Tsunade and the Hokage (1)

/Hokage's office/

/Tsunade's POV/

"I'm glad you made it to the village safely Tsunade." Hiruzen told me (the 3rd Hokage)

"Yeah yeah, why don't you tell me what you really want to say?" I said frustrated

"Why can I not just be worried about my student?" He told me with a wry smile

"Because I've been gone for about a decade. I only came back to the village because of Zasu. Plus, he's the real reason you 'requested' me to come back to the village." I said bluntly

"Well he's not something I can ignore Tsunade. From what you wrote, and what Jiraiya has seen, the boy is a prodigy." Hiruzen said "he wasn't born in the village, he has spent most of his life trapped in a casino. With the only outside experience he has was spent with you."

Hiruzen looked at me before continuing "it's better that he spends the remainder of his youth with peers his age too better inherit the will of fire."

"So this has nothing to do with his 'body'?" I asked the old man knowing full well what he was trying to convey.

"Tsunade, he is too important to the village to not cultivate loyalty from him. If anything were to happen while you were outside the village, and he is captured by another village. We can't afford to have a potential enemy clan with bodies equivalent to the first hokage running around. That's not even including his dojutsu, and from what Jiraiya has told me, he possesses something 'more'. Yet he told me you'd explain the details." The old man said with a serious expression

My face turned dark as I told him angrily "He would never betray the village! He is too close to me and Shizune! We are his family!"

"I understand that Tsunade, but I can not 'trust' that he will always be loyal to the village." He said before a bit of sadness entered his eyes "Look at what happened with Orochimaru."

"He is not Orochimaru!" I said "If he even shows a bit of betrayal to the village I'll kill him myself before committing suicide!"

"Why go so far for a boy you only met 2 years ago?" He said in surprise

"His aura is the same as my grandfather." I said in a serious expression "he's my family."

I saw the old man's face soften before he stood up and walked to look out the window.

"Well for now, we cultivate his loyalty to the village by letting the boy interact with his fellow ninjas. I'm sure you've read the last letter I sent you? The Hyuga have agreed to the marriage." He said while still looking out the window "this is a 'tie' created by us so he will need another. One that he creates on his own, which is why he will participate in the exams."

"Although he is young, and has only been a genin for 6 months. I believe he is already capable to become a chunin. He may need to experience a bit of teamwork with others besides Shizune, but from what I've seen he should be ready." I said with a proud look

"Yes Jiraiya has informed me about the 'assassination' attempts on your life." He said while looking at me skeptical

"Yes those 'assassins' were dealt with by Zasu and Shizune." I said with a wry smile "he has already killed over 20 genin and 3 chunin level opponents."

"I wonder how many prodigies I will see in my lifetime?" He asked while contemplating something "tell me, what was the other important factor about the boy that Jiraiya mentioned?"

"What I'm about to say is sensitive, send your Anbu out." I looked at my former sensei and expressed seriously

"Is it really that important?" Hiruzen asked surprised

"Yes." I replied without hesitation

He thought for a bit before telling his anbu to leave the room.

Now alone Hiruzen looked at me "well we are alone now so go ahead."

I looked at him for a few seconds before my expression turned serious. "first I need you to promise me the elders will not interfere in Zasu's affairs, especially that Danzo. If you agree to that, and I find out they are plotting something anyways, I'll kill them regardless of any evidence."

The old man looked at me deeply before sighing "you have my word they will not interfere with the boy's affairs. I'll keep an eye out on Danzo myself."

Sighing myself, I adjusted my posture before telling the old man "apart from his dojutsu he possesses a bloodline selection."

"What!" He shouted in surprise "two bloodlines! So it is possible." He thought deeply "I've never thought I'd be alive to see it. And a bloodline selection on top of that! The same as the Tsuchikage."

Tsunade looked at her former sensei contemplating, before his expression turned serious.

"Tsunade he is too important for the village, I will meet the boy after the chunin exams. I'll allow him to have access to any non forbidden jutsu available. He may reach heights even higher than the first Hokage! If that's the case the village will be protected for another few decades!" Hiruzen explained excitedly

"Old man… I know you mentioned the possibility, but your not planning to do what I think you are?" I asked worriedly

"The chunin exam will be perfect to evaluate his character. If positive, I plan to unofficially Groom him to be the next Hokage, it'll only be official once I see that he has enough 'ties' to the village." The old man said while looking out the window toward the monument of the past and current Hokage's.

"You can't force him." I said sternly "the position is nothing but a burden!"

"I know. As long as he has ties to the village and is willing to protect it I'll be happy, wether he wants to inherit the position in the future is up to the boy." He said while smiling softly

"Though I'll have to speak to Hiashi about this manner as soon as possible." He sighed

"Why would you need to speak to him again, isn't the marriage already set in stone?" I asked confused

"It is, but with the revelation you just gave me, I'll have to adjust it a bit. Initially The boy Zasu and Hiashi's eldest daughter Hinata Hyuga were arranged to be married at the age of 16." He said explaining the details of the arrangement "It seems though, we will have to bring the marriage forward in order to 'tie' him to the village sooner. His importance to the future of the leaf village is now bigger than ever. Tell me, did you tell the boy yet?"

I looked down with a worried expression "I… I have not yet… I was planning to tell him when i arrived back to the compound."

"Will it be a problem?" He asked me with a stern expression

"Well He's a bit of a pervert…." I said wryly "he should understand though, he's very intelligent for his age. He may be upset at me for a few days but I'm sure I can make it up to him in the future."

"Hahaha!" Hiruzen started laughing "a bit of a pervert huh? That's a good thing! Well as long as it's in my power, tell me if you need anything regarding the boy."

"I hold you up to that!" I said with a wide grin regaining my confidence 'I'm sure I'll be able to make it up to Zasu.' I thought