Hokage Office.
"Third Hokage-sama, I want to go to the battlefield!"
Kushina stood straight, her voice carrying urgency and determination. She mimicked Kakashi almost perfectly, even the respectful tone sounding deliberate, as if she had practiced it several times beforehand.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nearly dropped the pipe in his hand.
If he had not used the Telescope Technique earlier to observe Kakashi applying for early graduation, he might have actually believed Kushina's emotional display. The tears in her eyes looked convincing enough.
"Ahem…" Hiruzen cleared his throat, regaining composure. "The battlefield is extremely dangerous. It is better for you to remain in the Village. By the way… have you completed the task Hayashi assigned to you?"
Kushina froze for a brief moment.
Hiruzen had used the exact same reasoning she used against Kakashi earlier. Her expression immediately changed. The act disappeared, replaced by a sharp glare directed at the old man.
The task Hayashi gave her was simple in words but difficult in practice, mastering control over the Six-Tails' chakra within her. However, the tailed beast inside her was unpredictable, sometimes cooperative and sometimes stubborn, with a terrible temper.
"Just answer me clearly, will you let me go or not?" Kushina snapped, her hands on her hips, looking ready to grab his beard if he refused again.
Hiruzen chuckled lightly.
He no longer took such threats seriously. When Kushina was younger, she might have actually done it. Now, it was all talk. She had grown up, after all. Looking at her now, he could not help but feel a sense of pride, almost like a father watching his daughter.
That was also why he never bothered correcting the rumors in the Village that Kushina was his illegitimate child.
But even so, letting her go to the battlefield was out of the question.
Still, he had no intention of taking the blame directly.
"How about this," Hiruzen said, stroking his chin, "go ask Tsunade. If she agrees, then I will allow it."
In his mind, Tsunade was reliable in almost every aspect except her gambling habits. She was level-headed enough to reject such a reckless request.
"That is a promise!" Kushina said immediately.
Before Hiruzen could add anything else, she dashed out of the office. Even now, she still lacked a sense of proper decorum.
It was not entirely her fault. Though she had lived in a war-torn environment as a child, she had not experienced many hardships after arriving in Konoha. Most of her life had been relatively sheltered, with only a handful of missions completed.
"Ahem… ahem…"
Hiruzen suddenly broke into a series of heavy coughs.
During the battle at Mount Kikyo, he had fought at the front lines and later clashed with the Third Kazekage. Though victorious, he suffered serious injuries. Tsunade had treated him, but some wounds required time to fully recover.
Still, defeating Sunagakure made it worthwhile.
Meanwhile, Kushina had already left the Hokage Building and was heading straight for the Senju compound.
At this hour, Tsunade was still asleep.
After returning to the Village, Tsunade had quickly resumed her favorite activity, gambling. In just two days, she had lost three million. Ironically, her presence had revived Konoha's struggling gambling economy.
Casinos across the Village welcomed her enthusiastically, hanging banners and treating her like a revered guest. Messages spread quickly among gamblers, calling her the perfect target, someone with deep pockets and terrible luck.
Some even joked that Konoha prospered whenever Tsunade played.
Inside her residence, Tsunade was still half-asleep when Kushina pulled her out of bed.
"Six," Tsunade muttered, tossing a card onto the table as she yawned. "Kushina, why are you here so early? Want to play cards?"
A Shadow Clone sat across from her, already focused and calculating. Compared to the original, the clone was far more alert. Since they needed a third player, Tsunade had created it to fill the spot.
"Eight," Kushina replied, placing her card down. "Tsunade, I want to go to the battlefield."
"No."
The answer came instantly.
Tsunade did not even hesitate. She played another card, then frowned slightly. "Why are you asking me? You should discuss this with Hiruzen."
"I already did. He agreed and told me to go with you."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes, clearly suspicious. Kushina, however, showed no signs of hesitation or guilt.
Even so, Tsunade shook her head.
"Even if he agreed, I still refuse. The battlefield is no place for someone like you."
"I am not a child anymore. I am an adult!" Kushina slammed down four fives.
Tsunade stared at the table in disbelief. The previous card was only a ten, yet Kushina had already used a bomb.
Who plays like this?
"Pass," Tsunade said calmly.
"Hmph, pair of threes," Kushina said, tossing her smallest cards.
"Pass again."
Despite holding weak cards, Tsunade remained completely composed. It was the quiet confidence of someone experienced.
She understood Kushina's frustration. While others of her generation were fighting on the front lines, Kushina had been restricted to the Village, much like Hiruzen himself. In fact, her protection level was even higher.
"I can already control Kurama's power, so why will you not let me go?" Kushina's tone grew sharper.
"No means no."
"Do you even understand? I trained for three months just to control that power. For two of those months, I barely slept, sometimes only thirty minutes a day!"
Tsunade shook her head again.
"I still refuse."
"You are heartless and shameless!" Kushina snapped.
"You are being unreasonable!" Tsunade shot back, slamming the table.
"If I am unreasonable, it is because you forced me to be with your heartless and shameless attitude!"
The argument continued as they played.
Eventually, Kushina used another bomb and ended the round decisively.
"Hmph."
She calmly collected the money from the table and tucked it into her pocket before standing up to leave.
Tsunade sat there, momentarily speechless. By the time Kushina reached the courtyard, she finally shouted after her.
"Leaving right after winning? That is terrible card etiquette. Watch out for dogs on your way out!"
Kushina did not even turn back.
"I do not care. That is what being heartless and shameless looks like!"
Tsunade rubbed her forehead, still holding her remaining cards.
Just as Kushina reached the gate, Tsunade called out again.
"Wait. Play a few more rounds. I will think about it."
A smile spread across Kushina's face.
Without hesitation, she turned around and walked back inside.