Tsunade Takes Office

Ninja were still quick on the draw.

Yesterday, the Jonin Meeting had nominated Tsunade as the Fifth Hokage. Today, her inauguration ceremony was already underway.

Tsunade stood atop the Hokage Building, looking down at the gathered crowd below, her heart surging with excitement.

"Lady Tsunade, this is your speech!"

Her personal secretary, Shizune, handed over a sheet of paper, hoping Tsunade would at least read it before delivering the speech according to the procedure.

But she had forgotten who Tsunade was.

Tsunade had never acted according to ordinary expectations.

She took the speech, crumpled it into a ball, and tossed it into a corner.

"Everyone!"

"From today onward, I, Tsunade, am the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village!"

Her sheer presence overflowed.

Tsunade's majestic bearing made countless women unconsciously press their legs together as they stared at her with lovestruck faces.

That was Tsunade's charm.

So handsome, so handsome! As expected of Lady Tsunade!

I can barely take it anymore. I really want to carry her home!

As Tsunade walked back toward the Hokage's desk, she suddenly swerved aside, looking as though she had nearly stumbled.

That bastard. Can't he think about anything besides perverted crap?

Cursing inwardly, Tsunade waved to show that she was fine, then sat down at the desk.

A stack of documents as tall as half a person was sitting on the desk, waiting for Tsunade's favor.

Why the hell did so many people fight over such a troublesome position? Wouldn't it be better to slack off and coast through life?

Crack!

The brush snapped in her grip. Tsunade raised her head and looked toward Hikari, who was quietly slacking off in the corner, a flash of killing intent passing through her eyes.

She had known being Hokage would be this troublesome. That was why she had never wanted to come back.

If it had not been for the fact that Konoha truly had no candidates left, would she have returned so obediently?

Just thinking about it made the answer obvious.

"Hikari!"

"Here!"

So Tsunade had finally realized I was useless and was going to throw me out to guard the gates?

Although I could still check in while guarding the Hokage Building's entrance, slacking off at Konoha's main gate was still much better.

The corner of Tsunade's mouth twitched. She felt that if she kept Hikari by her side, the muscles in her face would sooner or later develop permanent twitching.

She had never seen someone so shameless.

"Since your post has been transferred to my side, help me go through these Hokage documents!"

Do not assume that the documents reviewed by the Hokage were anything extraordinary. A large portion consisted of ordinary mission reports and intelligence gathered from various places. There were not actually that many matters concerning Konoha itself.

"Lady Tsunade, these are documents only the Hokage is permitted to read. Asking a subordinate like me to review them would be overstepping my authority and against the rules."

Bang!

Faced with Hikari's perfunctory reply, Tsunade slammed the desk.

Damn, her temper was this explosive? Could Tsunade be going through menopause? I'd better be careful.

Hold it in!

Tsunade, you have to hold it in.

You absolutely cannot get angry.

Getting angry at a guy like this would lower your standards.

After comforting herself internally, she finally brought down her rising blood pressure.

"I am the Hokage. What I say is the rule in Konoha. Are you trying to defy the Hokage's orders?" She dropped a huge accusation on Hikari, thoroughly pinning him down.

Even though he was unwilling in every possible way, Hikari still slowly walked over and picked up a document.

The wasteland around Konoha needs to be developed by the populace. Please provide instructions, Lord Hokage!

What the hell!

Was this a joke?

For developing wasteland, shouldn't they find specialists? Why ask the Hokage? Was there something wrong with their heads?

"What is it?"

Seeing Hikari's pained expression, Tsunade was delighted inside, though her face showed nothing as she asked the question.

Hikari opened the document and placed it before Tsunade.

"This is simple. Count the ordinary people who do not yet own land, have them go claim some, and then carry out planning according to the circumstances."

So that was how it worked.

Hikari felt as though he had learned something new.

Why not use ninja to reclaim wasteland? If ninja did it, they could reclaim far more land than ordinary people while expending less effort, right?

Hearing Hikari's inner thoughts, Tsunade was not astonished by his insight. Instead, she gave him a rather helpless look.

"Do you have doubts in your heart? Do you think that since ninja control Konoha, the surrounding land can be freely reclaimed, and that using this method to strengthen the ninja would be a good idea?"

Hikari gave Tsunade a puzzled look, then nodded.

"Yes, Lady Tsunade. That is indeed what I was thinking."

"Not bad. At least you know how to use your brain." Tsunade smiled.

"Konoha is indeed controlled by the Hokage, but beyond that territory, the Daimyo's orders take precedence. No matter how powerful we ninja are, the Daimyo is the nation's rightful ruler."

"Konoha's permanent population, the number of ninja, and how much land each civilian has reclaimed all need to be reported to the Daimyo. There is a vague line in all this that must never be crossed, because it would cause the Daimyo to lose trust in us, reduce military funding, and impose sanctions on the ninja village."

"In terms of military power, ninja hold an overwhelming advantage. But in terms of national legitimacy, ninja are merely an institution under the Daimyo. If we do not obey, the Daimyo can completely cut off financial subsidies or even dismiss the ninja village."

"Together, both sides benefit. Apart, both sides suffer."

"Konoha and the Land of Fire are partners. Besides, ninja need to take missions, and the source of those missions is the nobility. If the Daimyo is unwilling, he can simply entrust missions to other ninja villages. Over time, do you think Konoha would still have a future?"

Hikari fell silent.

He had never imagined that beneath the seemingly hot-blooded Naruto plot, there was such a political game.

No wonder the ninja did not become independent. It was the inevitable trend of the times; they simply could not do so.

If Hikari wanted to start a revolution, he would first need to broaden people's minds and make them develop independent thought instead of placing the Daimyo first.

And once he did that, never mind how troublesome it would be—the time required alone would have to be measured in decades.

Why would Hikari do something so troublesome and exhausting?

He had not transmigrated here to make himself suffer.

Since a system existed, it naturally had both strengths and weaknesses.

"I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Lady Tsunade!"

Although Tsunade had not heard Hikari's inner thoughts, she was still satisfied after sensing his shock.

Scared now, little brother?

You said I had no political wisdom. Did you really think just anyone could be Hokage?

"Continue with the next one. I'm very pleased to have someone as thoughtful as you here!"

Hikari's hand froze as it reached for another document, and he looked at Tsunade suspiciously.

No way, I'm still a child!

Could Tsunade be planning to trap me here reviewing documents while she sneaked off to drink?

If that was really the case, then don't blame me for showing no mercy. I'll make you suffer horribly in the book!

Tsunade: ???

Hikari did not want to, but she had nearly forgotten.

The man standing before her was not only a handsome man who wanted to coast through life, but also an author of "yellow" books as famous as Jiraiya!

If you dare write about me, you're dead!

I, Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, said so. Even the Sage of Six Paths would not be able to save you.