You're summoned by Hokage

You walk into the Hokage’s office with a stride that lacks any hint of guilt or hesitation. Tsunade is leaning over her desk, her eyes sharp, ready to begin a subtle interrogation about Kurenai and your recent activities.

Before she can even open her mouth to ask a "casual" question, you preempt her entirely.

"Do you have anything on Sasuke?" you ask, your voice flat and professional. "Any new intel from the scouts in the Land of Sound? Any sightings of Orochimaru’s hideouts?"

The sudden, high-stakes shift in topic catches Tsunade completely off guard. She has been prepared to talk about hormonal spikes and behavioral changes; instead, she is faced with the village's most pressing security concern. She blinks, her momentum stalling.

"I... no," she admits, her shoulders dropping slightly as she moves back to her official capacity. "The trail went cold after the last skirmish. We have teams out, but Orochimaru is moving his base every few weeks. Why the sudden interest? You aren't assigned to that unit right now."

"Just making sure the village's priorities are straight. In case you haven't forget, I did promise to bring him home, remember?" you reply with a small, knowing smirk. You can see the gears turning in her head, her suspicion about your private life being pushed aside by the weight of her responsibilities as Hokage. You have effectively reminded her that while she is worrying about Kurenai’s "flush," there were literal traitors and S-rank threats still at large.

You reach out and tap the corner of her desk. "Since you don't have anything for me to hunt, I’ll take my compensation for the you wasting my time."

"Brat!"

"Give me my coupons and I'll reserve that one bottle from Nami."

Tsunade sighs, reaching into a drawer and tossing a small envelope toward you. "Fine. Here’s your voucher for Ichiraku’s. Don't say I never give you anything."

"Much appreciated, Granny," you tease, tucking the ramen voucher into your vest.

As you turn to leave, you catch the look of lingering doubt on her face, but she doesn't stop you. You have played her perfectly—using the village’s biggest ghost to hide the one you are keeping in your own shadow.