'Where do I even begin with all of this?'
Kakashi sighed softly, cursed with the knowledge to change the world, but not enough time to do everything he wanted to do; he had to prioritize the immediate stuff that could help the world in the long run, but the other stuff would be just as important, given the time constraints…
'Maybe I should have used Kotoamatsukami on Orochimaru.'
Inside a hidden lab somewhere, a certain snake man shivered despite not being cold, before he shrugged it off as a side effect of being in an improper body and got back to work storing the first body he was able to retrieve- well, material to summon him- labeling the scroll as 'red sand' and storing it securely in the ultimate storage space known as his stomach.
'No, I already did the deal; I'll only use it if he tries something, which I know he won't under his own mind, genjutsu notwithstanding. His greed in this sense is even more reliable than Kotoamatsukami.'
Kakashi sighed before disappearing, leaving his clones to watch over Sasuke and Naruto.
- Hokage's Office -
"Damnit Kakashi! If I didn't trust you, this damn kunai wouldn't be in my office in the first place, but if you keep appearing like this, I'll put it outside."
Tsunade exploded after being jump-scared, a vein throbbing on her temple before she calmed herself with a deep inhale and looked at the silent Jonin standing there with an innocent expression.
"I have the next step in Sakura's training, and also a little gift for you."
Kakashi pressed a finger to his left wrist like he was pulling something out of an invisible storage tattoo, mentally summoning the Wine of Youth to his hand.
Tsunade stared at the sudden bottle, her brow furrowing into a deeply judgmental look. "You stored wine in your wrist? That is a ridiculous waste of a sealing matrix—" She paused, blinking as the practical genius of having alcohol instantly accessible at all times finally clicked in her mind. Her expression softened into a look of genuine respect. "Actually... that sounds like something I would do. So my gift is this wine bottle? Not bad."
Kakashi shook his head, knowing that his response would sound very stingy, but he would explain.
"Your gift is a single glass of it, and before you get upset, this wine is special; Mei and I had some on our honeymoon. It has special properties, completely beneficial with no drawbacks."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes before opening a locked drawer in her desk, pulling out a glass and setting it on the table.
"I'll be the judge of that."
'Shizune definitely doesn't know about that drawer.'
Kakashi sheepishly thought as he pulled the cork off and poured the glass full of wine.
"Mind tossing me a blank scroll? I need it to detail Sakura's next training method."
Tsunade idly tossed a blank scroll across the wooden desk toward him. Kakashi caught it smoothly and sat down on the chair across from her. Unrolling a small storage scroll from his pouch, he unsealed an ink brush and a small inkwell with a quick burst of chakra. He set the inkwell down on the desk, dipped the brush, and immediately began writing out the method required to achieve Total Concentration Breathing: Constant.
As Tsunade swirled the drink before downing it in one go, Kakashi's hand moved like lightning. He instantly stored the bottle back into his 'wrist' before Tsunade could snatch it up and drink the whole thing.
Tsunade frowned at the loss of more of the delicious drink before the effects hit her. A sudden rush of vitality flooded her body, striking her right at her core. Because the seal on her forehead normally took a toll on her actual lifespan, the immediate influx of restorative power was impossible to miss. Her body felt a deep sense of relief as her internal systems began a slow, constant repair.
"Now I know why you only meant one glass, but do you think it'll be enough for me?"
"Yes, I fully believe that even without the serum enhancements you received, you'd be fully restored to your prime with this one glass of wine, but now that the wine is actively restoring you, your enhancements will see an improvement as well."
Tsunade's eyes shone with a new light. When she first invented the Strength of a Hundred Seal, she had been experimenting blindly and fell directly into pitfalls that permanently limited its efficiency. Now, with all her accumulated years of medical mastery combined with this blank slate from the wine, she could start fresh. She could finally use the seal as effectively as Sakura does. On top of that, she would finally have the chance to take on the specialized training Katsuyu had offered her when she was younger.
"You can pop in whenever you like from now on." Tsunade sighed softly, her emotions swirling beneath the calmness of her face and eyes.
Kakashi smiled slightly, keeping his attention away out of respect. He knew Tsunade was going through a lot of complex emotions right now, and giving her space was the best move.
"This scroll contains the training for Sakura; you can do it as well, of course," Kakashi said, breaking the silence as he adjusted the paper. "Sakura already knows the steps leading up to this. It'll help you improve your power without activating your seal, and, in conjunction with the seal, you'll see an even bigger boost."
Kakashi handed over the scroll and gave her a quick two-finger salute before vanishing from the office.
- Chapter End -
A bit short, but more to come.