"I'm not buying it."
Tsunade had replayed it over and over in her head, yet still couldn't get past how she felt.
Forgive and forget old grudges?
No way. That word doesn't even belong in my vocabulary.
"Lord Kawaki made some valid points."
Shouta carefully weighed the pros and cons and found Kawaki's reasoning sound.
As if trying to prove he wasn't just another yes-man to the Hokage, his words of support rang loud and firm.
"So loud for? Are you trying to scare someone to death?"
Tsunade shot Shouta a look. Who the hell are you trying to scare?
As for whether or not he was a yes-man, she didn't care one bit.
"The Uchiha Clan will follow your orders without hesitation."
Fugaku spoke even more directly, showing absolutely no hesitation.
He knew that no matter what Konoha did now, no one would ever forget the blood feud between them and the Iwagakure ninja.
"You're too kind. This small mission might not even require your involvement."
Kawaki smiled as he patted Fugaku's shoulder. How could he forget who killed the previous Uchiha clan head?
Besides, from any perspective, the Uchiha wouldn't be chosen as the main force when sending reinforcements to the Land of Earth.
Even if the Uchiha didn't mind, Ōnoki probably wouldn't trust them completely.
"Did I hear this right?"
"Doesn't anyone care how I feel?"
"You three bastards! I'M the Hokage!"
Suddenly, Tsunade felt completely ignored. Didn't anyone notice that Hokage-sama was clearly unhappy?
"Oh, got it, Hokage-sama."
"I think sending Minato and Nawaki as reinforcements sounds good."
"I have no objections."
In just a few sentences, the three had already decided who would lead the reinforcement squad.
"What do you think, Hokage-sama?"
Realizing they may have been rude, all three simultaneously turned their eyes toward Tsunade.
"Sigh... It looks like I should really resign and make way for someone better."
Tsunade shook her head with a sigh, feeling pathetic watching this unfold before her.
When had things reached the point where she was so thoroughly sidelined?
"Don't put on an act for anyone."
"If you want to laugh, don't hold it in."
Kawaki saw right through Tsunade's thoughts—she was probably bursting with joy inside.
None of their generation wanted to take over as Hokage, while those from the new generation who were willing lacked enough prestige.
The Great Ninja World War offered the perfect chance to send Nawaki and Minato out to build up their reputations.
Whoever earned more prestige would naturally become the next Hokage—everything would fall neatly into place.
"Hahaha~"
"I finally see a way out of this torment."
Hearing this, Tsunade stopped pretending. Anyway, everyone present knew her personality well enough.
"Out with the old, in with the new. There'll probably be a new Hokage's assistant too, right?"
At this thought, Shouta couldn't help smiling widely. He'd had enough of this job long ago.
"Maybe."
However, Tsunade instinctively gave a vague answer, making Shouta feel uneasy.
She was definitely getting out—but what about Nara Shouta?
Who's that? Were they even close?
If it got her out, she'd gladly leave Shouta as Hokage's assistant for another century.
"What exactly do you mean by 'maybe'?"
Shota asked right away. He knew all too well that Tsunade could sometimes be quite "underhanded."
It wouldn't be much trouble for her to throw him under the bus with the Fifth Hokage.
"No big deal. There'll definitely be a new assistant."
Tsunade snapped back into focus and scrambled to save face, but her tone was clearly forced.
"Alright, alright, don't sweat the small stuff."
"Let's get down to business."
"Summon Jonin Senju Nawaki and Minato Namikaze to report here."
Sensing Shota was about to press further, Tsunade quickly steered the conversation elsewhere.
"Understood."
A Shadow Guard's voice echoed from somewhere unseen, then faded into the distance.
"So she gets to pick an heir now? What about you?"
"Now that's stubborn thinking."
Kawaki had dug his own grave, so in the end, he felt at least a little guilty, offering one sentence as a wake-up call for Shota.
"That's right. If you want something done, do it yourself."
"I've got a nephew named Shikaku. He's pretty close with Nawaki and Minato."
"That kid's sharp—I think he'd be perfect."
"Hehehe~"
Shota grinned slyly—sorry, little cousin. Don't hate the uncle for playing favorites.
Even if our Nara Clan hasn't produced a Hokage yet, holding onto the Hokage's assistant role isn't easy—it's both a display of capability and status.
"That kid sounds good."
Kawaki nodded in agreement. Konoha's top strategist in the original story wasn't just a title given lightly.
"The deer of the next generation Ino–Shika–Chō trio—I've heard a bit about him."
Fugaku wasn't trying to flatter anyone. Even though practically nobody among the new generation could rival Nawaki or Minato, there were still many exceptional shinobi.
"Sounds promising."
"Have him intern here for a while."
Tsunade's mental abacus beads rattled all the way onto their faces. She obviously wanted to start her early retirement a bit early.
The more workers, the more freedom for herself.
"Do me a favor, will you?"
Before Shota could even get a word in, Tsunade was already plotting to offload the work onto someone else.
Knock knock~
The sound snapped Tsunade out of her excuse-making midway.
"Come in."
Kawaki spoke on her behalf, and no one seemed to mind.
"Teacher, Teacher's wife (Sister, Brother-in-law)."
Without any outsiders around, Minato and Nawaki greeted them casually, smiling politely at Fugaku and Shota.
"You're here."
"We've got a big job for you two."
Everyone was used to Kawaki's way of talking and his love for slang.
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"What mission is it?"
Nawaki and Nagato's eyes lit up simultaneously. Finally, it was their turn to shine.
When they learned earlier that Nagato had been leading a team locked in fierce battle in the Land of Earth, they genuinely felt envious.
"After a thorough discussion by the Fourth Hokage, Tsunade, and other Konoha officials,"
"You two will be deployed to the Land of Earth to provide support, helping Iwagakure repel the invading Cloud and Akatsuki forces."
Tsunade made it sound like a major decision, but in reality, only a few had actually approved it.
To be exact, Kawaki suggested it and Tsunade just rubber-stamped it—nothing more to it.
"Ah?"
Both Nawaki and Minato shared the same confused look.
Not helping Nagato was one thing, but now they were actually expected to fight him?
"You heard correctly," Kawaki said.
"Ōnoki sent envoys requesting aid, and he will lead the way."
"But remember, there are limits to this assistance."
"The Land of Earth must not be destroyed; beyond that, you are free to act as you see fit."
Kawaki only gave them a broad guideline, confident that both would understand. If they couldn't grasp such a simple matter, perhaps they still weren't ready to become Hokage.
"Yes, sir."
Nawaki and Minato exchanged glances; clearly, neither had grasped it immediately, and doubt lingered in their eyes.
Even so, both chose to agree first—they trusted Kawaki wouldn't make decisions harmful to Konoha.
"This combat mission was requested by Iwagakure from our Konoha."
"There, you won't have to tolerate anyone else's demands, nor should you disgrace Konoha's honor."
"Do you understand?"
Tsunade bluntly laid out the stakes. If Konoha ninja ended up at a disadvantage under these circumstances, she'd probably lose her temper.
"We understand."
Nawaki and Minato stood straight with chests puffed out, their faces filled with excitement. After all, this was the first time they participated in a war as commanders.
"Do your best; everyone has high hopes for you."
"Don't let us down. Go prepare now."
Kawaki offered a few encouraging words and dismissed them, easily finalizing the mission to assist the Land of Earth.
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