Kapitel 195: Ch195. Anko Mitarashi 2
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..."
Kapitel 196: Ch196. Anko Mitarashi 3
"You see, from a political standpoint, you are a nuisance." Tsunade dryly stated, causing Anko to furrow her brows in a show of confusion. "The clan heads do know you are not Orochimaru's subordinate but unless you are close to them or are somehow profitable for their clan, they will not stand up for you. So, Anko Mitarashi, are you profitable to some clan in Konoha?" Tsunade asked despite knowing the answer.
Anko looked a bit conflicted at having it spelled like this to her. Naturally, she knew about this but some things are better left unsaid. Now her mind wouldn't stop thinking what assholes the clan heads are. "No." She simply shook her head.
Tsunade hummed before continuing, "Then there are civilians which are the worst of your problems." She started with a sentence she knew would get Anko's complete attention. "Konoha's civilian council is made of a few seats for wealthy merchants and civilians who have influence in certain fields. These seats are just like clan head seats and seldom change the ass sitting on them. And then there are elective seats where elected civilians sit to safeguard the interest of the general public. These seats change every three years and have nothing to do with the ninja stuff..." Tsunade paused for a moment, her eyes smiling at how Anko leaned forward, "at least, that's what they would like you to believe. In reality, these people have some indirect influence over ninja matters and unfortunately for you, it is these people who will never see you as anything but the Snake Whore." Tsunade brutally stated, causing Anko to wince before lowering her head in a pondering manner as a concerned frown etched itself onto her face.
Despite Tsunade's goal of manipulating Anko to their side, she did somewhat care for the girl. If only because both were in some form screwed by Konoha and neither really desired revenge on the village. They were simply alike and Tsunade liked that. Even if Anko decided she wanted nothing to do with them, Tsunade would count it her victory if the girl at least started thinking about how the ruling system in the village really works and why some unworthy individuals get promoted to jonin rank while having only chunin level skill, or why some people with clearly jonin level skill can never get their promotion.
Seeing Anko raising her head again, Tsunade quickly noted the resigned look in her eyes. 'So the girl got it, heh?'
Honestly, Anko was not dumb. She would not be alive after being assigned one suicide mission after another for years on end if she was stupid. She was simply disinterested in politics. Once Tsunade nudged her in the correct direction, Anko could come to the conclusion herself.
Civilians didn't understand how the ninja world worked. For them, a rumor of her being this vile traitorous bitch who likes to fuck with whoever is available before stabbing them with a poisoned kunai was all they knew about her.
"I see how getting support from the civilian side of the council would be... difficult." Anko said with a grimace, making Tsunade snort at her choice of words.
"Difficult, she says. They hate you almost as much as the Kyuubi brat, girl. But unlike him, you don't have a chakra factory stuffed in your gut which means you are not really all that important to the village. No... civilians will not give you any sort of support be it due to fear or contempt and the other parts of the village's council see no worth in helping you either. Especially since you were on the Red List for years, you idiot." Tsunade clicked her tongue, still in disbelief, somebody was stupid enough to agree to be put on the Red List for years.
"What do you mean?" Anko asked. "What does being on the Red List have anything to do with civilians?"
Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose and looked at Anko with a difficult expression. "You know... every time a ninja is about to be promoted, the council has the right to put a stop to the promotion. Sure, they have to get at least three thirds of the council in favor for this to pass, which means it almost never does, but that's not really a problem in your case, is it now? The problem is, the second they see your track record and the amount of time you were Red Listed, they can argue you are unstable, incompetent, or untrustworthy. Neither of which is a good thing to have on your resume if you pursue a promotion. You were put there for four years, Anko," Tsunade sighed in exasperation, "and one can not simply officially state that the reason for your placement there is a 'deal' with the Third Hokage. You would be laughed out of the council room if you did that. Do you understand where I am going with this?"
The more Tsunade talked, the more disgruntled Anko appeared. Until... the realization settled in. "I am never gonna be promoted, am I?" Anko whispered with wide eyes. "This is why I was always passed up when it came to promotions. This is why I was always selected for the promotion process but was never chosen as a 'fitting' individual to pass it and receive one, isn't it?" She spoke with a resigned undertone full of hurt, hanging her head in disappointment.
Tsunade gave the downtrodden girl some time, slowly sipping her tea and enjoying the silence. She was glad Anko was getting the right conclusions by herself so she doesn't have to waste time persuading the girl. She was certainly clever enough to understand the implications and put events that happened to her in the past together.
"Holy shit, purely judging by my track record, I am the most probable person to betray the village." Anko suddenly exclaimed, unshed tears wetting the edges of her eyes.
"Yes... the only place where they would accept you is T&I and even then it is more to have you always surrounded by experts at spotting and putting down traitors rather than to fulfill your wish for promotion. I believe that is exactly what Hiruzen aimed at when he proposed such a deal. Funny thing is, if you declined, you would already be in that division by now if only to have more experienced eyes on you. The Elders and the clan heads would strong arm you there if you wanted it or not. The only thing stopping them is your placement on the Red List active rooster. Worse yet, getting the rank of Tokubetsu Jonin would not be hard in the T&I department since it would depend more on your direct superior rather than the council and you certainly have the skills necessary for it. Jonin rank would still be impossible though. I have no idea what Hiruzen promised you but even he can't push through the council and give you the rank of Jonin without expending quite a bit of his political capital... which he would certainly not do. Not for you." Tsunade shrugged, enjoying the gaping expression of the girl who was inwardly surely cursing like a sailor.
"Why?" Anko weakly asked, not understanding. If what Tsunade told her was true, the Third Hokage made her ruin her career, assigned her to the worst missions for years, and won't be able to fulfill his part of the deal.
"Because you were young, stupid, easily manipulatable, and most importantly, the village just lost quite a lot of troops due to the Kyuubi a few years prior." Rei brutally interjected from his position behind the stove as he cooked. Hearing him, Anko's head snapped to him but he didn't bother looking at her and focused on the food as he continued. "My guess is that the Hokage needed somebody doing the missions Red Listed individuals usually did. He could not red-list people on a whim and even those strong individuals failing somewhat important missions had to be pardoned in fear of losing them on suicide missions, therefore reducing the overall strength of the village. He needed someone expendable for the suicide missions. Someone whose death would not matter but also someone who could pull it off. And damn girl, you did pull off four consecutive years! Talk about real talent." Rei chuckled, not even needing to see Anko's mortified expression to know how she felt.
"You want to tell me I am expendable!?" Anko ground her teeth in anger and glared at Rei's back, only to be stopped by Tsunade's narrowing her eyes and seeping a bit of her killing intent outward. That quickly froze any fiery anger Anko could feel, causing her to involuntarily shiver. She quickly realized her former sensei had nothing on Tsunade when it came to a pure killing intent.
"We will get to that." Tsunade told the girl, releasing the pressure she put on her. "Next on the council are Elders. I believe I don't have to tell you much about them."
"No... they made their hatred of me widely known." Anko tightly squeezed her fists, preventing her anger from resurfacing.
"What they most certainly didn't do, was tell you their hatred of you is totally faked." Tsunade quipped, causing Anko's head to snap in her direction and uncomprehendingly blink at her. "Elders seldom do something based on emotions alone. You can always count that they have some sort of vision or a plan. Especially Danzo. I must admit, I have no knowledge of why they act as if they hated you so I can only give you my guess. You are hated by the general public? They also hate you because it appeals to the masses. I doubt this is the real reason when it concerns you though so you should be always on your best guard around them. At best, they will be neutral to you but there is nothing you yourself can do to make it so. The initiative has to come from them and their emotions can be easily swayed by the political winds." Tsunade amusedly said.
"Another dead end, then." Anko nodded, somewhat accepting now. "The political winds hate me." She shrugged, causing Rei to laugh. "The last part of the council is the Hokage." Anko's back straightened, only to freeze when her eyes met Tsunade's gaze. The sadness in her eyes was something even Anko found hard to deal with. Thankfully, Tsunade started talking soon enough, distracting Anko from these thoughts.
"Anko, you are a Snake Summoner." Tsunade stated, getting a nod from the young girl but when she saw her expression... "You totally don't get it, do you?" Tsunade pointed out with a tired sigh. "Fine... more explanations, then."
(Cliff-kun says hello!)
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