"Actually, you didn't need to overthink it. I wasn't planning to do anything with you right now, anyway. Huh, this sandwich was pretty good." Tsunade spoke carelessly as she bit into the sandwich in her hand.
"Ahem. I'm rather conservative when it comes to relationships. Don't laugh at me, but yesterday was my first time." Keiko said stiffly.
"Mine too." Tsunade lifted the blanket from the sofa bed, revealing a tiny blossom of blood on the sheet.
"I... I... I don't know what to say. I'll let you deal with me however you want. I'll... take responsibility." Keiko's mind had completely short-circuited. He stammered, unable to think of what to say.
Damn, I'd taken Tsunade's first time. It seemed she and Dan Katō had only met after something happened to Nawaki. Didn't that mean I'd stolen someone else's love? Pah! Pah! Pah! I got there first! That didn't sound right either. Sigh, that kid could go play somewhere else.
"You'll take responsibility? Hmm, then I'll have to think carefully about how to make you take it." Tsunade cocked her head and looked at Keiko teasingly, seemingly torn between laughing and not laughing. It made Keiko's skin crawl.
When it came to relationships, Tsunade was absolutely not a promiscuous woman. Though she was born into privilege and had a bit of a spoiled young lady's temper, she was no playgirl. Despite being doted on by Hashirama since childhood, aside from her fondness for gambling, she had no other bad habits. After all, she had been personally taught by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and had fought her way up step by step from a Genin into an outstanding female Jonin. She could be called the "revolutionary successor" of the Will of Fire.
Yet deep down, she truly had feelings for this young Kazekage. From the "Three Heroes Fighting Lu Bu" at Moon Lake, to Danzo's Beast Trap plan falling apart, to the interception of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen in the Land of Fields, Keiko's heroic performances on the battlefield had left an immensely deep impression on Tsunade. Among those of his age, Keiko was undoubtedly the best—bar none.
Whether it was combat skill and ninjutsu, decision-making and judgment, or even status and position, which Tsunade cared about least, if one turned the Five Great Ninja Villages upside down, sifted through them, and compared them one by one, at most only the future Fourth Raikage, A, could measure up to Keiko. But even then, he was still far behind in looks. (Besides, A was not yet the Raikage at this time. At most, he was a "crown prince," while Keiko had already been Kazekage for over a year.)
As for people like Orochimaru and Jiraiya, they were even further behind. After arriving in Sunagakure, she had watched Keiko boldly push through reforms with her own eyes, watched him transform a dying village into one that was thriving and full of vitality. Even Tsunade, who had never admitted defeat, secretly admired that ability.
He had even boldly delegated authority and entrusted important duties to her, an "outsider." That broad-mindedness truly impressed Tsunade. On top of that, they shared the same aspirations and ideals. Many of Tsunade's ideas for governing happened to align perfectly with Keiko's. (Of course, anyone who had read the manga knew Tsunade's views were completely correct.)
Even the ideals she had failed to realize in Konoha had become reality here! He had ability, strength, courage, breadth of mind, nerve, and looks. Young and accomplished without any inferiority complex, wealthy besides, with both parents dead, a car and a house—what young girl wouldn't dream of such an outstanding unmarried young man?
As for those so-called political factors, to hell with them! This princess wasn't considering any of that.
Keiko finally grew uneasy under Tsunade's gaze, and a trace of anger rose in his heart. He abruptly stood up, his face flushed red, and said,
"Fine, fine! I, Keiko, am still a proper man. My principle in life is to judge only right and wrong, never gains and losses. At worst, I'll stop being Kazekage. I can't betray you."
The moment Tsunade heard that, her smile blossomed. She gently pulled Keiko into her arms and gave his little face a loud kiss.
"Fool, why would you stop being Kazekage when you're doing such a good job?"
Whew. Keiko secretly wiped away a cold sweat. He had passed the test at last.
In truth, he had a second plan. Did she really expect him to choose between being Kazekage and a woman? Sorry, this full-grown body had already been pledged to the nation; it could not be pledged to a lover as well. A perfect Shinobi World version of Cai E and Xiao Fengxian. Would Tsunade really have the heart to leave?
The atmosphere had reached the point where she definitely wouldn't be willing to let him go. If she wouldn't take the card of a man's sense of responsibility, would she take the tragic card of duty to nation and family? There was always one that suited her.
"Come on, let's go see how Nawaki is doing. We can clean up the operating table while we're at it. By the way, how did you get to Sunagakure? Was it the Flying Thunder God Technique?"
"Yes. More accurately, it was the Flying Thunder God Formation. Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu were all disciples of my second grandfather. By combining the strength of all three, they could use the Flying Thunder God Technique, provided the destination had one of my second grandfather's technique marks."
"I see." Keiko picked up the marked Kunai, deep in thought.
"I think Rasa's proposal is worth considering." Chiyo set down the report Rasa had sent over.
"Minister Chiyo, you mean..." Her subordinate hesitated.
"Yes, that's what I mean." Chiyo stood and walked over to the window.
"My desire to eliminate Hanzo of the Salamander is absolutely not due to personal grudges, though I really do hate that old bastard with the breathing tube."
Chiyo paused before continuing.
"The Hourglass Group is now a vital department of the village. It is not only the village's source of income, but also the foundation of Moon Lake New District. Nothing can be allowed to happen to it.
"I know Hanzo of the Salamander. He has ambition and methods, but he is narrow-minded, with his eyes fixed only on the little bit of profit in front of him. If all he wanted was some money, that would be one thing, but this man's desires are endless.
"Today, he wants money. Tomorrow, he may want the factories. We cannot stake everything on someone like him. We should find someone to take him out. It would save us a great deal of trouble. Replacing him with an obedient Rain Shadow who lacks such excessive ambition would better serve Sunagakure's interests."
"But Hanzo of the Salamander is known as the demigod of the Shinobi World. He won't be easy to deal with. In the village, I'm afraid only Lord Kazekage could be certain of handling him."
"We cannot let Lord Kazekage act. We cannot even let anyone from the village act. It must be an outsider, and we cannot leave any loose ends."
"Then the cost may be very high."
"Hehe, times are different now. Our finances are no longer so tight. We can still afford ten or twenty million to kill someone." Chiyo said with a smile.
"I still think such a person will be difficult to find."
"We'll look slowly. There's no need to rush. By the way, put this plan into writing and notify the Kazekage. Forget it, putting it in writing isn't safe. I'll speak with him personally."
"I think we can do it!" Keiko pushed open the door and walked in. Aside from Chiyo, everyone in the room bowed to him.
"Minister Chiyo is right. I cannot do this, nor can any other Jonin from the village. It must be done by an outsider. As far as I know, there are fewer than five assassins in the entire Shinobi World capable of taking this job." Keiko smiled and held up one hand.
"Oh? It seems Lord Kazekage already has a suitable candidate in mind. Could you tell me, so I may consider it as well?" Chiyo was somewhat curious. She knew Hanzo of the Salamander's strength very well. For someone capable of killing him one-on-one, no suitable candidate immediately came to mind.
"I do have someone in mind. Back when I was still a Jonin, I met him while earning some extra money at a bounty exchange. He's very good at his work and can definitely handle this job." Keiko scratched the back of his head awkwardly. After all, bounty exchanges were not exactly respectable places.
"Enough suspense. Tell us this friend's name."
"Calling him a friend would be a stretch. We only met once. This man is known as the one who lives as long as heaven and earth—Kakuzu!"
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