Shinichi sat down across from Tsunade.
Now that he was sitting in front of her unharmed, most of Tsunade's anger had faded into tiredness.
"So, why did you come back now?"
"My mother's due date is close," Shinichi said. "It should be in the next few days."
Tsunade's face softened. "Right. That comes first."
"Iwa and Kumo were the tricky parts," Shinichi said. "Now that both have submitted, the rest can be handled slowly."
Tsunade glanced at the documents on her desk. "Handled slowly, he says."
Shizune looked at the pile and silently agreed.
The papers on the desk were no longer ordinary village matters. Every document carried the name of a village, a border, or a negotiation that had suddenly become harder to ignore.
"I'll stay in Konoha for now," Shinichi continued. "If anything troublesome comes up, you can leave it to me."
Tsunade's eyes brightened, and Shizune immediately felt something bad coming. That was not the look of a Hokage thinking about village affairs. It was the look of someone who had found a way to escape her own paperwork.
Tsunade coughed once and tried to look serious. "Since you said that yourself, I won't be polite."
"Starting tomorrow..."
Tsunade's eyebrow twitched, but Shinichi rose from his seat as if he had not seen it. "I just came back. I still need to go home and see my parents."
That reason was too proper for Tsunade to argue with, so she clicked her tongue. "Fine. Go."
"I also planned to visit my teacher," Shinichi added.
"No need," Tsunade said, waving a hand. "The old man is busy secretly training Sasuke."
"Training Sasuke?"
"He and Jiraiya made some kind of bet. Jiraiya is teaching Naruto, so the old man took Sasuke." Tsunade snorted. "Two retired old men, still acting like children."
Shizune lowered her head and pretended not to hear the words "retired old men."
"Then I won't disturb him."
Shinichi turned toward the door, then looked back before leaving. "Then I'll just go home first."
Tsunade leaned back in her chair and waved him away. "Go. But don't think this means you can run off again tomorrow."
Shinichi gave a small nod and left the office.
After the door closed, Tsunade looked at the documents on her desk again. Shinichi was back, and for the first time that morning, the pile did not seem quite as annoying.
Shizune noticed her expression. "Lady Tsunade, Shinichi-sama said starting tomorrow."
"I heard him," Tsunade said, picking up a document again. "I'm still Hokage today. Let's finish what we can. Tomorrow, I'll make him help properly."
Shizune sighed, but she did not argue.
Before Tsunade could read more than a few lines, a knock came from outside the office.
"Enter."
An Anbu appeared inside the room and knelt on one knee. "Lady Hokage, a report from the border. Kumogakure's delegation has entered the Land of Fire. The Fourth Raikage is leading them personally. They are expected to reach Konoha by afternoon."
Tsunade's hand stopped over the document. "The Raikage came himself?"
"Yes."
Tsunade was not surprised that Kumo had come. After what Shinichi had done, this result was already expected. What mattered was that the Raikage had chosen to come in person, which meant Kumogakure wanted the agreement settled quickly and formally.
"Prepare the reception," Tsunade said. "Keep security tight, but don't make it look like we're treating them as enemies. Use the Iwagakure agreement as the base. I'll handle the final terms."
"Understood."
After the Anbu disappeared, Tsunade leaned back in her chair and rubbed her forehead.
"One after another..."
Shizune was about to answer when hurried footsteps came from outside the office again.
Another Anbu entered and knelt down. "Lady Hokage, another report from the border. The Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, has entered the Land of Fire with a delegation from Kirigakure. She says the Hidden Mist is willing to sign the same agreement as Iwagakure and Kumogakure."
Tsunade's hand stopped over the desk.
Mist had not been attacked, yet Mei had come on her own.
"So Mei chose to move first," Tsunade said.
Before she could give an order, another knock came from outside.
The office became quiet for a moment.
Tsunade looked toward the door. "Enter."
A third Anbu appeared and lowered his head. "Lady Hokage, a report from the southern route. The Fifth Kazekage, Gaara, has entered the Land of Fire with a delegation from Sunagakure. They are requesting permission to enter Konoha."
Tsunade's expression finally turned completely serious. "What does Gaara want?"
"The Kazekage says Sunagakure is willing to end the old alliance and sign the same agreement as the other villages."
Shizune tightened her hold on Tonton.
Sunagakure was still Konoha's ally. If Gaara was willing to end that alliance and accept the same terms as the others, then this was no longer only about the villages Shinichi had defeated.
The rest of the Ninja World was starting to move before he even reached them.
Tsunade was silent for a moment, then gave her orders.
"Receive both delegations. Use the same arrangements as the others. Do not pressure them, and do not make a show of force."
"Understood."
The two Anbu disappeared from the office.
This time, Tsunade did not even look at the documents on her desk. The work that had seemed troublesome a few minutes ago suddenly felt small compared to what was happening outside Konoha.
Shizune looked at her carefully. "Lady Tsunade..."
"I know."
Tsunade looked at the reports left on the desk.
"Kumo, Mist, and Sand are all coming to Konoha on the same day."
Shizune paused. "Should I call Shinichi-sama back?"
"Yes," Tsunade said. "I know he just left to see his family, but Kumo, Mist, and Sand are all coming to Konoha on the same day. This is not something paperwork can solve. I need him here."
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