After dinner, the night was quiet again. Naruto had long since gone to Kakashi's guest room, still grumbling about how his sensei was living a dream life with three strong women under one roof.

Karin had rolled her eyes at him for being so childish. Sakura laughed at his antics while glancing at Sasuke. Anko had challenged Naruto to a wasabi-eating contest earlier, which as always he lost spectacularly.

Tsunade was now in the dining room with Anko and Kurenai, drinking mild plum wine and sharing small stories. Her cheeks had a bit of warmth from the drink, but her laughter was genuine. It was a rare kind of peace for her.

Kakashi, meanwhile, walked alone toward the wooden hallway at the back of his house. He pressed a palm against the wall, his chakra seal glowed faintly, and a hidden door slid open with a faint click.

He stepped down the hidden staircase into the basement, a place only his women knew this place existed.

The secret room was lit with glowing seals embedded in the walls. Scrolls, aged and looking like they were cursed scrolls, lined the shelves.

He had taken them from the elders after they were dead, Homura and Koharu had kept records that could destroy half the village if released. But Kakashi had only skimmed them at first. Now, with quiet all around him, he was ready to read them all.

He sat at the center table, untied a scroll, and began reading.

At first, it was what he expected, blackmail material, records of secret assassinations, manipulation of the Daimyō's office, and hidden funding to rootless orphan shinobi who were then sent on suicide missions.

Kakashi's face remained cold, but inside, something twisted. These were the same people who had told him to kill emotion, who had ordered Danzo's Root experiments, who had used the Uchiha as pawns. He found that he had underestimated the evil of these people.

He opened another scroll, and his brows furrowed. This one bore Tsunade's name.

He read quickly.

The first part detailed Nawaki's nomination for Chūnin. A false mission rank had been reported. Nawaki had been sent on an A-rank disguised as a C-rank. Kakashi already knew this from torturing the elders, but to see it in writing made him clench his fists.

But what he read next…

"Kato Dan. Appointed by Hiruzen and Danzo to stay close to Tsunade. Purpose: to emotionally stabilize her during periods of instability. Ensure Tsunade remains loyal to the village. Relationship encouraged. Prevent procreation."

Kakashi's breath caught. He stared at the parchment.

Dan… was planted? He had been assigned to Tsunade when she was grieving Nawaki. And his task was to manipulate her… to ensure she had no children?

Were they this afraid of the Senju Clan?

A deep silence filled the room. Kakashi shut his eyes and exhaled, long and heavy. His thoughts were storming. He thought of Tsunade's smile, her laughter earlier. How she had finally begun to heal. Could he really show her this?

But then he stood up.

She deserved to know.

She was not just a woman he loved. She was also a proud Senju, someone who had borne more than her fair share of pain and had risen every time.

He walked back up, sealing the basement behind him.

In the dining room, Tsunade was finishing her drink when Kakashi gently walked over to her side and leaned closer.

"Tsunade," he said quietly. "Can you come with me? There's something I need to show you."

She smiled and stood up, stretching a little before walking beside him. "You're not hiding another secret bar down there, are you?" she teased playfully.

But the look in his eyes made her pause. Her smile faded to concern.

As they entered the basement, she walked into the softly glowing space and immediately stepped up to Kakashi, wrapping her arms around him in a casual hug. "So what are you up to, hmm?" she asked, her voice low and affectionate.

But she felt his silence. She felt something was wrong.

Her playful tone disappeared. She stepped back and looked at him seriously.

"I killed Homura and Koharu." Kakashi's voice was quiet but firm.

Tsunade blinked. Then, slowly, nodded. "I figured as much," she said softly.

"…And?" he asked, searching her expression.

"They were parasites," she said with a shrug. "Rotten cowards clinging to Hiruzen's coattails. They deserved far worse than a clean death."

Kakashi shook his head slightly, letting out a breath. "I found… their scrolls. All the secrets they kept. I wanted to show you something."

Tsunade's brow furrowed as she stepped toward the table. Kakashi handed her the scroll with her name. She unrolled it and began to read.

As her eyes scanned the lines about Nawaki, her hands trembled. Her chakra surged, flickering around her like a golden fire. She gritted her teeth and kept reading, pushing through the pain.

But when she got to Dan's name, the room nearly exploded.

Her chakra burst out in a wave, pure rage, shaking the reinforced seals in the walls. Cracks slithered along the stone floor. Kakashi's barrier seals flared in defense.

Tsunade stood there, breathing heavily, hands clenched. Her teeth were grit so hard it seemed they might crack.

"That bastard…" she whispered.

She remembered the subtle ways Dan avoided true closeness. The times he changed the topic. The evasions when she brought up children or the future.

It all made sense now.

She collapsed to the floor, sitting heavily, shoulders trembling. Her fists relaxed slowly, then covered her face.

The tears came silently, but not weakly. For the first time in years, Tsunade cried without holding back.

Kakashi knelt beside her and wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Did he ever love me? Was any of it real?"Her voice was hoarse.

Kakashi gently tilted her chin so she would meet his gaze. "I don't know what Dan felt," he said honestly. "But I swear to you, everything between you and me is real. No missions. No manipulation. Just… us."

Her lip trembled. She leaned into his chest, letting the warmth of his embrace surround her. "You're the first person to tell me that," she whispered.

Kakashi held her tightly.

Then suddenly, Tsunade pulled back, her eyes still misty but fierce. She reached up and kissed him. Hard. Desperate. Needing reassurance. Needing truth.

Kakashi was caught off guard, but he responded, pulling her closer, arms wrapped around her waist.

When they broke apart, Tsunade looked at him, really looked at him, with soft eyes, but her intent was clear.

"Tsunade… I don't want it to happen like this. Not because you're hurting." Kakashi hesitated, he didn't want to take advantage of her vulnerability.

But she just hugged him tighter, burying her head in his chest.

"I'm not running anymore," she said. "I've carried ghosts long enough. Let me live."

Kakashi understood.

He picked her up in his arms gentle hug, and carried her toward the side chamber near the basement, one only he used for quiet meditation and rest. The lights dimmed behind them.