Tsunade Cheats

"Oda Lang, Kimura Takuya, this matter today must absolutely not be known by anyone else!"

"Let's put that aside for now. What about that big sister over there? What happened to the apprenticeship we agreed on?"

Kimura Takuya picked his nose with one hand while pointing at Tsunade, demanding she become his master. His demeanor was as arrogant as it could possibly be.

Shizune, usually known for her good temper, was so infuriated she was on the verge of exploding on the spot.

Tsunade, however, let out a hearty laugh and reached out to stop Shizune.

"Hahaha, sure. Go ahead and take me as your master!"

"Nani?"

"I said I bet you could reattach that arm, and now I've won. You should take me as your master, hahaha!"

Tsunade stood with her hands on her hips, laughing incessantly as she watched the stunned expression on Kimura Takuya's face.

She was ecstatic inside.

Hahaha, you want to gamble with me?

When I first started playing dirty, your father hadn't even been born yet!

"Cunning, you're way too cunning!"

"The bet only just started a moment ago, and neither of us had placed our stakes yet. Whether a bet is for big or small isn't set in stone. So, I bet you could reattach the arm, and I won. Is there a problem? You aren't planning on welching on the debt, are you?"

Tsunade stared at Kimura Takuya, her eyes narrowing slightly. Her expression darkened in an instant, and the overwhelming aura of a Kage surged toward him.

Looking at her, it was clear she was determined to take him on as a disciple today, no matter what.

Wahahaha!

I've finally waited for you, and thank goodness I didn't give up~

Under the weight of Tsunade's powerful aura, Kimura Takuya appeared weak and intimidated.

In reality, he couldn't help but belt out a song in his heart, nearly singing it out loud.

Do you know how I've spent these past few years?

I could only train for two hours a day, and I only dared to eat three meals—I didn't even dare to have a midnight snack!

I was terrified that if I trained too hard, someone would find out.

Now, I can finally be invincible in the open!

A genius with a backer is the only one who can start on the path to invincibility.

A genius without a backer is just a damn furnace for others to exploit!

Even though Kimura Takuya was blooming with joy inside, he didn't show it on his face.

"You aren't a Konoha ninja anymore, so you can't take me as a disciple, right!"

"Huh? Hahaha, just you wait!"

After saying this, Tsunade left with Shizune.

Returning to her own residence, she retrieved her forehead protector, which had been sitting at home for many years.

It was still in perfect condition. After taking it out and looking it over, Tsunade finally tied it around her forehead, just as she had done in the past.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Tsunade felt a bit dazed, as if she were seeing her former self.

A flash of sorrow crossed her eyes, and she took a deep breath.

She headed out toward the Hokage Building.

Kimura Takuya was a rare genius medical ninja, and if she were to take him as a disciple, she might take him away to train him.

She had to speak with Teacher Hiruzen about this.

The Anbu inside the Hokage Building naturally recognized the granddaughter of the First Hokage, the Konoha Princess, Tsunade.

Tsunade moved through the building without obstruction, arriving outside the Hokage's office.

Just as she was considering how to bring it up with Teacher Hiruzen, she heard Danzo's voice from within.

"Hiruzen, you cannot hesitate any longer. Kimura Takuya's ninjutsu is far too dangerous; it must be brought under Konoha's control.

If his ninjutsu were to be obtained by other villages, wouldn't our enemies be healed in an instant?

It must be classified as a forbidden technique, accessible only to the Anbu in secret.

Furthermore, we must erase the relevant memories of the ninjutsu from Kimura Takuya. It is far too unsafe for such a technique to be in the hands of a child—it could be snatched away by other villages at any moment!"

Inside the Hokage's office, Danzo wore a calm expression as he spoke of stripping someone else of their ninjutsu.

With a few light words, he decided the fate of another.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, the two Hokage advisors, remained silent and did not object, tacitly agreeing with Danzo's decision.

"In that case,"

Bang!

The office door was kicked open.

The Anbu hidden inside instantly moved to shield the Third Hokage and the several advisors.

"I don't agree! Old man, if you think you can treat my student like this, I will never allow it!"

"Tsunade?"

Tsunade's powerful aura slammed into everyone present; the Anbu bore the brunt of it, cold sweat streaming down their faces.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the forehead protector on Tsunade's brow.

His eyes brightened, and he waved his hand to signal the Anbu to stand down.

He walked up to Tsunade.

"Kimura Takuya has already been assigned under Kurenai Yuhi; he cannot be your student."

"That's just a squad leader! I intend to take him on as my personal apprentice!"

"Impossible. That child's ninjutsu is too important to the village. He cannot leave the village with you, and I will not permit you to take him as a student. Unless,"

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Tsunade's forehead protector, his expression dazed, as if he were seeing the time when Tsunade and the others were still young.

Back then, Tsunade was boldly and decisively reforming the medical ninja system.

Back then, Jiraiya was still in the village, and Orochimaru had not yet defected.

The Legendary Sannin of that time—how high-spirited they were!

"Old man, speak your mind. Unless what?"

"Unless you inherit the position of Hokage!

Tsunade, become the Fifth Hokage."

"Nani? No way! I—I don't want to be Hokage."

Tsunade's momentum was deflated by Sarutobi Hiruzen's words; she stepped back twice, her tone stumbling as she refused.

Watching Tsunade's retreat, Sarutobi Hiruzen understood her concerns—not just her hemophobia, but her deep-seated disgust for the ninja world.

"If you do not become Hokage, you cannot interfere with Konoha's decisions as you are now. I have already decided: Kimura Takuya's ninjutsu must be confiscated by the Anbu and classified as a forbidden technique.

Furthermore, I will immediately arrange for the Yamanaka Clan to erase Kimura Takuya's memories of the technique.

Stand down, Tsunade."

"Nandesuka? Why go that far? The Yamanaka Clan's secret memory-erasure technique will turn a person into an idiot!"

Facing Tsunade's questioning, Sarutobi Hiruzen showed no mercy.

"For the sake of the village! This matter has been decided, and you cannot change it."

"Wakata. I understand. In that case, I accept the position of Hokage."

"What? I am old; my hearing is poor, and your voice was too soft."

"I said, I will be Hokage! Are you satisfied now, old man!"

Tsunade roared and bellowed, as if becoming Hokage were some terrible fate, as if taking the mantle were a burden being forced upon her.

Seeing Tsunade agree, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and took several deep puffs from his pipe.

"The inauguration ceremony for the Fifth Hokage will be tomorrow. No objections, I presume?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's aged frame seemed reborn after saying these words.

His aura climbed steadily, casting a cold, commanding gaze over the elders present.

For a moment, no one dared to meet his eyes.

That was right.

This was, after all, the Professor, Sarutobi Hiruzen!

The Third Hokage, mentor to the Legendary Sannin!

Regardless of his merits or faults, he was the Hokage, and the Hokage was undoubtedly the strongest of his generation in Konoha—there was no question about that!

"Agreed. Tsunade shall take office as the Fifth Hokage."

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged a glance and voiced their approval in unison.

Danzo looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, and feeling that aura bearing down on him, he turned his gaze toward Tsunade, his eyes filled with resentment.

"Elder Danzo, do you have some dissatisfaction with me taking the position of Hokage?"

Tsunade naturally did not fear Danzo; she tilted her head back, looking down at him with contempt.

Her question sounded casual, but her tone was icy, heavy with the weight of a threat.

If Danzo dared to say a single word of dissent, Tsunade was ready to flip the table right then and there and teach this old man who dared threaten her student a lesson.

"No dissatisfaction. I agree."

The situation was stronger than the man; with four votes of approval on the table, his opposition held no meaning.

Being decisive and playing it safe was nothing to be ashamed of.

Besides, he had endured under the Third Hokage for so many years, so what was this?

With a hothead like Tsunade taking the stage, it was actually a good thing for him.

At the very least, Tsunade's control over Konoha upon her ascension would certainly be inferior to the Third Hokage's, so couldn't Root take this opportunity to develop once again?

Having thought through the crux of the matter, Danzo calmed down and expressed his agreement.

He only added one more sentence.

"Yakumo Kurama and Kimura Takuya are equally important. Since they are now on the same team, they require protective surveillance. I intend to pull elite personnel from Root to join Kurenai Yuhi's squad and protect them both."

"Agreed." x2

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura clearly wanted to keep the Hokage's influence in check, so they supported Danzo's proposal.

Three to two; the matter was settled just like that.