Anko Mitarashi despondently walked through the main gate of Konoha, briefly stopping in front of the booth with the gate guards who looked at her inquisitively before asking some questions and telling her to sign some papers. Honestly, Anko was glad when they let her go to report to the Hokage ten minutes later.

'Asking me questions about my mission... who the heck do these little shits think they are! The Hokage?' Anko angrily thought. ​​

She was a bit too fed up these days as she could no longer lie to herself and see Konoha as her home. Because of that blunt realization, more and more flaws and small intricate 'traps' became apparent to her senses. It was not like she didn't know about them but more like she refused to believe people did it out of malice toward her. But now...

For example, the gate guards. The position of a gate guard might seem boring and it really is, but it is also a very prestigious one. Not everybody can be relegated to the duty of a gate guard and those that are, are usually there for a long time. It is usually an accomplished chunin with high combat ability, good track record, and the person also must be highly trusted and known in the village. The gate guards have quite a leisure duties, sitting all day near the gate and checking the arrivals and comings of people, but they also must train regularly and have check-ups on their skills. The second their skills start to deteriorate, the gate guard would lose his position. After all, being a gate guard means they are the very first in the line of unexpected attack on the village or the very first people who can spot an infiltrator.

'And yet, these supposedly high ranking and splendid chunins who were awarded the positions of the gate guards show a complete dismissal of the protocols when it comes to me. Heck, do they think I would blab about my mission to them?' Anko seethed as she marched her way through the villages, the civilians and ninjas alike getting out of her way the second they spotted her stormy expression.

It was not like the gate guards acted rudely. They were always polite and good to her. That was why it hurt Anko so much. She thought them to be her friends.

After a very thorough retrospective, Anko came to a single realization. Gate guards were always the good guys in her books. Kind, polite, always joking... But then she realized that every single time she came, they asked, always offhandedly, something about her mission. Every. Damn. Time.

That's not how concerned friends behave. It was simply a trap. The only thing that saved her from falling into this pitfall was, much to her shame, Orochimaru's teaching about when to keep her mouth shut. The only good thing the bastard taught her.

The problem with their behavior was quite simple. When a ninja arrives in the village after completing a mission, he can NOT say ANYTHING about the mission. After all, he can not know what would the Hokage deem as classified information.

If Anko said something about the mission and then the Hokage decided it was classified? It would not be the two 'friendly' gate guards who would have lost their heads for spreading secrets. It would have been her!

That's why the protocols are iron-clad in this. One never reveals parts of the mission before the Hokage declares it finished and decides if some parts of it are supposed to be classified. After that? The non-classified parts are all free game and most likely discussed in pubs to get some bragging rights by exaggerating them.

That's why it never really struck her as odd that the two gate guards ALWAYS asked for information about her missions. After all, they were just fishing for some new rumors, no?

Well, according to Tsunade, apparently not. Gate guards are maybe the only two chunin ranked people in the whole village who have these protocols drilled into their head the most since they deal with it on a daily basis.

Sadly, once Anko considered her memories and experiences from a different perspective, they mostly confirmed what Tsunade told her. Anko spent two days with Tsunade and Rei but these days brought her so many shocking revelations she was exhausted when they parted their ways. Although... she did learn a whole lot about village politics and clan politics. After all, she had to pay Tsunade's price and for that, she needed to know certain things.

Anko involuntarily smiled at how right Lady Tsunade was. The things she wanted from Anko... she really didn't mind doing.

As Anko thought about these things, she didn't even realize how fast she arrived in front of the Hokage Tower. 'I guess, it's time to face the old man.' With a small frown, she entered.

...

"You said four of Orochimaru's subordinates ambushed you and when you were about to be killed, Tsunade saved you?" Hiruzen asked in a slightly miffed tone. He sent ANBU to the Fire Capital with orders to bring Tsunade back to Konoha but they returned with empty hands, lots of colorful words from the Daimyo at Hiruzen's person, and yes, that was something that worried Hiruzen greatly, but still, the inability to contact one of the two remaining loyal Sannin was grating on his nerves.

Imagine his surprise when the message from one of the Daimyo's guards, saying that Tsunade attended the Daimyo's birthday party, reached him. Worse yet, she was married to a foreigner! His heart almost stopped there and then after reading it. Hiruzen needed twenty minutes to calm his erratic breathing which almost killed him through the sheer blood pressure!

The only good thing about it was that Tsunade was barren, hence no new Senju would be coming out of her. Still, the problem of her husband inheriting the properties of the Senju clan after her death was an apocalyptic threat to Konoha. After all, the Senju clan owned all of the lands on which the village stood and having it in the hands of a foreigner...

Hiruzen shuddered at the implications while assassination plans started forming in his head. The foreigner would simply have to go. For the Will of Fire.

"Yes." Anko politely nodded, enjoying the distraught expression of the Hokage.

"Then why did you not bring Tsunade back to the village, Anko!?" Hiruzen asked, only barely managing to keep most of his frustration out of his tone.

"With all respect... I don't think I could have beaten Lady Tsunade." Anko shrugged. Even the Hokage could not punish her for that. She never received orders to apprehend Tsunade, after all.

Hiruzen clearly knew that as his frown turned sour, partly at her uncaring answer, and partly at how disobedient Anko acted. She was always boisterous and had her own flair but she never once acted disrespectfully towards him. She was too much in his grasp to act out. Further, it was mighty fishy that Anko acted like this after meeting Tsunade. It might be nothing but still… Hiruzen was worried.

"I see, is there anything else, Chunin Mitarashi?" He concluded the debriefing, secretly deciding to assign some more watchers to the young kunoichi.

Anko noted his colder tone and the change in how he addressed her but right now, she only found it funny. Tsunade didn't do much when it came to teaching her how-to in the political field but she made sure to hammer the basics of interaction with Hiruzen and what to look for. By now, Anko was sure she knew all his subtle tactics at manipulating her into feeling various ranges of emotions.

This particular technique was one that should evoke inadequacy and spark in her guilt at being disrespectful to her superior who was always kind to her. After all, he always called her 'Anko', which pointed out some sort of closeness between them.

'A bit colder tone, and Chunin Mitarashi, is it?' Anko's lips twitched.

"In fact... yes." Anko affirmed, causing Hiruzen to blink, not expecting an answer like this. "I do have a letter from Lady Tsunade." She continued with a merry tone that made Hiruzen's eyebrow twitch, his expression as if screaming, 'Then why did you not bring it up sooner!'

Anko simply shrugged and slowly walked towards Hokage's table before putting the letter on it and stepping back. It wouldn't do to make quick movements. Not with her reputation in the village. Not with four ANBU on the ceiling.

As Hokage reached towards the letter with a hopeful expression, no doubt wishing Tsunade would visit the village soon, Anko couldn't help but inwardly laugh her ass off. She knew what the letter said. After all, it was the payment Tsunade promised Anko.

'Oh, I can't wait to see the hope on his mug turn into stunned disbelief!'