73 Burning leaf

Tsunade wasn't liking what she was seeing.

She had been back in Konoha for a few days now, she had come stealthily, because this time around she wasn't visiting Konoha, but the Senju clan.

She wanted this information she needed to remain a secret, lest this man who had helped her so much, a man who resembled her lover Dan dies from an ' accident' too.

" Are you sure? "

Tsunade asked as the cup in her hand was cracking, not even from using her strength of a hundred seal, this was her pure rage induced muscular strength, the body strength of a Senju Uzumaki hybrid.

" Hai Hime, Konoha has gone too far now, that man you asked for is a villager, he is Mizuki Senju, and he is not a traitor! "

* Bang *

Tsunade banged the cup down on the table, as she gritted her teeth hard.

" Explain. "

Itama Senju bowed lightly as he spoke.

" He was in contact with us. "

Taking out a scroll which spoke of their talks, Itama Senju passed it on to Tsunade.

Who was reading it with furrowed brows.

Itama Senju spoke again, Tsunade could multitask like a champ, she can understand what he says even as she reads.

" Our connections in anbu has given us second hand information, but it is valid. "

Shaking his head as his eyes drooped from disappointment, Itama said.

" Mizuki Senju had helped the Mist village end it's bloodiest era, this he did with permission and full assistance from Hokage. "

Laughing a mocking laugh, he spoke in a sarcastic tone.

" But Third once again dug his fangs into his own village, for his twisted peace, he decided to burn the documents signifying Mizuki Senju's innocence. "

Tsunade looked livid as she banged the scroll down and fumed with rage.

" And the old man just decided to declare him as traitor?! He thought this was a good idea?! How did he reach this insane conclusion?!? "

Tsunade got up as she walked right away towards the Hokage office, Itama didn't stop her, if anyone can save their savior, it was Tsunade Senju.

With deep eyes Itama whispered to himself.

" Third might be a traitor Mizuki, but we Senju aren't. "

Heh.

" We will use everything in our power, anything we can do, we Senju will do to save you, until the last man amongst us falls, you shall remain standing. "

This is the glory of our Senju clan, and their weapon of choice was Tsunade Senju.

The Hime.

" Return victorious, Tsunade. "

As it stands, Mizuki Senju was no longer a single individual, he was something akin to an ideal.

Many people's hopes throughout multiple villages were beginning to start concentrating on one Mizuki Senju.

Tsunade didn't hide as she walked straight away towards the Hokage office and tore the door open.

Hiruzen, and the two elders were currently having a discussion about Mist village and subsequent Chunin exams when the door was snapped open from it's hinges.

" You! Tsunade, what are you doing? "

" You still have gall to do this when you are but missing nin in all but name- "

* Bang *

* Bang *

" Gah "

" Aah "

Both elders spat blood as their teeth were detached from their jaws, Tsunade punched them hard enough to knock their teeth out.

" Get out of here, do not make me say it again. "

The elders trembled, both from rage and fear, as they scuttled out of the office silently.

Hiruzen didn't speak, he would never speak against his students, and they didn't have much actual power until Hiruzen supports them.

" Tsunade, they are elders, you were out of line. "

Hiruzen lightly chastised Tsunade, who growled at him.

" Old man, I am not done. "

Not even bothering to sit down, she banged her hands on the table.

" Why did you declare Mizuki Senju a traitor? "

Hiruzen was surprised and then slowly become sad.

Hiruzen hung his head, his own student was questioning him as well, his best student also thought he was wrong.

It's been too long, too long has passed, mistakes upon mistakes, he was burnt out.

Hiruzen sucked on his smoldering pipe, as smoke filled his lungs.

* Puff *

Looking up with slightly wet eyes, he spoke to Tsunade in a sad tone of voice, a voice filled with remorse.

" You must be very disappointed in this old man isn't it Tsunade.. "

Tsunade shook, she was a medical ninja, no, she was the medical ninja, she knew what were real tears and what weren't.

She has never seen her teacher cry before, not when Orochimaru defected, not when Biwako died, and not when Nine tails took lives.

But he was shedding tears now.

" What's the matter sensei. "

Tsunade spoke with a supporting tone of voice, as she sat down.

Hiruzen wiped his tears quickly, as if it was all an illusion, but Tsunade knew her teacher was sad, he was emotionally hollowed.

" Tsunade, believe this old man, before dying, my only wish was to pass my position onto Mizuki Senju. This was the opportunity fate had given me. "

Shaking his head, Hiruzen smiled a sad smile.

" But I couldn't even protect him, I promised him, but I cannot protect him.. I cannot.. I am too old. "

Removing his Hokage hat from the drawer, he kept it on the table infront of Tsunade, as he pushed it towards her.

In Tsunade's wide eyes, Hiruzen spoke with determination slowly filling his voice.

" Take the position Tsunade. "

Slowly removing his robe Hiruzen was starting to release his aura, the aura of a Ninja who lived through three ninja wars.

" Thank you for coming Tsunade, I see it now, it's not Mizuki Senju who is a traitor. "

Giving a smile, he reached for the armour worn underneath his robes, Hiruzen spoke slowly, as he loosened his armour.

" It's me who is the traitor.. I am Konoha's sinner. "

* Bang *

The armour fell down as Hiruzen's old, weak body came before Tsunade.

" I have done too much, it's been too long, I cannot go on anymore.. I am at my limit Tsunade. "

Taking out a kunai, Third looked at his proud disciple one last time.

Tsunade's eyes widened as Third took the kunai.

* Stab *

And plunged it into his heart.

" Sensei! No! "

Tsunade as fast as possible reached towards the Hokage as he fell backwards, smiling as his mouth bled, Hiruzen spoke his last words, as Hokage, he decided to take a decision he wanted to take.

Not for the greater good, but for his own sake, for his student's sake, for Mizuki's sake.

" Tsunade, declare me a traitor, take the office with this merit, you have caught the old man in behaviour harmful to Konoha. "

Smiling a weak smile Hiruzen pointed his hand towards a drawer.

" I didn't destroy Mizuki's records.. haha, I kept them hidden from Dazno.. it's there, please see.. "

* Cough *

" Please see, the child lives.. he's.. a good.. child."

Hiruzen's hand fell as did Tsunade's tears.

" No Sensei! Stay with me! "

" Sensei! "