He had only told Karin that he found her a master, without revealing too many details.
Having lived in Uzumaki Naruto's house and watched Hyuga Hinata and Ino Yamanaka continuously train and grow stronger, Karin also yearned for power, so she immediately apprenticed herself.
Even if the other party was just an ordinary Jonin, she was still much stronger than herself.
But she never expected that today Uzumaki Naruto would not let her buy groceries or do housework, but instead brought her to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Fifth Hokage.
Then she saw the master she had apprenticed herself to, clad in the Hokage's ceremonial robe, standing on the high platform of the Hokage Building, delivering an impassioned speech under the gaze of all, which drew cheers and applause from everyone.
The shock made Karin feel as if she were dreaming.
"Na-Naruto-sama..."
"Am I really not—dreaming?"
After pinching her cheek, Karin felt a little pain and stared blankly at Uzumaki Naruto.
"You're not dreaming. Your teacher is Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin, and also the Fifth Hokage of Konoha Village."
Uzumaki Naruto smiled and nodded.
"Also, just call me by my name. How many times have I told you, you don't need to add 'sama' after it."
"Then—Master?"
Karin tilted her head, a playful, almost imperceptible smile curving her lips.
Three black lines appeared on Uzumaki Naruto's forehead, and his peripheral vision instinctively swept towards Hinata, glaring at the seemingly deliberate Karin.
"The title 'Master' can only be used when you're wearing your maid outfit at home. Outside, just use my name."
"Karin understands."
The red-haired girl nodded obediently.
Ino Yamanaka secretly pinched Uzumaki Naruto's waist from behind him, giggling and whispering, "Master~"
Hinata, on the other hand, showed no reaction, only her cheeks were flushed, and she kept her head down.
"Haha, good kid, you're much more capable than I am."
Jiraiya smiled.
At this moment, the keenly perceptive Uzumaki Naruto immediately sensed a gaze coming from the open-air high platform of the Hokage Building.
Uzumaki Naruto looked over and his eyes immediately met Tsunade's in mid-air.
Tsunade's full lips curved into a smile, and she slightly waved at Uzumaki Naruto.
"Ah—Lady Tsunade is waving at me!"
"You flirt, she's clearly waving and smiling at me!"
"Lady Tsunade! Lady Tsunade!"
Enthusiastic shouts rose and fell in the crowd.
The inauguration ceremony concluded smoothly.
Top floor of the Hokage Building, high-level conference room.
The afterglow of the setting sun passed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, dyeing the long conference table a warm orange-red, but it couldn't dispel a certain heavy atmosphere in the room.
Tsunade sat in the main seat, the authority of her ceremonial robe still lingering.
Seated on either side were Konoha's true power core: Advisors Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado, as well as Hiruzen Sarutobi, who, even after stepping down, still wielded immense influence.
Originally, Danzo also had a seat at this table, but he had already died in the Root Organization's base.
The meeting's agenda included post-war reconstruction, defense deployment, and the evaluation and control of Uzumaki Naruto's power.
"The power of the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki is too dangerous and uncontrollable!"
Utatane Koharu's voice carried a rigid severity. She pushed up her reading glasses,
"The battle in Tanzaku Street, its destructive power far exceeded the scope of ordinary Ninja, and who knows how much its own seal has loosened! Such power must be strictly restricted! I suggest placing him under the strict supervision of the Anbu, and if necessary—"
"I second that."
Homura Mitokado interjected, his tone equally unyielding.
"Although Uzumaki Naruto has made great contributions, the essence of his power is the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, and his actions are becoming increasingly reckless. A complete system of checks and balances must be established, and we should even consider imposing more powerful sealing jutsu on him, just in case."
Tsunade's brows were tightly furrowed, and her fingers tapped on the table, making soft thudding sounds.
She was about to open her mouth to refute these conservative, even cruel, proposals.
Just then, the conference room door was gently pushed open.
Uzumaki Naruto walked in, a sunny and guileless smile on his face: "Sister Tsunade, Jiraiya-sensei said we're celebrating your Hokage appointment at Ichiraku tonight!? Grandpa Third, Advisors, you're here too?"
He looked as if he was just a young boy who had accidentally wandered into the conference room.
"Uzumaki Naruto?"
"This is a high-level meeting, no unauthorized entry!" Utatane Koharu immediately sternly reprimanded.
"What's wrong with the Anbu guards outside?"
"How can they just let the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki barge into the conference room!" Homura Mitokado angrily shouted.
"Ah, I'm sorry, I just came to find Sister Tsunade!"
Uzumaki Naruto apologized with his mouth, but his expression was one of indifference, and he walked directly towards Homura Mitokado.
Homura Mitokado asked with a hint of bravado, "Naruto, what—what are you going to do?" Uzumaki Naruto didn't answer, his back to everyone, looking directly into Homura Mitokado's eyes.
In an instant.
His azure irises turned blood-red, and tomoe patterns appeared around his pupils.
Mangekyo Sharingan, activate!
"This—"
Homura Mitokado was about to speak when Uzumaki Naruto unleashed Kotoamatsukami, and the golden light that rewrites consciousness flooded his mental space.
All of this happened in a flash, so quickly that even Tsunade, who was only inches away, didn't notice.
She only saw Uzumaki Naruto shrug and spread his hands, casually saying, "Then I won't disturb you."
"Sister Tsunade, remember the party tonight!"
Then he turned and left the conference room with light steps, even thoughtfully closing the door behind him.
Silence returned to the conference room.
Utatane Koharu pushed up her glasses in confusion, looking at Homura Mitokado: "What did that kid just do?"
Homura Mitokado's stern expression became unprecedentedly gentle, "Regarding Uzumaki Naruto—we were too extreme."
"A child with such power and a heart for Konoha is a treasure of the Village and should be fully supported in his growth, not restricted."
"I believe that resources should be allocated to him, and his safety is of paramount importance."
"Indeed, Uzumaki Naruto is the future hope of Konoha. His will should be fully respected and implemented. We old folks should just do our best to assist him."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been silent and hadn't expressed an opinion, slowly exhaled a smoke ring.
In the smoke, his eyes were calm and profound.
No one knew that just last night, Uzumaki Naruto had infiltrated Hiruzen Sarutobi's home and also used Kotoamatsukami on him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Tsunade, his voice gentle and firm: "Tsunade, go ahead and do it. That child, Uzumaki Naruto—the path he chooses is the path of Konoha. We will be your and his strongest backing."
Tsunade was stunned.
She looked at the high-level officials whose attitudes had made a complete U-turn, finding it somewhat unbelievable.
How did the tense atmosphere, which was just moments ago like daggers drawn, become so harmonious after Uzumaki Naruto came in and walked around?
"Homura, Hiruzen, are your views to support the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, without any restrictions or surveillance?" Utatane Koharu asked in confusion. Tsunade clasped her hands together and nodded, saying, "I think the two Advisors are right; our attitude towards Uzumaki Naruto should be gentler. The Nine-Tailed's power cannot be managed by monitoring and restricting it at all!"