Sakura Haruno · Y/n story by @ghosty

The Hokage's office was bathed in the amber glow of the late afternoon sun. Dust motes danced lazily in the beams that cut through the tall windows, and the air smelled of tea, old parchment, and a faint trace of cigarette smoke that clung to the couches like a stubborn memory.

Tsunade

reading the scroll again, then setting it down Kakashi. Read this.

Kakashi Hatake, leaning against the bookshelf, straightened. His single visible eye curved in its usual lazy smile, but there was a sharpness beneath it. He took the scroll, scanned it once, then twice.

Kakashi

A weapon. They're calling him a weapon.

Tsunade

Land of Fire's finest. Or so they claim. Kage-level strength, no personal allegiances, and... completely obedient, if the agreement goes through.

Kakashi

folds the scroll slowly And what exactly would we have to do to get this... agreement signed?

Tsunade

leans back, rubbing her temples We take him in. Assign him to a team. Treat him as one of our own. He won't be a threat—they swear it—but if we reject them...

Shizune

swallows There's talk of shifting their alliance toward the Hidden Stone.

A heavy silence settled over the room. Kakashi's smile faded, just barely.

Kakashi

So you called me in to ask what I think?

Tsunade

I called you in because you're going to deal with him. Personally.

She pulled a sealed scroll from her desk drawer and slid it across the polished wood. The Land of Fire insignia gleamed in red wax.

Tsunade

eyes hard He'll arrive at the village gates in three days. I need you to meet him, assess him, and then we'll decide.

Kakashi

picks up the scroll, tucks it into his vest What's his name?

Tsunade

pauses, a faint furrow in her brow It doesn't say. Only a codename.

Kakashi

?

Tsunade

voice low Chimera.