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Chapter 84: The Raikage Returns to the Village
"That kid, does he have something wrong with his head? When he said goodbye just now, he actually said, 'Congratulations in advance on your succession as Raikage.'
"Why did he call me 'Raikage'? I'm not even dark-skinned."
On the road back, Tsunade asked Shizune beside her in confusion.
"Maybe in the Amegakure Village, 'lightning' has some other meaning."
Shizune replied casually.
At the moment, Shizune was in a rather bad mood.
Before leaving, in order to salvage her image and reputation, Tsunade had once again emphasized that she was not that kind of old woman, and stated that what Shizune had said earlier was correct, her rejuvenation was from the inside out.
As for what to do about hemophobia every month…
Tsunade's exact words were: "Why do you think I keep this girl Shizune around?"
"Hm? What's wrong? You look kind of down."
Noticing Shizune's mood, Tsunade found it a bit strange. She patted her on the shoulder. "Don't worry. You don't need to think about the things you heard today. Leave that to us. You just need to…"
"Tsunade-sama, I'm not thinking about that. I, I just want to ask… am I just a tool?"
Shizune looked up, her face full of shock and hurt.
"Uh…"
Tsunade's expression turned awkward.
"Of course not!"
"Tsunade-sama, you hesitated just now."
"T-That's not it, Shizune. Don't overthink it. I'll need your assistance in the future."
"You can do many things. That's proof of your ability, proof that you're excellent. Don't belittle yourself."
"Only useless people, those with no value, don't get used."
Tsunade tried her hardest to spin things… to coax Shizune.
She had indeed resolved to take up the position of Hokage, but that didn't mean she intended to work nine-to-five and exhaust herself handling paperwork.
The Mizukage and Tsuchikage had already started delegating authority, naturally, she would do the same.
And Shizune would be the first to bear the load. She absolutely couldn't let her drop everything and quit.
"Tsunade-sama, the Mizukage and Tsuchikage delegated authority because their daimyōs died unexpectedly, forcing the Kage to take on the daimyōs' responsibilities as well. That's why they had to decentralize power. You're not thinking of…"
No matter how beautifully Tsunade dressed it up, Shizune saw through it at a glance.
Shizune wasn't stupid. And after years together, she knew Tsunade's personality far too well.
"How could I be…?"
Tsunade froze again.
Shizune took the scroll Shiromo had given them from Tsunade's hand, opened it, and read through part of its contents.
"Tsunade-sama, this says that delegating authority is meant to ensure the Kage's physical and mental health as the village's symbol and highest combat power, so they have enough time to train, rest, and handle personal matters without worries."
"Right, exactly. That kid has a sharp tongue, but he's really not wrong about this."
Tsunade was still hung up on Shiromo calling her an old woman.
"What I mean is, Tsunade-sama… you're not planning to do nothing, are you?"
Shizune closed the scroll and stared Tsunade in the eyes. "Ensuring physical and mental health. Having personal time. Ensuring training time."
"Gambling and drinking, that's how you enjoy yourself. As for training, the Strength of a Hundred Seal doesn't really need much maintenance…"
"What are you talking about, Shizune!"
Tsunade cut her off, looking serious and resolute.
"Ah?"
Shizune froze.
Has Tsunade-sama really turned over a new leaf?
"Drinking is training my ability to socialize. Gambling is for the village's finances, sacrificing the small self for the greater good."
"..."
So the only thing that changed was the wording.
Shizune instantly felt that Konoha's future was pitch-black.
Orochimaru had said that Tsunade-sama could get Konoha's wind blowing again, and yes, it really would start blowing. But whether it would blow forward or backward was another matter entirely.
---
Hokage Building.
"Tsunade, you actually came back on your own? That's unfortunate timing. Jiraiya just took Naruto out of the village to look for you."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Tsunade pushing open the door, clearly surprised.
"Tch. I came back ages ago. I just didn't show myself because the village didn't seem to be in any danger."
Tsunade walked over to the sofa and dropped herself onto it. "As for that idiot Jiraiya, use your crystal ball and check the women's bathhouses nearby. See if he's lurking around one of them."
"..."
Hiruzen manipulated the image of the Telescope Technique, and sure enough, he quickly spotted two familiar figures outside a women's bathhouse he had marked.
"A dog can't stop eating shit."
Tsunade curled her lip.
It wasn't clear whether she was scolding Jiraiya, or insulting Hiruzen along with him.
After all, the fact that Hiruzen could immediately lock onto nearby women's bathhouses meant those places were part of his "frequently used channels."
"Tsunade, since you're back, there's something I want to talk to you about. I hope you can…"
"I'll do it."
"Uh, ah?"
"I came back to become the Fifth Hokage. Why else would I come back? To catch up with you old perverts?"
Tsunade stood up, walked to the desk, and slapped her palm down. The documents on it trembled.
"...Good. Good."
Hiruzen held it in for a long while before finally squeezing out those two words.
After Tsunade appeared, he had been rapidly thinking of how to persuade her to take up the Hokage position, he'd prepared countless arguments.
In the end, before he could say even a single sentence, Tsunade agreed outright.
The feeling was like spending a whole month saving up energy, money, and time, all ready to hit the red-light district, only to find that a crackdown had shut the entire place down.
Utterly powerless.
---
Night.
Tsunade returned to her residence.
"Tsunade-sama, it seems you don't plan on telling others about those matters?"
Shizune knelt on the floor and poured Tsunade a cup of steaming liquor.
"That person is a lot like my second grandfather. I'm not sure whether he's truly right or not."
Tsunade took a sip, her cheeks flushed slightly from the alcohol as she spoke.
Tsunade had been deeply influenced by both of her grandfathers.
From Senju Hashirama, she learned the Will of Fire, emotional warmth, and gambling.
From Senju Tobirama, she learned flexibility and rationality.
Among all the Hokage, only the Second, Senju Tobirama, and the Fifth, Tsunade, truly possessed the conditions for reform.
In the original story, after stepping down, Tsunade even reminded the Sixth, Kakashi, not to cling too tightly to old rules and to understand the need for change.
"I see."
Shizune felt a heavy weight in her heart.
If she'd known it would be like this, she shouldn't have listened in back then.
Knowing too much only brought unnecessary worries.
After some time, Tsunade drank herself to sleep. As usual, Shizune took care of her, helped her into the bedroom, and tucked her under the covers.
Then she habitually laid out a futon on the floor beside the bed, lay down, turned off the lights, and went to sleep.
"Mmm…"
"Let's see if you still call me an old woman…"
"Why would someone react after seeing an old woman's body…"
"Mmm…"
"Orochimaru, Jiraiya… I wish you a long and happy marriage.…"
"?"
Lying on the floor, listening to Tsunade's muttering from the bed, Shizune felt her worldview shatter.
What kind of moral collapse was this?
Just what kind of dream was Tsunade-sama having?
(End of this chapter)