Tsunade: His reputation's so big, he's practically Hokage!

They watched helplessly as a whole band of bandits marched away.

Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki were stunned. "Were those... bandits?!"

Could bandits actually chase ninja around these days? And the one they had chased was Princess Tsunade, the Senju Princess, one of the Konoha Sannin renowned throughout the shinobi world?

The world had gone completely upside down!

Shizune's face instantly turned apple-red. "Um... well, thanks for your help. I've got something to do, so let's catch up another time. Bye!"

With that,

Shizune hurried after her, her high-heeled sandals clacking against the ground.

Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki were utterly dumbfounded...

"Lady Tsunade, wait for me!"

Konoha's streets bustled with people.

The New Year had just passed, and the vendors were still enjoying the holiday boom. Cries advertising their wares rang out everywhere.

Tsunade slowed her steps.

She hadn't returned to Konoha in years, and the sight left her a little dazed... she had grown accustomed to roughing it on the road, only to suddenly find herself faced with Konoha's prosperity.

It gave her the illusion that Konoha and the outside world were two entirely different worlds.

After walking for quite a while,

her delicate brows gradually knitted.

Hadn't she seen a few too many Uchiha along the way... and something seemed a little off about these members of the Konoha Military Police Force!

There was no point overthinking it.

At any rate, nothing she had seen along the way suggested the village had been attacked.

While waiting for Shizune, she stopped in front of a vendor. She sniffed, and her expression shifted.

"Hey, what you've got in that wooden tub... is that tender chicken?!"

The vendor chuckled and began praising his own wares. "Our tender chicken has a stellar reputation in Konoha! Back when Lady Tsunade was