Chapter Text
News spread of the destruction that hit Konoha on the night of October 10th. Whispers spread about from the tongues of nearby villages. They spoke of the terrifying noises both humans and beast made, screams one minute then a sudden earth-shattering boom the next. Rumors spread like wildfire until they reached the ends of the five nations.
“Hey, did’ya hear?!” A merchant whisper-yells to his buddy, “Apparently the Yondaime and his wife were killed after that monster attacked! Can you believe it?” From a distance, a woman sitting at a bar chugged her sake like water.
“That’s unbelievable…Who do you think is going to take over now? This can’t be good, especially considering the tension between Konoha and Suna. You know, this would be a perfect time to attack…” he whispers the last bit. “Well, I heard from my sister’s husband’s best friend who often travels near Konoha that the Sandaime will take the hat back.”
With a loud bang, the woman slams her cup down on the tabletop. The room grows silent and all eyes turn to her. The man tending the bar looks rather nervous, eyeing the woman like a ticking explosive.
They all nearly flinch when the woman smirks with a vicious gleam in her eyes, glaring at nothing in particular.
“So you’re back at it, eh?”
Years passed since the attack. She heard whispers of Konoha’s gradual development. They had made great progress, she had no doubt the village would be restored to its former glory in a couple of years.
It’s not as if she cared, though. She’s spent nearly a decade and a half away from that hellhole and life has never been easier. Keeping tabs on the village was impossible to avoid, even this far out. It wasn’t a willing topic to discuss.
…
“Oi, woman. Are you gonna go or not?” she was snapped out of her thoughts by a round, short, and chubby man. He had brown hair and eyes too small for his face. His lips were twisted into a crazed and wild grin. It didn’t help that she was noticeably drunk, as his posture grew lax and his smirk a little close to egotistical.
She smirks, “Just thinking of a way to beat your sorry ass.” Behind her was a younger woman with short brown hair wearing a black kimono. The woman signed, already preparing herself for a total one hundred percent complete loss.
She closes her eyes and listens to the chaos unfold.
"Ha! You really do deserve the title of Legendary Sucker! I mean seriously, you’re complete sh*t at this whole thing." The man laughed, collecting the money Tsunade had prepared in a case.
"The hell did you just say?! Fine! You're going to regret ever saying that to my face, you damn pig!" She takes out more money from a scroll which carries all of her money, and slams it hard on the table, almost snapping it in half.
The pig's eyes practically glittered with glee.
The young woman could practically feel her soul crack like porcelain. “Tsunade-hime! Please…” said the woman nearly smirking. “Don’t try and stop me, Shizune. Do you really have so little faith in me?”
As expected, the night grew along with her debt.
Konoha was in shambles despite the rumors saying otherwise. Tension between the Uchiha clan and the village became thick enough to slice. Eyes with barely concealed distrust and fear followed the Uchiha like a plague as it was made known that not even the village council trusted them.
The Uchiha felt it was time to do something about it.
If there is one thing Tsunade was sure of, the world is not a kind place. It’s cruel and it takes many forms. Most of the time the evil shapes itself into the form of humans, wearing their skin-like costumes and parading around with smiles, waiting for the right moment to ruin someone's life.
Many times, she believes this evil follows her. She thinks she must have committed some universal sin to have these evil beings take everything from her and those associated with her.
That’s why she had to send him away. Her sweet darling child with eyes the color of warm honey and a soul even sweeter. Out of everything she’s ever done, she never once regretted bringing him into this world. Keeping him was the most insane sane decision she’d made.
Sending him away was unexpected, heartbreaking even, but entirely necessary for his safety. Her life was dangerous, and should it be known that she has a kid…She never finished that thought. She left towards the country of earth, careful of avoiding the main routes leading towards anything populated.
She traveled miles and miles to an old friend of hers who she met on a mission when she was a genin. At the time, he was training to become a monk so he could eventually take over in his father's stead. He had helped her team when they got lost, and treated them with such hospitality she thought he was trying to poison them all.
His kindness never once changed. When she came knocking on his temple, he had gladly let her in. She refused, saying it was best for the child and his future.
"Then...Is there anything I can get you for your travels?" Heiwa-San had asked, tightly holding on to her son, who was only three years old. "Please, at least let me get you some food." She shakes heer head to refuse.
“Thank you, Heiwa-san. You’re doing more than enough for me, and I cannot thank you enough. Until he is older, please keep his identity a secret. That’s all I ask of you.”
Heiwa-san nods, "I promise, Sasuke is safe with me. Once the war is over, return safely. Children shouldn't be without their mother for so long." He had said with his usual kind smile.
“It’s about time, isn’t it?” Shizune smiles. Turning away from her folding, she tilts her head toward Tsunade, who looks rather bleak. “What’s wrong, Tsunade-hime?”
The woman in question sighs, shoulders slumping under an invisible yet present weight. “It’s been two years since I’ve last seen him. I barely visited him, who knows if he’s going to resent me.” Her boy should be seven years old now. She often wondered what her little monk was up to during their time spent apart from each other.
“He’ll be glad to see you again, Tsunade-hime.” Shizune goes to stand next to her mother figure. “Don’t you remember the last time we visited? I don’t think I’ve ever seen an Uchiha so happy.” She laughs, forcing a smile from Tsunade.
In all seriousness, Tsunade has been worried about something. She knows she's not the greatest mother, she hardly does anything to make it so. What if Sasuke hates her? Has their time apart created a rift within their relationship?
“Sasuke will forgive you.” Shizune breaks the silence as if she were reading her mind. “Maybe not at first, but he will as long as you show him it’s worth it. Prove you’re worth forgiving, Tsunade-hime.”
Tsunade barks out a laugh, stunned and unsurprised. “You’ve been keeping that in all this time, Shizune? I’m amazed.” She shakes her head. “You’re right. Thank you, that’s exactly what I needed to hear.”
That night, Tsunade makes a vow to her son and herself. She’ll do better.
For both of them.
Traveling through mountains, valleys, storms, and heat, the pair arrive at their destination. A hidden path marked by a single tanuki statue leads the way through a secluded mountain, one that isn't so large.
Up and around, the air turns crisp and fresh. The trees grow a darker green and streams become more apparent. Animals scurry about freely without fear of being hunted.
It's the safest Tsunade's felt in many years. The thought brings a smile to her face.
Sasuke was just fine.
Ahead of them is a stark red torii gate with two statues at each post. A single man stands in front of the gate, with a boy no longer three, five, or six.
The child in her friend's arms turns to regard her with a curious face. He squints his eyes over the distance and for a moment—just a single moment, Tsunade's fears come true.
'Perhaps he doesn't recognize me' or, 'What if he hates me?'
Just before her heart stops, her child shrieks. She sees tears flow down his not-so-round cheeks as he cries-
"Okaa-san..!"
'Yes, things will be alright.' She thinks as she crouches down to hug her child.
