And so, Naruto began his Shadow Clone training regimen!
Experience points started accumulating at a crazy pace.
Thanks to being both the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki and a descendant of the Uzumaki clan, Naruto could handle the massive chakra drain from multiple clones. This sped up his training significantly, drawing an envious glance from Sasuke.
He couldn't do the same. With the Sharingan active, his chakra needed to be allocated carefully—it was too draining otherwise. Every bit had to be used wisely.
Still, he wasn't one to fall behind. Following Naruto's lead, he created two Shadow Clones and started his own sparring training. Kiyosuke was happy to have some peace and quiet, lounging on the side while chatting casually with Jiraiya and occasionally checking on the two brats.
A week flew by in no time. With the accumulated experience from his clones, Naruto managed to learn the Rasengan—though he still needed clone assistance to execute it properly.
When the day finally came, Tsunade stood in front of Naruto with her hands on her hips.
"Ready to get your butt kicked?"
"You're the one who's going to get wrecked!"
Naruto shouted back defiantly.
"I've already mastered the Rasengan! So hand over the necklace and come back to Konoha with Ero-sennin and Kiyosuke-san!"
"Hmph! Big talk for such a little boy! Fine—let's see what you've got!"
"Then let's begin!" Kiyosuke, acting as referee, announced the start of the match.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Naruto quickly created one clone. He held out his right hand as the clone began forming the Rasengan.
"He's using a clone to assist with the Rasengan?" Tsunade remarked, surprised—but a note of admiration flickered in her eyes.
To master such a high-level technique in just one week... the kid had really put in the effort. She'd seen his injuries every day.
He really does remind me of him...
Looking at the confident grin on Naruto's face, Tsunade couldn't help but think of her younger brother, long dead on the battlefield.
If Nawaki hadn't died... he probably would've been the Fifth Hokage by now.
As she thought about it, Naruto's Rasengan was already complete.
The chakra sphere spun rapidly in his hand, and with a poof, the clone vanished.
"Rasengan!!!"
With a loud shout, Naruto charged forward, Rasengan in hand.
He really is just like him...
Tsunade murmured, then flicked her finger, effortlessly sending Naruto's forehead protector flying.
"You lost... but you also won."
She unfastened the pendant and tied it around the stunned Naruto's neck.
"Take good care of that necklace. It belonged to my grandfather—the First Hokage. And... you'd better work hard to become Hokage one day."
"Heh heh heh! I will!"
Naruto jumped to his feet, laughing proudly.
"Did you see that, Kiyosuke-san? Pretty awesome, right?!"
"Yes, yes, Naruto's the greatest—better than even the old Third!" Kiyosuke chuckled.
"This time, you really pulled it off. Alright, I'll give you a bonus on your allowance when we get back."
"Hmph! I don't need an allowance anymore! I'm a ninja now—I can earn my own money!"
Naruto declared proudly.
"Oh? In that case, never mind."
Since he didn't want it, Kiyosuke let it go.
He turned to Tsunade.
"Then shall we head back, Fifth Hokage-sama?"
"Hmph! A bet's a bet. Fine, I'll go with you. Not like I'll be Hokage for long anyway."
Once Naruto grew up, she'd step down. If she ever got too fed up, she'd just pick the Sixth Hokage herself.
Yeah... that works!
"That's great news, Tsunade! No time to waste—let's get going!" Jiraiya grinned from ear to ear. His mission was finally complete. And with Tsunade back in Konoha, he'd get to see her all the time.
The thought alone made him smile.
Kiyosuke said, "Guess I came along for nothing."
"Not quite. Didn't you train Sasuke?"
"I could've done that back in the village," Kiyosuke replied.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"So what you're saying is... you had some other mission?"
"Nope!" Kiyosuke said with a cheerful smile.
Then, without warning, a merciless iron hand crushed his skull. Flames scattered from Tsunade's fingers as she smiled sweetly.
"You weren't sent by that old geezer Sarutobi to drag me back, were you?"
No... this was Jiraiya's idea...
Kiyosuke, who was regenerating his head, saw Jiraiya's pleading look. Choosing not to sell out his teammate, he instead betrayed Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"That's right—it was the Third's idea. He told me that if you refused, I should just drag you back!"
"That damned old man!"
Tsunade cursed furiously, ready to storm back and settle the score with Hiruzen, but Jiraiya and Kiyosuke managed to calm her down.
The old man was getting on in years—he probably wouldn't be around much longer. He might even get senile next year. No point picking a fight with a fossil.
After thinking it over, she let it go.
And so, the six of them—plus one pig—began the journey back to Konoha.
They weren't in any rush. Walking, resting, and goofing off along the way, it took them half a month to return.
...
The first thing Tsunade did when they got back was head to the Hokage's office and throw out the desk Sarutobi had been using for decades. She claimed it was "too old" and needed replacing—but in reality, it was payback for him sending Kiyosuke.
Sarutobi, clueless about what had happened, thought he'd somehow made his student angry.
Still, it was good she came back. Tsunade was a solid choice for the Hokage seat. Now all they had to do was report her nomination as Fifth Hokage to the feudal lord and get his official appointment letter.
That wouldn't be difficult.
The rest of the inauguration details would be handled by the old guard.
"Huh? Danzo's dead?"
When Tsunade heard the news, she clapped her hands and shouted, "Good riddance!"
Back in the day, that guy did everything he could to trip up the three Sannin. She'd wished for his death more than once. Now, finally, she could take the Hokage position without his meddling.
Preparations for the succession ceremony were quickly arranged. During this time, Kiyosuke took Hinata and the others on a few small missions.
They were still Genin, after all—simple jobs, nothing life-threatening, and decent money.
The village took a cut of the payment, and as their jōnin instructor, Kiyosuke took a bit as well. Even if he just stood around and watched, he still got paid.
...
Not long after, the former member of the Legendary Sannin—Tsunade—was officially inaugurated as the Fifth Hokage of Konohagakure!
After the succession ceremony, the village began to get back on track. Reconstruction projects resumed. Families who had lost loved ones received compensation.
Jiraiya didn't leave immediately. He stayed in Konoha to help Tsunade overcome her hemophobia.
As the Fifth Hokage, she couldn't allow herself to have such a weakness.
She was Hokage now. She couldn't afford a fatal flaw like that. After all, in battle, there's always blood.
She had to overcome her fear of it.
And during this time... she started to develop a quiet dependence on Jiraiya.
Not that she noticed it herself...
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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