Jonin Meeting

"If I remembered correctly, that kid was a gatekeeper, wasn't he?" Yamanaka Inoichi, his blond hair catching the light, walked over to Nara Shikahisa and muttered quietly.

In Yamanaka Inoichi's eyes, Nara Shikahisa was a clever man—and a lazy one at that. He never did anything pointless.

Yet today, he had been so friendly with a mere gatekeeper. There had to be something behind it.

"Doesn't that man look far too much like the Second Hokage? Lady Tsunade just brought him and Shizune to the Hokage Building. Don't you think something fishy is going on?"

Yamanaka Inoichi blinked. "Back then, the Third Hokage used the Second Hokage's final decree to have the Senju Clan change their surname and integrate into Hidden Leaf Village. Maybe someone from the Shen Clan happened to marry into the Senju Clan. It wouldn't be strange for them to resemble each other, would it?"

Thinking of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama—the cold-faced god of slaughter, extraordinarily powerful, with countless forbidden techniques to his name—and then looking at Hikari, a mere Hidden Leaf Village gatekeeper... there were plenty of people with such strength in the village. Yamanaka Inoichi truly did not feel much about it.

"He just looks a little strange."

Nara Shikahisa neither agreed nor disagreed. "Let's go. Time for the meeting!"

With that, the two quickened their pace and headed for the Hokage Building.

Hidden Leaf Village's gate.

Hikari pushed open the guard booth door and looked at Jiraiya, who was sitting there obediently. His brows drew together. "A Shadow Clone?"

"Hehe, as expected of Hikari. You really do understand me!" Jiraiya admitted with a grin. "My real body took Naruto home, then went to gather some material. I've been away for years. Hidden Leaf Village's scenery must have become much prettier."

Hikari shook his head and could not help sighing at Jiraiya's lecherous expression.

"Jiraiya, we've known each other for quite a while. You're already this old, yet you've never thought about finding someone and settling down? You keep hanging around the Flower District whenever you have nothing to do. When will that ever end?"

Such golden advice made Jiraiya feel deeply ashamed... yeah, right.

"You brat, that's low! Being single is great, being single is awesome—stay single forever, and you'll be happy forever! You want me to get married because you want to push me into a fire pit, then hog all this scenery for yourself while I can do nothing about it. Let me tell you, impossible! I, Jiraiya, was born a free man and will die a free ghost. I will never get married, not even if it kills me!"

His words were so impassioned that Zhou Yi could only click his tongue in amazement.

With Jiraiya's wealth and strength, getting married would have been easy. At the very least, Hidden Leaf Village had quite a few charming widows who would have suited him perfectly.

As for Tsunade, forget it.

"You keep guarding the gate, kid! I'm heading back. Bye-bye!"

"Poof!"

Smoke rose, and Jiraiya made his exit, leaving the guard booth to Hikari.

Sitting in his chair with his legs propped on the table, Hikari stared blankly outside.

The wind was especially noisy today!

Hokage Building.

"Eighty-nine members of the Jonin Squad were present. Eighty-nine votes supported Lady Tsunade becoming Hokage. The motion passed unanimously!"

Nara Shikahisa delivered his report, deeply shocked by the result.

This must be the highest approval rate in history, aside from the First Hokage and the Second Hokage!

Other than those two, when the Third Hokage took office, every Uchiha jonin had opposed him. Half the Hyuga Clan had voted in favor, while the other half had abstained. Of the remaining jonin, only a majority had supported him.

When the Fourth Hokage was elected, Orochimaru had also been a rival candidate. Even then, the approval rate had only been eighty percent.

Now, Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, had received one hundred percent of the vote. That was terrifying.

The people's hearts could be won. The people's hearts could be won indeed.

After hearing the vote count, the jonin present were also stirred with excitement.

At long last, a Hokage had appeared who could earn the trust of every jonin among them.

"Then we should hold the Hokage inauguration ceremony as soon as possible. Lady Hokage will also need to personally communicate with the Daimyo." Hyuga Hiashi, who had always been silent, stood and made his proposal.

The others glanced at him but did not take him seriously. Instead, they focused on Tsunade's next move.

With the votes of all these jonin, Tsunade becoming Hokage was already certain.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony. During this special period, everyone will remain in their original positions and continue carrying out their missions. Hidden Leaf Village's prestige still depends on all of you working together with me."

"Hidden Leaf Village does not belong to the Hokage. It belongs to everyone in Hidden Leaf Village!"

The words were a little awkward, but they still left the jonin present feeling fired up. Everyone knew the Hokage held the greatest authority, yet even after winning the election, Tsunade had not forgotten them. That was pretty nice.

"The heads of each department will stay. The rest of you, go carry out missions or stand guard as needed. Dismissed!"

At Tsunade's command, more than half the jonin left. Only the Jonin Squad leader Nara Shikahisa, intelligence chief Yamanaka Inoichi, the hospital's current director Kira, the Anbu Captain, and a few others remained.

Everyone present was familiar with one another. Only one green Watermelon Head stood among them, glaringly out of place.

"Thud!"

Might Guy dropped to his knees before Tsunade. "Lady Tsunade, please save Rock Lee!"

Hospital director Kira added, "Rock Lee is Guy's disciple. Oh, and Kakashi fought Itachi Uchiha a few days ago and has remained unconscious ever since."

Tsunade raised a hand and pinched the bridge of her nose.

Whether for public or personal reasons, she could not leave Kakashi unsaved. Guy had also risen from civilian origins and was a talent she needed to win over. For his sake, she could not refuse to save Rock Lee either.

The timing was awkward, though. She still needed to assign duties, and taking office as Hokage involved an entire series of procedures.

Nara Shikahisa was a smart man. The moment he saw Tsunade's expression, he understood what she meant.

"Guy, go back and wait for now. Once we finish summarizing our work, Lady Tsunade will go to the hospital."

"Alright, then I'll wait outside the door!" Worried that Tsunade might keep delaying, Might Guy came up with the most foolish solution possible.

Nara Shikahisa's mouth twitched. Smart people feared running into fools most of all, and Might Guy was practically his nemesis.

"Guy!" Tsunade called.

Might Guy immediately bowed low. "I'm here!"

"Go bring Hikari to the hospital. As for the gatekeeping duty, leave it to your other two disciples. No problem?"

"No problem! I'll go right away!"

Having received his orders, Might Guy charged straight down from the Hokage Building. His speed left the jonin watching him far behind.

"Ahem, Lady Tsunade really knows what she's doing. Guy is just a little too enthusiastic!" Hospital director Kira thought Tsunade had simply found a way to send Might Guy away.

Only Nara Shikahisa and Yamanaka Inoichi keenly sensed that there was more to this matter.

But smart people like them would not speak of it aloud.

Tsunade tacitly accepted Kira's explanation. She had her own difficulties as well.

Having been away for so many years, she felt a faint sense of distance from Hidden Leaf Village. But Hikari's inner voice could offer her thoughts to consider, allowing her to make the best decisions.

"Now, let's plan the work for the near future. I'll go to the hospital shortly to treat the injured!"

"Kira, your medical skills haven't improved at all over the years. I'm very dissatisfied!"