"Kushina, Kanao, how have you been doing in Konoha?" Sarutobi Toru asked.
"We've been doing fine, Brother Toru. Aren't you going to introduce the big sister beside you?" Kushina said, her eyes darting around.
"This is Tsunade, my girlfriend. She also has one-quarter Uzumaki blood, so you can call her Sister Tsunade."
"These two are Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Kanao," Sarutobi Toru then introduced them to Tsunade. "They're both little geniuses of the Uzumaki Clan."
"You're from the Uzumaki Clan?" Tsunade smiled. "My grandmother is Uzumaki Mito, and she was also a member of the Uzumaki Clan."
"Y-you're Lady Tsunade?" Uzumaki Kushina's eyes lit up. "Grandma Mito is my grandmother's elder sister. Does that mean we really are sisters?"
"Is that so?" Tsunade was rather pleasantly surprised as well. She had never been to the Land of Whirlpools and had not expected to have distant relatives in the Uzumaki Clan.
Soon, the women began chatting enthusiastically among themselves. Even Kanao, who had been somewhat gloomy all along, joined in.
Well, even little girls were still women. Sure enough, they were interested in women's topics!
Evening.
After spending the day shopping with one grown woman and two little girls, Sarutobi Toru and Tsunade finally returned to the Senju Estate.
"What? You want me to become Hokage?" Tsunade's eyes widened in shock.
"What's wrong? Don't you have confidence in yourself?" Sarutobi Toru asked with a smile.
"But Sarutobi-sensei is still..."
"Of course not now. It will be at least ten years from now. But we need to start preparing now. The key is whether you're willing to become Hokage, Tsunade."
"Become Hokage..." Tsunade murmured blankly.
Thinking of the deceased Nawaki, then of Sarutobi Toru's expectations for her, Tsunade's gaze gradually hardened.
"Alright. I'll work hard to become Hokage!"
Sarutobi Toru was not