Licensed and Ready for Duty

Tsunade slept straight through to 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 it all: she was in a foul mood.

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 looked awkward behind the mask.

The operative quickly stepped back and said respectfully:

"Lady Tsunade, the Third Hokage requests your presence at the Hokage Building."

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

"I... don't know. You'll find out when you get there."

The operative's voice sounded stiff.

Tsunade yawned and scratched her head.

"Fine, got it. I'll take a shower, then head over."

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 have received a cold warning to report immediately when the Hokage summoned them.

But this was Tsunade...

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

They knew just how terrifying Lady Tsunade could be.

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

Rumor had it she'd broken six of his ribs, and he had nearly died.

Who would dare provoke someone like that?

The operative quietly retreated beyond the courtyard and waited.

Tsunade went back inside, showered, and changed into clean clothes.

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

Simple and practical.

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

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

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

"I know~"

Tsunade waved and ambled out.

She walked to the Hokage Building.

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

Tsunade raised a hand to knock.

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

She had no reason to stand on ceremony with the old man.

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

He didn't even look up at the sound.

He knew who it was without looking.

In all of 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 do you want?"

Hiruzen set down his pipe and gave her a helpless look.

"Still no manners."

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

Tsunade pursed her lips and got straight to the point.

"So what is it? Hurry up. I've got training to get back to."

Hiruzen shook his head and let it slide.

He pointed to something rolled up on his desk.

"It's for you."

"For me?"

Tsunade paused, then stood and leaned closer.

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

She untied the ribbon and unfolded the cloth.

Inside was a presentation banner.

It had a red background and gold trim, with words brushed in black:

[Presented to Lady Tsunade]

[Konoha's Foremost Champion of Women, Guardian of Their Peace]

At the bottom was the inscription:

[With Respect, from All the Women of Konoha!]

Tsunade: "..."

She blinked. Then blinked again.

"Huh?"

"I'm a feminist... ahem! A champion of women now?"

"Who gave me this?"

Hiruzen 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. A lot of people took part."

He paused and glanced at Tsunade.

"You did something... worthwhile."

Tsunade shrugged and didn't argue.

It wasn't a bad thing.

With this banner, if she wanted to stir something up later and invite a few girls to the baths...

Who would refuse?

Heh heh heh!

Tsunade swallowed without thinking as images of bare skin floated through her mind.

Hiruzen gave her a strange look.

He had no idea what the girl was imagining. He shook his head and decided not to guess.

He tapped his pipe and turned serious.

"I hear you want to become Hokage?"

Tsunade stiffened and looked at Hiruzen.

So that's what this is about!

She had certainly told plenty of people over the past few days that she wanted to become Hokage.

They had all grown up steeped in the Will of Fire.

Becoming Hokage was the goal of nearly every young person in Konoha.

Tsunade had never been interested in the position before.

Now that she had suddenly changed her tune, someone must have heard and passed it on to the Third.

Was Hiruzen testing her?

Tsunade didn't mind. She answered frankly, "Yeah, I've been thinking about it."

She couldn't read Hiruzen's intentions.

She didn't put much stock in the conspiracy theories about the Third.

But some suspicions weren't entirely baseless.

She needed to be careful.

Her response had been natural enough.

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

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

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

He took a puff of his pipe and said slowly:

"The road to becoming Hokage is long. But right now, you have an excellent place to start."

"A place to start?"

Tsunade looked puzzled.

Hiruzen 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 nodded, his voice 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."

"Mediating disputes between women, guiding female ninja in training, organizing activities for women, and the like."

"You can build your own circle in advance, so when you're ready to become Hokage, they'll be there to support you."

Tsunade stared at him in astonishment.

She truly hadn't expected the Third to say that.

But a moment later, delight surged through her.

Wasn't he giving her a license to flirt... no, official authorization to get to work?!

She could openly spend time with Konoha's girls, grow closer to them, and build relationships.

What could be better than that?!

"Sounds great!"

Tsunade slapped her thigh and burst out laughing.

"Thanks, old man! I'll take you up on that!"

Hiruzen shook his head at her excitement, though his eyes were smiling.

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

"You got it!"

Tsunade grabbed the banner and headed for the door.

At the doorway, she turned back and flashed Hiruzen a toothy grin.

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

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

Hiruzen remained in his chair, looking at the closed door as he shook his head and chuckled.

"That girl finally has something serious to do."

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

"Lord First, your granddaughter has finally grown up."

Outside.

Tsunade left the Hokage's office and stopped by a corridor window.

She unfurled the banner and looked at the large words "Konoha's Foremost Champion of Women." Her grin grew wider and wider.

Then she raised her head and looked outside.

The whole of Konoha Village spread out 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 drew a deep breath, her heart swelling with ambition!

Her spirits soared!

She raised the banner toward Konoha beyond the window and declared in a voice only she could hear:

"Women of Konoha..."

"Your queen has arrived!"

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell across her face.

Her long blond hair gleamed.

Tsunade grinned, showing both rows of white teeth.

"Licensed to work, free to flirt... no, free to build my own circle!"

"Life just keeps getting better!"

She carefully rolled up the banner and held it against her chest.

Humming a tune, she took long strides toward home.