Da-da-da!
The sharp sound of high heels echoed down the corridor outside the Hokage's office, each step crisp and deliberate.
A young woman approached the door, her presence immediately commanding attention. She had porcelain skin, long, flowing hair, and a strikingly curvaceous figure. Dressed in a sleek black business suit paired with sheer stockings, she exuded an air of confidence and elegance.
Her outfit was impeccable—every detail tailored to perfection. The fitted blazer hugged her form, while her buttoned-up blouse emphasized the contrast between modesty and allure. The short skirt accentuated the gentle sway of her hips with each step, and her long, toned legs, encased in black stockings, added to her poised, professional demeanor.
With practiced grace, she raised her hand and knocked lightly on the door.
"Hokage-sama," she greeted, bowing slightly in a display of respect.
"Hana-chan!"
The visitor was none other than Uchiha Hana. The moment Toshiro took office as Hokage, he had transferred her to his side to serve as his secretary.
However, despite the striking presence before him, Toshiro seemed utterly indifferent. His gaze was vacant, fixed lifelessly on the towering stack of documents piled high on his desk.
There was no escaping it—he had resolved to establish an image of a diligent and dedicated Hokage. To that end, he had stubbornly refused to delegate his workload to a shadow clone.
And now, after just two days, the consequences of that decision had fully set in.
A soft chuckle broke the silence.
Uchiha Hana covered her mouth, her amusement barely concealed.
None of this surprised her.
She had seen this exact behavior back when he was in Konoha Prison. Even then, despite having far fewer documents to handle, he had quickly resorted to using shadow clones to avoid the tedious work. Now, as Hokage, his attempt at handling everything personally had only led to predictable frustration.
His reaction was entirely expected.
"Hokage-sama, this is the battle report from the Kiri front. Please review it carefully."
Hana handed Toshiro a scroll before seamlessly stepping forward to organize the chaotic stack of documents on his desk. With practiced efficiency, she separated the critical files that required his immediate attention, setting them aside for his signature and seal.
Seated in his office chair, Toshiro furrowed his brows as he scanned the report.
"Hokage-sama!"
A masked Anbu with striking purple hair emerged from the shadows, kneeling on one knee in a show of respect.Without looking up, he waved his hand.
"Summon the advisors, the heads of all departments, and the clan leaders to the council room. The meeting will commence in thirty minutes—there are urgent matters to discuss."
"Yes, sir!"
With a flicker, the Anbu vanished, leaving only Toshiro and Hana in the office—aside from the ever-present Anbu operatives hidden in the shadows.
Toshiro despised this system. As Hokage, he was constantly surrounded by a squad of Anbu, ostensibly for his protection.
But in his view, they were more of a hindrance than a help—an ever-present shadow that made even casual conversations with Hana difficult.
He had intended to have his secretary handle some… tasks. But with these ever-watchful eyes around, that plan was going nowhere.
Well, this system definitely needed reform. Time to cut down on unnecessary manpower.
—
Meanwhile, on Konoha's Hot Spring Street…
"Tsunade… Tsunade… Please, let me explain!"
Jiraiya, his face a picture of desperation, pleaded as he dodged a flurry of incoming punches. But even as he spoke, his gaze darted between Tsunade's enraged expression and her clenched fists, which were already crackling with power.
He gulped. His survival instincts screamed at him to keep talking.
"No, no, you've got it all wrong! I swear, I was just passing by! I wasn't peeping on your hot spring bath—honestly!"
Tsunade's expression darkened.
She knew exactly what kind of pervert he was. No excuses would save him now.
As Tsunade recalled her second grandfather's words and then glanced at Jiraiya's shameless expression, an unexplainable fury ignited within her.
"Lady Tsunade! Maybe... maybe we should let this go? Jiraiya-sama might have really just been passing by!"
Shizune, her hair still damp from the hot springs, clutched Tonton in her arms, looking like she was on the verge of tears. She had been the one to notice the suspicious movement near the bath earlier.
But given Tsunade's current mood, she felt compelled to speak up—even if it meant going against her better judgment. Otherwise, there was a real chance that Lord Jiraiya wouldn't make it out of this alive.
Tsunade's sharp gaze snapped to her.
"No need to cover for him, Shizune!" She stepped toward Jiraiya, her expression dark and foreboding. "This hopeless fool refuses to change. This time, I have to administer justice myself!"
Jiraiya's face paled. He weighed his chances of escaping unscathed, but before he could make a decision—
"Tsunade-sama! Hokage-sama has summoned you to the council room for an urgent meeting!"
An Anbu suddenly appeared beside her, delivering the message that, to Jiraiya, felt like a divine intervention.
Tsunade exhaled sharply, then turned away with a scoff.
"Hmph! You got lucky this time."
Without another glance at Jiraiya, she strode off toward the Hokage Building, Shizune following closely behind.
—
"What are your thoughts on Kiri's attacks?"
Seated at the head of the table, Toshiro surveyed the new faces before him, his expression one of quiet satisfaction.
At his directive, Konoha's leadership had undergone a significant reshuffle.
Notably absent from the meeting were Uchiha Asuka—the newly appointed Hokage's assistant—and Mimura Hamagaki, a civilian ninja. Both were currently stationed on the front lines.
Representing the Shinobi was Hyuga Hiashi, the usually stern and composed leader of the Hyuga clan, who attended in his capacity as acting joinin commander.
Aburame Shibi, now serving as the interim Anbu commander, was also present.
And they weren't the only ones. Many more key figures filled the room.
"We must take decisive action against the Kiri Ninja," Hiashi stated, casting a brief glance at Toshiro's expression. "The Fifth Hokage has just assumed office, and every neighboring nation is watching closely."
As an interim jonin commander, it was his moment to make an impression.
Seeing the undisguised battle lust on Toshiro's face, Hiashi was the first to step forward and make his stance clear.
"Yes! Under the leadership of Toshiro-sama, those sea-dwelling upstarts are nothing to fear!"
"That's right! We've spent five years rebuilding. It's time to put our strength to the test!"
With Hiashi setting the tone, the Konoha shinobi—many of whom had recently benefited from Toshiro's rise—began voicing their agreement with growing enthusiasm.
Yet, as they spoke, their eyes subtly flickered between Toshiro and the Sandaime, who sat in attendance as the head of the Sarutobi clan.
Had Hiruzen still been in charge, the meeting's focus would likely have leaned toward diplomacy. But the Fifth Hokage was young, bold, and ready for action—a shift that many found invigorating.
Hiruzen's expression was calm as he surveyed the assembled clan heads. He narrowed his eyes slightly but withheld his own opinion, waiting to see where the discussion would lead.
Toshiro's gaze turned toward Hiruzen.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, what is your view?"
As a prominent clan within the village, the Sarutobi were entitled to a seat at the table, yet the gathering around Sarutobi Hiruzen was quite telling.
The heads of several loyalist clans—Yamanaka, Nara, Akimichi, Mitokado, and Shimura—remained firmly by his side, their allegiance unwavering. However, beyond this small circle, the rest of the clan leaders kept their distance, deliberately avoiding them. The seats surrounding Hiruzen had remained conspicuously empty for some time.
Hmph.
Draped in a faded gray-white robe, his back slightly hunched, Hiruzen took a slow drag from his pipe, the curling smoke escaping from his lips as he exhaled. His tired, weathered eyes scanned the faces of the few who still stood with him before finally shifting upward—toward Toshiro, who now sat in the Hokage's seat.
"Peace is hard-earned," Hiruzen said at last, his voice steady yet heavy with meaning. "If a war can be avoided, it should be."
He never imagined that, after decades of standing at Konoha's helm, he would one day find himself looking up at its leadership from this angle.
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