When they were not training, Tsunade, Hatake Sakumo, and Heizo Hattori would go out together for fun. Of course, it was mainly Tsunade and Hatake Sakumo enjoying themselves; Heizo Hattori had been dragged along. Had they not been fellow students, he would never have chosen to come.
Neither of the other two knew quite what to do about Heizo Hattori's personality. Still, his willingness to come along meant there was room for change. Perhaps someday he would naturally join their conversations.
For now, though, Tsunade and Hatake Sakumo were still cheerfully discussing amusing things that had happened recently. Then Tsunade brought something up. "Did you know? Kazemori accepted a request from my aunt. He's going to the Land of Demons to take care of something."
"The Land of Demons? I think I've heard of that country. Isn't it the one where people worship a Shrine Maiden?" Hatake Sakumo asked uncertainly.
"That should be it. I heard my aunt mention a Shrine Maiden." With her hands clasped behind her back, Tsunade skipped along. "Still, Sakumo, I didn't know you knew about other countries."
"Just by chance," Hatake Sakumo said. "The Land of Demons is rather unusual. Never mind shinobi—they barely even have any samurai there. Their ruler isn't the supreme authority, either. The Shrine Maiden holds the highest position. It's unique in the entire Shinobi World, so my father made a point of mentioning it."
"So there are countries like that," Heizo Hattori said evenly as he walked slowly beside them. "What about now, then? Surely they haven't gone without hiring any samurai or shinobi?"
"Apparently they have. Tsunade said they still have a Shrine Maiden there," Hatake Sakumo replied.
"Then why is Master Kazemori going there on a mission? Is there some powerful enemy who needs him to deal with