The Hokage's office, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, held an air of quiet intensity. Tsunade, her emerald eyes sharp and focused, leaned across her desk, her gaze fixed on Sasuke Uchiha. The air was thick with unspoken questions, the silence punctuated only by the gentle rustling of papers on Shizune's nearby desk.
"Sasuke," Tsunade began, her voice low and measured, "your chakra… it possesses an unusual potency. A resonance, a distinct quality I have rarely encountered."
Sasuke, his expression composed, met her gaze, his dark eyes reflecting the fading light. 'What is she getting at?' he thought, his mind racing. 'Does it have something to do with me being current Reincarnation of Indra?'
'No, otherwise she has ask this to Naruto in original anime as well, he is also current Reincarnation of Asura, but I don't remember any this conversation between them.'
"What do you mean, Tsunade-sama?" he asked, his voice calm and controlled.
"It's a subtle thing," Tsunade continued, her brow furrowed slightly, "but it's there. A natural energy potency, almost as if your chakra is… infused with it. Even my own Senju bloodline, or the Uzumaki clan, known for their vast and pure chakra reserves, do not exhibit this specific resonance."
She paused, her gaze intense. "The only clan I've ever heard of possessing a similar trait is the extinct Tenbin clan, those who could naturally absorb natural energy without any training."
Sasuke's mind raced. 'The Tenbin clan… Jugo's clan,' he thought, the pieces falling into place. 'And Orochimaru used his bodily fluids for the curse mark…'
He remembered the system, and how it had given him complete control over the seal, eliminating Orochimaru's lingering influence. 'Could it be…'
He raised a hand, pointing towards his neck, where the faint markings of the curse mark lay hidden beneath his collar. "This mark," he said, his voice low, "could it be the cause?"
Tsunade's gaze followed his gesture, her expression thoughtful. She shook her head slowly. "If that were the case," she said, her voice laced with logic, "Anko Mitarashi would also exhibit this potency. But she does not."
A moment of silence stretched between them, the weight of the unanswered question hanging heavy in the air. Tsunade sighed, her gaze softening slightly.
"It is a mystery," she admitted, her voice laced with a hint of resignation. "Perhaps you simply possess a very high natural talent for Sage Arts, an innate affinity for Senjutsu."
She leaned forward, her expression earnest. "Regardless of the cause, you should consider learning Senjutsu, Sasuke. It would prove invaluable in the battles to come."
She paused, offering a rare, almost gentle smile. "If you decide to pursue it, I can arrange for Katsuyu to instruct you, or perhaps Jiraiya when he returns."
Sasuke, his expression composed, felt a genuine warmth spread through his chest. "Thank you, Tsunade-sama," he said, his voice sincere. "I will ask you when I wish to learn it."
Tsunade nodded, her gaze softening. "Very well," she said. "You are dismissed."
____
Sasuke stepped out of the Hokage building, the cool evening air a welcome contrast to the warmth of the office. A small crowd had gathered, their faces lit by the flickering lanterns that lined the street. Naruto Uzumaki, his face beaming, was the first to approach.
"Sasuke!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. "What did Tsunade-baachan want?"
Sakura Haruno, her cheeks flushed, stood beside Naruto, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Yeah, what did she say?" she asked, her voice soft.
Sasuke offered a vague response, his expression neutral. "She was discussing some… something how I should focus on my Sharingan more," he said, his voice calm.
Naruto shrugged, his enthusiasm undeterred. "Whatever," he said. "The important thing is we're all here!"
Neji Hyuga, his expression composed, stepped forward. "Since we three have been promoted to Chunin," he said, his voice calm, "I believe it is my duty to treat everyone to dinner."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "I will be the one to treat," he countered, his voice firm.
Rock Lee, his face beaming, clapped his hands together. "Why not combine our budgets?" he suggested, his voice enthusiastic.
"We can have a grand celebration!"
The group murmured in agreement, the idea of a shared feast appealing to their camaraderie.
They decide to includes Ino Yamanaka, Choji Akimichi, Shikamaru Nara, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, Hinata Hyuga, Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi to tell for joined the gathering, their faces lit with anticipation.
"Let's go to that barbecue restaurant near the market!" Naruto exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. "They have the best meat!"
The group, a mix of shinobi and friends, began to move towards the restaurant, their laughter and chatter filling the evening air. Naruto and Lee, their enthusiasm boundless, raced ahead, eager to secure a large table for their celebration.
____
Evening of the same Day
In the Hokage's office, the atmosphere was tense. Shikaku Nara, his expression grave, stood before Tsunade, a scroll clutched in his hand. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows across the room, illuminating the lines of weariness etched on Shikaku's face.
"Hokage-sama," Shikaku began, his voice low and respectful, "I have received another letter from Sunagakure."
He unfurled the scroll, his gaze fixed on Tsunade. "They reiterate their desire to send a delegation to Konoha, to discuss the possibility of re-establishing our alliance."
Tsunade's expression hardened, her emerald eyes flashing with a hint of frustration. "This is their tenth request," she murmured, her voice laced with irritation. "They are persistent, I'll give them that."
She rose from her desk, her gaze fixed on the scroll. "They seem to forget," she said, her voice sharp, "that they aided Orochimaru in his attack on Konoha. The scars of that betrayal run deep."
She turned to Shikaku, her expression resolute. "Reject their request," she instructed, her voice firm. "As we have done with all the others."
Shikaku hesitated, his expression thoughtful. "Hokage-sama," he began, his voice laced with caution, "perhaps we should consider—"
He paused, his gaze meeting Tsunade's. The unspoken warning in her eyes silenced him. He bowed his head slightly. "As you wish, Hokage-sama," he said, his voice calm. "I will inform them of your decision."
He turned and left the office, the sound of his footsteps echoing through the quiet hallway. Tsunade stood at the window, her gaze fixed on the lights of the village below.
The weight of her decisions, the burden of leadership, pressed heavily upon her shoulders. The delicate balance of diplomacy and distrust, the lingering shadows of the past, all weighed heavily on her mind.