Tsunade had no interest in discussing it. She hadn't wanted to become Hokage in the first place, and had only agreed after Jiraiya told her the two advisors had strongly recommended her.
But now, it seemed those two fence-sitters had switched sides and were backing Danzo instead.
Even when she'd been in the village, she'd never gotten along with the advisors. Twenty years had passed, and they were still just as awful.
"Then I won't do it. Who wants the job anyway?"
She spun around angrily and started to leave.
Jiraiya hurried to stop her, looking just as bewildered.
"Before I left, I made it perfectly clear to you two. I'd bring Tsunade back to become the Fifth Hokage. So what's this? You old geezers are messing with me?"
His dark eyes widened. "You think you can bully me just because I'm easygoing?!"
A powerful aura erupted from Jiraiya's sturdy frame, his white hair rising without a breeze.
Utatane Koharu's wrinkled face twitched. Her narrowed eyes opened a slit, and she stepped back, placing Mitokado Homura in front of her.
After all, the decision to change their minds had been made by her colleague. She'd only been dragged into this.
Mitokado Homura neither flinched nor backed down. "Jiraiya, are you threatening us? Don't forget, we're the advisors of Konoha."
Jiraiya rolled up his sleeves. "Fine, fine. So you're both feeling pretty tough, huh?"
Tsunade hadn't wanted to cause trouble. She tugged on the hem of Jiraiya's red coat and quietly urged him, "Jiraiya, forget it."
Jiraiya's expression hardened. "They're picking on you!"
Tsunade froze.
Nearly twenty Root operatives wearing flower-patterned masks rushed out into the corridor of the underground tower. Their auras were all remarkably controlled, and they carried an assortment of strange weapons.
The boy who'd been guiding Naruto's group also painted a bird in ink with his brush, then rode it down into the crowd.
Naruto didn't understand what was going on, so he drew his sword.
"All flash and no substance."
He'd already sentenced these old geezers to death in his mind.
Worried, Shizune advised him, "Naruto, they're strong. Let Lord Jiraiya handle this."
"Don't worry. I never act recklessly." Naruto tightened his grip on Shizune's hand. "If things look bad, I'll retreat."
Shizune's voice suddenly grew quiet, almost a whisper, as soft as her name. "Actually, I'm strong enough to be a Jonin. I can fight... You don't have to protect me all the time."
Naruto blinked. "Really?"
His impression of Shizune was still stuck on the time she'd nearly been killed by that useless Yakushi Kabuto. He'd instinctively thought she was a very fragile medical ninja.
Shizune nodded.
In the middle of the bridge, Danzo suddenly smiled and bowed. "I'm sorry, Princess Tsunade. I apologize."
Then he turned his head and barked, "Everyone, stand down! Jiraiya is a legendary ninja of Konoha. He won't attack me."
"Yes, Lord Danzo."
The Root operatives leaped back through the tower entrances and vanished.
Jiraiya watched coldly. The powerful aura of his surging Chakra didn't diminish in the slightest. "Tsunade has to become Hokage. That's final."
Danzo walked forward, leaning on his cane. "I have no objection to the princess succeeding as Hokage. I only meant to postpone it. As you know, our enemies aren't just Orochimaru. There's also..."
He said each word slowly. "The Akatsuki Organization."
Jiraiya's gaze sharpened.
Danzo sighed. "You saw the strength of the two who infiltrated Konoha last time. Itachi Uchiha was once one of my subordinates, and he slaughtered the entire Uchiha Clan single-handedly."
"Their target is clear, too: the Nine-Tails Demon Fox. If they learn that Konoha's strongest Hokage has died, they might launch a full-scale attack."
Danzo had touched on exactly what worried Jiraiya. He'd hurried to bring Tsunade back because he feared an attack by the Akatsuki Organization.
He looked toward Naruto, who was looking back at him.
Danzo continued, "The Root operatives are elite fighters who don't fear death. When the Akatsuki Organization attacks, they'll fight to protect the Jinchuriki—just as they'd fight to protect me if you attacked me now."
"Konoha's children should die on the battlefield defending the village from outside threats. And I, too, will die protecting Konoha."
His voice was calm and measured, echoing around the tower.
Clap, clap, clap!
Naruto applauded enthusiastically. "Well said! Thank you so much, Chief Danzo."
Jiraiya looked a little surprised as his unruly white hair slowly settled. "Tsunade, what do you think?"
Boom!
Tsunade stamped on the railing with one shoe. The corridor cracked around her, and she fixed them with a fierce glare. "So! When can I take over as Hokage? Give me an exact date!"
Mitokado Homura chimed in. "The village's defense barrier is too old and has been breached repeatedly. It needs to be rebuilt and upgraded. We also need to wait for new Chunin to grow strong enough to replace those who died."
Danzo and the two advisors spoke at once. "One year."
Tsunade turned around, her twin ponytails whipping through the air. She dug all five fingers into the stone wall. "Then you have one year. If you come up with another excuse after that, I'll hold the succession ceremony myself."
She strode away, gouging long furrows in the stone wall with her fingers as easily as if it were tofu.
Danzo looked toward the pale boy. "From today on, your name is Sai. Go guide the princess back to the village."
Sai immediately rode his bird up to them. Still wearing a smile, he bowed to Tsunade and opened the concealed elevator.
After the four of them had left, Mitokado Homura said in a low voice, "Jiraiya actually threatened us—and even wanted to attack us!"
"Since they've already agreed, don't bring it up again," said Utatane Koharu. "Danzo, carry out your plan to strengthen the village over the next year, then step down quietly."
Danzo smiled. "Yes. I only want what's best for the village."
"We know." Mitokado Homura turned to leave. "Koharu, let's go."
The two advisors left.
In the pitch-black underground tower, Danzo was left alone. With a heavy thud, he dropped to one knee and clutched the bandages over his right eye.
When he unwound them, he found seven or eight thick layers of bandages. The innermost two were soaked with blood.
While Jiraiya had been away, Danzo had not only contacted Orochimaru, but had also done something even more important.
He had used his right eye—the Mangekyō Sharingan he'd taken from Shisui Uchiha, once the most powerful Genjutsu ninja.
He had used "Kotoamatsukami" on Mitokado Homura, altering his will and making him instinctively accommodate Danzo in political matters.
And since Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were always of one mind, controlling one of them was tantamount to controlling both advisors.
Otherwise, if Jiraiya and Tsunade had truly turned against him, he couldn't have kept his footing in Konoha for long, even if he survived.
A row of drops of blood ran from beneath his eye.
In the village.
Naruto and the others were renting a new place to live. It hadn't mattered when Jiraiya and Naruto had squeezed into that shabby little hut, but now there were two more wandering women, and there clearly wasn't enough room.
Tsunade was a stunning, mature woman who drew the attention of nine out of ten people whenever she walked down the street. With the gentle, pure Shizune beside her, they stood out even more.
She toured half of Konoha, then chose a spacious three-story house with a bath and a garden, not far from the Hyuga clan compound.
She ordered Jiraiya to pay, and the four of them moved in and began buying new things for the house.
Tsunade spent money extravagantly, buying almost anything that caught her eye without even checking the price. Jiraiya was paying for everything anyway.
She also picked out seven or eight outfits for Naruto, in sizes ranging from small to large, enough to last him until he was six foot three.
It was already dark by the time they returned to the house with their arms full of packages. Tsunade went straight to her room and left the rest to them, while Shizune quietly tidied up and arranged the rooms.
Naruto went to help, and Jiraiya did too, though his gaze lingered on the clothes in a particularly lecherous way.
After they finished moving in.
Jiraiya drank, his face flushed. "That was great!"
"But I didn't expect you to put up with that old ghost Danzo today."
Naruto replied calmly, "Actually, I admire strength, but that's only one side of me. I'm just as good at politics. I specialize in it. I'm the best."
"Huh?" Jiraiya looked astonished. "So?"
"I have two plans now," Naruto said. "One is to assassinate those three old geezers."
"What's the other one?"
"Kill them in broad daylight!" Naruto's eyes blazed.
Before you continue