Konoha, village entrance.
"Finally, I'm back again. Has it really been that long? Things have changed so much!"
Tsunade gazed at the massive iron gate at the village entrance, her heart full of emotion.
Though Tsunade acted as if she refused to become Hokage and didn't care about Konoha at all,
Hao Shuai knew that she cared about the village.
After all—
This was the village her grandfather had founded with his own hands, and the place where she had grown up.
So after Hao Shuai promised to clear all her debts and let her visit the casino once a week, Tsunade accepted the burden of becoming the Fifth Hokage. She brought Shizune and returned to Konoha with Hao Shuai.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Several shadows flashed into view and landed in front of Tsunade and the others.
"Hao Shuai, you're back." The newcomers were Konoha's guards, led by Kakashi. When he saw Tsunade behind Hao Shuai, a hint of delight appeared on his face. "Lady Tsunade, have you returned?"
"It's me!" Tsunade replied casually. "Where's that lecher Jiraiya? Why didn't he come out to welcome me, the Fifth Hokage? Is he busy peeking into the women's bathhouse again?"
"Well..."
Kakashi scratched his head awkwardly, unsure what to say.
Since both of them were his seniors, he could only pretend not to have heard Tsunade slander Jiraiya. "Lady Tsunade, Lord Jiraiya is busy handling official documents at the Hokage Building, so he couldn't come to greet you."
"Enough, Tsunade. Don't dwell on it." Before Tsunade could say anything else, Hao Shuai cut her off. "You have no idea how miserable Jiraiya's been lately. It's been nothing but paperwork, day after day. I doubt he's even had time to visit his beloved women's bathhouse."
"If that's the case, then never mind. Let's go