Fortune's Favor
Farli
Lips pursed into a thin line as the Godaime set aside her pen, dutifully
ignoring a strip of paper stained with soy sauce and chicken juice visible
amongst the clutter on her desk.
'May your life be
interesting.'
When the scribe responsible for such an insipid curse
(implanted within such a deceptively sweet fortune cookie) was found there would
be Hell to pay. That much, at least, she was sure of.
Of course, knowing
her regrettably infamous luck, Jiraiya would probably prove to be the mystery
writer behind the damned thing, but at least she'd have yet another excuse to
drown the sennin in his precious bathhouse..
Steepling her fingers, thin
brows were drawn further into a frown as Tsunade regarded the small, somewhat
defiant figure seated across from her.
Stupid little words. Stupidly
potent little words.
As much as she often wished she could escape her
office, or at least get to enjoy the sight of clouds rolling by from her window,
the role of Godaime Hokage meant that the never-ending stream of work was
priority. And slacking off would only lead to Shizune threatening to beat her
with origami pigs again. For all she knew, her poison-specialist apprentice
would make dealing with excessive scented paper cuts a far greater annoyance
than her current mountain of work spilling off the desk in all
directions..
Work. Dealing.
Right.
Narrowing brown eyes at
the youngster resolutely refusing to squirm under the hardened gaze of the
Legendary Sannin, Tsunade withheld a sigh as pale eyes merely stared steadily
forwards, fixed on the diadem dead centre on the Hokage's forehead. "I believe
it goes without say that I, and Iruka-sensei, are very disappointed in you."
Leaning back in her chair, the creak that accompanied it was quite ominous,
underscoring the darkened tone of the blonde's voice.
The child's
features remained unreadable and aloof, pose stiffening instead. Tsunade needed
no genetically enhanced sight to see that her visitor was more than a little
fearful, in spite of the inherent superiority complex lurking beneath the mask
of disinterest. The eyes revealed nothing.
In her mind's eye, Tsunade saw
herself as she was barely fifty years prior, positioned where the recalcitrant
student of the Now sat. She, gurgling in childish glee at the dark haired figure
who began the Hokage legacy; She, reaching for the ash-blonde grand-uncle with
chubby child hands. She, fourty years ago, huffing in defiance as two thirds of
her genin team were hauled before Sarutobi-sensei, temper disguising dismay at
being subjected to his disapproval. To his disappointment.
Remembered the
punishment for putting the newly-built Ichiraku ramen shop's equipment to use in
ways quite unrelated to food preparation and consumption..
"While I would
certainly expect such a thing from the likes of Konohamaru, I would have thought
that you would have known better." No toe scufflings against thick carpet. No
sinking into her chair. One might almost think her innocent.. No. Merely
defiant, even in the face of multiple eyewitness accounts marking her as one of
the mischief makers that had severely disrupted the taijutsu class.
Quite
a feat for someone coated from head to toe in magenta paint.
"Your father
will not be pleased." The stress placed on the mention of said parent brought
about a blink, followed by a slight clench of fingers, the first true sign of
nerves she'd seen yet from the child. Ahhh yes. She herself knew that feeling
all too well. But it would do her authority no good to allow the youngster to
recognise even the vaguest of sympathy. "Rest assured, I've no doubt he will
find the punishment I have in mind for you suitable."
The lack of
enthusiasm, or any further reaction, was heart warming.
Rewrapping the
scroll she'd completed making notes in, the Godaime set it with a sharp click in
the sole empty space on the desk before the former brunette. Thank goodness the
bright purple paint had dried, otherwise getting it out of the carpeting would
result in as big a cleaning bill as bloodstains might. Although Tsuande did not
envy the kid having to wash all that hair.
"Those are instructions for
your sensei, outlining the full details of your punishment. You will wait
outside until Iruka returns for you and Konohamaru." The spasm-like twitch of
her brow at the mention of that brat's name earned a proper smirk.
"Dismissed."
"...Hai, Godaime-sama," murmured the girl, slipping off her
chair to offer a bow as manners dictated, before taking the scroll as she
straightened and moving to open the door without a backwards glance. The sound
and sight of a sulking goggle-boy was briefly visible beyond the confines of her
office.
Click. The door cut off her view of said boy's scowl, no doubt
earning him an answering look of disdain. Tsunade heaved a sigh, kneading her
left temple, ignoring the faint babble of voices rising from beyond solid oak.
Who'd have thought an argument over pocky --pocky!-- of all things would lead to
a clash between Sandaime's grandson and the favoured heir-apparent of the Hyuuga
clan?
From what the ANBU had been able to confirm, (the voices beyond the
door were rising in pitch - or at least one of them was,) their 'little'
skirmish had resulted in more property damage to the Academy in the space of an
hour than Naruto had ever managed in an entire year. (Whatever the response had
been, the shrill tone that answered it implied that at least one of the speakers
was greatly displeased.) And that was certainly saying something, if the old
reports her predecessor used to get were anything to go by.. Well, no doubt the
punishment she'd assigned would keep them too busy to bicke--
CRASH. From
beyond her room, a childish roar was followed by the abrupt squeal of a
pig.
The Godaime's left eye began twitching furiously.
'May your
life be interesting.'
OH yes, Tsunade thought grimly as she rose from her
chair, knuckles cracking audibly. She was about to make their lives VERY
interesting indeed!
--END--
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