Konoha.
The sunlight on the streets was just right.
Tsunade stood at the street corner, looking at this familiar yet unfamiliar village.
Ever since she had met Jiraiya.
She had brought Shizune and returned directly to Konoha.
But the Konoha before her was no longer the decrepit, decaying village she remembered.
The roads were wide and smooth, with shops lining both sides.
The gloom had completely vanished from the villagers' faces, replaced by heartfelt smiles.
Several children wearing Ninja Academy uniforms ran past.
They even held Kunai in their hands, excitedly discussing the hand signs for some C-Rank Ninjutsu.
That would have been absolutely impossible in the past.
Because it had never been easy for civilians to gain access to ninjutsu.
Shizune stood beside her, holding her pet pig Tonton, her face full of amazement.
She pointed at the massive newly built training grounds in the distance.
"Lady Tsunade, look over there."
"That's the village's newly constructed public training area. Even the facilities are all brand-new."
Tsunade frowned deeply, her chest rising and falling slightly.
Konoha had indeed changed.
It had become more prosperous than ever, and stronger than ever.
But that also meant Chiba had even more confidence in pushing for war.
The clouds of war seemed to hang only over the other four ninja villages.
Within Konoha, there was instead a fervent hunger for battle.
Tsunade walked over to a roadside stall.
She casually bought a skewer of Three-color Dango and took a bite.
The cloying sweetness spread through her mouth.
Even prices had become much cheaper than before.
Just how had that brat Chiba transformed Konoha into this?
The image of that young man surfaced in her mind.
Back on Tanzaku Street, he had still needed her protection.
Now.
He had grown into a towering tree, capable