Dan Katō asked cautiously through the door.
Tsunade's voice followed immediately.
"He's definitely here, Dan. Look at this doorknob on the floor. Isn't it the one from the Laboratory? Big Brother Leaf Dragon must be here."
As Hashirama Senju's granddaughter, Tsunade had far fewer reservations. She placed her hand straight on the door.
"Wait, don't open it yet. Something feels off..."
Dan Katō was a step too late to stop her. His hand hung in midair before he awkwardly withdrew it.
The door opened.
A familiar figure stood before them, his back turned.
"Good afternoon, Big Brother Leaf Dragon!"
Tsunade's lively voice echoed through the spacious office.
Ah, we're done for.
Having already foreseen what would happen next, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō closed their eyes in despair.
Should we just be grateful Jiraiya isn't here?
Otherwise, this would be even harder to handle...
What do we do? How do we cover up Leaf Dragon's condition?
Come on, brain! Work!
But clearly, both their brains had stopped functioning.
"Good afternoon, Tsunade."
A gentle voice rang out, striking everyone's ears like a thunderclap.
Leaf Dragon nodded gently to Tsunade, only to be met with stunned expressions from her and Dan Katō.
Tsunade turned her head, furious.
"Teacher Hiruzen, what did you say to Big Brother Leaf Dragon? Why did he suddenly go back to the way he was? Dan Katō and I worked so hard for so long just to..."
Realizing the rest wasn't something she should say in front of the person concerned, she swallowed her words.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō stared at Leaf Dragon with hope in their eyes. Seeing that his smile didn't reach his eyes, they confirmed that his condition hadn't changed, and their hearts sank.
Ah, little Tsunade, this might be worse than you think...