Tsunade was about to push the door open when she heard Naruto's voice from behind her, and her mature, beautiful face instantly froze.
She stiffly turned her head, her beautiful eyes a little dazed, her rosy lips slightly parted: "You mean—the giant pit mentioned in the report that could fit the entire Konoha Village, and the several flattened mountains nearby, were all caused by your fight with Nine-Tailed?"
It was precisely because the destructive scene mentioned in the mission report was too terrifying, far beyond imagination, and ordinary Ninja, even elite Jonin, could not handle it, which was why Tsunade came to find Naruto.
Of course, out of personal reasons, Tsunade didn't want Naruto to be involved.
Who told Tsunade that after she became the new Hokage, Jiraiya once again left Konoha Village, traveling around, collecting intelligence and material for his adult novels.
"That's right."
Naruto nodded.
Although the location chosen last night was far enough from Konoha Village, the battle with Kurama was ultimately too grand.
Even if the aftermath of the attack wouldn't spread to Konoha Village, with such a loud noise and a world-destroying scene, Konoha Village's sensory Ninja weren't useless.
"....
Tsunade was silent for a long while, then uttered four words: "Two monsters—"
Naruto picked up the mission scroll and threw it to Tsunade.
"Since that's the case, this S-rank investigation mission is considered complete for you."
"The mission reward will be sent to you as usual later," Tsunade replied, tucking the mission scroll vertically into her ample bosom.
Don't underestimate the D-rank weed-pulling missions; S-rank missions offer extremely high rewards, enough to make an ordinary Ninja rich overnight.
However.
For Naruto, who possessed Kado's wealth, it wasn't much.
Naruto said, "Sister Tsunade, I'm not short on money. Konoha Village is in need of funds for construction right now, you should keep it—"
"Nonsense!"
Tsunade, standing at the doorway, turned her head and glared at Naruto, feigning anger with her beautiful eyes.
"The money for the Village's construction is naturally a headache for those old geezers. If they don't have money, there's still the Daimyo of the Land of Fire."
"Besides, you still have a big family to support—"
Tsunade's beautiful eyes meaningfully swept over Karin, Hyuga Hinata, Ino Yamanaka, and the other girls.
There was no need to mention her own student, Karin.
Helpless and alone, she would probably never leave Naruto for the rest of her life.
As for the thoughts of the two little girls, Hyuga Hinata and Ino Yamanaka, anyone with eyes could see them.
"There will be many places to spend money in the future. Hmm—when a family gets bigger, money flows like water, in ways you can't even imagine."
"Listen to your sister, you can never have too much money."
After hearing Tsunade's words, Naruto suddenly had an epiphany.
Who would ever complain about having too much money?
Otherwise, why would Kado, a famous rich man in the Ninja World, occupy the bridge and want to control the trade route?
"That's true. Konoha Village is the military base of the Land of Fire. With the economic strength of the Land of Fire, Konoha Village can't possibly be short on money."
"Moreover, Orochimaru's Konoha Crush Plan failed, and Sunagakure also had to pay reparations."
"To be precise, Konoha Village is rolling in money, why should I save money for Konoha Village?"
Naruto, whose mind was suddenly enlightened, immediately nodded: "Sister Tsunade, if there are any S-rank missions in the future, just think of me. As long as the price is high enough, I'm willing to do them."
Tsunade couldn't help but laugh, her gaze shifting, sweeping over Kurama.
"You and Nine-Tailed fought. Who won?"
Naruto smiled and retorted, "If I had lost, would the Village have been calm last night?"
Although it was just a casual remark, in Tsunade's ears, it was like a thunderclap, stirring up a huge commotion in her heart.
Naruto defeated Nine-Tailed!
He defeated the "strongest" Tailed Beast!!!
Tsunade knew that Naruto possessed potential comparable to her grandfather, the "God of Shinobi," Senju Hashirama, but she didn't expect it to manifest so quickly.
Winning against Orochimaru and winning against Kurama are two completely different concepts!
"Good! Good! Good!"
Tsunade said "good" three times in a row, each with a different mood and tone.
Kurama grumbled discontentedly, "Brat, my strength hasn't returned to its peak. If you're so capable, wait until I'm back at my prime, then let's fight again!"
Naruto smiled without speaking, knowing that the increasingly tsundere Kurama was just making threats to save face.
"Naruto, from now on, when people mention you, the first thing they'll think of won't be Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, but Konoha Village's strongest!"
"Also, Nine-Tailed's identity must not be revealed for now. As for the news of the seal being released and Nine-Tailed being let out, it is now classified as top-secret intelligence for Konoha Village. No one present can leak it!"
Tsunade's gaze swept over Hyuga Hinata, Ino Yamanaka, and the other girls.
The girls looked solemn, not daring to be negligent, and immediately swore their promise.
"Hmm..."
"Alright, alright, alright, hahahaha!"
Tsunade laughed heartily as she closed the door, just as she encountered Kurenai Yuhi returning from grocery shopping.
Kurenai Yuhi's expression became serious, and she respectfully called out, "Hokage-sama!"
Tsunade hummed, nodded in acknowledgment, a little surprised by the vegetables Kurenai Yuhi was carrying in both hands.
"Jonin Kurenai Yuhi, what are you doing?"
"Grocery shopping."
"Hokage-sama, would you like to stay for a meal?" Kurenai Yuhi asked, lifting the bag.
Kurenai Yuhi's face was a little strange.
A Ninja team's instructor is in charge of grocery shopping?
Although there are instances of instructors treating their team members to meals, she had never heard of one buying groceries and cooking.
However, thinking of Naruto being in Seventh Team, Tsunade felt relieved.
"Next time. I'm busy with official duties right now. Konoha Village still has a lot of messes to clean up. I'll get to work first."
Thinking of the mountain of documents piled on her desk, Tsunade got a headache, raising her index finger and thumb to rub the bridge of her nose.
"Grandfather, how did you manage to be Hokage—"
Tsunade reminisced about Senju Hashirama.
After Kurenai Yuhi bid farewell to Tsunade and Shizune, she returned home.
The door closed with a "thud," isolating the outside world.
Kurama shook his fluffy tail, lightly jumped back onto Naruto's shoulder, and grumbled, "Troublesome woman."
Naruto smiled, extended a finger, and gently scratched Kurama's chin, looking out at the hot spring street through the window:
"Kurama, this will be your home from now on."
Kōtetsujō World.
The Kōtetsujō traveled smoothly on the railway tracks of the Far Eastern island nation, emitting a low, rhythmic rumble.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was completely different from the tense, oppressive feeling before Naruto left.
Sunlight streamed through the narrow train window, illuminating the tiny dust particles in the air.
Without the threat of Kabane's roars, the faces of the common people no longer showed numb fear; instead, there was a sense of post-disaster tranquility, and even quiet conversations and long-suppressed laughter from children began to emerge.
Homemakers carefully distributed the limited but sufficient food and mended torn clothes.
The Samurai no longer constantly gripped their steam guns, their vigilant gazes had relaxed considerably, and they leaned against the carriage walls, closing their eyes to rest, enjoying the rare peace.
Ayame Yūkawa stood by the window at the front of the train, looking at the rapidly passing, peaceful wilderness outside, devoid of any Kabane traces, her heart filled with incredulous confusion and a faint, indescribable anticipation.