Chapter 9
The three created a campsite, with Hiruzen stepping away in what Danzo could assume was his own guilt, while Tsunade simply looked at the flames in the campfire.
'Is this what you wanted, Grandfather? For everything I love to be incinerated by the flames that you created?' Tsunade thought to herself as she looked at the fire.
She was a broken woman.
She was a tired woman.
She was tired of all of the loss she faced. She didn't have anyone that she could depend on. All she could do when she was younger was attempt to keep putting on a strong face through her pain.
She still could remember the sad and heartbroken face that her Grandmother had when the message that both her Father and Mother had been killed during the First Great Ninja War. The woman had just faced the death of her husband before the war, and now her daughter passed as well.
At that time, Tsunade didn't quite understand, yet she continued pushing forward, even as a child. It was all that she could do in a situation such as that one.
Then her Uncle Tobirama died. She remembered the tears that she shed at his funeral, as the entire Village attended and she saw everyone feel the same way as her.
That was when she decided to become a Medical Ninja. So she could save everyone and prevent them from crying those tears anymore.
Tsunade nearly scoffed at the memory, she continued her thoughts as she remembered her younger brother being killed in the Second Great Ninja War. She always attributed his death to be what led to her Grandmother's decline in health, as the Fox had never been an issue and with her strength, containing the Fox should have been as easy as breathing.
Her Grandmother then joined her brother, with her transferring the Fox to her cousin, a young Uzumaki who the Patriarch sent away once he felt the turmoil in the world. And thankfully he did, as now the Uzumaki barely exist.
She took care of the girl the best she could, while also continuing to take care of Shinobi, with her shining on the battlefield as she was akin to a 'God Doctor.'
She saved any and all Shinobi who came to her, with her then attempting to expand her ideas even further in the hope to make her naive idea possible.
But, the upper echelon of Konoha refused to allow it, stating that the resources needed for her program would be too much for them to bear and that it would have to on hold until the future.
Tsunade felt that she had failed, and it was this vulnerability that led to the greatest weakness that she had ever faced: Love.
Meeting Dan was both a blessing and a curse, yet now it continues to be more of the latter than the former.
The bastard gave his life to Konoha, with her being told that he was nearly dead while she was on the battlefield, and his death already being guaranteed by the time she made it to the scene.
It was this that made her wish to abandon Konoha for good, as she always felt that if she had trained more elite Medical Ninja like herself, Dan could have survived until she got there.
And so, faced with so much loss, she left, as there was little left in Konoha for her.
Orochimaru was determined to become the Hokage, and Jiraiya left to take care of orphans in the Land of Rain.
So, she took Shizune out of the Academy as her next of kin and departed the Village, never returning until she had to bury the girl that she made follow her.
Tsunade could only glance over at the dead body, with her finally coming to the realization that her hemaphobia was no longer flaring up.
'Does it even matter anymore?' Tsunade questioned herself, with her then noticing that Danzo's sole eye remained on her.
"What? Do you find it funny to see this weak woman crying?" Tsunade asked rhetorically, the smile on her face being one force and her eyes remaining hollow.
"I see the Granddaughter of my Sensei, not a weak woman. And I would never find the suffering of a Konoha Shinobi amusing. I am truly sorry for your pain, Tsunade." Danzo spoke, his voice not possessing the cold nature that it was famous for.
Danzo, usually stern and detached, thought deeply about his words before he spoke. He had always been a figure of authority and calculation that remained in the shadows to everyone, but tonight, he saw Tsunade not as a fellow shinobi, but as a woman broken by grief.
"Tsunade," Danzo began, his voice unusually soft. "I know words can offer little solace, but I want you to know that you are not alone in your suffering."
Tsunade didn't look up, her eyes still fixed on the dancing flames. She seemed to be able to see everyone she loved burning in the flames. "It's not just Shizune, Danzo. It's everyone. My grandfather, my grandmother, my little brother, Dan... and now Shizune. It's like everyone I care about is taken away from me. They all gave their lives for the Village. Yet, why did they have to leave me? Why couldn't the world take me?"
Danzo sighed, his gaze shifting to the fire. "The life of a shinobi is fraught with loss and pain. We are all too familiar with it. But you, Tsunade, have borne more than your fair share. I also lost the love of my life in this cruel fate that we call being a Shinobi, but we can not allow this to stop us."
Tsunade's hands clenched into fists as she looked at Danzo. "I should have been able to save them. I'm supposed to be a healer, a protector... and I failed them."
"No," Danzo said firmly, his tone brooking no argument. "You did everything in your power to protect them. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we cannot change the course of fate. It is not your fault."
Tsunade finally looked up at the stars, her eyes glistening with tears that she did not wish to fall. "It doesn't make the pain any less, Danzo. It doesn't bring them back."
Danzo reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. It was a rare gesture of comfort from the man known for his harsh demeanor. "No, it doesn't. But what we can do is honor their memory by continuing to fight, by protecting those who are still with us. Shizune, Nawaki, Dan... they would not want you to lose yourself in grief. They would want you to keep moving forward."
Tsunade's tears fell freely now, but she didn't look away. "I don't know if I can, Danzo. I don't know if I have the strength anymore."
"You have more strength than you realize," Danzo said gently. "You are one of the Sannin, a woman of incredible power and resilience. You are a student of the Third Hokage, the Grandaughter of the First Hokage, and the niece of the Second Hokage. You are the closest thing Hiruzen has to a daughter, and the closest that I have to a niece. You've faced unimaginable pain and yet, you continue to stand. That is true strength."
Tsunade took a shaky breath, her heart heavy with the weight of her sorrow. "I just... I miss them so much."
"I know," Danzo said quietly. "But you are not alone. Hiruzen, the village, even... I... we are here for you. We will help you carry this burden."
Tsunade simply stared at the stars, with Danzo then walking in the direction of his old friend, with him sitting on a tree and staring at the sky as well.
"It's my fault," Hiruzen murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I should have never let her go. Tsunade... she is like a daughter to me. I failed her. It could be my fault that Shizune is gone."
Danzo walked beside his old friend, gazing towards the heavens alongside him.
"Hiruzen," Danzo began, "you cannot bear this burden alone. Tsunade made her own choices. She was strong-willed, just like her grandfather. You couldn't have stopped her, even if you tried."
Hiruzen turned to face his old comrade, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "But I should have done more. I should have seen the pain she was in, the anger she carried. Maybe then she wouldn't go through such pain again..."
Danzo placed a firm hand on Hiruzen's shoulder, a rare gesture by him. "You did everything you could as her mentor and as the Hokage. There are forces at play that none of us can control. Her fate was not yours to decide."
For a moment, the two old warriors stood in silence, the forest around them seeming to hold its breath. The bond between them, forged in the crucible of war and the struggles of leadership, was a silent testament to their shared history. The small gap that had existed between the two closed, with them both simply watching the heavens above while knowing that their brother was beside them.
~
Inside of the the Akatsuki Cave, Obito, Pain, and Konan looked at each other, with Konan and Nagato being slightly angry at Obito.
"What made you decide to retreat so early, Madara? The goal was originally to kidnap Tsunade, right? The deal was for her to heal Pain with the threat of killing her apprentice." Konan questioned while staring at Obito, with no fear being in her mind.
"The situation grew dangerous. The Third Hokage and Danzo both were on their way to the location, and I could no longer hold them off. I'm afraid that the window of opportunity had closed. I'm sure that is why Nagato chose to kill the girl. And watch your tone with me, child." Obito said before he disappeared, with Konan simply giving a sigh to show her frustration.
"I'm fine, Konan. Don't worry about me." Nagato said through Pain, with Konan nodding at him before leaving.
Pain simply stared at the place where 'Madara' disappeared, with him then leaving as well.
~
"Did you tell them what the actual goal was?" Black Zetsu asked.
"Of course not. Pawns have no need to know what the player is thinking. Though it's a shame that we were unable to kill the Slug Sannin. I underestimated how powerful she was. But this should deter Konohagakure for a while. But perhaps we should deal another bit of damage to their Village. That other plan should be ready to be implemented." Obito states, with his figure teleporting as another of his plans were about to be set into motion, one that had deep consequences.
~
The group of Tsunade, Hiruzen, and Danzo made it back to the Village, and the arrangements for Shizune's funeral came swiftly.
In just two days, the funeral was prepared and the girl would be laid to rest.
~
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over the village of Konoha. At the heart of the village, in a clearing surrounded by ancient trees, a funeral ceremony was being held once again.
A simple, yet elegant, wooden casket rested on a raised platform adorned with white flowers and incense. The fragrance of the blossoms mixed with the smoky scent of burning incense, creating a bittersweet aroma that lingered in the air. The villagers, shinobi, and friends of Shizune stood in a semicircle around the platform, their heads bowed in silent mourning.
Tsunade stood at the forefront, her face a mask of controlled grief. She had lost her daughter, the last piece of family that she had left in the world. Her hands, usually so steady, trembled slightly as she held a framed photograph of Shizune, capturing her warm smile and kind eyes.
Minato stepped forward to address the gathered crowd. His voice, though soft, carried the weight of the collective sorrow. "Today, we gather to honor the life of Shizune, a dedicated shinobi, a skilled medic, and a cherished friend. Her loyalty, compassion, and unwavering commitment to Konoha will never be forgotten."
After Minato's words, Tsunade stepped forward, her gaze lingering on the casket. "Shizune was more than an assistant to me," she began, her voice thick with emotion. "She was family. She stood by me through the darkest times and celebrated with me during the brightest. Her strength and compassion were unmatched. Today, we say goodbye to a part of our hearts, but her spirit will live on in each of us."
Tears welled in Tsunade's eyes, but she held them back, drawing strength from the memories of her dear daughter. She placed the photograph gently on the casket and whispered a final farewell.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the clearing, the villagers at the funeral lit lanterns, their soft glow illuminating the evening sky. Each lantern was a symbol of a memory, a way to honor Shizune's life and legacy. The lanterns were released, floating gently upwards, carrying the collective grief and love of the village towards the heavens.