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"Ah!!!"
Thinking of all the hardships she had endured during her days away from the village, Tsunade could not help but let out a loud shout, startling the people at the village gate.
Everyone turned around in confusion. Who was this? A lunatic or something, yelling like that?
'So embarrassing....' Shizune covered her face helplessly. Naruto scratched his head and kept laughing awkwardly. He also found it quite embarrassing.
Although he himself wanted to shout a few times too, he did not dare, afraid Tsunade would beat him.
"Lady Hokage?"
This turn of the head startled quite a few villagers and ninja. Their Fifth Hokage, who had been away from the village for so long, had actually returned.
"La-Lady Hokage."
The ninja on duty at the gate ran forward with excitement in his heart and hurriedly saluted and greeted her.
The ANBU squad hidden in the shadows, observing those entering and leaving, quickly withdrew.
The Fifth Hokage had returned. They needed to send the news back to the Hokage Office Building at once.
"Yes, thank you for your hard work."
Tsunade nodded in response to the other party with her approachable attitude. Not wanting to waste time at the gate, she grabbed Shizune and Naruto and left.
After leaving the village and drifting for so long, the life along the way was not exactly miserable, but at least it was not much better either.
Having finally made it back to the village, Tsunade wanted to have a beautiful meal, then ditch that little brat Naruto, and after that, go soak in a hot spring with Shizune and then go back for a good sleep.
"Lady Hokage, we've already returned, so I want to go home and take a look first."
Naruto wore a fawning expression, hoping Tsunade would let him off.
We're already back in the village. Please, just do me a favor and treat me like a wind and let me go. I want to go home. I don't want to keep running around with you.
'Oh ho, I was originally going to treat you to a meal, but now you're not even giving me face?'
"Fine, don't come then. Saves money. Shizune, let's go."
Since Naruto was doesn't want to go, Tsunade did not force him and left with Shizune.
"Phew~~~ Finally free."
Watching Tsunade's receding figure, Naruto jumped up high in excitement.
"Hehe."
Walking toward his home, Naruto wore a silly smile, scratched his head, and muttered to himself:
"First go home and find Grandpa Jiraiya, then go eat Ichiraku Ramen, then go find Sakura. Let Sakura see just how strong I have become. Sakura will definitely be very happy."
With Sakura's face floating in his mind, drool even leaked from the corner of Naruto's mouth.
Having just returned to the village, he also planned to eat a big meal. But what he wanted to eat was Ichiraku Ramen. As for why not barbecue...
Because his pockets were empty!
If Jiraiya was not in the village, Naruto won't even think to splurge on barbecue.
"Lady Hokage, is it really appropriate for us to just leave Naruto behind like this?"
Having followed Tsunade for many years, just from the way Tsunade's eyes moved, Shizune could guess her little thoughts.
She was craving it. She wanted to eat barbecue, but Naruto had been sent away.
"Ha! What's inappropriate about it? That kid insisted on leaving. He can only blame himself for not having the luck to enjoy good food."
Tsunade did not care about these things. She had intended to take Naruto for a big meal, but Naruto himself did not want to go. Who could be blamed for that?
You just go home obediently and eat your Ichiraku Ramen.
If you want to eat barbecue, go find Jiraiya.
"That's true, but..."
Shizune noticed that Tsunade's gaze had turned somewhat unfriendly and quickly shut her mouth.
But you never clearly said you were going to eat barbecue either. Otherwise, why would Naruto not want to go?
That sentence, Shizune did not dare keep bottled up in her heart.
"Come on, come on. This lady is about to starve to death. Let's eat some barbecue, soak in a hot spring, and go back for a good sleep. This period has been exhausting."
"Coming."
Under Tsunade's urging, Shizune could only set aside the matter of Naruto for the moment and quickly follow.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in."
In the Hokage Office, Shikaku looked at the documents on the table listlessly and called out weakly.
Mabui, meanwhile, continued doing her own work, as if she had not seen any of this.
Having received permission, the ANBU ninja opened the door and entered the Hokage Office.
"Lord Shikaku, the Fifth Hokage has returned."
"Huh?" Shikaku suddenly reacted, and the entire person jumped up in shock:
"You're saying the Fifth Hokage has returned?"
"Yes. The Fifth is currently on the way to the Akimichi clan's barbecue restaurant... It looks like she wants to eat something first. Should we notify the Fifth?"
"No need. I'll go personally. You continue carrying out your missions."
This lady had finally returned.
Shikaku was so happy he wanted to shout a few times. Fortunately, he managed to hold it in.
"Mabui, come with me. Let's go see the Fifth."
"Yes."
Mabui decisively put down the documents in her hand and followed Shikaku out of the Hokage Office Building. The two headed straight for the Akimichi clan's barbecue restaurant.
By the time they arrived at the barbecue restaurant, Tsunade and Shizune had already started eating.
Gulp, gulp...
After drinking more than half a bottle of sake in one go, Tsunade placed the bottle on the table, her face flushed:
"Ahh!!"
Shizune: "..."
It seemed that after returning to the village, the Hokage had begun to let herself go. No, correction—the Fifth.
Now that the village had a Sixth Hokage, Tsunade had to be addressed as the Fifth. If they all were simply called Hokage, it would be easy for confusion to arise.
One Third Hokage, one Fifth Hokage, and one newly appointed Sixth Hokage—if they did not change how they addressed them, things could easily become chaotic.
The person taking over had finally returned.
Shikaku did not even knock before pulling open the door to the private room and walking in with Mabui, closing the door behind him:
"Lady Fifth, you've finally returned."
"It's Shikaku."
Tsunade picked up a piece of barbecue, blew on it, put it in her mouth, and chewed with satisfaction.
Having been away from the village for so long, she had almost forgotten the taste of barbecue.
Although there were barbecue restaurants all over the world, the Akimichi clan's secret seasoning was just that unforgettable.
"Hm? This is..."
At this point, Tsunade noticed Mabui standing behind Shikaku. Was this not the Raikage's secretary?
Seeing that Tsunade had noticed her, Mabui stepped forward and saluted:
"Lady Fifth, I am the Hokage's newly appointed Hokage secretary."
Clatter!
The chopsticks in Shizune's hand fell onto the table, and her eyes went wide.
Wasn't Kazuki's dedicated secretary Izumi?
How had it become Mabui? The other party seemed to be the Raikage's secretary. Could she have remembered wrongly?
Shikaku explained, "She was specially appointed by the Hokage. Mabui was also poached from the Cloud Ninja Village by the Hokage."
And no more than that.
As for what opinions Tsunade had, she could go directly to Mabui and Kazuki. Just do not come looking for him.