At Konoha's entrance~
In front of the little yellow guard pavilion, rows upon rows of ninja teams already stood in neat formation!
Hokage aide Shimura Danzō stood at the front center of the formation, his arms folded across his chest and an arrogant look on his face!
Behind him on either side stood a calm-faced Orochimaru and a worried-looking Jiraiya, with their students behind them!
Facing them at the very front of the formation stood Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi!
Hiruzen Sarutobi wore red-and-white Hokage robes and a Hokage hat. He held a black pipe in his right hand, with his left hand clenched behind his back. Seeing that Tsunade had not arrived, he decided to wait a little!
After a five-minute wait~
Whoosh!
Tsunade appeared to one side with the Body Flicker Technique, raising her right hand to say goodbye to the people she knew:
"Nawaki, Mie, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, stay safe on the road!"
Everyone except Jiraiya nodded and replied in unison:
"Mm, got it!"
Whoosh~
Uchiha Lei appeared beside Tsunade with an arm around Kushina Uzumaki, raising his hand to say goodbye to the people he knew:
"Mie, Minato, Nawaki, watch out for the Explosive Tags planted by Amegakure. Remember that!"
"Okay, got it, Lei!"
The three replied in unison!
Nawaki noticed that Uchiha Lei gave him a particular look. Knowing that his brother-in-law cared about him too, he said without hiding anything:
"Brother-in-law, I'll help you protect Mie!"
Everyone's gaze turned toward the person Nawaki had greeted-Uchiha Lei beside Tsunade-with surprise all over their faces!
Uchiha Lei knew he could no longer hide it, and he did not want to hide it anyway, so he replied with a smile:
"Ah! Sorry for the trouble!"
Hearing Uchiha Lei acknowledge it, everyone's mouths fell open into O shapes. Then they looked at Tsunade in disbelief before looking back at Lei, their eyes full of strange looks!
That was Tsunade. Who would dare say anything out of line!
As it happened, someone really did!
Looking furious, Jiraiya pointed his right index finger at Uchiha Lei and demanded of Tsunade beside him:
"Tsunade, is this the man you've chosen?"
"Yes!"
Tsunade answered in a low shout, hooking her fair arm around Uchiha Lei's wrist to stake her claim!
After hearing Tsunade admit it, Jiraiya grew red in the face with anger and demanded again:
"I want to know how I'm worse than this brat!"
Tsunade's brows knitted tightly, and she shouted, fiercely defending her man:
"He isn't a brat. His name is Uchiha Lei, and he's my man. Jiraiya, you're worse than him in every way!"
Hearing that Tsunade thought so little of him, Jiraiya lowered his head and said nothing more!
Orochimaru beside him looked surprised, but out of friendship toward Jiraiya, he still raised a hand to pat his shoulder and gently consoled him:
"Jiraiya, don't take it so hard!"
"It's fine. There are plenty of women!"
Jiraiya could only reply helplessly, forcing a smile and not daring to look at Tsunade!
Hyuga Mie beside them was also very surprised. She had not expected her man to be involved with Lady Tsunade as well!
Lei really knows how to surprise me. From now on, Lady Tsunade and I will be sisters!
If I tell people, they'll definitely be jealous!
Hiruzen Sarutobi recovered from his surprise. To ease the awkwardness, he coughed twice and said seriously:
"Ahem~
Danzo, it's about time. Set off for the front!"
Shimura Danzō recovered from his surprise, then actually spoke his mind in front of everyone. Fortunately, he corrected himself quickly enough:
"All right, Hiruzen... no, Lord Hokage!"
Then Shimura Danzō turned around, raised his right arm high, and loudly rallied them:
"Everyone, for Konoha's peace, move out!"
"For Konoha's peace!"
The ninja behind him raised their right arms high and replied with rousing cries!
This Danzo does have a few tricks up his sleeve. He even knows how to win people over during wartime!
Uchiha Lei remarked inwardly. Feeling Tsunade's full curves pressing against his right arm, he turned to her with a sunny smile and thanked her softly:
"Lady Tsunade, thank you for that!"
"What's the big deal? Everyone was going to find out sooner or later anyway. I don't really like dating in secret either!"
Tsunade replied gently. The unpleasantness from that morning vanished. Faced with Uchiha Lei's sunny smile and sincere gaze, she had lost!
After seeing off Konoha's ninja~
Tsunade, Uchiha Lei, and Kushina Uzumaki had originally been happily preparing to go pick up missions!
But Hiruzen Sarutobi's commanding voice rang out behind them~
"Tsunade, come to my office in a bit. I have something to discuss!"
"Got it, old man!"
Tsunade replied casually, then hurried toward the mission service hall with Uchiha Lei and Kushina Uzumaki using the Body Flicker Technique!
Seeing Tsunade show him so little respect, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression soured somewhat. But thinking of Ibuse and the medical ninja, he could only sigh helplessly and say:
"I'm getting old, getting old!"
Utatane Koharu beside him saw that Tsunade was still so rude. Moreover, Tsunade and Uchiha Lei becoming a couple was unfavorable to her, so she said:
"Hiruzen, just look at Tsunade. She doesn't respect you at all. She even chose an Uchiha as her man!"
"That's right, Hiruzen. Tsunade really is in the wrong this time. How can the Senju Clan become in-laws with the Uchiha Clan?"
Mitokado Homura immediately walked over and chimed in angrily!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression soured further, because his two old friends were right. Before leaving with the Body Flicker Technique, he said:
"I'll tell Tsunade to stay away from Uchiha Lei!"
Only after hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi say that did Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura breathe sighs of relief!
Elsewhere~
At the mission service hall in the Hokage Building~
Uchiha Mikoto stood at the entrance in a dark blue Uchiha ninja outfit, her hands folded over her lower abdomen and anticipation in her eyes as she waited for Uchiha Lei to appear!
Whoosh~
Tsunade, Uchiha Lei, and Kushina Uzumaki appeared together before Mikoto!
But Mikoto noticed Tsunade and Uchiha Lei's intimate behavior, and felt a little sour inside. Still, her joy outweighed it, and she raised her right hand to greet them:
"Teacher Tsunade, Lei, Kushina, good morning!"
"Good morning, Mikoto!"
The three replied in unison and walked up to Mikoto together!
Only then did Tsunade let go of Uchiha Lei's hand somewhat reluctantly and instruct them:
"I'll tell the ninja inside. From now on, you can accept missions in the village under my name!
Remember, you can only accept missions carried out inside the village. Understand?"
"Understood!"
The three replied loudly in unison!
"Wait here for a moment!"
After speaking, Tsunade flickered over to the mission center. Looking at the male ninja inside, she said sternly:
"The ones behind me are the team I lead. Give them some good missions in the village, not those old, outdated ones. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, Lady Tsunade. I'll get you the newly arrived missions right away!"
Behind the mission hall counter, an ordinary-looking middle-aged ninja wearing a Chunin vest replied cheerfully!
Then the middle-aged ninja in the mission hall immediately stood and went to the mission box behind him. He searched out today's missions and picked up one to find a cat, one to clean a bathhouse, and one to beautify the surroundings!
Holding the mission sheets, the middle-aged ninja turned and walked back to the counter. He offered the sheets to Tsunade with both hands and said softly:
"Lady Tsunade, these three are today's missions inside the village!"
"Mm, got it. Thank you!"
Tsunade thanked him and casually took the mission sheets!
As the middle-aged ninja stood there somewhat bewildered, she walked back to the three, casually stuffed the mission sheets into Chiya Rai's arms, and instructed them softly:
"I have things to do lately. Come pick up missions yourselves, and stop thinking about dating all the time!"
"Okay, Teacher Tsunade!"
The three replied, looking somewhat troubled!
Somewhat dissatisfied, Tsunade raised a fair finger and poked Uchiha Lei's chest, instructing him sternly:
"I'm talking to you. Did you hear me?"
"Yes, Teacher Tsunade!"
Uchiha Lei answered loudly, raising his large hand to grasp Tsunade's fair hand. He pulled, forcing Tsunade to fall into his arms, then lowered his head and pressed his lips once against her smooth forehead before asking:
"Teacher, I reckon Lord Hokage must be calling you in because of us. Are you sure you can handle it?"
"It's fine. At worst, I just won't do the task he gave me. The old man can't afford to wait!"
Tsunade blushed, quickly broke free of Uchiha Lei's hold, and left with the Body Flicker Technique!
Before you continue