The Answer

The Hokage Tower, Hiruzen's office.

A pipe rested at the corner of the desk. Hiruzen Sarutobi stood with his hands behind his back, facing a map.

"Sunagakure has pulled back along the entire front. Amegakure withdrew voluntarily, and the eastern front is stable."

He turned and glanced at the three people standing before him.

"Hanzo himself bestowed the title 'Konoha Sannin' on you. It's spread to the front lines of every nation."

Jiraiya folded his arms and grinned.

"That's right, that's right. I, Lord Jiraiya—"

"More importantly, Tsunade broke Chiyo's poison on the Western Front, and Hagoromo Kaede held Hanzo off on the eastern front."

Jiraiya's grin froze.

"...Sensei, could you not do that every time?"

Tsunade's lips curled slightly, but she didn't indulge him.

Hiruzen sat back down and lit his pipe.

"The Second Shinobi World War is nearing its end. Every nation is drawing down its forces. The three of you should take some time to rest."

He took a puff, his gaze slowly moving between Kitahara Kaede and Tsunade.

He said nothing more.

"All right, you can go."

The three of them reached the door when Jiraiya suddenly slapped his forehead, turned around, and called out to Hiruzen.

"Oh, right, Sensei! I'm almost done with the first draft of my novel. Would you like to read it when it's ready?"

Hiruzen frowned around his pipe.

"Stop wasting your time on that kind of nonsense."

"Heh heh. I'll bring it straight to your desk once it's finished."

Hiruzen coughed, but didn't deny it.

Jiraiya looked pleased with himself. He winked at Kitahara Kaede, then turned to Tsunade.

"Come on, want to go together?"

"I'm going with Kaede. You go ahead," Tsunade said.

"All right, then. I'll take a walk around town and look for some writing inspiration."

Tsunade's eyelid twitched.

"Say what you mean."

"I'm going to the bathhouse for research."

A shoe flew past the back of Jiraiya's head and slammed into the doorframe.

Clutching his head and yelping, Jiraiya bolted down the stairs, his voice fading into the distance.

Kitahara Kaede glanced at Tsunade.

"Wait outside for me. I have something to discuss with Sensei."

Tsunade paused, then nodded and closed the door behind her.

Only the two of them remained in the office.

"Sensei, are there any high-paying missions available lately?"

Hiruzen looked up at him.

"Didn't you just finish fighting a war? Shouldn't you take a break?"

He took a puff from his pipe.

"Are you short on money? With your current mission rank, you should have plenty saved up."

Kitahara Kaede didn't answer.

Hiruzen stared at him for a couple of seconds.

Then he smiled.

"I watched the two of you grow up."

His tone softened as he leaned back in his chair.

"So, have you finally gotten together?"

Kitahara Kaede didn't deny it.

Hiruzen waved a hand.

"All right. I'll have Anbu bring the files for the recent high-paying missions to your house. With your current strength, you can choose for yourself."

"Thank you, Sensei."

Kitahara Kaede nodded and turned to leave.

Hiruzen watched the closed door for several seconds.

The smile remained on his face, but his brows knitted.

Eager to take on high-paying missions right after a war.

That didn't seem like the boy's usual way.

But he didn't think too much of it.

Maybe he really was short on money.

Dusk.

Kitahara Kaede led Tsunade along a side path around Kage Rock, then up a mountain trail few people used.

Tsunade followed behind him without a word.

She knew what he was going to do.

That night, she'd turned his words over in her mind again and again: "Let me get ready."

But the closer she came to the answer, the more nervous she felt.

What if it wasn't what she thought?

The thought had barely crossed her mind before she found it ridiculous.

They'd become friends in the pavilion when they were four, then entered the Academy together, graduated together, and gone to war together.

After all these years, what else could it be?

Still, she was nervous, her palms slick with sweat.

The trail came to an end.

The cliff top opened up, with all of Konoha spread out below them.

The setting sun painted the rooftops, streets, and moat a deep gold.

The wind swept up from the valley.

Kitahara Kaede stopped and turned around.

Tsunade stood three steps away.

The evening light fell over her.

Her pale golden hair was blown loose by the wind, a few strands clinging to her cheeks.

The amber in her eyes caught the last of the sunlight, clear and bright, holding nervousness, anticipation, and a little fear she refused to admit.

Kitahara Kaede opened his mouth.

Suddenly, he wasn't sure how to begin.

Several seconds passed in silence.

The quiet only made Tsunade more nervous.

Kitahara Kaede looked into her eyes.

"My answer hasn't changed since the day I taught you how to roll dice."

Tsunade's breath caught.

The wind swept over them, and every other sound seemed to fade away.

"I love you."

"From then until now, every single day."

Tsunade's tears fell at once.

She bit her lip and punched him in the chest.

Then she grabbed him by the collar and yanked him toward her.

Pressing her forehead against his chest, she spoke in a muffled voice.

"Do you know how long I've been waiting to hear that—"

Her voice trembled.

"Idiot."

Kitahara Kaede wrapped his arms around her waist.

She was trembling in his arms.

Her shoulders, her back, even the fingers clutching his collar were trembling.

He tightened his embrace and rested his chin on her head.

It took a long time for her trembling to gradually subside.

Kitahara Kaede loosened his arms and cupped her face in both hands.

His thumbs brushed away the tear tracks at the corners of her eyes.

Tsunade tried to turn her head.

He gently stopped her.

The two of them simply looked at each other.

Her lashes were wet, her nose was red, and her lips were slightly pursed.

Her eyes held all the hurt and happiness of these years.

Kitahara Kaede's head tilted forward without him realizing it.

Tsunade felt his breath drawing closer.

She closed her eyes.

Their lips met.

Softly.

Gentle and warm, with the slightest tremble.

Tsunade's hand loosened on his collar, then slowly tightened again.

She leaned her weight against him.

The wind swept over the cliff, stirring their hair and hems.

When they parted, Kitahara Kaede looked down at her.

Her cheeks were crimson, her lips slightly parted...

Kitahara Kaede tightened his arms around her waist.

Tsunade let out a muffled grunt as he squeezed her.

"Do you like me that much? You're holding me so tight."

"Yes."

Tsunade looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes, but couldn't hold back her smile.

She struggled in his arms, but couldn't break free. She didn't try again.

After a little while,

"Let go."

Kitahara Kaede didn't move.

"Let go. I have something for you."

Now he was curious.

"What is it?"

"How can I get it if you won't let go?"

He released her and took half a step back.

Tsunade lowered her head and fished something out of her pocket.

A necklace.

A dark green crystal pendant. The evening light shone through it, bringing out its deep green hue.

The necklace left behind by Senju Hashirama, the First.

Tsunade looked up at him.

Then she reached both arms around his neck and fastened the necklace on him.

They stood very close.

Her fingers worked the clasp at the back of his neck. Her fingertips brushed his skin, pausing for a moment.

Once it was fastened, she didn't pull away.

Her arms remained around his neck as she gazed up at him.

Tears still glistened in her eyes, but she was smiling.

"My grandfather left it to me."

Her voice was soft.

"Now it's yours."

Kitahara Kaede lowered his head and touched the green crystal with his fingertips.

He said nothing, pausing for a moment.

Then he looked into Tsunade's eyes.

"I'll wear it forever."

Tsunade smiled.

Her eyes curved as she buried her face against his chest again.

The sunset sank below the mountain ridge.

The lights of Konoha came on one by one.

The two shadows on the cliff stretched long, overlapping.