Successor to the Hokage

Naruto watched helplessly as Tsunade's fist slammed into the ground, the devastating effect stirring a surge of astonishment in his heart.

The cracked earth and flying dust all bore witness to the terrifying power of Tsunade's monstrous strength.

Yet, just as he was amazed, Tsunade was even more astonished by his speed.

Even though Tsunade knew in her heart that she had held back in this strike, Naruto's speed still exceeded her expectations.

He dodged her attack with ease, almost as if teleporting, leaving Tsunade momentarily incredulous.

Shizune, watching from the side, was also dumbfounded; she hadn't seen Naruto's movements at all. In her eyes, it was as if Naruto had suddenly vanished, then reappeared behind Tsunade. This extraordinary speed left her utterly shocked.

Jiraiya, witnessing this scene, wore a satisfied smile on his face. He was delighted to see the surprised expression on Tsunade's face.

Then, Tsunade stopped holding back. She began to take the spar seriously, launching a fierce assault on Naruto.

But no matter how swift her attacks were, Naruto always managed to vanish at the last possible moment, teleporting to a safe position.

This filled Tsunade with a sense of helplessness.

No matter how high her monstrous strength's attack power was, if she couldn't land a hit, it was all futile.

Moreover, as a medical ninja, her monstrous strength was almost her entire combat capability.

"Handsome boy, are you just going to keep dodging?" Tsunade asked somewhat helplessly, her voice carrying a hint of breathlessness, clearly showing signs of fatigue.

As Tsunade's words fell, Naruto decided to step up the intensity.

Sage Art—Frog Kata, a unique technique that fused natural energy, appeared especially agile and devastatingly powerful under Naruto's control.

His figure moved like a phantom, weaving between Tsunade's attacks. With every strike, his fist, imbued with Sage Chakra, landed accurately on Tsunade's body. Although Naruto wasn't going all out, the solid impact of over a dozen consecutive blows put unprecedented pressure on Tsunade.

Tsunade had her own pride. She keenly sensed Naruto's restraint, and a surge of anger at being looked down upon welled up inside her. "Don't hold back! Hit me!" she shouted loudly, her tone filled with reluctance and determination.

Hearing this, a smile curled at the corner of Naruto's mouth. Don't hold back, huh.

In an instant, Forward Spell "Azure" and Reverse Spell "Crimson" perfectly merged under his exquisite control, and Imaginary Technique "Purple" took shape in his palm.

The sheer power of this force instantly caused violent fluctuations in the surrounding air. Naruto's golden hair whipped wildly in the wind, and behind his sunglasses, his eyes gleamed with excitement.

"Well then, big sister, I'm going all out!" Naruto's voice carried a hint of playfulness, yet it sent an unprecedented shockwave through everyone present.

Tsunade was momentarily stunned; she had never seen such immense power. Shizune was so frightened by the sudden pressure that she collapsed to the ground, her terror written all over her face.

Even Jiraiya, who had been watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but leap up, quickly inserting himself between the two, and shouted urgently, "Stop, Naruto!" He knew that if Naruto truly went all out, this entire area would be destroyed.

Jiraiya's yell cut through the tense atmosphere like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

He spread his arms wide, his gaze firm, as if using his own body to block the terrifying power about to erupt.

Seeing Jiraiya intervene, Naruto smiled faintly. He hadn't actually intended to use Imaginary Technique "Purple" to attack Tsunade—just a demonstration of his strength.

With a light flick of his finger, the condensed energy of Imaginary Technique "Purple" dissipated like morning mist, and the surrounding air calmed down as well.

Tsunade, a legendary ninja who had weathered countless storms, couldn't help but slump to the ground, the terrifying scene just now leaving her shaken.

A thought crossed her mind: No wonder someone like Orochimaru was willing to become Naruto's underling. If she didn't read the situation, she might truly vanish like dust. Thinking this, Tsunade let out a bitter laugh, her heart a mix of emotions.

Seeing this, Shizune, despite her own legs still trembling slightly, mustered her courage and stumbled over, supporting Tsunade with both hands as she asked with concern, "Tsunade-sama, are you alright?"

Tsunade smiled and shook her head, the smile carrying a hint of resignation and a touch of relief.

She let out a deep sigh, and with that sigh, she seemed to age several years.

"This is already the era of the young," Tsunade thought to herself.

Faced with such an outcome, Tsunade didn't run away. She readily agreed to return to Konoha and take up the position of Hokage.

And so, accompanied by Jiraiya, Tsunade set out on her journey back to Konoha.

Along the way, the two reminisced about bits and pieces of the past and also talked freely about various visions for Konoha's future.