Chapter 195: A Model Konoha Shinobi
Talking about distant and lofty matters—now wasn't the time. Mizuki's schedule was tight, and with Sasuke's issue temporarily handled, the rest could be left to Kakashi. Mizuki had more pressing concerns of his own.
Tomorrow was fast approaching, and there were still plenty of matters to deal with—chief among them, giving Tsunade an explanation about Karin. Mizuki understood that this wasn't really about accountability anymore. So much time had passed and so many things had changed that no one was going to seriously pursue such a trivial matter.
After all, Jiraiya had been gone for years chasing the so-called Child of Prophecy. Asuma had left after falling out with the Third Hokage, becoming a Guardian Ninja on a whim. Compared to them, Mizuki wasn't being particularly rebellious. As a recognized Konoha jonin with a clean record, he wore the "insider" label clearly. The important thing now was to provide a reasonable explanation and silence the rumors.
"Maybe I was too rash back then…" Mizuki couldn't help but regret his actions in the Forest of Death months ago. Aside from clashing briefly with Orochimaru, nothing meaningful had been gained. At the time, his decision to take a manageable risk seemed justified, but looking back now, it had yielded little—other than getting involved with Karin, which had now become a thorny issue.
After parting ways with Kakashi and seeing the time, Mizuki headed straight to the Hokage's office. He knocked on the door—but received no reply.
"This time of day… she should be here."
Mizuki wasn't sure if Hokage took days off—he'd never investigated their schedule. But this seemed like a normal working hour, especially during a busy period.
Just as Mizuki was about to turn and leave, he heard footsteps around the corner. To his surprise, a slightly tipsy Tsunade appeared, cheeks flushed and unsteady from drinking. Behind her followed Shizune, carrying Tonton in her arms and wearing a look of resigned frustration.
"Oh? Mizuki? What brings you here?"
Tsunade, clearly under the influence, noticed Mizuki at the door. Her face was flushed, and her eyes slightly unfocused. She'd clearly had a few drinks.
"I came to submit that report you requested."
The alcohol fumes hit Mizuki like a wave. He began to wonder if he'd chosen the wrong day to come.
"Now? Not the best timing," Tsunade muttered as she pushed open the door and stumbled into her office. Shizune and Mizuki followed.
Sensing something off, Mizuki leaned closer to Shizune and whispered, "What happened to her today?"
"She's in a bad mood," Shizune whispered back. "Things haven't been going smoothly…"
"Things?" Mizuki raised an eyebrow.
"Her recent initiatives are being criticized by the village elders," Shizune explained softly. "Homura and Koharu say she's being reckless…"
"I see," Mizuki nodded. Since Tsunade's return, her proactive diplomacy and external policies had ruffled some feathers. With Danzo operating in the shadows and the elders pushing back, Tsunade was in a tight spot. But…
"She must've anticipated this. Why is she taking it so hard today?"
"There's more," Shizune sighed. "Something happened this morning—some incident involving Orochimaru's whereabouts…"
Before she could finish, Tsunade growled, "Stop gossiping, Shizune!"
"Yes, ma'am…" Shizune responded with an apologetic look toward Mizuki.
Though Mizuki hadn't caught every word, he'd understood enough: they'd probably located one of Orochimaru's bases. Danzo likely advocated a swift, brutal response. The elders wouldn't have been friendly either. Tsunade, caught between her role as Hokage and her past bonds with Orochimaru, was naturally conflicted.
Whatever operation was being planned, Mizuki hadn't been told—meaning it was likely in the hands of the ANBU.
After finally settling into her chair and downing a cup of cold tea, Tsunade took a deep breath and looked more composed. She glanced at Mizuki and said:
"So… you're here to submit a report? I assume that means you've figured out how to spin this?"
That line made Mizuki's face twitch.
"Drunk or not, she didn't need to say the quiet part out loud…"
Dealing with someone tipsy was always tricky—especially when they skipped straight to uncomfortable truths.
With no other option, Mizuki handed over his written report. Tsunade took it and began leafing through it casually. Mizuki waited quietly.
As Tsunade's eyes moved across the pages, her expression remained unreadable. Then, her eyebrows twitched as she reached a certain part, prompting her to flip back to the beginning and read it all over again. Mizuki's heart sank with every page turn. Even Tonton, who usually lightened the mood, remained ominously silent.
Finally, Tsunade put the document down. She rubbed her temples with both hands, then took another gulp of tea. Her right hand began tapping on the desk rhythmically, syncing perfectly with Mizuki's racing heart.
"Mizuki…" Tsunade said at last. "According to this report, I see the story of a selfless Konoha teacher—one who risked his life for the safety of our genin and performed great deeds without expecting praise. A man who became the emotional support of a lonely orphaned girl. Coincidentally, that man's name also happens to be Mizuki. That wouldn't be you, would it?"
"Of course it is." Mizuki smiled awkwardly. "Who else could it be?"
Beneath the flowery language and exaggerated praise, the report was technically accurate—just… framed a bit too favorably. His initial motivations weren't quite so noble, and he hadn't gained much for his trouble. Worse, he'd brought back a headache in the form of Karin. If not for that, he wouldn't be sitting here now trying to justify himself.
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