Chapter 173: Chapter 173: The Photo Frame
Kitahara Kaede was pressed back into his chair.
The moment his back hit the seat, Tsunade leaned down, pinning him. Her hands braced against the armrests, trapping him between the chair and her body. The office lights cast a silhouette behind her, leaving them in an intimate, suffocating proximity.
He could feel the warmth of her breath and the familiar scent of her skin. The explanation Kaede had prepared died in his throat. He ventured a glance upward, but quickly stopped.
Tsunade was leaning so low that a deep shadow fell over her, nearly obscuring her face—and leaving very little to the imagination.
Kaede’s lips twitched. *What a view.*
He hurriedly averted his gaze. This position was far too dangerous; if this continued, he feared he would forget the actual purpose of the conversation entirely. He subtly shifted backward, turning his head to the side in an attempt to appear composed.
Tsunade stared at him. She was already simmering with anger, and seeing him avoid her gaze only made her look more menacing.
"Got a guilty conscience?"
Kaede didn’t answer. It wasn’t guilt—it was distraction.
Tsunade reached out and gripped his chin, forcing his face back toward hers. Their eyes locked, and Kaede was left with no choice but to look at her.
"Explain," she commanded, her voice low and dangerous. "If I’m not satisfied with the answer, you can imagine the consequences."
With his chin held firm, Kaede couldn’t even look down. To make matters worse, he had been shrinking back into the chair to avoid the awkwardness, which only served to bring them even closer now that she had pulled him forward.
Kaede’s eyelid twitched. This was absolutely not the right atmosphere for a professional report.
After a moment of silence, he steeled himself and spoke. "I can explain." He paused. "But... could you please get up first?"
Tsunade frowned. "Why?"
Kaede looked into her eyes and found himself unable to utter a single word. How on earth was he supposed to explain that to her?
He quickly changed the subject. "During our reconnaissance, we encountered the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of Kirigakure."
The office fell silent. Tsunade’s grip on his chin tightened sharply.
"What?!" she exclaimed, her voice spiking.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen. The highest combat power in Kirigakure, second only to the Mizukage. Looking at Duy’s injuries, she had suspected the enemy was troublesome, but she hadn’t imagined they were *this* troublesome.
Kaede quickly added, "I’m fine." He looked at her, keeping his tone as steady as possible. "Our original plan was to confirm the enemy’s identity and retreat once we had the intel. However, they spotted us first and used the Hidden Mist Technique to cut off our escape."
Tsunade didn’t let go. She stared at him, her breathing becoming hurried.
Kaede continued, "But Senior Duy arrived in time and held off the main force."
Tsunade nodded, finally releasing his chin, though she didn’t move away. Still bracing herself against the armrests, she pressed him for the conclusion. "How did you eventually get out?"
Kaede paused for a heartbeat, his voice calm. "We didn’t get out."
As Tsunade’s expression began to shift, Kaede continued. "In the end, we took down five of them. Only Juzo Biwa and Fuguki Suikazan managed to escape. We’ve brought back five of the swords."
Tsunade froze. She stared at Kaede, speechless for a long time.
In the fragments of her memory, Hagoromo Kaede’s talent had been terrifyingly potent. But memories were one thing; reality was another. The person in front of her was only sixteen years old.
At sixteen, leading Guy and Genma, with the help of Might Duy, he had broken the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and seized five of their blades. If the Old Man found out about this victory, he would be absolutely thrilled.
The tension that had been coiled in Tsunade’s chest finally began to unravel. She released the armrests and stepped back half a pace, leaning against the edge of her office desk.
Kaede had hoped that after this revelation, she would be less angry. But she wasn’t. While the interrogation had ended, her brow remained furrowed.
Kaede recognized that expression instantly.
She was afraid.
Afraid that this had been nothing more than luck. Afraid that the next enemy he encountered would be even more dangerous. And afraid that one day, she would hear news of his death from someone else’s lips.
Looking at her, Kaede felt a tightness in his own chest. He wanted to sit up and offer some comfort, but the remnants of the earlier awkwardness lingered. He remained where he was, softening his voice.
"See? I told you I wasn’t hurt."
Tsunade didn’t look up.
"Besides," Kaede added, "I don’t take unnecessary risks. I promise."
Tsunade finally looked at him. "Remember those words."
Kaede nodded. "I will."
A few minutes passed before Kaede slowly sat up straight. Tsunade gave him a curious look, but Kaede kept his expression neutral.
He shifted his gaze, and it landed on the desk beside her. There sat a photo frame. In the picture, a much younger Tsunade was smiling brightly, her hand resting on a young boy’s head. The boy was grinning, his eyes sparkling as if they held the entire future within them.
Kaede’s gaze lingered. *Nawaki.*
The sense of relief he had felt moments ago began to sink into a heavy melancholy. In reality, Nawaki was confirmed missing. Yet, after all these years, no one had found him.
Sensing his gaze, Tsunade turned to look at the photo frame. Her expression softened. In those overlapping memories, Nawaki had also run circles around them, always declaring that he would become Hokage one day, always pestering Hagoromo Kaede to teach him powerful ninjutsu.
A flicker of sorrow crossed Tsunade’s eyes, but she quickly suppressed it. She reached out and gently turned the photo frame face-down on the desk. The wooden frame made a soft *thud*.
Kaede withdrew his gaze. Tsunade had already picked up her coat. She turned to him, her tone intentionally casual.
"Let’s go."
Kaede stood up.
Tsunade glanced at him. "It’s getting late. Come with me and get something to eat."
Kaede nodded. "Alright."
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