Tool Shizune

'Creak!'

The door to the Hokage's Office opened, and Hikari strolled in leisurely before sitting down on his exclusive throne.

At the desk, Shizune, who was buried in approving documents, looked up at Hikari. Her eyes slowly filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment. If she could, she wanted to slack off too.

Turning to look at Tsunade beside her, who had her eyes narrowed, Shizune shook her head helplessly.

Ever since they had returned, Tsunade had said she was tired and needed to rest.

Shizune had no grounds to say anything about that.

After returning from the hospital, Tsunade had performed surgery on Rock Lee. It had consumed not only Chakra but also a great deal of her energy. She needed rest, and Shizune could not object.

But what about Hikari!

He had merely assisted with one surgery, yet he got to sit there and fool around after coming back. It was perfectly normal for Shizune to envy such unfair treatment.

"Hikari, I'm planning to go to the Daimyo's Mansion tomorrow. Come with me," Tsunade suddenly said, sitting up straight.

Hikari waved a hand. "Can I refuse?"

"No!"

"Lady Tsunade, you're the Hokage. Your escort should at least be Jonin to match your status. How about picking a few people from the Jonin Squad or the Special Jonin instead?"

Please don't pick me!

What's so fun about the Daimyo's Mansion? Staying in the Hidden Leaf Village, idling at work while slacking off—that's what I like best.

Though she did not understand what Hikari was thinking, Tsunade had her own calculations.

When she became Hokage this time, she had suppressed the authority of the Hokage Assistants to the bare minimum. She had also swiftly brought several departments with real power under her wing. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura said nothing on the surface, but who knew what schemes they were plotting behind the scenes!

Now the Daimyo had raised the issue of military funding. If it was not handled properly, Tsunade risked being forced from office.

That was something Tsunade could not tolerate.

Even if she did not particularly desire the position of Hokage, now that she had taken it, Tsunade had no intention of being driven out in such a humiliating manner. No one could endure that kind of disgrace.

"No. You have to come with me this time. Besides that, I'm planning to have Might Guy and Kurenai Yuhi lead the team, while Kakashi remains at the Hokage Building to guard the Hidden Leaf Village." Tsunade laid out her arrangements.

Hikari scratched his head, his face full of reluctance.

Going out? What a pain.

But Tsunade definitely won't agree if I refuse. What can I do to get out of this trouble?

Listening to Hikari's inner thoughts, Tsunade's lips twitched.

She had known it. Aside from turning over to sun himself, this lazy bastard did not want to move even if beaten to death. He was surely a hundred thousand times unwilling to accompany her to the Daimyo's Mansion.

Fortunately, she had already thought of a countermeasure.

"This time, Might Guy will lead Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki. Kurenai Yuhi will lead Aoba Yamashiro and Genma Shiranui. I'll take you with me, while Shizune stays here to handle official business. What do you think of this arrangement?" Tsunade asked Hikari with a grin.

Hikari: ???

What a vicious woman.

No wonder this woman's breasts are so famous. With defenses this airtight, nobody can see through her thoughts at all.

If my big brother is going, then I definitely have to go too. If Danzo makes a move in secret, Might Guy and Kurenai alone won't be able to stop him.

Thinking this, Hikari looked at Tsunade's lecherous grin and nodded helplessly.

"Fine, I agree. I'll go with you this time!"

A man has to bow his head under someone else's roof.

But why is this old hag Tsunade choosing me? I'm only a Chunin, while everyone else is at least a Special Jonin. Wouldn't I just be causing trouble if I went?

Old hag?

Tsunade smiled on the outside, but inwardly she was cursing.

Well, well, Hikari. If I didn't know what you were thinking, you really would've fooled me.

Calling me an old hag in your heart? If I don't teach you a lesson later, you won't know whose name the God of Shinobi bears.

"Lady Tsunade, why not take me with you as well?" Shizune raised her head amid her busy work and made her request.

Glancing at the idle Hikari, Shizune truly did not trust his strength.

Naturally, Tsunade knew what Shizune was thinking. She glanced at the unmoved Hikari and knew that if she had not brought Kotetsu Hagane along this time, Hikari would never have taken the bait.

This time, she wanted to see exactly how strong Hikari had become—whether he was truly as formidable as he had once thought, capable of taking on ten Jiraiyas by himself.

For Tsunade, forget taking on ten Jiraiyas. Even if he could fight Jiraiya one-on-one, that would be tremendously good news for the Hidden Leaf Village.

People like them were strategic-level ninjas to a ninja village. Compared to Kakashi, whose true strength was unknown, and Might Guy, who could only be used as a trump card and not deployed lightly, if Hikari could reach that level, Tsunade would wake up laughing from her dreams.

"Shizune, is there anyone else in the Hidden Leaf Village besides you whom I can trust? The official business here is also important. Who else could I leave it to?"

Tsunade looked at Shizune with considerable solemnity, wearing an expression that said, I have faith in you, and thoroughly fooled her.

"Could it be that you want me to hand all the affairs here over to those two old geezers?"

Shizune was deeply moved.

"Lady Tsunade, I'll work hard. I definitely won't let down your expectations."

Shizune understood her place in Tsunade's heart. Looking at the documents before her, she felt herself brimming with passion.

At that moment, she no longer envied Hikari.

Because she knew that, in Tsunade's heart, she was irreplaceable. Why else would Tsunade not let anyone else approve the documents? Was it not because no one else was worthy of Tsunade's trust?

In Tsunade's heart, she was the only person Tsunade could trust.

Shizune firmly believed this.

Shizune is still young.

All Tsunade had to do was say one sentence, and Shizune became this loyal. If anyone says she doesn't understand politics, I'll piss on their head right then and there!

Tsunade was speechless.

This brat was badmouthing her in his heart again.

Could it be that her feelings could not be genuine!

She had raised Shizune for more than ten years, from childhood to adulthood. That had cost quite a bit of money.

Though they had run into some problems during their travels, such as being chased by casino owners or creditors, those were all minor matters. In Tsunade's eyes, such things had been deliberately arranged to train Shizune's reflexes and adaptability. She had gone to great pains.

Not repaying debts, being called the Big Fat Sheep—she had done all of that on purpose.

She was the Gambling God, trained by the God of Shinobi since childhood. When it came to something as trivial as gambling, she had deliberately done the opposite.

It had all been to test Shizune. That was right, it had all been intentional.

As for Hikari's misunderstanding, Tsunade declared that a grown woman did not stoop to a child's level. She was not like ordinary women, so petty and narrow-minded.

As the broad-minded and big-hearted Fifth Hokage, Tsunade would absolutely not hold a grudge over such a trivial matter.

That was that.

No objections.

'Bang!'

The office door was shoved open.

"You're the Fifth Hokage, right? I challenge you!"