Hokage's Office.
"Hokage-sama!"
Maito Gai, Yuhi Kurenai, and Hatake Kakashi greeted Tsunade.
Unless it was during warti or in the ANBU, shinobi didn't need to kneel when facing the Hokage. As for Ebisu, he knelt because he knew he had made a mistake and was afraid.
Now that Kakashi had mostly recovered, and the strain on his body from the Sharingan had lessened, he felt incredibly light, as if he had regained his vitality after overexerting himself.
He was full of energy.
"Tomorrow, I'm heading to the Daimyo's residence. Gai and Kurenai, you two will lead the escort team. Kakashi, you'll stay behind to oversee the Hokage Building. Shizune will handle administrative affairs. If anyone stirs up trouble, you have full authority to deal with it first and report later."
"Understood!"
Although Kakashi didn't understand why Tsunade had chosen to leave him behind, he still obeyed the order.
According to Kakashi's expectations, with him and Gai escorting Tsunade to the Daimyo's palace, everything would go smoothly. The three of them together could be considered Konoha's current top combat force.
"Kurenai, you'll lead Yamashiro Aoba and Shiranui Genma. Gather at Konoha's main gate early tomorrow. As for your current squad, have them take on so D-rank missions or train at ho."
Kurenai had no objections.
Being assigned to escort Hokage to the Daimyo was an honor in itself.
To be honest, part of the reason Kurenai had reached the rank of jounin was due to her father's legacy, and another was Asuma's favor towards her. The Third Hokage had deliberately promoted her to support Asuma.
In terms of raw strength, Kurenai was decent, but she was nowhere near the level of elite jounin like Kakashi or Maito Gai.
"Understood!"
"Maito Gai, you'll lead Kamizuki Izumo and Hagane Kotetsu. Gather at the main gate tomorrow morning. As for your students, Rock Lee should remain in the hospital to recover, while Neji and Tenten will be assigned to gate duty. Any objections?"
"No problem!" Gai responded instantly.
Tsunade had healed both his best friend and his disciple—escorting her to the Daimyo's residence was nothing. He'd follow her even into a lion's den without hesitation.
"Kakashi, since your body has just recovered, you're not suited for long journeys. Shizune and Nara Shikaku will handle administrative duties, while you'll take temporary command of the ANBU. If anything unusual happens, you're authorized to take action imdiately."
There weren't many in Konoha that Tsunade both trusted and who had sufficient strength.
After much thought, she decided to entrust this responsibility to Kakashi.
"Hokage-sama, isn't Jiraiya-sama teaching Naruto? Couldn't this task be given to him?" Kakashi asked curiously.
At the ntion of Jiraiya, Tsunade's expression darkened slightly.
"Don't bring him up. Recently, the owners of Konoha's bathhouses have been filing complaints every day. You may enjoy reading his books, but at least you're reliable. I don't want Konoha's reputation affected by... that kind of behavior."
Fair enough.
Recalling Jiraiya's habits, Kakashi had no further argunts.
Jiraiya's peeping was legendary. With his current level of skill, regular bathhouse owners would have no way of catching him. However, ever since he started hanging around, the number of female patrons at Konoha's bathhouses had plumted. Even if they couldn't prove he was peeping, the owners had started filing complaints regardless.
Tsunade knew this but couldn't say much about it.
The root of the problem lay with Jiraiya.
If he didn't have this dark history, no one would be able to slander him.
He had no one to bla but himself.
"Alright, you all should go make your preparations."
Ti was short, and Tsunade didn't want to waste any more of it.
For Kakashi, a single man left to guard Konoha, there wasn't much to arrange. But for Gai and Kurenai, it was different. They needed to make arrangents for their squads—especially Kurenai, whose students were all from prominent clans. She needed to visit each of their families personally to explain the situation.
The Hyuga, Abura, and Inuzuka clans were all staunch supporters of Konoha, so Tsunade wasn't worried about any objections from them.
Once the three of them left, Tsunade let out a sigh of relief.
Everything was in place, just waiting for the right mont.
A stable rear was necessary for her to negotiate with the Daimyo.
Previously, the Daimyo's support for Konoha had been unwavering, but ever since she took office, issues had begun to arise. Sothing was clearly amiss. If it ca to a fight, Tsunade alone could tear down the Daimyo's residence.
The problem was the Daimyo's authority. If she acted recklessly, she might not only lose her position as Hokage but also beco a rogue shinobi.
The Five Great Nations wouldn't tolerate such a move.
---
[Now that everyone's gone, I just want to go ho and sleep.]
[Speaking of which, since it's my first ti visiting the Daimyo's residence, should I bring back so souvenirs?]
Tsunade eagerly waited to hear Kamizuki Hikari ntion her na in his thoughts.
Buying souvenirs couldn't just be for himself, after all.
Society thrived on relationships. As the Fifth Hokage and Hikari's direct superior, Tsunade felt she should receive sothing too.
Her request wasn't unreasonable.
[I heard the Daimyo's residence is full of beautiful won. I'll spend so money and buy eight or ten of them. That way, I won't even need to worry about finding a wife. I'll give one to my older brother so he can continue the Kamizuki bloodline.]
[I'll also give one to Kotetsu, so he stops clinging to my brother all the ti and gives him so space to relax.]
[As for the rest, I guess I'll keep them all for myself. Soone with my physique can't be satisfied with just one woman.]
Tsunade: ???
Souvenirs?
You're calling won from the Daimyo's residence souvenirs?! Are you out of your mind?!
Tsunade glared at Hikari, itching to tear him apart.
She had always tolerated his inner fantasies about her. But now he was thinking about buying won from the Daimyo's residence?
Keeping seven or eight for himself? Could his body even handle that?
She was the Hokage, his direct superior. At the very least, he should give her half!
Not that she needed won for companionship, but having soone take care of daily needs wasn't bad.
No wonder he never got promoted—his way of doing things was hopeless.
[Sothing's off with this big-chested woman.]
Hikari's instincts were sharp. The mont Tsunade's gaze turned murderous, he sensed danger.
Instantly, Tsunade composed herself, not letting Kamizuki Hikari notice her unusual behavior.
Being able to hear Kamizuki Hikari's thoughts was her special ability. Although she didn't know how she gained it, since she had it, she didn't want him to find out.
[Could it be that ti of the month?]
[That makes sense. Even gods would struggle during that ti, let alone Tsunade.]
Oh, you little...
Tsunade's fingers dug into her desk, barely holding back her anger.
If she couldn't hear his thoughts, she would never have realized just how absurd and pointless the knowledge in that head of his was.
"That ti of the month" huh?
I'll show you a ti of the month!
Does he not realize shinobi can handle these things easily?
I'm the legendary Senju Tsunade!
I was going to let you go ho early today... Heh, forget it. You're staying until midnight!
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