Tsunade knew how horrible life could be at times. She knew how it could seem so wonderful and magical one moment, and gut-wrenching awful the next. Grief and pain had forced the Sannin to grow bitter and cynical over the years. She knew she was being selfish. She knew how much the village needed her—especially after Orochimaru's defection and the Kyūbi attack, but she couldn't bring herself to not think about the past. She was lost it, a slave to her memories.

It was always the happier ones that hurt her the most. Because she knew she would never get to experience those memories again. And while the sad ones cut her just as well, it was a different kind of hurt. Guilty kind of hurt. She would rather feel regretful and guilty over the worse ones, than bitter and depressed over the happy ones.

She knew she could seek help. She could talk it out, work it out, move on, but she couldn't bring herself to. On some level of her, she wanted to be in pain. She thought she deserved it for not only failing once, but twice to her two most precious people.

She had spent her years, bitterly gambling away and trying her hardest to cling to the past. She could have lied and said she truly wanted it that way—that she was content in a roundabout way. But she didn't because that would have been too big of a lie.

Was it wrong of her to want to move on and forget them?

She had thought so. And by wanting that one thing, she drove herself further into guilt.

It wasn't until two little brats came along and forced her out of her stupor.

The first one, Miwako, blatantly showed her distaste for Tsunade's lifestyle. She threw words right into Tsunade's face that Tsunade had been secretly calling herself for years. It had stung and hit her right where it hurt that Tsunade was furious with the little brat for a long while.

The second one, Naruto, also showed his open skepticism towards the Sannin, as well as his irritation. But there was no real bite to the insults he threw, just quiet determination to prove himself. In so many ways he reminded her of those two. It pained her to a new level and she attempted—in vain, might she add—to push him far away.

On that battle, Tsunade was beyond surprised when it was Miwako who first came to her rescue. There was still some distaste in her eyes and tone, but underneath it Tsunade could see her resolve to protect the Sannin with every fiber of her being. She had fought and she had shielded Tsunade to the best of her ability from Tsunade's own phobia. When her resolve to help her brother was revealed, Tsunade was torn. At that moment she sounded scarily like Tsunade herself—from Tsunade's dream and wish to be their support. It was like an echo from her past self, reaching out to the Sannin. She had been knocked unconscious in battle, at the same time the others had arrived, but she had impressed Tsunade already... and forced her to think.

When Naruto had arrived, he was beyond angry at Miwako's state, but he vowed to do his best for Tsunade just as Miwako had—though for different reasons. He fought and he had won to some extent. But what really made an impression on Tsunade was how so very much like he was to those two. He had their determination, their smiles, their will, their dream... and how when he fought to protect Miwako he sounded just like her fighting to protect her younger sibling.

It was an emotional battle and if anyone asked Tsunade, she would say it was a waste of time and it should have never happened.

But really, she was soveryglad it did because it gave her reason to move away from the past. To stop being in so much self-inflicted pain.

So she was glad she came back to Konoha, glad that she could be there for them, glad that she would be able to watch them grow. Because if it wasn't for those two, she wouldn't be Tsunade anymore. She would just be a weary woman consumed by her bitterness and guilt.

And that wasn't Tsunade.

Konoha was exactly like Tsunade had remembered it—well, okay, the Kyūbi got rid of quite a few familiar scenes, but the feel of it was still the same. And when she returned, she was greeted with open arms, as if she had only been gone on a long-term mission. It was more than she deserved, and Tsunade was grateful for it.

After settling down, she figured it was then time to discuss the first of many issues she would have to address.

Chūnin.

Tsunade gave another inward groan as another councilman explained his reasons for voting the Uchiha as Chūnin.

Favoritism was quickly becoming an annoyance.

Tsunade looked over the papers that had been prepared for her, reading over what the proctors and a few other shinobi thought of over the exams. Nearly all of them had voted in favor of the Uchiha and from the—amazingly few—objective opinions, he had done decently throughout the entire exam. His team had broken the Konoha record for making it to the tower in the second part, and all of them had passed the first part, not to mention he had put up quite a battle in the third round apparently.

"I will consider it," Tsunade finally said, interrupting a rather portly old man. "For now, I must ask that the council leaves to give me time to consult with my shinobi."

The council exchanged glances, some muttering crossly—which spiked Tsunade's annoyance—before leaving the room. Tsunade let out a breath.

She had few shinobi in the room with her, the senseis for all of the Genin that had made it to the third round—Asuma, Gai, and Kakashi—the head proctors for all of the exams—Ibiki, Anko, Genma and Hayate—as well as Shizune and the current ANBU heads—ANBU Commander and ANBU Second-in-Command, Kitsune. The ANBU Commander wore no animal mask, but rather an entirely blank mask, signifying rank.

"Is anyone here opposed to the Uchiha brat being made a Chūnin?" Tsunade muttered tiredly.

"He's a little too inexperienced for my liking," Anko drawled. "But I heard his team's been on quite a few high-ranking missions."

"Team Seven has a habit of having anything higher than a D escalate," Kakashi said lightly.

"He showed tactical thinking," Genma said slowly, "and he definitely has the skill. His leadership skills are questionable, though. We didn't really get to see him in action."

"Sasuke-kun has mock-lead plenty of missions," Kakashi responded. "Naruto-kun and Miwako-chan seem willing to follow him."

Tsunade noticed how Kitsune had twitched ever so slightly when Kakashi mentioned Miwako.

Ah, that was right. Tsunade still had to get the story about Miwako and Kakashi. Tsunade recalled how the girl had practically dragged the Sannin to the hospital to heal Kakashi, and how she had confessed of her hatred towards him. Tsunade could still remember clearly the pained expression she wore—one conflicted between affection and loathing—when she looked on at Kakashi.

"Fine. Uchiha Sasuke will be made a Chūnin," Tsunade said. "Next up, anyone in disagreement for allowing Nara Shikamaru as a Chūnin?"

No one spoke up.

"Then Nara Shikamaru will be made Chūnin as well," Tsunade said. "Next we have... Hyūga Neji. From what I've read on the report, he seems too inclined to allow his past and emotions to get the better of him, not to mention he seems unnecessarily violent if the Hinata report is anything to go by."

Gai seemed uncharacteristically hesitant. "Neji-kun has always been rather... bitter, but ever since his most youthful battle with Naruto-kun, he has drastically improved!"

Tsunade felt a rush of mild affection and something akin to pride at that. So Naruto had gotten to him as well?

"He passed the first exam rather well," Ibiki said blandly. "And his report has inclined that he would make an excellent leader. Honestly there was only ever one straight-up battle in the last portion of the exam, and there will be emotional battles out on the field."

Tsunade nodded thoughtfully. "I will take him into consideration, then. Next would be Uzumaki Naruto. Anyone against him being made Chūnin?"

"He's reckless," Asuma drawled.

"He's gotten better," Kakashi responded immediately, tensing slightly and giving Asuma a mild glare. "He's shown to have the best leadership skills out of the three of them. He also has a knack for coming up with ingenious plans in the heat of battle."

"The brat did save Konoha from that Shukaku attack," Anko said. "Besides, I like his style. I say he deserves that rank."

"He has also succeeded where I had failed with Neji!" Gai declared. "He is most youthful and I believe he has earned the rank as well."

Tsunade nodded. "Very well. Uzumaki Naruto will be made Chūnin."

"... The council won't like that," Shizune murmured worriedly.

"Let them bitch," Tsunade snapped. "I've seen for myself just what that boy can do. While he may not be the brightest, that hasn't stopped some people from reaching the rank anyway. Just look at Jiraiya."

There was a collective pause and quiet chuckles at that.

"Next would be... Rock Lee, anyone against him being made Chūnin?"

"He didn't show any tactics," Genma admitted. "It was pretty much just an all-out hit-fest with him. Even Naruto was able to come up with a rather brilliant plan towards the end. While some Chūnin aren't the brightest, they do come up with strategies when necessary and when it was necessary, he hadn't."

Tsunade nodded. "I agree. Perhaps he will be made Chūnin in the next exam. We have Aburame Shino next, anyone in favor of him not being made Chūnin?"

No one voiced disagreement.

Tsunade nodded again. "Finally we have Uzumaki Miwako."

"Miwako-chan proved most useful in the invasion, eliminating one target and subduing two others," Kitsune responded, his voice carefully neutral.

"Seriously?" Anko blinked in surprise. "Who'd she fight?"

"Orochimaru's Sound Four," Kitsune answered. Anko nodded, smiling maliciously.

"I like her. She has my vote," Anko snickered. "That must have pissed him off wonderfully. His special guard... taken down by a little girl. Who's her teacher?"

"That would be me," Kakashi answered and Tsunade wasn't quite sure if that was pride in his voice, because that wouldn't make sense. Why would Miwako detest someone who was proud of her?

Kitsune twitched again, ever so slightly. Tsunade doubted anyone, save her and the ANBU Commander would have noticed it. She would probably have to get the story on him as well, it seemed like he had a history with the girl.

"I take it she's had practice being leader as well?" Asuma drawled.

"She has, but she doesn't like it nearly as much as Naruto-kun or Sasuke-kun," Kakashi chuckled.

"She did save my life," Hayate offered. He then coughed quietly.

"Very well, Uzumaki Miwako will be made Chūnin as well," Tsunade decided.

Asuma blinked at that. "... That's the first team that passed all together since you were a Chūnin, Tsunade-sama, at least in Konoha."

"Really?" Tsunade asked incredulously. "... I mean, even when I was a brat, it wasn't that uncommon. Has the qualities of team just dwindled down or something?"

"Or something," Kakashi responded.

Tsunade snorted quietly. "Well, then. This meeting is adjourned. I have to get back to hell, I mean... doing paper work."