In the Konoha Hokage Building
After the Konoha Four once held a party here, Tsunade had ordered Anbu operative Tenzo to completely renovate the office. Exhausting his chakra, Tenzo used Wood Release to rebuild the entire room and replace all the furniture.
Tsunade sat in the new Hokage's office chair, staring at the pile of documents on her desk with a headache brewing.
Shizune stood to her left, holding another stack of papers. Seeing Tsunade's gloomy expression, she could only smile bitterly.
Meanwhile, Fujiwara Chinatsu sat on a blanket Shizune had laid out, teasing Tonton to pass the time.
"Knock, knock." The untimely sound at the door interrupted the room's quiet.
"Come in," Tsunade sighed, setting down the document in her hand. Internally, she cursed the endless workload that came with being Hokage. If not for her little girl and the dying wishes of her grandfathers, she might have run off with Shizune and Chinatsu by now.
The door creaked open, revealing Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy. "Lady Tsunade," Kakashi greeted.
"Get to the point," Tsunade yawned lazily, clearly unenthusiastic.
Kakashi spoke respectfully, "The people of Konoha have been temporarily appeased. Regarding the missing photos, we've recovered most of them per your orders. However, as we don't know the exact number, it's unclear if all have been retrieved."
He continued, "Also, following the loss of the Kazekage, Sunagakure has offered their full surrender to Konoha. They're blaming the attack entirely on Orochimaru and will send representatives to negotiate soon."
Hearing the fatigue in Kakashi's tone, Tsunade gave a faint smile. "You've had it rough handling such chores. Normally, these would be the responsibility of the elders. I imagine they're too ashamed to show their faces now."
"As for the photos," she added, "if some remain unaccounted for, so be it. Walls aren't impenetrable. If we can't find them, we move on."
Kakashi nodded and hesitated before saying, "There are two other matters requiring your decision."
Tsunade rested her chin on her palm and looked at him curiously. "Go ahead."
Kakashi met her gaze and said, "The first is about the Third Hokage's funeral. By protocol, we should honor him with a ceremony befitting a Hokage. However, due to the Nine-Tails' attack and the destruction during Orochimaru's plan, many villagers and shinobi harbor resentment toward him."
"What do you think?" Tsunade threw the decision back at him.
After a pause, Kakashi replied, "I believe we should hold the funeral. Whatever mistakes the Third Hokage may have made, he was still a Hokage, and there are people who hold him in high regard. Unity within Konoha should take precedence."
Tsunade took a deep breath. "You're generous, Kakashi. You've endured the backlash of public opinion for your father's mistakes. The dead deserve respect."
Kakashi gave a faint smile. "My father would have supported this decision."
Tsunade nodded. "Then proceed. He was my teacher, and as you said, the dead are the greatest."
"And the second matter?" she prompted.
Kakashi hesitated again. "It concerns Shimura Danzo. What will be done about him?"
Tsunade's expression darkened. "Leave that to me. Danzo knows too many of Konoha's secrets, some even hidden from the Third Hokage. He's not someone to corner recklessly."
Kakashi nodded solemnly. "Understood, Lady Tsunade." He then turned to Might Guy. "Guy, it's your turn."
Might Guy stiffened, clearly nervous, but managed to stammer out an update on Rock Lee's situation. After Tsunade assured him she'd visit the hospital the next day, he and Kakashi left, visibly relieved.
Moments later, Jiraiya entered, followed by two figures in black cloaks.
"Hey, Tsunade. Settling into the Hokage role yet?" Jiraiya asked, casually lounging on the office sofa.
"If you're so curious, why not take the position yourself?" Tsunade snapped.
Jiraiya laughed. "No thanks. I'd rather keep traveling. Office work isn't for me."
Tsunade's gaze shifted to the cloaked figures. "You didn't come just to banter, did you?"
"Of course not," Jiraiya said, turning to the pair. "You can drop the cloaks. There are no outsiders here."
The two hesitated before reluctantly revealing their identities—Konoha's elder advisors, Utane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.
Seeing their faces, Tsunade smirked, recalling the recent scandal involving them. "Well, well. If it isn't Konoha's most talked-about duo! I hear every household is buzzing about your supposed love triangle with Danzo."
"Stop fooling around, Tsunade. We're here on official business," Koharu snapped, brushing off Tsunade's teasing.
However, as Tsunade reached out to check Koharu's pulse for fun, she froze. Shock crossed her face.
"What's wrong with me?" Koharu asked, a bad feeling rising.
Tsunade chuckled and walked back to pick up Chinatsu. "Congratulations, Teacher Koharu. You're pregnant. By my calculations, about a month along."
(End of Chapter)
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