Under a bright moon and sparse stars, a distant bird call echoed through the night sky.
Tsunade sat quietly on the edge of the cliff, gazing at Kage Rock nearby. She held an empty sake bottle in one hand and spoke softly into the surrounding silence:
"Grandpa, I'm going to become Hokage."
There was no joy on her face, only endless uncertainty.
At the council meeting, Tsunade had somehow, in a daze, become the candidate for Fourth Hokage.
The Third Hokage, the two elder advisors, the great ninja clans, and numerous elite jonin had all recommended her for the position. In the end, the Daimyo had made the final decision. Tsunade had been deeply unwilling, even somewhat resistant, but the matter had already been settled.
Her opinion no longer mattered much.
Her becoming Fourth Hokage was the best choice for Konoha right now.
But Tsunade felt lost.
She didn't know if she could be a good Hokage.
"Grandpa, do you think I can become a worthy Hokage?"
Tsunade had no confidence in herself.
War was about to break out.
Konoha was going to declare war on Kirigakure, which meant the Third Shinobi World War was drawing ever closer. Becoming Hokage during wartime also meant taking on a greater responsibility.
The pressure on her was immense.
She looked toward Konoha's central street in the distance. Though it was already late at night, the street was still brightly lit, with villagers coming and going in a bustle like midday.
"Have you heard? It seems the Third Hokage is going to step down!"
"Really?"
"Of course it's true. Why would I lie to you? The Hokage Building has already issued an announcement!"
"So who will succeed him as Fourth Hokage?"
"I saw in the announcement that it's Lady Tsunade..."
"Lady Tsunade? The one