With Sarutobi Hiruzen's recommendation and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire's approval, Tsunade's progress toward becoming the Fourth Hokage had reached 99%.
The remaining 1% was just a formality: the jonin vote, the villagers' vote, and the Hokage inauguration ceremony.
"Tsunade," Sarutobi Hiruzen called out to her.
The moment she arrived, her first concern was Hanekawa, as if no one else mattered except her student.
"Old man, what do you need?" Tsunade's mood was complicated.
Becoming Hokage under these circumstances? Ever since Nawaki's death, she had lost interest in the position.
To her, the title of Hokage felt like a curse, claiming the lives of those she loved—Hashirma Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Nawaki.
Tsunade glanced at Hanekawa out of the corner of her eye.
If it weren't for this brat, she would never have ended up in the Hokage's seat so unexpectedly.
Well, she might as well take the role for a few years and then make her escape.
"From now on, you will act as the interim Hokage," Sarutobi Hiruzen said solemnly. "Tonight's matters will be your responsibility."
"Understood," Tsunade replied after a brief pause.
The reason it was only an interim position was that the formal procedures hadn't been completed yet.
"Danzo Shimura attempted to assassinate the Daimyo and was killed on the spot by Hanekawa!" Tsunade declared, meeting the gazes of everyone present.
"Yes," the group responded in unison.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were reluctant, but they had no choice but to bow to the new Hokage.
Tsunade scanned the room.
Hiashi Hyuga was the most excited, followed by Fugaku Uchiha.
Hanekawa, however, was the calmest, as if he had anticipated this outcome.
Tsunade pursed her lips.
This brat's audacity was growing. Once this was over, she would definitely settle the score with him!
"Danzo Shimura was imprisoned in Konoha's maximum-security prison. For him to escape, he must have had accomplices," Tsunade said sternly. "Hanekawa, investigate this with the assistance of the ANBU."
"Yes, sensei," Hanekawa replied, slightly surprised.
It seemed Tsunade had already guessed something.
But she had made her choice—to protect him.
Investigating himself would yield no results.
No, Hanekawa could use this opportunity to take over Danzo Shimura's and the Root's assets.
"Yes, Lady Hokage!" The ANBU ninja, including Haru, responded in unison.
"It's late tonight. Everyone, go rest," Tsunade paused, then added, "Tomorrow at 9 a.m., we will hold a jonin meeting."
"Yes," Fugaku Uchiha and Hiashi Hyuga bowed slightly before leaving.
"Lord Daimyo," Tsunade approached the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, apologizing, "You were frightened tonight. Let me escort you back."
"No need," the Daimyo glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Let Hiruzen take me."
"Understood," Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, guessing what the Daimyo wanted to discuss.
But he had already let go and wouldn't pursue the matter further.
For Konoha, this was the best outcome.
Everyone had left, leaving only Tsunade and Hanekawa.
"Brat," Tsunade walked up to Hanekawa, her lips twitching as she glared at him. "Did you plan tonight's events?"
"Yes," Hanekawa reached out and took her hand. "Sensei, are you angry?"
"Shouldn't I be?" Tsunade's expression darkened.
"I'm sorry, it's my fault," Hanekawa apologized quickly.
"What exactly is your fault?" Tsunade pulled her hand away and pinched his cheek.
"I took it upon myself to release Danzo Shimura and had him control the Daimyo," Hanekawa admitted honestly.
"And what else?" Tsunade snorted.
"Huh?" Hanekawa thought carefully, looking at her stern face. "What else?"
"You don't know?" Tsunade's chest heaved with anger.
"Sensei, calm down," Hanekawa wanted to pat her chest to soothe her.
"Why didn't you ask me beforehand?" Tsunade pinched his cheek harder, distorting his face.
"I was afraid you wouldn't agree," Hanekawa realized.
So that was why she was angry.
If that was the case, then the situation wasn't as dangerous as he thought.
"You didn't even ask. How do you know I wouldn't agree?" Tsunade glared at him, clearly displeased.
"I'll definitely ask next time!" Hanekawa quickly promised.
"There's going to be a next time?" Tsunade grabbed his collar and pulled him closer.
"No next time!" Hanekawa looked at her beautiful face up close and suddenly kissed her forehead.
"You... what are you doing?" Tsunade pushed him away in shock. "Do you want to die, brat?"
"Sensei, see you tomorrow!" Hanekawa quickly made his escape.
"Bastard!" Tsunade stomped her foot in anger.
With a crack, the ground split, spiderweb-like fissures spreading out.
After a long while, Tsunade touched her forehead, lost in thought.
---
The next day.
The events of the previous night had spread throughout Konoha.
While Danzo Shimura's attempt to assassinate the Daimyo was shocking, the most attention-grabbing news was the change in Hokage.
The entire village was in turmoil.
"Sensei!" Mitarashi Anko rushed into Orochimaru's underground lab.
"What happened?" Orochimaru emerged from the lab.
"Lady Tsunade has become the Fourth Hokage," Anko said with regret.
She had always thought Orochimaru would become the Fourth Hokage, but now that chance was gone.
"I see," Orochimaru replied indifferently.
In his view, Tsunade becoming the Fourth Hokage was inevitable after the Third Great Ninja War.
The only question was when it would happen.
It seemed the old man was in a hurry to finalize it.
"One more thing!" Anko said excitedly. "Danzo Shimura attacked the Daimyo!"
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
How had Danzo escaped?
While Root ninja were skilled, Konoha's maximum-security prison was heavily guarded. It would have been difficult for them to rescue him without a trace, let alone allow him to attack the Daimyo.
"What happened to Danzo?" Orochimaru asked.
"He was killed by Hanekawa!" Anko exclaimed. "I heard the fight didn't even last half a minute. He's amazing!"
Orochimaru was surprised.
He had thought Danzo might survive after returning to the village, but it seemed he had met his end.
Orochimaru pondered.
Was this Tsunade's plan, or was Hanekawa just lucky?
He leaned toward the former.
After all, Tsunade was the one who benefited the most from this.
"Go train," Orochimaru closed the lab door.
Even if he knew the truth, he wouldn't stand up for Danzo.
Right now, he only wanted to focus on his experiments and find a way to obtain Wood Release and the Mangekyo Sharingan.
---
At the Hatake household.
"Kakashi, good morning," Asuma Sarutobi greeted with a smile.
Along with him were his teammates, Shisui Uchiha and Shizune.
"Good morning," Kakashi Hatake sheathed his short sword.
"Kakashi-senpai, you're so diligent," Shisui praised.
"It's nothing," Kakashi shook his head. "I just don't want to waste time."
"Do you know what happened in the village last night?" Asuma asked mysteriously.
"What?" Kakashi was puzzled. "I went to bed early."
Although the White Fang of Konoha, Sakumo Hatake, was famous, the Hatake clan wasn't as influential as the Hyuga or Uchiha clans, so they weren't as well-informed.
"My old man retired. Lady Tsunade is now the Hokage," Asuma said, a bit disappointed but not overly so.
Tsunade becoming Hokage was expected, and he had anticipated it.
As for Hanekawa's behind-the-scenes actions, Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't told him the details, only that Hanekawa had killed Danzo, who had attempted to assassinate the Daimyo.
"I see," Kakashi nodded slightly.
He wasn't particularly surprised.
After all, Tsunade was the obvious choice.
"Why aren't you more excited?" Asuma waved his fist. "Don't you have any thoughts?"
"What thoughts should I have?" Kakashi asked calmly.
"After the Fourth Hokage, there will be a Fifth Hokage!" Asuma said excitedly. "The Fifth Hokage will definitely be one of us!"
"So?" Kakashi remained expressionless. "Can you compete with Hanekawa?"
"Well... who knows what the future holds? Anything is possible!" Asuma insisted.
Suddenly, footsteps approached.
"Minato-sensei," Kakashi greeted the smiling Minato Namikaze.
Behind Minato was Yamato.
Kakashi hadn't met him before and couldn't help but glance at him curiously.
"Senior Minato" Asuma and Shisui greeted him.
They also noticed Yamato's gloomy expression and found it strange.
"This is Yamato," Minato introduced. "He's my new student."
Yesterday, he had arranged a new place for Yamato and shown him around.
That's why they hadn't met Kakashi or Might Guy yet.
"Why haven't I seen him before?" Asuma asked. "Did he not go to the academy?"
"He was from Root, so he didn't attend the ninja academy," Minato explained.
"No wonder," Asuma recalled Hanekawa killing Danzo the previous night.
He had been shocked at first but soon felt it was a good thing.
"It's quite lively today," Sakumo Hatake appeared at the door, surprised to see so many people.
"Sakumo-sensei, we were discussing last night's events," Asuma repeated the news about Tsunade becoming Hokage and Hanekawa killing Danzo.
"That's... unexpected," Sakumo said after a moment.
Tsunade becoming Hokage wasn't surprising, but Hanekawa killing Danzo was beyond his expectations.
Still, Danzo's death was a good thing.
Sakumo, like most ninja, disliked Danzo and his Root.
While the ANBU operated within the rules, Root was lawless and self-serving, making them widely despised.
---
At the Konoha Knowledge Bookstore.
Hanekawa let out a sigh of relief.
He was beginning to understand the burden of fame.
Everyone he met on the street greeted him enthusiastically, and some even asked for his autograph. It was overwhelming.
"Hello... Lord Hanekawa," Tsuchibashi greeted him nervously, his expression shifting several times before he finally bowed respectfully.
Although he was in Konoha, he had heard about the Kumo ninja leaders being captured.
And the key figure behind it was Hanekawa.
Tsuchibashi had considered fleeing, but before he could act, ANBU ninja had approached him.
Fortunately, they didn't give him a hard time, only telling him to wait for Hanekawa's arrival.
"I won't say much. From now on, you'll be the bookstore owner," Hanekawa said calmly.
"Understood," Tsuchibashi sighed and agreed.
He knew the difference between losing his life and returning to Kumo.
"To be safe, I'll erase part of your memory," Hanekawa stated firmly.
"Understood," Tsuchibashi nodded resignedly.
"That's all," Hanekawa smiled. "As for my friend Thunderfire's novels, you'll continue to handle them."
He could have killed Tsuchibashi, but there was no need.
Their collaboration had been smooth, and he didn't want to find someone else.
Moreover, with his current status and position, any accusations of being a Kumo spy would be baseless.
Even if Tsuchibashi tried to expose him, who would he go to? Tsunade? He'd have to go through Hanekawa, the Hokage's secretary.
It would be like a plaintiff accusing the judge.
And Tsuchibashi's memories would be erased anyway.
Hanekawa left the bookstore and headed to the Hokage building.
It wasn't yet 9 a.m., but the Hokage meeting room was already filled with jonin.
Since Tsunade hadn't arrived, they couldn't help but discuss the previous night's events.
Most were excited. With Danzo dead, a sword hanging over their heads was gone.
And with Tsunade replacing Sarutobi as Hokage, some were bound to rise in power.
But not everyone was happy.
The two Hokage advisors, for example.
Neither Tsunade nor Hanekawa were on good terms with them.
The days ahead would be tough.
---
In the Hokage's office.
Hanekawa looked around curiously.
"You've been here before," Tsunade said, looking up from the Hokage's desk. "Why are you so curious now?"
"Because it's your office now, sensei. It feels different," Hanekawa smiled. "How does it feel sitting in that chair?"
"Nothing special," Tsunade stood up. "If you want to sit, go ahead."
Hanekawa didn't hesitate and sat in the Hokage's chair.
He rubbed his chin. "It's not big or soft enough. Maybe we should replace it."
"What are you talking about?" Tsunade kicked him. "Being Hokage isn't about comfort."
"If I can't even enjoy being Hokage, what's the point?" Hanekawa joked.
"Shut up!" Tsunade rolled her eyes. "I'm the Hokage, not you."
"Yes, Lady Hokage," Hanekawa stood up. "Your seat."
"Just call me sensei," Tsunade said. "Lady Hokage sounds weird."
___
Patreon.com/rashta