Rei was making dinner while Tsunade amusedly watched awkward Anko stare at the cup of coffee in front of her with an unreadable expression, most likely questioning how she got into her current position.

Anko couldn't believe she was saved by Tsunade Senju of all people. 'What is with this month and me meeting the legendary Konoha ninjas one after the other? First I am sent as a contact to Jiraiya-pervert, only barely getting out before he could visually molest me as a relief from his overbearing wife. Then on the way back towards the village while doing a side-mission I am ambushed by some Orochimaru's throwaway butt-buddy mooks only to be rescued by the ever-elusive badass Tsunade Senju because of whose hiding ability even Hokage is ripping his hair out due to frustration? I must have spent a decade worth of misfortune in this month alone!' Anko wanted to cry. Sure, she was happy her life was saved but... the woman, who was the shining idol for most of the Konoha's kunoichi population, not only saved her but also saw her on her lowest and THEN she even fainted after meeting her and squealing her name in surprise like some damned fangirl! ​​

Yes, the blushing Anko wouldn't refuse a hole to hide in as Tsunade stared her down with barely restrained snickers. 'At least the coffee from this Rei person is quite good and isn't poisoned or drugged. Yup, positive thoughts.' Anko thought as her eyes quickly swept the man while outwardly her face scrunched into a grimace.

It was then that Tsunade took out a folder and started reading. Anko only managed to spot her picture as her eyes widened, realizing this was her file that should be locked in Konoha's archives!

"Anko Mitarashi, 17 years old, Chunin..." Tsunade momentarily stopped before her lips twitched, "with Jonin level skills but red-taped for promotion by the Council for being Orochimaru's apprentice, and by the Hokage for unstated political reasons. Proficient at poisons, snake summoning, fire Jutsu, yadda, yadda, yadda, lots of expected junk saying literally nothing." Tsunade rolled her eyes as she turned the page while Anko gaped at her to which Tsunade just returned an innocent smile to her, causing Anko's mouth to snap shut in disbelief as Tsunade continued reading out loud.

Personal files of a ninja or kunoichi contained the most comprehensive intel on their abilities, rank, missions, current standing in the village, and stuff like that. There is no way somebody who was not in the village for years could get their hands on a copy of her files! Anko really couldn't believe this was happening. Tsunade was basically narrating her life for her.

Tsunade, on the other hand, took a great deal of pleasure in this small power-play of hers. Without Konan's incredible intelligence network, this would be impossible. Normally, Tsunade or Rei would never consider revealing they are capable of procuring a file from the archives of Konoha but Anko was a wild card they stumbled upon by total accident as they walked home from the Fire Capital. There was a lot of improvisation in this and honestly, Tsunade begged Rei for permission to try her plan because she saw herself in the girl. If Anko was just some normal kunoichi of Konoha, Tsunade would simply leave her lying next to the road and be done with it but Anko was a pariah. Someone who suffered Konoha's wrath for something out of her control. For the Good of Konoha.

Rei knew Tsunade probably wanted to lash out at Hokage in some way and this could provide her an outlet so he made sure to listen to her plan and not get in the way, the intel of their spying capabilities be damned.

"... and that's all." Tsunade gave the flabbergasted Anko a knowing look, "I only left out you are red-listed." She mockingly shrugged as if it was nothing important before continuing in a deadpan, "Honestly, I feel I should praise you for not defecting the first chance you got."

Now that woke Anko up, "I will never defect! I am not a traitor!" She heatedly stood up and shouted, her hands tightly balled into fists on the table.

Tsunade only raised her eyebrow, happy at the reaction she drew out from the kid, knowing it was real. "You are in the Red List of Konoha for the fourth continuous year. You either fuck the missions up so often they should kick you out of the force for being a waste of space, resources, and oxygen and throw you into the nearest brothel where fucking is actually rewarded, or you are a bonafide confirmed traitor with many friends who they can't really just casually call out on the act and so they are only waiting for a single mistake to get you. One way or another, there is no other way to get on the Red List for such a long time."

Anko stood there, mentally anguished that Tsunade, her childhood idol, would think this of her, completely forgetting the fact that the woman had her file. "N-No! I am neither of those! I made a deal with the Third Hokage!"

Tsunade's eyes flashed. She naturally knew of the deal between them. In fact, Tsunade probably knew more about the girl than she herself knew but this was not about that. This was about showing Anko Hokage's machinations. Only then would the girl consider joining their side. Tsunade was not nearly stupid enough to simply come up with an offer before she showed the girl the 'right' path.

Rei watched from the stove as Tsunade put her persuasion skills to use, still somewhat amused that it actually worked on THE Anko Mitarashi. Alas, this was not the T&I Expert yet. This was a girl who did not get such a position and training pertaining to it. A girl who survived her certain demise due to luck just a few hours ago and was still quite shocked by what was happening around her.

"Oh~, do tell. What deal did the old geezer propose to you?" Tsunade asked, causing Anko to finally calm down and flop back onto the chair. For a moment, suspicion flickered through her eyes but it went as soon as it came. Seeing that, Tsunade gave the girl a proud nod, somewhat mollifying her.

"Lord Hokage told me the old geezers on the council will always hold back my promotion so he gave me a deal," Anko childishly pouted, irritation clear in her gaze. Tsunade only cared for one thing, however. The clear respect the kunoichi in front of her held for the old man Third. That was a problem. "I was supposed to be listed for five years in the Red List and then I will be promised promotion and a position in one of the specialized divisions of Konoha."

Hearing such a ridiculous pile of bull, Tsunade couldn't help but sigh tiredly as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Do you even understand what the Red List is, kid?"

"Of course! It's where ninjas suspected of serious crimes or those who failed important missions are put, causing them to receive the most dangerous missions to redeem themselves and prove their loyalty to the village." Anko said irritably, "I did my research before accepting the deal. But Hokage promised that as long as I could be patient and last five years there, it would persuade the Council of my loyalty and I could get a promotion."

'Well, she is not wrong. Surviving five years without even a speck of suspicion in the fabbled suicide-mission list would mean she is either that capable or really loyal. But...' Tsunade inwardly hummed before cringing, "And do you know what being put there for five years means for your career from the political standpoint?"

Anko's face shifted to a blank expression as she stared at Tsunade with total confusion that made Tsunade sigh yet again at the clueless girl. "You don't, don't you?"

"I... Who cares? I am a kunoichi, not a politician." Anko frowned, causing Tsunade to chuckle.

"Silly girl, you really remind me of myself." Tsunade smiled. "The village is built on politics. And you wonder why you find it hard to be promoted?" She chided lightly, enjoying the embarrassed blush it elicited on Anko's cheeks. "Let me put it into a perspective for you, okay?" Tsunade asked and quieted down, waiting until Anko got into a good mindset to listen.

After a few seconds of clear indecisiveness on her face, Anko decided to seriously nod. Clearly, there was something she was overlooking and since Tsunade Senju wanted to explain these political reasons why her decision to accept the deal was stupid, she would listen. But she would also make sure to not take anything at a face value. She trusted one Sannin already and it didn't pay out so well for her. Anko was subtly preparing to make a run for it if this was some elaborate trap. She wasn't dull. Anko could recognize how manipulative the setting was but the topic was simply too... much. Here, Tsunade, one of the most loved kunoichi to ever hail from Konoha, and a former pupil of the Third Hokage, was telling her the Third screwed her over. Something was clearly fishy here. It wouldn't be bad to play a shocked trusting girl for a bit longer to find out what. Plus… she really wanted to hear what Tsunade thought her being in the Red List for so long meant.

Unfortunately for Anko, Tsunade was not the best medic in the world. Somebody not even trained in hiding his tells could not hope to hide their attitude in front of her.

Tsunade smirked, "You see, from a political standpoint, you are a nuisance..."