Titles and a Secretary
When Fujimoto Tōma finally stepped down from the top of the Hokage Tower, he stretched lazily.
At last, it was over.
All things considered, he was satisfied. Every objective had been achieved. Danzo was gone. The warning had been delivered. And Naruto's identity had finally been brought into the light.
"Thank you, Tōma."
Naruto hurried after him and spoke seriously, bowing his head a little.
"There's no need," Tōma replied, placing a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "That was always something you deserved. Now that you've made a promise in front of everyone, all that's left is to keep moving forward."
"I will!" Naruto nodded hard.
Tōma paused, then asked casually, "So? Any reaction from the Nine-Tails?"
Naruto scratched his head. "Uh… it called me an idiot and then stopped talking. Kinda rude, honestly."
He pouted a little.
Tōma laughed quietly and said nothing more. Naruto hadn't changed much even after learning the truth about his past, and that, in its own way, felt reassuring.
Tōma hadn't done this on impulse. Ever since he had obtained Sage Mode at Mount Myōboku, he had already made up his mind. He wasn't trying to reshape Naruto into something else. He was simply returning what should have belonged to him in the first place.
Including, eventually, the Fourth Hokage's old properties and assets.
"Well, I'm heading to the office," Tōma said. "There are still things I need to hand over properly with Tsunade."
"Got it! I'll keep working hard too!" Naruto replied.
They parted ways.
When Tōma entered the Hokage's office, someone was already waiting.
Jiraiya.
"Tōma," Jiraiya said, unusually serious. "Thank you. For Naruto."
He had thought about revealing the truth many times, but despite having the right, he never had the right moment. He hadn't expected Tōma to do it during the succession ceremony itself.
Naruto had gotten his identity back on the biggest stage possible.
"Naruto already thanked me," Tōma replied. "And honestly, I wanted to do it."
Jiraiya understood. No matter how he tried to treat Naruto equally, it was never the same. After all, the Fourth Hokage had been family to him. That made Naruto… family too.
Generational bias was a real thing.
"Heh, guess that's true," Jiraiya laughed, rubbing the back of his head.
At that moment, Tsunade entered with Shizune.
"Oh? You're here too, Jiraiya?" Tsunade said with mild disdain.
"Of course," Jiraiya replied cheerfully. "I had intel to deliver. Thought it'd be for you, didn't expect to hand it to Tōma already."
"Tsunade-sama," Tōma said politely, "I'll still be relying on you for a while longer."
"No need for the honorific," Tsunade waved him off. "You're the Hokage now. It'd sound strange."
Tōma tilted his head, a playful glint in his eyes. "Then… Granny Tsunade?"
For a split second, Tsunade froze.
Then she slammed her palm onto the desk and leaned forward, grinning dangerously. "You little brat. Of all the things you could learn, you pick that?"
Anyone who knew her could tell. She wasn't actually angry.
"Alright, then… Tsunade-nee," Tōma tried instead.
She blinked.
Then smiled in satisfaction and clapped him on the shoulder. "Good. You've got sense."
"Pfft—HAHAHAHA!" Jiraiya burst out laughing. "You're that old already and you're happy being called 'big sister'?"
Tsunade shot him a look.
Jiraiya shut up instantly.
After that, Tsunade turned back to Tōma. "Just call me teacher, same as him."
"Hey! Don't steal my student!" Jiraiya protested.
"Please," Tsunade scoffed. "You barely taught him anything. You're a mentor in name only."
"…That's not entirely wrong," Jiraiya muttered.
Tōma smiled faintly. "Alright then. Teacher it is. Though, Jiraiya-sensei, if you worked a little harder, maybe I'd get to call someone 'Shishō-mama' someday."
Jiraiya's face turned red.
He glanced at Tsunade.
She snorted and looked away.
Jiraiya's heart skipped. Maybe… just maybe…
Once the teasing settled, Tsunade glanced around the office. "So? You didn't bring Ino in as your secretary?"
"No," Tōma replied. "She's still in a growth phase. I don't want to slow her down."
In truth, Ino would have been perfect. Her clan techniques, especially Mind Transmission, were ideal for a Hokage's aide. But that wasn't the point.
Tsunade frowned. "That logic applies to you too, you know."
Only then did it hit her.
Tōma was fifteen.
He didn't look it. He didn't act like it. And his strength made it easy to forget entirely.
Realizing it now made her click her tongue in disbelief. At this rate, surpassing her grandfather might not even be a stretch.
"The Hokage position won't hold me back," Tōma said calmly. "I'll make sure of that."
He had no intention of chaining the village's strongest combatant to a desk. One shadow clone could handle paperwork. More importantly, he planned to change how things worked.
"That's fine, as long as you know what you're doing," Tsunade nodded. Then she raised an eyebrow. "How about I lend you Shizune for a few years?"
Shizune panicked. "Tsunade-sama, I still need to take care of you—"
"I'm not a child," Tsunade waved her off and winked at Tōma.
Tōma sighed inwardly. He knew exactly what this was about. Without Shizune hovering, Tsunade could gamble and drink to her heart's content.
Honestly, with how much Jiraiya made on missions, he could probably afford it.
"But—" Shizune tried again.
"No need," Tōma said. "I already have someone in mind."
"Oh?" Tsunade paused. "Who?"
"Nara Shikaku."
Tsunade nodded immediately. Calm, experienced, sharp-minded, and already familiar with Tōma's way of thinking. It was a perfect fit.
"And when Shikamaru matures," Tōma added, "the transition will be seamless."
As for Ino?
Well.
Being the Hokage's wife sounded better than being his secretary anyway.