesitated, her heartbeat picking up for reasons she didn't care to admit. Still, she stood and sat beside him. "What is it?"
His expression was unusually serious. "Tsunade-sensei, what are you thinking right now?"
Tsunade blinked—then realized she'd completely misread the situation.
She scowled and elbowed him in the arm. "Don't tease me. Out with it."
"The ANBU have confirmed Orochimaru's whereabouts."
Her playful irritation vanished instantly. "What did you just say?"
Kitazawa's voice was calm but firm. "He's in the Land of Rice Fields—in a place now called Otogakure, the Village Hidden in the Sound."
Tsunade's brows furrowed. "Otogakure? You mean he founded that village?"
"Looks that way."
She fell silent, processing his words. "Now that you mention it, the timing fits perfectly…"
Indeed, even in the Five Great Nations, the creation of Otogakure hadn't gone unnoticed. It was a small, shadowy village that had appeared almost overnight.
In the original timeline of events, Otogakure would later even participate in the Chunin Exams held jointly by Konoha and Sunagakure. That meant its existence wasn't secret—but no one had imagined it could be Orochimaru's doing.
After all, a single rogue ninja founding a hidden village sounded absurd.
Besides, forming a shinobi village required enormous manpower, resources, and connections. For one man to pull it off was unthinkable—unless that man was one of the Sannin.
"This damned snake," Tsunade muttered coldly. "To build a village right under our noses… he's even bolder than I thought."
Kitazawa smiled faintly. "Well, he is your old teammate. The Sannin of Konoha have always been on another level. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if you could build a village yourself."
Tsunade shot him a look, but her silence betrayed a flicker of agreement.
Orochimaru had founded Otogakure by combining persuasion and force—recruiting shinobi from the Land of Rice Fields, earning the Daimyo's support, and gathering every stray talent he could find.
It reminded Kitazawa of Root: a place where geniuses were raised like weapons and the weak simply… vanished.
The Sound Four were the perfect example—all "chosen" through blood and competition.
And Tsunade, if she ever wanted to, could easily do the same. Her reputation as the greatest medical ninja alone could gather more followers than Orochimaru's twisted promises of power.
"Tsunade-sensei," Kitazawa asked after a pause, "what do you think should be done about Orochimaru?"
Her expression hardened. "He's a Konoha missing-nin. Now that we know where he is, we have to capture him and bring him back—dead or alive."
Her voice was steady, but Kitazawa could hear the faint tremor beneath it.
Tsunade's connection to Orochimaru ran deep—they'd grown up together, trained together, and bled together. He had even been her younger brother Nawaki's teacher—at her own recommendation.
His betrayal had wounded her more deeply than she ever admitted.
Jiraiya had tried, again and again, to reach him, but Orochimaru's obsession with forbidden jutsu and immortality had already consumed him.
Even when Jiraiya finally found him, Orochimaru had always managed to slip away.
"We'll need to plan this carefully," Kitazawa said, his tone low and deliberate. "Neither Orochimaru nor Otogakure will be easy to deal with."
"Exactly," Tsunade agreed, folding her arms. "We'll only get one chance. Once he senses danger, he'll vanish—and next time, we may never find him again."
Kitazawa nodded. "Then we'll use this opportunity to corner him completely."
Tsunade frowned, thinking deeply. "Send ANBU to gather intel on Otogakure first."
"That won't be enough," she quickly added, shaking her head. "Ordinary ANBU will be detected before they even get close. Orochimaru's senses are too sharp."
"Then I'll go myself."
Her gaze snapped toward him. "You?"
Kitazawa met her eyes steadily. "Even if I run into him, I can get away safely. I've learned more than a few infiltration and disguise techniques."
Tsunade's lips pressed into a thin line. She didn't like the idea. Not because she doubted him—but because she knew exactly what kind of danger he was walking into.
But Kitazawa smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. I won't disappoint you."
In truth, he already had a rough understanding of Otogakure's inner workings.
The Sound Four—Tayuya, Kidomaru, Sakon, Ukon, Jirobo, and Kimimaro were formidable, but their true power came from Orochimaru's cursed seals. Without them, they were still just gifted chunin-level shinobi at best.
The Heaven and Earth Cursed Seals were Orochimaru's crude, unstable attempt at replicating Sage Mode—derived from experiments on Jugo, whose bloodline allowed him to enter it naturally.
And while incomplete, their effects were potent.
Sasuke's eventual defection had been driven by that very power.
The Heaven Seal wasn't just an enhancement—it was also a vessel for Orochimaru's immortality technique. After death, he could resurrect himself through any cursed mark bearer.
Right now, the only known holder of that seal was Anko Mitarashi—here in Konoha.
As for Otogakure's current lineup, the Sound Five were likely still children—seven or eight at most. Kimimaro might already be under Orochimaru's wing, but the others wouldn't have been chosen yet.
The only real powerhouse beyond them would be Guren, the kunoichi with the Crystal Release bloodline.
Then there were others—Jugo—powerful, but not yet the monster he would one day become.
Kabuto and Karin, two of Orochimaru's most valuable subordinates, had already been "recruited" by Kitazawa long ago.
That, he thought with faint satisfaction, already tipped the scales.
The fire crackled between them, scattering tiny embers into the night sky.
Tsunade sat in silence, her eyes reflecting the flame. "Then we'll strike soon. This time… we end it for good."
Kitazawa nodded slowly, the firelight gleaming in his eyes. "Agreed."
The flames danced between them—warm, bright, and a little dangerous.
Like the calm before a storm.
"Alright then… be careful."
After a long silence, Tsunade finally gave in.
It wasn't easy to find Orochimaru—and now that they had, she couldn't afford to let him slip away again.
And truthfully, other than Kitazawa, there was no one else she could trust with something this dangerous.
"Once I've scouted Otogakure thoroughly, we can start planning the operation," Kitazawa said, his tone steady.
Tsunade nodded slightly, her eyes reflecting the bonfire's glow. "Orochimaru's power isn't something to take lightly. Especially with all the escape techniques he's mastered." She crossed her arms thoughtfully. "We'll need to think carefully about who to bring."
"The places he can run to are limited—above or below ground."
Kitazawa's eyes gleamed faintly as he suggested, "Let's take the Hyuga and Uchiha clans, along with the Sealing Squad."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"The Byakugan's field of vision leaves no blind spots," Kitazawa explained. "And the Uchiha—particularly Itachi—can suppress Orochimaru's chakra with Genjutsu. The Sealing Squad will handle containment once he tries his usual tricks… like the Yamato no Orochi."
Tsunade's gaze sharpened at that. "So you're expecting him to transform?"
"Knowing him, I'd bet on it." Kitazawa gave a faint, confident smile. "Theoretically, Itachi alone could handle him. But…"
He paused, not finishing the thought. The system mission won't complete unless I'm involved myself.
And besides, Itachi hadn't yet awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan in this timeline.
"Hmm…" Tsunade tapped her fingers against her arm. "That lineup should be more than enough."
"Good," Kitazawa said. "But let's not announce it to anyone yet. Once I finish reconnaissance, we'll finalize the plan—and move the same day."
Tsunade glanced sideways at him, catching the flicker of caution in his voice. "You're worried about leaks?"
"Danzo may be gone," Kitazawa said quietly, "but his influence isn't. We can't rule out that some of his loyalists are still in hiding. Orochimaru's ties with Root ran deep."
Tsunade's expression darkened. She nodded slowly. "You're right. We can't afford even a whisper of this spreading."
Kitazawa leaned back, the firelight dancing across his features. "Tsunade-sensei… are you planning to tell the Third Hokage?"
Her brow furrowed. "Why do you ask?"
He smiled faintly. "Let's just say… I don't want anyone stealing the credit."
Tsunade let out a small chuckle at that, though her tone turned serious again. "We'll inform him after we capture Orochimaru. Their bond as teacher and student still runs deep—if we tell him now, I worry he might hesitate."
Kitazawa nodded. He remembered the story well—how Hiruzen had faced Orochimaru the night he defected… and failed to stop him because of lingering sentiment.
"That's fine by me," Kitazawa said. "Between the two of us, we'll be enough."
"Maybe so," Tsunade replied, her voice soft but firm. "Still, don't underestimate him. Be absolutely vigilant."
"Yes, Tsunade-sensei."
Tsunade's gaze drifted back to the fire, her expression clouded with memory. "I never thought ANBU would be the ones to find him…"
Kitazawa shrugged lightly. "Just luck. They happened to be in the right place."
"That's good enough," she murmured. But her tone carried an unspoken heaviness.
In truth, she didn't even know what she'd do once Orochimaru was caught. The thought of confronting him—after everything—stirred something complicated inside her.
She finally understood how the Third Hokage must have felt about Danzo—the burden of deciding the fate of an old friend.
"Shall we turn in for the night?" Kitazawa's voice broke the silence.
"Mm."
Tsunade's response came a moment late. Her expression stiffened briefly before she forced a casual tone. "Yeah, let's rest."
They entered the tent together. Each unrolled their sleeping bag in silence.
Tsunade lay down, turning on her side. She closed her eyes but found her thoughts restless.
He's already asleep?
She peeked over. Kitazawa was lying perfectly still, his breathing even and calm.
For some reason, that irritated her—and comforted her—at the same time.
After a moment, she sighed softly and shut her eyes.
The river murmured nearby. The flames outside faded.
And the night passed peacefully.
The next morning.
When Tsunade woke, Kitazawa was already gone.
She sat up, unzipped her sleeping bag, and stretched. The faint scent of cooked rice wafted through the air.
A smile tugged at her lips before she even realized it. This kind of life isn't bad at all.
Stepping out of the tent, she found Kitazawa crouched by the fire, reheating breakfast.
"You're up early today," he said without looking up.
"I only woke up late yesterday because I was drunk," she countered, sitting down across from him.
He handed her a rice ball, smirking. "You even believe that yourself?"
"Shut up."
Tsunade rolled her eyes, biting into the rice ball with an indignant huff.
After breakfast, they resumed their journey.
By the afternoon, the tall walls of the Fire Capital appeared on the horizon—gleaming beneath the sunlight.
Thanks to Tsunade's connections, they quickly gained entry and secured an audience with the Daimyo's wife.
"Tsunade! It's been ages!" The noblewoman greeted her warmly, her tone bright with genuine affection. "What brings you to the Capital this time?"
Tsunade smiled politely, exchanging the usual pleasantries. Kitazawa stood silently at her side, listening but not intruding.
Once the small talk ended, Tsunade finally steered the conversation toward business.
"You… want to give me a necklace?"
The Daimyo's wife blinked in surprise.
Without a word, Tsunade produced the necklace—the dazzling, double-layered masterpiece Kitazawa had designed.
The noblewoman gasped softly, her eyes widening. "By the heavens… this is exquisite."
She leaned closer, fingers brushing the diamonds as if afraid they might disappear.
"I've never seen anything so beautiful," she whispered.
"Only something like this could suit you," Tsunade said with a knowing smile.
"You're truly giving it to me?"
"Of course," Tsunade replied—though her tone carried the faint weight of purpose. "But there's one small request."
"Name it."
Kitazawa stepped forward smoothly, his voice composed and courteous. "Two, actually. First—we'd like you to wear the necklace at upcoming high-society events in the Capital. Second—we'd like to host an exclusive auction under your patronage, where other noble ladies can view and bid on similar pieces."
The Daimyo's wife hesitated only a moment—then her smile bloomed.
"Consider it done. Such a tiny favor for such a magnificent gift? I'd be a fool to refuse."
Kitazawa and Tsunade exchanged a glance.
The plan had worked perfectly.
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