Kakashi easily found Tsunade, who was still asleep from a hangover. Looking at the tightly closed door and smelling the alcohol seeping through the cracks, Kakashi didn't open the door. Instead, he turned to Hikari and said:
"You go in and wake Tsunade up. Sakura and I will wait for you at the entrance."
Hikari looked at Kakashi and nodded.
She had a rough idea of the situation inside.
A hungover, older single woman, combined with Tsunade's naturally carefree personality... she probably had zero inhibitions inside the room. It wasn't suitable for a male like Kakashi to go in.
Immediately, Kakashi took the pink-haired girl to the main entrance, waiting for Hikari to wake Tsunade up.
Hikari took a deep breath. With a determined gaze, she twisted the door handle. With a click, the door was pushed open.
Immediately following was the expected stench of alcohol filling the room.
Hikari swept her gaze across the room. She saw miscellaneous wine bottles scattered all over the floor, and Tsunade lying on the bed, clothes disheveled, revealing large patches of fair skin. Her figure was voluptuous, exposing plenty of scenery, and she was sound asleep, drooling.
This scene made the corners of Hikari's mouth twitch.
She felt that Kakashi bringing the pink-haired girl to become Tsunade's apprentice was a bit like pushing that little girl into a fire pit.
"Tsunade..."
Hikari walked forward and nudged Tsunade, who was sleeping like the dead.
A mere gentle push caused waves to roll.
This made Hikari's eyelids twitch.
What on earth did this guy grow up eating?!
"Lady Tsunade!"
Seeing no reaction from Tsunade, Hikari shouted into her ear. At the same time, she increased the strength in her hands, causing the waves to surge violently.
"Mmm, who... who is it...? So noisy..."
Tsunade struggled to open her eyes to look at the person standing by her bed.
"It's... it's... it's the Uchiha family's Great-Grandma..."
???
Hearing Tsunade's mumbling, three question marks popped up over Hikari's head.
Why is it that not only Kakashi, but even Tsunade calls her the Uchiha Great-Grandma?
"Wake up, Kakashi has something to discuss with you."
Hikari nudged Tsunade again.
"Eh? Lord Kakashi?"
"Why are you here?"
"And this is...?"
Kakashi, who was currently squatting at the door counting ants with the pink-haired girl, looked up at the newcomer.
He saw a woman in black clothes with short, neat hair standing before him, holding a basin of water. Her gaze looked at Kakashi, then fell upon Sakura beside him.
"Ah, it's Shizune. Perfect timing. Go wake Tsunade up; I have business with her."
"Hikari is calling Tsunade right now, but I guess it won't be very effective. You'll have to do it."
"Also, I've said it many times: just call me by my name when we're outside the Hokage Building."
Seeing Shizune arrive, Kakashi spoke up, adding that last sentence at the end.
Shizune and Might Guy were two exact extremes.
One shouted "Kakashi, Kakashi" all day long inside the Hokage Building, while the other called him "Lord Kakashi, Lord Kakashi" all day long regardless of the occasion.
Kakashi felt helpless regarding this point.
But it didn't really matter.
After all, in the original story, Shizune remained this way even after Kakashi became the Sixth Hokage.
"Ah, alright then. Lord Kakashi, you and this little friend wait here for a moment. I'll go right now."
Shizune smiled and glanced at Kakashi and Sakura beside him. She had no intention of letting Kakashi go in with her; evidently, she knew exactly what state a hungover Tsunade would be in, and it wasn't appropriate for a man like Kakashi to enter.
And although she didn't know why Kakashi brought a little girl along, she didn't ask too many questions.
Not long after, Tsunade's sleepy, half-awake voice came from inside the room.
"Kakashi, come in."
Hearing that Tsunade was awake, Kakashi patted Sakura's head and said:
"Let's go in."
Sakura naturally had no objections to this and nodded obediently.
As soon as he entered the room, Kakashi's brows furrowed slightly.
Although the window had been opened for ventilation, the stench of alcohol could still be smelled.
Tsunade was now fully dressed. She wiped her face with the basin of water Shizune had brought over. After sobering up slightly, she rubbed her aching forehead and said:
"What matter could make you, the Hokage, come find me in the middle of your busy schedule?"
"And..."
"Bringing a brat along, too."
Tsunade looked at the child beside Kakashi, who was watching her with some fear.
Being stared at by Tsunade, Sakura tugged at Kakashi's clothes in fear and hid behind him.
"Didn't Lord Jiraiya speak to you yesterday?"
Asking for a favor, Kakashi kept his attitude quite humble.
Hearing Kakashi's words, a trace of confusion flashed through Tsunade's eyes.
Jiraiya had naturally visited her yesterday.
But... she was drunk.
She couldn't remember a thing.
Seeing Tsunade trying hard to recall, Kakashi continued:
"I want to train in Sage Mode, and I hope Lady Tsunade can lend me a hand."
Sage Mode?
With Kakashi's reminder, Tsunade finally remembered Jiraiya's arrival yesterday.
Kakashi then briefly explained the situation regarding Mount Myōboku from yesterday to Tsunade.
"Since you can't train in Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode, then forget about it."
Tsunade had no interest in letting Kakashi learn Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode.
Because... one slip up, and you could die.
"I want to try."
Facing Tsunade's refusal, Kakashi remained unmoved.
Whether it worked or not, he had to try.
"Suit yourself. What about her?"
"This brat."
Tsunade looked at Sakura behind Kakashi.
She had a vague impression that this was the child who was with Naruto when Kakashi got married earlier.
"Oh, her name is Sakura."
"She is the disciple I've selected for you, Lady Tsunade."
Smiling, Kakashi gently pushed Sakura out from behind him to stand in front of Tsunade.
"Tsu... Lady Tsunade, hello..."
Sakura looked at the woman before her with a lack of confidence.
This was someone even the Lord Hokage had to address as 'Lady'. Sakura felt like she wanted to run away.
"Hah?"
"Have you lost your mind?"
Tsunade furrowed her brows, wearing a look that said, Is your brain malfunctioning?
It wasn't just Tsunade; even Shizune looked at Kakashi in astonishment.
"I'm not joking with you. I'm serious."
Kakashi looked at Tsunade with a serious expression.
"This child suits you perfectly."
Listening to Kakashi's words, Tsunade looked again at the pink-haired girl who looked like she was about to cry, and scratched her head in irritation.
"Do you think I have too much free time, so you're finding things for me to do?"
Tsunade asked rhetorically.
"...If that's what you think."
"But I still have to say, this child is very suitable for you."
Kakashi fell silent for a moment, but his attitude remained firm.
Tsunade looked at Kakashi, somewhat speechless, her thoughts unknown.
In her view, Kakashi really must have taken the wrong medicine to send her a little brat who looked like a crybaby.
————
Supporting me on Pa-treon to gain early access to advanced chapters and enjoy expedited updates. Your support is greatly appreciated.
pat-reon .c-om/Dragonhair
(Just remove the hyphen - and space, to access Pa-treon normally.)