Evening.
On the Hokage Monument.
A gentle breeze rustled, lifting the long strands of Tsunade's blonde hair at her temples. She held a sake gourd in one hand, her body perched precariously on the cliff edge above the stone faces. Her clothes fluttered in the wind, her eyes distant and hazy.
Gazing down at the brightly lit village of Konoha spread out below, Tsunade's thoughts couldn't help but drift into memories. This place had once held so much of her joy and her hopes, but it had also brought her immeasurable pain and despair. Every time she returned to the village, Tsunade couldn't stop herself from remembering her younger brother, Nawaki, and her former lover, Dan Kato. They had both sacrificed their lives to protect this village.
The Will of Fire? She would never again believe in such an illusory, intangible thing. Raising the sake gourd, she took a long swig, then murmured softly to herself. Under the caress of the cold wind, her voice was nearly inaudible. However, the profound anguish etched on her face offered a clear glimpse into the turmoil within Tsunade's heart at that moment.
Swoosh~
The sound of air being cut echoed nearby, and a figure appeared beside Tsunade.
"Lady Tsunade." The newcomer approached and bowed respectfully.
Tsunade turned her head. Her face, slightly flushed from the alcohol, softened into a faint smile. "Ah, Shikaku." After acknowledging him, Tsunade turned her gaze back to the village below, her thoughts once again distant.
Looking at the despondent Tsunade, Nara Shikaku's expression grew somewhat somber. At this moment, he began to doubt Tatsuya's proposal. Could Lady Tsunade, in her current state, truly be capable of shouldering the responsibilities of Hokage?
After a few seconds, Nara Shikaku spoke, "Lady Tsunade, Lord Hokage asked me to convey a message to you."
Tsunade turned her head again, a hint of surprise in her voice. "Oh? What does Sensei want?"
Nara Shikaku replied respectfully, "Lady Tsunade, the Military Police Force, along with the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans, have jointly recommended you for the position of the village's Fifth Hokage. Lord Third Hokage has already agreed to this proposal and has asked me to seek your opinion on the matter."
As Nara Shikaku finished speaking, Tsunade, who had been about to take another drink, paused, her hand frozen in mid-air. She stared at Nara Shikaku, unblinking, as if trying to confirm whether she had heard him correctly.
Seeing her reaction, Nara Shikaku could only sigh inwardly and repeat, "Lady Tsunade, the Military Police Force and the various clans have jointly recommended you as the next Hokage. Lord Third Hokage has already agreed to this proposal and specifically asked me to seek your opinion."
Tsunade blinked a few times, then let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Me? The Fifth Hokage? Shikaku, are you absolutely sure you're not joking?" If it hadn't been for her deep concern for her teacher's safety, Tsunade wouldn't have returned to Konoha at all. She couldn't understand why, given her current attitude and detachment, anyone would still recommend her for the position of Fifth Hokage.
Just now, Nara Shikaku seemed to say the Military Police Force recommended her? The Military Police Force? Could it be… that Tatsuya Akimichi fellow? For a moment, Tsunade was lost in thought, her mind racing.
Beside her, Nara Shikaku remained silent. He could roughly guess what Tsunade was thinking. Truthfully, Shikaku himself was also very curious as to why Tatsuya would recommend Lady Tsunade as the next Hokage. He genuinely couldn't see any indication that Tsunade was currently fit to be the next leader of the village.
After a long silence, Tsunade's voice finally sounded again, hoarse and low, "Shikaku, go back and tell Sensei… I am not suited for the position of Hokage. What kind of Kage of a hidden village is afraid of the sight of blood?" As she spoke, her voice was filled with a profound weariness.
"Yes, my lady." Nara Shikaku remained silent for several tens of seconds after hearing her refusal, then replied softly. With his words hanging in the air, his figure flickered and disappeared.
Tsunade paid his departure no mind. She lifted the sake gourd and took another long, deep gulp. Below, the entire village of Konoha was illuminated by countless pinpricks of light, like innumerable stars twinkling in the vast darkness.
Sigh! After a low, mournful sigh, Tsunade's figure also vanished from the spot.
Akimichi Clan Compound, Tatsuya's home.
Tatsuya, Kyoko, and Mitarashi Anko were having dinner. The atmosphere at the dining table was somewhat subdued, with all three of them mostly eating in silence.
After eating for a while, Mitarashi Anko looked up at Tatsuya and asked directly, "Are you going to become Hokage?"
Tatsuya looked up from his meal and met Anko's gaze. "Do I look like Hokage material to you?"
Mitarashi Anko considered this with exaggerated seriousness for a moment, then shook her head decisively. "Nope! You're too lazy! You always love ordering others around to do things for you, and you yourself are never willing to lift a finger if you can help it."
Beside them, Kyoko, hearing Mitarashi Anko's blunt assessment, pouted slightly, clearly displeased. "Anko, how can you say that about Tatsuya-kun! Isn't the Hokage's duty to arrange for the right people to complete missions? I think Tatsuya-kun does that very well."
Mitarashi Anko rolled her eyes at Kyoko's defense but didn't bother to argue further. This girl is always like this! she thought with some exasperation. In her eyes, no matter what Tatsuya does, it's always right! Well, she, Mitarashi Anko, certainly wouldn't be so blindly devoted! Thinking this, Anko couldn't help but feel a strange, inexplicable sense of superiority.
However, the moment Anko's gaze met Tatsuya's again, that fleeting feeling of superiority instantly vanished, replaced by a flush of embarrassed annoyance. Opposite her, Tatsuya's bright, knowing eyes were staring straight at her, as if he had completely seen through her thoughts. This made Anko feel a little flustered and rather irritated.
Under the surge of annoyance, Anko snapped, her tone sharp, "What are you looking at! Don't tell me you're actually planning to become Hokage?"
Tatsuya shook his head. "Relax. I know my own limitations. After discussing it with Shisui and the others, the Military Police Force has already recommended Lady Tsunade for the position of Fifth Hokage."
Mitarashi Anko stared at him, momentarily stunned. "Lady Tsunade? But she seems…" Here, Anko trailed off, but the unspoken meaning in her words was perfectly clear. Mitarashi Anko was now an elite Jonin of Konoha Village, and most of the people in her usual social and professional circles were considered middle to high-ranking members of Konoha's hierarchy. She had heard quite a bit about Tsunade's current situation over the years. In her opinion, the current Tsunade was indeed not suitable to serve as Hokage.
The Hokage—that was a position that only the strongest and most capable ninja in Konoha Village could hold. Tsunade, once one of the legendary Sannin, not only came from a noble lineage and possessed immense strength but had also made enormous contributions to Konoha in the past. But if her combat effectiveness was drastically reduced at the mere sight of blood, how could such a person possibly serve as Hokage?
"What? You don't think she's up to the task?" Tatsuya tilted his head, looking at Anko with a questioning gaze.
Mitarashi Anko fell silent. Beside her, Kyoko also remained quiet. Kyoko wasn't particularly concerned with these political matters, so she didn't offer any opinion.
Seeing their reactions, Tatsuya said, "You all underestimate her too much. Lady Tsunade is more suitable than anyone else for this role."
After saying this, the three of them didn't discuss the topic further. Regarding the recommendation of Tsunade for the position of Fifth Hokage, Tatsuya had already anticipated that she might not agree.
However, Tatsuya had a plan. It was time for the master of "Talk no Jutsu," Naruto, to make his appearance!