Naruto: Tango with Death

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I stopped mid drawing, leaving the seal half finished as I looked back at Tsunade and asked, "What was that?"

Tsunade's eyes looked away as she repeated, "Nawaki."

I titled my head, looking back at Shizune, before sighing and finishing the seal with a stroke. She suddenly had a strong spasm, that made the two holding her let go of her, and making her fall to the ground.

"No!"

I ignored Tsunade's cry of anguish and signalled to the two Anbu to retreat, which they did quickly, and walked towards Tsunade as I said, "Listen to me. She is on borrowed time now, I expect her to die within less than half a minute. So now I am going to release you from your seal, allowing you to speak freely."

I placed my palm against her forehead, but before wiping off the seal I added, "Before you try to jump me, can you feel how my palm is imbued with chakra? Please understand that only I can remove my seals, so if you attack me, your disciple dies."

Since she could hardly answer me, I didn't wait for an answer to rub of the blood on her forehead. Her body instantly relaxed as her stiff muscles were allowed to move once again.

I looked down at her and asked, "So, you said Nawaki. Why?"

Tsunade uncomfortably stretched her body, and said, "That man, he is my brother. That's why I couldn't let you kill him. Now, please, take that seal off Shizune!"

I looked into her eyes as she said that, and from what I could tell, she was saying the truth.

Nawaki Senju… if I remember right, he was supposed to be have died during the Second World War, and was part of the reason why Tsunade deserted.

And by supposed, I'm not just talking of the manga world, but even in this world, I remember looking through some of the clans' files, and I believe seeing that Tsunade was the last Senju alive.

So I voiced out my doubt, "Weren't you supposed to be the last Senju?"

But Tsunade only urged me, "Free Shizune!"

I rolled my eyes and replied, "She's fine, I didn't draw the same seal. She's just sleeping."

Tsunade frowned and rushed to Shizune's side. Only after making sure she really was fine did she say, "I too thought he had died. But I found traces of him, and they led me here."

I asked, "You determined he was your brother from a single look, quite some distance away too? Despite many years having passed since you last saw each other?"

Tsunade scrunched her face and replied, "Don't believe me if you want, I already said everything I had to say."

She lifted Shizune, and asked, "Can you wake her up?"

I deactivated the seal with a thought, and said, "You can wipe it off yourself. I lied about that too."

I didn't. If I didn't deactivate it, she wouldn't just be able to wipe off the blood, but I would rather have her believe she could wipe off my seals than not. Number one rule of a Shinobi is not to reveal one's weapons.

Tsunade wiped the blood quickly, and pressed her index and middle finger on Shizune's forehead, applying medical chakra. It didn't even take a couple of seconds for Shizune's eyes to flutter open.

She looked around in confusion, uttering, "Lady Tsunade?"

Tsunade smiled at her and whispered, "You're fine."

Shizune nodded slightly, when she finally spotted me. She started frowning, before saying, "I apologize, Lady Tsunade. I failed you."

Tsunade shook her head and reassured her, "It's fine, she's a monster anyway."

I perked up, "You are still in my house. And this instigator possibly being your brother does not absolve all your crimes."

But just as I said that, Jashin suddenly said, "That man definitely is a Senju."

I perked up at that, but I couldn't exactly have a conversation with Jashin when Tsunade and Shizune were still in front of me.

Tsunade said, "He is my brother! And my nephew, too! Personal feelings aside, you should know the importance of two members of the Senju Clan to Konoha, not to mention two Mokuton users. The odds for the two of them to naturally develop Mokuton are infinitely close to zero, so they may very well have found a way to awaken the Mokuton in anyone of Senju blood."

Well, she's making a point.

"Valuable as the two may be, Nawaki has already fallen too far. He is actively working against Konoha, trying to rip it apart with a rebellion. As for his son, I was already planning on capturing him alive."

Tsunade's expression turned nasty as she sarcastically snickered, "Yes, how did I not think of that. Getting captured by the woman who killed his father, I'm sure he is going to be so happy to join Konoha."

"Your precious nephew has been committing heavy crimes, in case you did not notice. He has been actively working against Konoha, and he will have to answer for those."

Tsunade replied, "All I am asking, is for you to spare them. To let me try talk to them. If you do so, then I shall willingly help you in your investigations. I may have left the village for a while now, I still love it, and don't want it to be destroyed."

I crossed my arms and replied, "The kid is no threat, so sparing him is not a problem. As for Nawaki, he is not any weaker than me, so I will kill him if needed."

Tsunade sighed and replied, "I guess that's the best I could ask for."

I nodded, "It is. You can leave now. But don't get out of Sendai."

Tsunade closed her eyes and asked, "What do you need me for, Lady Shogun?"

I stared at her for a moment, before saying, "Sendai's General Hospital is going to need help in the coming few months. I want you at its head."

Tsunade looked surprised, but I looked away from her, returning to my flowers as I said, "I will handle the necessary paperwork, your job starts tomorrow."

Tsunade didn't say anything, and I heard the two walking away. Looking at a flower that was in the midst of blooming, I sighed and added, "As a sign of goodwill, I won't be posting Anbu around you and your residence. You better not break my trust."

Tsunade stopped, and said, "I don't like you, and you probably don't like me. But thank you. I'll do my best on my part."

I didn't say anything, letting the two walk away.

After a few seconds, one of my servants approached me, and stopped behind me. After a couple of seconds I said, "I meant what I said. Don't follow them. But keep on the lookout for any member of the Akatsuki, as well as the rebels. Also, assist Hideto in his task."

The Anbu didn't reply, but I took it as a silent agreement as he walked off, thus leaving me alone with my thoughts.

"So, Jashin. Care to explain what's the deal with Nawaki?"