Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I also have no idea what the hell I was thinking when I wrote this.

As much as she hated to admit it, Tsunade had once had a crush on Orochimaru.

It was a long time ago, she justified to herself, everyone's stupid when they're young. And besides that, she couldn't have known what she knew now. That he was vengeful and ambitious and would stop at nothing to attain his ends. He was also slightly psychotic by most people's definitions. She tried to tell herself that she hadn't known that. But the truth is...

She had.

She understood what was going on behind his expressionless eyes. She had always known, deep inside, that he would betray them. For some reason, that made him exciting. She had never had any illusions about his heart; she knew it was black and incapable of love. There were times, when she looked at herself honestly, and wondered if the reason for her fascination was that she had a darker side too.

As teammates they had always had a unique relationship. He fascinated her and she had his respect. Very few ever had such an honor, and she treasured it.

Her affection for him should have died when her brother and Dan were killed. Should have, but didn't. He had reacted coldly; his snake eyes held no concern for her. Just like she knew they wouldn't. But her fascination still remained. She would still watch him as he battled. He was a precise killer; he handled kunai like a surgeon handling a scalpel. He was completely merciless as he took the lives of his opponents. It excited her. It made her hate herself at the same time.

There was no surprise when she heard about his human experiments, about his quest for immortality. She had seen that coming a long time ago. Sarutobi had kept faith in him, Tsunade knew he would never stray from the path he had decided on.

Sometimes she would wonder idly if she should have killed him long ago. Slipped poison in his drink, messed up a healing jutsu; at that time he wouldn't have suspected her. But she knows that she couldn't have killed him then.

But she could now. She was the Hokage; her only duty was to her village. The first chance she got, she would kill him without mercy.

And only a little regret.

Just a little thing I couldn't get out of my head. As I reread it, I don't really like it, but I'll post it anyway.