The Hokage's Exhaustion, an Ultra-Secret Mission Assigned
The Hokage's Office.
The Anbu Captain knelt on one knee. His expression was obscured by his mask, but his voice trembled slightly as he reported.
"Reporting to the Lord Hokage, Sasuke Uchiha has been taken to the heavy-duty interrogation room. He has no external injuries, and his mental state... is acceptable. The Sound Four been wiped out, and their bodies have been handed over to the Torture Division for examination."
Tsunade sat behind her desk, tapping her fingers on the surface at a steady, unhurried pace.
"What's going on with Orochimaru's side?"
"According to reports from the border outposts, all the hidden sentries in the direction of Otogakure withdrew three days ago, and the outposts are now abandoned. It is speculated that Orochimaru has abandoned his plans in the direction of Hidden Leaf and gone into deep infiltration."
Tsunade: "Step back. We'll discuss Sasuke's matter after he's been imprisoned for thirty days."
As the Anbu Captain disappeared, Tsunade leaned back in her chair and let out a long sigh.
On the table was a pile of documents half a person's height—a list of those Danzo Danzo's remaining followers, diplomatic notes from various countries regarding the aftermath of the Chunin Ninja Exams, and three surveillance reports from different Anbu branches, each reaching the same conclusion:
Naruto Uzumaki, do not touch.
Tsunade rubbed her temples.
Every day after becoming the Fifth Hokage, she was dealing with the "cleanup work" left behind by that blond boy.
He destroyed the Root, suppressed the advisors, recruited the Hyuga Clan, and annihilated the Hidden Sound —each of these tasks alone would have shaken Hidden Leaf for three months, yet he accomplished them all in one go.
And she, as the Hokage, was nothing more than someone who cleaned up his messes.
A wave of soreness washed over her lower back, and Tsunade grimaced as she shifted her sitting position.
The Strength of a Hundred Technique's restorative abilities are indeed formidable, but it can't withstand that bastard's every night...
Forget it, I don't want to.
Familiar footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor.
It was unhurried, with a rhythm that sent chills down your spine.
Tsunade instinctively reached out and covered her collar.
The door was pushed open.
Naruto Uzumaki, dressed in a loose black Hokage Haori, his blond hair casually tied back, hands in his pockets, strode in with an arrogant air.
Sunlight streamed through the window onto his face, and the fox-whisker-like lines gave his smile an inexplicable and dangerous quality.
Tsunade's back tensed.
"You... you'd better not do anything reckless today!"
Tsunade's voice was higher than she had expected, so she quickly lowered her voice, "Even with the Strength of a Hundred Technique, my body can't withstand your Tenten torment!"
Naruto raised an eyebrow and smirked.
He didn't answer, but walked behind Tsunade and put his hands on her shoulders.
With his well-defined knuckles, he pressed down along Tsunade and neck muscles, precisely grinding his force over every sore spot.
Tsunade's body reacted before her reason—her tense back relaxed slightly, and a muffled sigh escaped her throat.
"What's wrong, honey?"
Naruto lowered his voice, his thumb slowly tracing the line of Tsunade's nape, "Have Danzo's remaining followers caused you trouble again these past few days?"
Tsunade bit her lower lip, forcing herself to pull away from that tingling sensation.
"... really."
She pulled out a confidential report from the table. "Those old fogies at the top have verbally convinced you, but they're still secretly plotting. They've joined forces with the chieftains of several neutral factions and plan to propose restrictions on your freedom of movement at the next joint meeting."
Naruto's hands didn't stop.
"Then what?"
"Then I rejected the proposal."
Tsunade rolled her eyes. "But these people won't give up. And..."
Her tone turned somber as she pulled a black, sealed scroll from the drawer.
The scroll was sealed with a vermilion seal that read "extremely confidential," and the wax seal was intact.
"A messenger from Kirigakure arrived secretly three days ago."
Tsunade slammed the scroll on the table. "The Fifth Mizukage Terumi Mei, has been in office for less than six months. The remnants of the Old Bloody Mist Faction, in alliance with three traitorous clans possessing Kekkei Genkai, have launched an armed rebellion."
Naruto's fingers stopped at Tsunade's shoulder, and his thumb pressed down lightly.
"She can't hold on any longer?"
"The rebel leader is a confidant of the former Fourth Mizukage, and has two families with Kekkei Genkai as his vanguard. Although Terumi Mei is powerful, her core faction is not yet fully formed, and there are informants within her ranks. If this drags on, the new regime won't last more than two months."
Tsunade turned her chair around and looked up at Naruto.
"She hopes that Hidden Leaf will secretly send its top combat forces to assist in suppressing the rebellion. The condition is that after the success, Hidden Mist and Hidden Leaf will sign a ten-year military alliance treaty, and Water Country."
Naruto released his grip, walked around to Tsunade's front, and sat half-sitting on the edge of the desk.
He looked down at Tsunade, the smile on his lips growing wider.
"So, you want me to go on a business trip."
Naruto tilted his head. "So, you can take a break too?"
Tsunade's face flushed for a moment.
She looked away, her words quickening. "Ahem... This is an S-rank top-secret diplomatic mission! The Water Country is one of the Five Great Nations; this concerns Hidden Leaf's strategic position in the Shinobi World! You think I'm doing this for...?"
"To give my back a couple of days of rest."
Naruto picked up the conversation, his tone resolute.
Tsunade's temple throbbed.
She took a deep breath and forcefully steered the conversation back on track. "Take Haku with you. After the new Mizukage took office, Hidden Mist abolished the Kekkei Genkai kill order. Haku's Ice Release will not only be safe there, but it can also serve as a political bargaining chip for Hidden Leaf to show its sincerity—the orphan of the Yuki Clan returning to his homeland has symbolic significance for Terumi Mei's new policies."
Naruto did not answer.
He lowered his eyes, his index finger tapping the table idly.
Information about Terumi Mei automatically surfaced in his mind.
Her long, reddish-brown hair cascaded over her right shoulder, obscuring half of her face.
She is tall and slender with sharp curves, exuding a mature and alluring charm while carrying a chilling, battle-hardened aura.
A holder of both Lava Release and Boil Release Kekkei Genkai, and the youngest Mizukage since the Hidden Mist.
[Ding! System has detected that the information for target 'Terumi Mei' has been entered. Rating: Super S-rank. Kekkei Genkai Value: Top-tier dual attributes. Potential Assessment: Top-tier in the Shinobi World. It is recommended that the host establish contact as soon as possible!]
Naruto raised his head, the corners of his mouth curving into a predator-like smile.
"Okay. I'll take this job."
Tsunade a sigh of relief and was about to take out the mission details document--
Naruto leaned forward, one hand resting on the back of the chair, and the other lifting Tsunade's chin.
The two closed the distance until their noses almost touched.
"But."
Naruto's voice was low, his breath brushing against Tsunade's lips, "When you return, I want you to wear the Hokage uniform, sit at this table, and report to me, point by point, everything that happened in Hidden Leaf while I was away."
Tsunade's swallowing motion was clearly audible.
"... rogue."
Naruto chuckled, straightened up, and put his hands back in his pockets.
"I'm leaving in three days. I need to go back and make some arrangements at home first."
He turned and walked towards the door. "Sasuke —have someone send Sasuke a basic Taijutsu training manual while he's in confinement. Don't let him get moldy and grow mushrooms in there."
Tsunade watched the arrogant figure disappear behind the door, then slumped into her chair, staring up at the ceiling.
The Fifth Hokage.
The princess of the Senju Clan.
One of the legendary Legendary Sannin.
My biggest worry every day is whether that jerk will climb in through the window again tonight.
She raised her hand to cover her burning face and let out a long sigh filled with exhaustion and resignation.
Uzumaki New Residence.
Naruto sat on the porch next to the Martial Arts Arena in the backyard.
Bai knelt beside him, offering him a cup of cool tea with her slender hands.
Tayuya, dressed in a maid outfit, was sweeping fallen leaves in the yard with a broom, moving quietly and carefully.
Naruto took the teacup, his gaze falling on Hinata trimming roses in the distance.
"White."
"Exist."
"Pack your bags. I'll take you Water Country in three days."
Bai, holding the teacup, paused.
The Water Country.
That land filled with bloody memories.
She lowered her eyes, placed the teacup steadily beside Naruto, and said in a soft but firm voice:
"Wherever Naruto goes, Haku will go too."
Naruto glanced at her sideways and reached out to ruffle her black hair.
"This time is different."
A hint of tenderness, visible only to Bai, played at the corners of his lips. "This time when you return, you won't be a tool, nor a fugitive. You'll be a member of the Uzumaki Clan."
Her white eyelashes trembled, her lips tightened, and her chin slightly raised, forcing back the rising steam.
Naruto picked up his teacup and looked at the setting sun sinking in the western sky.
The Water Country.
The Fifth Mizukage Terumi Mei.
The rebellion of the Old Bloody Mist Faction.
And -- top-quality prey rated "Super S-grade" by the system.
The system's mechanical voice sounded again in my mind.
[Multiple high-potential female target signals detected in the direction of the Water Country! Host is advised to arrive as soon as possible to begin a new hunting chapter!]
[New main quest coming soon--]
Naruto slammed down his teacup, a triumphant smile playing on his lips.
The sky over the Water Country must change.