The next day, Sarutobi Hiruzen directly announced Tsunade's succession as the Godaime Hokage during the village's repair and reconstruction.
This matter was handled with swift decisiveness. No fanfare, no drawn-out speeches.
Just results.
Seeing the granddaughter of the First and Second Hokages, the legendary Sannin, and the idol of all kunoichi in the Shinobi World—Tsunade—take the hat, the morale of Konoha skyrocketed.
The somewhat disheartened ninjas and villagers, who were still sweeping up the rubble from the Konoha Crush, reignited their Will of Fire.
"Princess Tsunade is back!"
"We are saved!"
After cheering, everyone redoubled their efforts in the reconstruction work.
Productivity went up 300%!
....
Afternoon. Hokage Office.
Tsunade was sitting in the Hokage's chair, seriously writing something with a pen.
Her brow was furrowed in concentration.
Shizune had set up a small table nearby, also reviewing official documents with Tonton sleeping on her lap.
This seemingly harmonious scene made people think that Tsunade's previous words about laziness were just jokes.
It seemed she would actually handle official business seriously.
In reality...
'Hmm,' Tsunade thought, chewing on the end of her pen.
'Besides Shizune, Shikaku Nara can also share some burden since he's smart.'
'Forget it, let the whole Ino-Shika-Cho trio come together. Shikaku makes decisions, Inoichi collects intelligence, and Choza handles execution.'
'And that old man... thinking he can retire and enjoy life after stepping down? Dream on!'
'No, can't write it like that in the official decree.'
Tsunade scribbled furiously.
'Let me think...'
'I am young and inexperienced. I humbly request the Third's guidance on handling village affairs of all sizes.'
'Yes! Moreover, handling affairs can effectively prevent senile dementia! This is for the old man benefit! A win-win situation!'
'And Kakashi...'
BANG.
The office door was pushed open without knocking.
Jiraiya and Naruto, who had been summoned back by Hiruzen's ANBU, had just returned to the village.
They were shocked to learn that Tsunade was already sitting in the big chair.
"Dammit," Naruto muttered loudly, pointing a rude finger. "How did such a young woman become Hokage? Isn't it supposed to be an old geezer?"
Naruto, who aimed to become Hokage himself, looked at Tsunade with a mix of envy and confusion.
She looks younger than Kakashi-sensei!
"Naruto, what are you saying?" Jiraiya "kindly" corrected him, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Tsunade is one of the Legendary Sannin alongside me. She uses a transformation jutsu to look young. In reality, she's old enough to be your grandmother. She's old as hell!"
"WHAT?!" Naruto's jaw dropped. "She's actually an old lady?!"
'Noice' Jiraiya gave himself a mental thumbs-up.
Naruto successfully drew the aggro.
Now Tsunade wouldn't focus on him taking Naruto to the women's bathhouse earlier.
He used the boy as a human shield.
"Old lady... again."
CRACK.
The pen in Tsunade's hand snapped in half.
She gritted her teeth.
'First Makoto, now this brat.'
But ultimately, she restrained her anger. Now that she was the Hokage, if she smashed the Hokage Building, the repair costs would come out of her gambling budget.
That was unacceptable!
"Ahem," Jiraiya sweated nervously. "Tsunade, I'm relieved to see you're back. You look great! Uh, Naruto and I will head out for training now... bye!"
Jiraiya, afraid Tsunade might notice his little schemes, tried to leave quickly while dragging Naruto by the collar.
"STOP!"
Tsunade stood up from her seat. Her gaze swept over the two like a searchlight.
"Training is fine," she declared. "But aside from Mount Myōboku, you cannot leave the village beyond a ten-mile radius. You are grounded."
"Why?!" Jiraiya grew anxious. "The Old Man agreed to let me take out Naruto out for training before!"
Taking Naruto for training was one thing, but his "research trips" were another.
If he got caught gathering material outside the village, he could run away.
But if he got caught near the village by the Hokage? He'd lose half his life and his penis.
"No reason needed," Tsunade slammed her hands on the desk.
"Don't forget, I'm the Hokage."
Jiraiya's attempt to invoke Hiruzen's prior agreement had no effect.
Until she confirmed the truth about the future, she had no intention of telling anyone.
It sounded too crazy.
But just in case, she couldn't let the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki wander around the countryside like a free buffet.
"...You'll regret this, Tsunade," Jiraiya's face flushed red with frustration.
With nothing left to say, he muttered a familiar-sounding line and left the office looking dejected.
"Regret my ass!" Tsunade huffed, sitting back down.
She picked up a new pen.
"Speaking of which," she muttered to herself. "That Danzo guy never seems to show up when the village is in trouble. He hid during the Nine-Tails attack, and he hid during Orochimaru's invasion."
"Does his Root really still need to exist?"
Tsunade lowered her head to look at the document in front of her and began to ponder.
...
Not long after Jiraiya and Naruto left, two more people arrived at the Hokage's office.
One with pink hair, one with blonde.
They were Haruno Sakura and Yamanaka Ino.
"You're Sakura and Ino, right?" Tsunade looked up from her paperwork. "Someone recommended you to me. Starting tomorrow, you'll train under me as Medical Ninjas."
Seeing the two girls standing nervously before her, Tsunade grinned.
"R-Really?"
"We get to train under Lady Tsunade... no, the Hokage herself?"
Sakura and Ino grabbed each other's hands, overjoyed.
This was the opportunity of a lifetime!
"Yes," Tsunade nodded.
It was Makoto who recommended them, but the decision was ultimately hers.
Tsunade planned to teach them while also working hard to overcome her hemophobia.
She needed exposure therapy.
And teaching inexperienced medics who made bloody mistakes was perfect for that.
"But before that," Tsunade leaned forward. "I need to ask you some questions."
"Please ask, Lady Tsunade! We'll answer truthfully!" Ino stood at attention.
"Mm-hmm. Alright, Ino."
"Yes!"
When her name was called, Ino stepped forward eagerly.
"The Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques—Mind Body Switch and sensory jutsu—require precise chakra control," Tsunade explained. "Training in Medical Ninjutsu under me won't hinder your family techniques—it'll actually help you kill two birds with one stone."
"However," Tsunade's expression turned serious. "The person who recommended you hopes I give you a choice."
"...Please go on, Lady Tsunade," Ino hesitated slightly.
An image of Makoto flashed in her mind.
If it were a regular villager who recommended them, Tsunade wouldn't refer to them as "that person" with such a complicated tone.
"Do you want to focus primarily on your clan's secret techniques," Tsunade asked, "or study Medical Ninjutsu under me to become a combat medic?"
"He told me a lot of useless things," Tsunade scoffed, "but there's one point I agree with—your appearance is quite suitable for being my disciple."
Tsunade casually glanced at Ino's developing chest.
"You have... potential," Tsunade nodded approvingly.
Then she looked somewhat regretfully at Sakura, who stood next to Ino like a flat board.
Sakura noticed Tsunade's gaze and she looked down at herself.
Sure enough, she could see her ninja sandals directly.
"Well, Sakura," Tsunade coughed awkwardly. "Don't worry about that. You might just be a late bloomer."
'Late bloomer? More like no bloomer at all!'
Sakura died a little inside.
After comforting Sakura, Tsunade turned her attention back to Ino.
"His exact words were: Are you willing to stay in your comfort zone, focusing on your clan's support techniques and relying on the Ino-Shika-Cho formation? Or do you want to become like me—capable of holding your own even when fighting alone?"
Ino hadn't expected Tsunade to ask such a deep question.
She was momentarily flustered.
Be like Tsunade? Strong, beautiful, and independent? Or stay as just 'Ino of the Trio'?
"No need to answer immediately," Tsunade waved her hand. "Take your time to think about it. The basic training will be the same regardless. You'll be scrubbing hospital floors for a month anyway."
Tsunade patted Ino's shoulder and walked over to Sakura.
Just as Sakura thought she would also face a difficult philosophical choice about her future...
Tsunade simply asked: "Is Uzumaki Naruto your teammate?"
"Yes, Lady Tsunade," Sakura nodded quickly. "Naruto, Sasuke-kun, and I are all under Kakashi-sensei's command."
"Have you ever punched him?"
"Um... well..."
Sakura hesitated.
She thought Tsunade wanted to know if she had the compassion of a medical practitioner.
'Should I lie?'
But ultimately, she felt she shouldn't lie to the Hokage.
She gritted her teeth and nodded. "Yes. Often. He's... annoying."
"Oh, good," Tsunade's eyes lit up.
"Your punches aren't fast enough or strong enough yet. Train well with me."
Tsunade patted Sakura's shoulder hard, nearly dislocating it, then turned and walked back to her desk.
"??????"
Sakura stood there, completely confused.
'What did that mean?'
'Did that idiot Naruto offend Lady Tsunade too? Is she training me to be her hitman against Naruto?'
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Speeding up a bit since the hillarious part start when boruto arrive, more chapter coming soon!