On the way back to the village, the sun was just right.
For the first time in more than ten years, Tsunade felt that the sun shining on her body was warm instead of dazzling. She felt relaxed and even had the mood to drink two more cups at a roadside tea stall, with a long-lost smile from the heart on her face.
She bumped Jiraiya with her elbow, who was busy walking next to her, "Hey, tell me honestly, how did you teach that kid to look like that? It's cold and hard, but it's quite interesting."
Shizune hugged Tonton and came over curiously, asking in a low voice, "Yes, Lord Jiraiya. Naruto... what's going on? I feel like he doesn't look like Genin at all. His calmness and strength... are so scary."
Jiraiya paused, and the expression on his face became very complicated. He took out a cigarette from his arms, lit it, took a deep breath, and let the spicy smoke swirl in his lungs before slowly exhaling it.
The cigarette was a new one. He had never had the habit of smoking before, but when he thought of Naruto, he got into it.
"Teach?" Jiraiya smiled bitterly, "I don't have that ability. I don't know what he went through. I can only tell you what he did."
In the smoke, Jiraiya's voice became deeper.
He started with Konoha Crush Plan. When everyone was in chaos and the ninjas were still fighting on their own, the hundreds of Shadow Clone summoned by Naruto acted like a well-trained army, clearing out the enemies, evacuating civilians, and extinguishing the flames with an astonishingly cold efficiency.
"At that time, I felt something was wrong." Jiraiya flicked the cigarette ashes, "That is not the commanding ability that a child should have. Each clone is like a part, executing orders accurately without any unnecessary movements."
Tsunade The smile on his face slowly faded away.
Jiraiya's voice continued to sound, and every word was like a stone hitting the hearts of Tsunade and Shizune.
He talked about how Naruto used absolute force to force Third Hokage to compromise in front of all ANBU. He talked about how he set up a heavenly robe A seamless plan lured Shimura Danzō, the cancer entrenched in Konoha Root, into the conference room of Hokage Building.
"In front of all the family patriarchs, he announced the evidence of Danzo's collusion with Orochimaru and framed Konoha's White Fang. Then... in the underground base of Root, he personally executed Danzo."
Jiraiya said the word "execution" with great emphasis.
Tsunade suddenly stopped and grabbed Jiraiya's arm with such force that she almost crushed his bones. The drunkenness and smile in her eyes had long since disappeared, leaving only horror and disbelief.
"You... are you kidding?"
Jiraiya looked at her and shook his head.
Tsunade's voice was trembling. "Then... where is the 'root'? Danzo is dead, that mess..."
"Naruto took over." Jiraiya calmly spat out the last few words, "He is now the new leader of Root."
Tsunade The blood on her face instantly faded away. She let go of her hand and staggered back, almost losing her balance.
Shizune was also shocked and covered his mouth. Tonton in his arms seemed to feel the owner's uneasiness and made a groaning sound.
Jiraiya put out the cigarette butt, looked at Tsunade's pale face, and finally concluded. "I need to emphasize that he is not fighting for power, Tsunade. He is carrying out a complete transformation of a system that he considers to be old and decayed. And you are a brand new part that he chose to install and must function normally."
Tsunade subconsciously raised his head and looked at the figure walking at the front of the team.
The young man was still walking steadily, and was comparing the map in an orderly manner, planning the next section of the route. The sunlight stretched his shadow very long, but that back figure, in Tsunade's eyes at the moment, revealed a strangeness and majesty that sent shivers down her spine.
She suddenly felt that the place she was going back to was not the Konoha she remembered at all.
In Hokage's Office, the sun shines in through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, coating everything with a layer of gold. Tsunade is wearing a brand new Hokage Robe, leaning on the chair, looking at the familiar village outside the window, with mixed feelings in his heart.
Shizune held a pile of documents that was taller than her, put it on the corner of the table with difficulty, and complained, "Lady Tsunade, the third generation of adults left too many documents... I also want to retire..."
Before he finished speaking, there was a knock on the office door.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura walked in one after the other, with formulaic smiles on their faces.
"Congratulations, Tsunade, you are finally willing to come back." Utatane Koharu said, not much joy could be heard in his tone.
Mitokado Homura echoed, "The village is in dire need now. It's Konoha's fortune that you can come back and take charge of the overall situation."
After a brief exchange of greetings, the two looked at each other, and Utatane Koharu changed the topic. "However, Tsunade, there is something we must remind you. About 'roots'..."
She paused deliberately and observed Tsunade's expression, "Although Danzo is dead, the 'root' organization itself is a huge hidden danger. Now that it is in the hands of a twelve-year-old child, it is really disturbing."
"That's right." Mitokado Homura answered, "The kid named Naruto Uzumaki acted too extreme. He exceeded his authority and purged more than a dozen spies in the village that he identified, and even secretly communicated with Land of Fire Daimyō's Palace People from made deals and placed members of the Hyuga Clan's branch into Twelve Guardian Ninja's reserve team. These behaviors completely ignore the authority of Hokage and must be stopped immediately!"
The two consultants sang in unison, trying to shape Naruto into an out-of-control and dangerous power maniac. They proposed that ANBU should immediately take over all affairs of the 'root', completely evacuating Naruto and placing it under the direct supervision of Hokage.
Tsunade has been listening silently, tapping his fingers on the table unconsciously.
When she heard the words "infighting" and "power," her fingers suddenly stopped tapping on the table.
"Enough!"
A loud shout, accompanied by terrifying murderous intent, instantly filled the entire office.
"Boom!"
Tsunade punched the brand new Hokage desk. The solid wooden tabletop shattered, and a terrifying big hole suddenly appeared.
"Where were you two when the village was almost destroyed by Orochimaru?" Tsunade stood up slowly and stared condescendingly at the two pale-faced consultants, his eyes full of contempt and anger, "A twelve-year-old child is purging traitors, stabilizing the situation, and protecting the village! What about you? All you can think about is how to seize the power from him!"
She grabbed a document that Shizune had just put on the table, which Zero had submitted early in the morning.
"About the first-phase R&D and mass production budget application of the "Bolter" project".
Tsunade didn't even look at the long string of zeros on it. He turned directly to the last page, grabbed the seal of Hokage, and stamped it hard!
"Tell Naruto," she threw the stamped application form to Shizune, who was already stunned. "If you don't have enough money, come and ask for it anytime! If you don't have enough materials, just issue a note and go to the factory to get it! As long as it is to enhance the strength of Konoha, I, Fifth Hokage, will support it unconditionally!"
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura's faces turned blue and white. Under Tsunade's substantial sense of oppression, they could not say a word and finally left the office in embarrassment.
Tsunade sat down again, looked at the big hole on the table, looked at the budget application in his hand, and muttered to himself.
"You brat, I want to see where you can take this village."