Konoha Hospital.
Three in the afternoon.
Tsunade finished her last surgery of the day and pushed open the office door.
She walked to her desk and sat down, casually flipping open the medical file of a critically wounded patient.
The wall clock ticked monotonously.
She turned a page, but hadn't taken in a single word.
Those eyes appeared before her again.
Along with that name.
"Hagoromo Kaede..."
Tsunade shut the file and rubbed her brow.
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
"Come in."
An Anbu wearing a cat mask pushed the door open, carrying a thick stack of files.
"Lady Tsunade, Lord Hokage ordered me to urgently compile these. They're the personnel files of every member of the Hagoromo Clan since Konoha was founded."
Tsunade's gaze sharpened.
She strode over, took the stack from the Anbu, and spread it across the desk.
Her eyes raced over the densely packed names.
Hagoromo Tadashi.
Hagoromo Taku.
Hagoromo Kenta.
She flipped through one after another, faster and faster.
She finished them all.
Nothing.
Tsunade didn't believe it and started over.
This time, she read every word, line by line.
Still nothing.
She closed the last file.
Tsunade slowly leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling for a long while.
Her chest felt tight. She couldn't say what she was feeling.
Twenty years of unforgettable memories.
From childhood companions to lovers.
Could it... really have been nothing but an absurd dream I had?
"...Thanks for your help." Tsunade's voice betrayed no emotion.
"The person I'm looking for isn't in there. Take them back."
The Anbu gathered up the files and walked to the door, then suddenly stopped.
She turned her head, as if unsure whether she should say more.
"Lady Tsunade, while checking the active personnel records from the