Officially on the Job

Tsunade slept until the afternoon.

She was dreaming of having a beauty in each arm when a frantic knock woke her.

Knock, knock, knock! Knock, knock, knock!

"Who is it?!"

She climbed out of bed, her blond hair a tangled mess.

Her face said she was in no mood to be woken up.

She yanked the door open.

Outside stood someone in an animal mask and an ANBU uniform.

"ANBU? What do you want?!"

Tsunade's tone was sharp, her brows drawn together.

Hearing the anger in her voice, the ANBU operative grew awkward behind the mask.

The operative quickly took half a step back and spoke respectfully:

"Lady Tsunade, the Third Hokage asks you to come to the Hokage Building."

"The Third? What does the old man want with me?"

"I'm... not sure. You'll find out when you get there."

The ANBU operative's voice sounded stiff.

Tsunade yawned and scratched her head.

"Fine, got it. I'll come over after a shower."

With that, she slammed the door shut.

If anyone else had spoken to an ANBU operative like that and made the Hokage wait,

they would already have received a cold warning: "The Hokage has summoned you. Please go at once."

But the person who said it was Tsunade...

The operative's mouth twitched beneath the mask, but not another word came out.

They knew all too well how terrifying Lady Tsunade was.

Just a few days ago, she had put her teammate Jiraiya in the hospital.

Apparently, she had broken six of his ribs, and he had nearly died.

Who would dare cross someone like that?

The ANBU operative quietly retreated outside the yard and waited without complaint.

Tsunade went back inside, took a shower, and changed into clean clothes.

A white short-sleeved shirt, dark pants, and a green jacket.

Simple and practical.

She called out to Mito Uzumaki, who was drinking tea in the yard:

"Grandma, the Third wants me. I'm going to the Hokage Building."

Mito nodded and reminded her, "Don't argue with Hiruzen."

"I know~"

Tsunade waved and strolled out the door.

She walked all the way to the Hokage Building.

Knowing the way by heart, she went up to the top floor and reached the Hokage's office.

Tsunade was just about to knock.

Then she tilted her head, thought better of it, and pushed the door open with a bang.

She had never stood on ceremony with the old man.

Inside, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his broad desk, pipe in hand.

At the sound of the door, he did not even look up.

He knew who it was without having to think.

In all Konoha, no one but Tsunade dared enter his office without knocking.

Tsunade strode up to the desk.

She dropped into the chair opposite him and crossed her legs.

"Old man, what did you want?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi set down his pipe and looked up at her helplessly.

"No manners, as usual."

"What do I need manners for? You're not a stranger."

Tsunade curled her lip and got straight to the point.

"What is it? Hurry up. I still have training to get back to."

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and let it go.

He pointed to something rolled up on his desk.

"It's for you."

"For me?"

Tsunade paused, then got up and leaned closer.

It was wrapped in red cloth, rolled into a tube, and tied with a gold ribbon.

She untied the ribbon and unfolded the cloth.

Inside was a ceremonial banner.

It had a red background, gold edging, and black brush-calligraphy that read:

[Presented to Lady Tsunade]

[Konoha's Strongest Female Fist, guardian of women's peace]

The inscription below read:

[Respectfully presented by all the women of Konoha!]

Tsunade: "..."

She blinked. Then she blinked again.

"Huh?"

"I'm a women's-rights... Ahem! A guardian with the strongest female fist now?"

"Who gave me this?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of his pipe and said slowly:

"The women at the bathhouse organized it themselves. What happened that day made quite an impression, and a lot of people got involved."

He paused and glanced at Tsunade.

"You actually did something... good."

Tsunade shrugged and did not argue.

This was hardly a bad thing.

With this banner, if she wanted to arrange something later—invite a few girls to bathe together...

Who would turn her down?

Heh heh heh!

Tsunade swallowed without thinking, her mind filling with glimpses of pale skin.

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave her a strange look.

He had no idea what nonsense the girl was imagining. He shook his head and did not bother guessing.

He tapped his pipe and turned serious.

"I hear you want to become Hokage?"

Tsunade stiffened and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

So that's what this is about!

She really had been telling people she wanted to be Hokage these past few days.

Steeped in the Will of Fire,

almost every young person in Konoha dreamed of becoming Hokage.

Tsunade had never been interested in the position before.

Now that she had suddenly changed her tune, someone had probably heard and passed word to the Third.

Was Hiruzen Sarutobi testing her?

Tsunade did not mind. She answered frankly, "Yeah, I've thought about it."

She could not be sure what Hiruzen Sarutobi was thinking.

She did not put much stock in the "conspiracy theories" about the Third,

but some of their claims were not entirely baseless.

She needed to be careful.

Her response had been natural enough.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's reaction, however, took her by surprise.

Far from looking displeased, the Third Hokage smiled with approval.

"Good. It seems you've finally inherited the First's will."

He took a puff of his pipe and went on:

"Becoming Hokage is a long and difficult road. But right now, you have a good place to start."

"A place to start?"

Tsunade was puzzled.

Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed to the banner in her hands.

"That."

Tsunade's eyes lit up.

"The support of Konoha's women?"

"It's a good thing to have."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, his tone earnest.

"Since you won't be taking missions outside the village this year, build good relationships with the women here."

"I'll assign you some special tasks when appropriate."

"Things like mediating disputes between women, helping train female ninja, and organizing activities for women."

"You can start building your own team now, so that when the time comes for you to become Hokage, they'll... be there to support you."

Tsunade stared at him, dumbfounded.

She had never expected the Third to say anything like that.

But a moment later, delight surged through her!

Wasn't he giving her official permission to pick up girls... No, an official role?!

She could openly meet the girls of Konoha, grow closer to them, and build relationships.

What could be better than that?!

"Sounds great!"

Tsunade slapped her thigh and broke into a broad grin.

"Thanks, old man! I won't hold back, then!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched her excitement and shook his head, though his eyes held a smile.

"All right. If there's nothing else, you can go."

"You got it!"

Tsunade grabbed the banner and turned to leave.

At the door, she looked back and flashed Hiruzen Sarutobi a toothy grin.

"Don't worry, old man. I'll take excellent care of Konoha's women!"

With that, she pulled the door shut with a bang and slipped away.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his chair, looking at the closed door, and shook his head with a chuckle.

"That girl finally has something worthwhile to do."

He took a puff of his pipe and gazed out the window.

"First, your granddaughter has finally grown up."

Outside the door.

Tsunade left the Hokage's office and walked to a window in the corridor.

She unfurled the banner, looked at the words "Konoha's Strongest Female Fist," and grinned wider and wider.

Then she raised her head and looked outside.

The whole of Konoha lay before her.

People came and went along the streets, ninja trained on the practice grounds, and steam rose from the women's bathhouse in the distance.

Tsunade took a deep breath, her heart swelling with ambition!

Her spirits soared!

She raised the banner toward Konoha beyond the window and made a declaration too quiet for anyone else to hear:

"Women of Konoha..."

"Your queen has arrived!"

Sunlight streamed through the window onto her face.

Her long golden hair gleamed.

Tsunade grinned, showing two rows of white teeth.

"Officially authorized to pick up girls! No, officially authorized to build my team!"

"Things just keep getting better!"

She carefully rolled up the banner and cradled it in her arms.

Humming a tune, she strode home.