"Tsunade, you shouldn't have made such a decision without the council's approval!" Koharu Utatane slammed her hand on the table, her voice laden with authority.
"Exactly. Danzō won't accept this." Homura Mitokado added, his eyes narrowed, analyzing every detail of the room.
Tsunade rested her elbows on the table, taking a deep breath. Since Naruto had left with Jiraiya, the office had become a political battlefield. The two counselors never missed an opportunity to question her actions.
"Good," she replied with irony, crossing her legs and pouring herself some sake, "maybe he'll show up to explain his secret operations outside the village."
The sharp tone made Koharu choke, but Homura remained impassive.
"The Hokage's personal guard must be approved by the council, Tsunade," the old man insisted, with that irritating calm. "You can't just choose a shinobi to protect you without prior discussion. That breaks protocol and gives the impression of favoritism."
The Sannin's eyes narrowed. "Favoritism?" She slammed the cup on the table. "If I choose someone competent, disciplined, and who has already proven their loyalty to the village, is that favoritism?"
Homura glanced discreetly in Li Shang's direction. The young Hyuuga was sitting in the corner of the room, in a meditative position, completely oblivious to the discussion. Or, at least, he seemed to be. His posture was impeccable, the ANBU cloak without a mask revealing the Leaf symbol embroidered in silver on his shoulder.
"He's too young," Koharu murmured. "And too mysterious. The Hyuuga clan hides things, and this boy is no exception."
Li Shang slowly opened his eyes, the intense blue tone of the Tenseigan making the air in the room heavy. "If my age is the problem," he said calmly, "then perhaps the real mistake is measuring value only by time lived, and not by the achievements obtained in that time."
The silence that followed was almost palpable.
Tsunade hid a small smile. 'This boy knows exactly when to speak.'
Homura cleared his throat. "You speak well, boy, but you don't know the weight of leadership. Being by a Hokage's side requires more than strength. It requires an understanding of the consequences."
"Then perhaps the problem is that many understand the consequences too well and do everything to avoid them." Li Shang replied without raising his voice, but his words sounded like a cold blade.
Tsunade suddenly stood up, her gaze fixed on the two counselors. "Enough. I am the Hokage, and the decision is mine. If you don't like it, take it to the Daimyō. Let's see what he thinks about two old people trying to control the Hokage's office."
Old Koharu turned red. Homura just sighed.
"You're letting your emotions get the better of you, Tsunade."
"Better to be guided by emotions than by cowardice," she retorted without hesitation. "Now, get out. Before I lose what little patience I have left."
The two counselors exchanged a silent glance and left with slow steps. The door closed behind them, and the office was silent for a few seconds.
Tsunade let out a long sigh, massaging her temples. "These two are going to give me wrinkles before my time."
"Before your time?" Li Shang commented, opening one eye, with a slight provocative tone. "With all due respect, Hokage-sama, I think you've passed the stage of worrying about that."
She looked at him incredulously for a second before laughing, surprised. "You have the courage to speak to me like that in my office?"
"I only say what I see," he replied, standing up. "And what I see is a woman who carries the weight of a country alone, but still finds time to argue with stubborn old men. That's admirable..."
Tsunade slowly approached, her gaze serious again. "Do you understand that, being in my personal guard, your life belongs to the village?"
Li Shang smiled slightly. "And the village belongs to the Hokage?" He asked playfully. "I think we're connected in a way, aren't we?"
Tsunade stopped in front of him, so close that she could feel the warmth emanating from the young man's chakra. For a moment, her dominant posture wavered. 'Why does this brat manage to unbalance me like this?'
She turned away, disguising it. "You are too bold, Hyuuga."
"Perhaps," he replied, leaving his meditative position and walking to the door. "But boldness is a virtue when it comes to interest."
"Interested in me?" Tsunade smiled, the corner of her lips curving almost imperceptibly, but the sparkle in her golden eyes betrayed amusement.
'This boy doesn't even bother to hide it anymore. Was I too lenient with him?'
She leaned back in her chair, elegantly crossing her legs and resting her chin on one hand. The silence between them lasted a few seconds — the kind of silence that wasn't uncomfortable, but charged. Li Shang remained firm before her, his eyes attentive, too calm for someone who had just been accused of flirting with the Hokage.
"Depends on the point of view." His voice sounded calm, almost provocative. "But it would be a lie to say I don't admire you."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, a slow smile appearing.
"Admiring and being interested are different things, Hyuuga."
He shrugged, a calculated, almost lazy gesture.
"Perhaps. But sometimes, the difference between the two lies in who asks."
She laughed. The light sound echoed through the room, momentarily breaking the tense air that hung there. There was something about his confidence that disarmed and irritated her at the same time. It wasn't arrogance. It was control — something rare to see in someone so young.
"You really don't know when to stop, do you?" she said, slowly standing up.
Li Shang followed her with his gaze. Her presence was almost overwhelming up close, and he knew it. Tsunade didn't need threats to command respect; a movement, a word, and anyone would back down.
But he didn't back down.
"If I stopped every time someone told me to, I probably wouldn't be here."
Tsunade approached until she was a few steps from him. The soft perfume mixed with the light alcohol of the sake reached her first. She crossed her arms and observed him from above, measuring him with her eyes.
"You are courageous."
"Or just curious."
She tilted her head. "Curious about what?"
He kept his gaze fixed on her. "About how far I can go before the Hokage decides to put me down."
For an instant, the air seemed to vibrate between them. Her answer came in a contained smile, and her fingers briefly touched his chin, in a gesture quick enough to seem accidental.
"Be careful what you wish for. You might end up finding out the hard way."
Li Shang smiled back, without moving.
"The hard way is usually the most interesting."
Tsunade sighed, but a laugh escaped before she could disguise it. She took a step back and turned, picking up a scroll from the table.
"You have a lot to learn, Neji Hyuuga."
"Perhaps I already know." He paused. "Perhaps I just want to see how far I can provoke you."
She stopped for a second, without looking at him. A discreet smile formed.
"Then we'll see if you can..."
Li Shang left the office late at night, the air seemed less heavy, but the smile still remained on the Hokage's face.
'This boy is playing with fire...' she thought, bringing the sake cup to her lips.
But, for the first time in a long time, Tsunade noticed something new emerging from her interest in the mysterious young man. She was curious to see who would get burned first.