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  The office door hung from a single hinge, creaking slightly in the breeze.

  Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at it in silence, pipe smoke curling lazily around his weathered face. The gate had seen better days. Much better days.

  "Lord Hokage."

  An ANBU operative materialized from the shadows, her frog mask catching the light. Aoi—one of his most reliable agents.

  "I need someone found," Hiruzen said quietly.

  Aoi glanced at the destroyed door, then back at her Hokage. She'd seen this pattern before. Regret, anger, property damage. The cycle was becoming familiar.

  "Wait," Hiruzen said suddenly, a thought crossing his mind. "Call Tsunade first. There's something we need to discuss."

  "Yes, sir."

  Aoi vanished without another word.

  Hiruzen retrieved his pipe, struck a match, and took a long drag. The smoke seemed to carry away the frustration that Danzo Shimura had brought with him. At least something good could come from this mess.

  "Old man! This better be important!"

  The voice arrived before the person did.

  Tsunade stormed into the office, her expression already darkening as she took in the scene. Hiruzen didn't need to guess what had happened—the casino had been unkind to her again. It always was.

  "Where's your door?" she demanded, noticing the wreckage.

  "Don't concern yourself with it," Hiruzen replied evenly.

  "Danzo again?"

  Tsunade's eyes narrowed as she worked through the logic. It was the only answer that made sense.

  "You should have him executed," she said flatly.

  "He's a valuable ninja," Hiruzen countered, tapping his pipe. "Everything he does is for Konoha."

  "For Konoha?" Tsunade's laugh was bitter. "He does it all for himself. Don't be naive."

  "Tsunade." Hiruzen coughed diplomatically. "Give an old man some dignity."

  "Fine. What do you want?" She crossed her arms, clearly impatient. "And don't waste my time if it's nothing."

  "It's about Hanekawa."

  Tsunade's entire posture changed. "What happened to him?"

  "Danzo came here demanding I hand the boy over to Root. I refused, of course, but—"

  Tsunade's fist came down on his desk before he could finish.

  The wood splintered. Cracks spider-webbed across the surface. Then the entire thing collapsed into two pieces.

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  Hiruzen winced. That desk had been with him for two and a half years. Breaking it in was always the hardest part.

  "He dares?" Tsunade's voice was dangerously quiet.

  "I've already turned him down," Hiruzen said quickly, hoping to prevent further property damage. "You have nothing to worry about."

  "It better stay that way," Tsunade said, her fists still clenched.

  Hiruzen studied her carefully. "You care about him quite a bit, don't you?"

  "He's still got a long way to go," Tsunade deflected.

  "Why don't you take him as your student?"

  Tsunade's expression shifted—surprise, then calculation. "Why would Danzo come back now? He already lost Hanekawa to you years ago."

  "The final exam," Hiruzen confirmed. "The boy defeated Kakashi."

  Understanding dawned on Tsunade's face. Hanekawa was already performing at a level comparable to Minato Namikaze, and without a proper clan backing him, Danzo would naturally see him as a prize to be claimed. The best way to protect the boy was to give him a powerful patron.

  "I'm quite impressed with Hanekawa's potential," Hiruzen said carefully. "If you won't take him as a student, I suppose I could ask Jiraiya instead."

  "No."

  The word came out sharp and immediate.

  "He's mine."

  There was no hesitation in her voice, no second-guessing. Tsunade had made her decision. Hiruzen hid his smile. He'd been counting on that. Hanekawa was the first person in years who could neutralize her legendary bad luck—of course she wouldn't give him up. And beyond that, the boy needed someone like her. Someone strong enough to stand against Danzo. Someone with the prestige of the Senju name.

  "So you'll accept him?" Hiruzen pressed.

  "I didn't say that," Tsunade said stubbornly. "But he's not going to Jiraiya, and he's definitely not going to Root."

  Hiruzen couldn't help but laugh. "You can't have it both ways, Tsunade."

  She glared at him, then turned sharply toward the door. "Damn Danzo."

  "Tsunade?" Hiruzen called after her.

  She paused at the threshold, looking back over her shoulder.

  "Tell Danzo that Hanekawa is my student," she said coldly. "And tell him not to show his face in front of us again."

  She punctuated the statement by slamming her fist against the doorframe.

  The remaining hinge gave way. The door fell.

  Hiruzen's eye twitched. "Please stop destroying my office."

  "Put it on Danzo's tab," Tsunade said without looking back as she left.

  Hiruzen sighed. Tsunade had no money to her name—she'd gambled away her entire fortune years ago. But Danzo could afford it. And more importantly, Tsunade had just made her choice. Hanekawa would be her student. The boy would be protected.

  A moment later, a head popped through the window.

  "What happened?" Jiraiya asked, climbing through with his usual lack of grace. "Did the Hidden Cloud attack?"

  "Nothing so dramatic," Hiruzen replied, surveying the damage. "What do you want?"

  "I'm leaving for a while," Jiraiya said, his tone unusually serious.

  "Another wild goose chase for your Child of Prophecy?"

  "The prophecy is real," Jiraiya insisted. "I can feel it."

  "The village needs you here," Hiruzen said carefully. "Things are unstable."

  "Minato has mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique. He can handle anything that comes up." Jiraiya moved toward the window again, clearly unwilling to be delayed. "I'll have him contact you if anything urgent comes up. I promise I'll return."

  Hiruzen wanted to argue, but he knew it would be pointless. Jiraiya had made up his mind. "Go then. But be careful."

  "Always am," Jiraiya said with a grin. He paused at the window and casually tossed a book onto the desk. "A gift. For your trouble."

  He was gone before Hiruzen could respond, disappearing into the night with characteristic flair.

  Hiruzen picked up the book, reading the title with growing alarm.

  Taimanin.

  He opened it at random and immediately felt his face flush.

  That absolute traitor. Did Jiraiya really think he was that kind of person?

  Hiruzen quickly closed the book and tucked it away in a drawer, coughing to cover his embarrassment. At least no one had seen that.

  He looked around his destroyed office—the broken desk, the missing door, the general chaos—and decided that perhaps it was time for some renovations anyway.