"I apologize for the disturbance, elder. I'll take my leave now—there's still a lot of work waiting for me back at the Logistics Department.
It won't be long before I take over the Finance Department as well. Then I'll be even busier."
With her plans in motion, Tsunade decisively stood up and left.
She was incredibly busy, so much so that she didn't even have time to sit down and enjoy a cup of tea. Too many matters were waiting for her attention.
As for the Finance Department, Tsunade was confident that the Third Hokage would eventually hand it over to her.
The Third Hokage had grown old, and the situation in the village had changed. Clinging to the Finance Department served no real purpose.
Combining the Finance and Logistics Departments would be much more beneficial to the war effort.
Even if the Third Hokage remained indecisive, Tsunade believed he'd choose to pass it over to her.
And after the war ended, whether she gave it back or not—that would depend entirely on her mood.
With Tsunade gone, Sakumo Hatake sat in silence, staring at the teacup on the table.
A small figure hid in the distance, quietly peeking around the corner.
After some hesitation, Kakashi stepped forward, sitting down next to his father. With a soft sigh, he said,
"Father, you've already retired."
"....."
Sakumo let out a bitter laugh. He placed his hand on Kakashi's head, gently ruffling his hair, and sighed,
"Kakashi, retired or not, I am, and always will be, a shinobi of Konoha. Do you understand?"
After a moment of silence, Kakashi stood up and went upstairs, retrieving two weapons and placing them on the ground, not even turning back as he left.
"I still have school tomorrow, so the weapons are yours to maintain, Father."
"This brat."
I'm back!!!
Staring at the tall village walls, Takuya picked up his pace.
He needed a good soak in the bath, some delicious food, and then a nice, long sleep.
After registering his return, Takuya headed home.
Just after a hot bath and about to head out for a meal, he heard the door open.
"No need to go out. I brought dinner with me, so we can eat here."
Tsunade set down the food she had brought, twisted open a bottle of sake, and downed half of it in one go.
I was really looking forward to hot pot...
Oh well, stir-fried dishes will do. Even if they taste a little off, at least they fill the stomach.
Konoha did have stir-fried dishes, but they weren't quite to Takuya's liking.
After a few bites, Tsunade downed the rest of the sake. Takuya, still holding his bowl, stared in disbelief.
I know you're under a lot of pressure, and that there's so much going on in the village, but do you really need to drink like that?
If you get drunk, who's going to manage the Logistics Department?
Thud!
Tsunade set the empty bottle down, giving Takuya a look that said, You know what I mean.
Takuya sighed, got up, and took two more bottles out of the fridge, pouring himself a glass as well:
"Is the pressure from the Logistics Department really driving you to drink like this?"
"Slow down!!! Slow down... Oh, forget it. Do as you please."
Since his words had no effect, Takuya gave up on trying to stop her.
Thud, thud, thud—another bottle gone. Takuya couldn't help but break into a cold sweat for Tsunade.
She's not going to start acting crazy now, is she?
Should I find somewhere to hide, just in case?
Bang!!
The empty bottle hit the table with a heavy thud. Takuya's eyelid twitched, worried that the glass might shatter.
If shards ended up in the food, it'd be game over.
Goodbye, dinner.
"I've made up my mind. I'm going to become the Fourth Hokage!!"
"Pffft~~~"
Takuya spat out the drink he'd just taken, completely stunned, staring at Tsunade's flushed face as she declared her intent.
"What did you just say? You want to be the Fourth?"
"What, do you think I'm not qualified?"
Tsunade waved a hand, patting her increasingly intimidating chest:
"If Orochimaru can think about it, then why can't I?
I admit, my strength might not match his, but if I had to fight him to the death, I'd skin that snake alive!"
Takuya was at a loss.
Maybe I shouldn't have come back after all.
Is Tsunade drunk or what?
She seemed a bit tipsy, but these weren't the kind of words a drunk person would say.
Tsunade was dead serious.
First, Orochimaru had suddenly changed his mind, and now Tsunade had sprung up, declaring her candidacy. What were these two thinking?
In the original story, Tsunade had no interest in becoming Hokage, and Orochimaru was only slightly interested but not too committed.
Now, here they were—Orochimaru actively seeking the role, and Tsunade outright vying for it.
No one's taking what's mine, damn it!
Come at me if you dare.
"Can I ask why?"
Takuya weakly ventured.
"I'm tired!!"
Tsunade snapped, pointing at Takuya as she began to rant:
"It started with you, you little brat. I was forced into this.
And now, I just can't take it anymore. Maybe Orochimaru was right—the old man really has aged out of this role. It's time for him to step down."
A pile of foolish decisions, the village wasn't heading in a good direction, and the dirty undercurrents only grew stronger.
Suppressing the Uchiha—that was just small potatoes compared to the nonsense they had pulled these past few years.
One compromise after another, always taking a step back, Tsunade was fed up. She couldn't take it anymore.
Orochimaru was willing to fight for the position of Hokage for his own ambitions.
And for the village, why couldn't she?
She was done putting up with it all.
Fine then—cards on the table.
Hmmmm...
"I support you."
You should have had this thought long ago. Takuya shook his head and downed his glass.
After all, people's choices change over time.
Unlike personality, which is hard to change, choices shift with circumstances.
In the original story, Orochimaru wasn't particularly invested in becoming Hokage, probably because he underestimated Minato and the Third Hokage's determination.
Orochimaru was more interested in eternal life, so much so that he willingly delved into darkness, conducting forbidden experiments.
The difference now was that in the original story, Orochimaru had funding, materials, and could focus entirely on research.
But now, that wasn't the case.
Tsunade was in control of the Logistics Department, keeping a close eye on Danzo. And with Danzo stripped of his power, unable to mobilize large quantities of supplies or touch the finances, Orochimaru's research kept running into roadblocks.
Time and again, it forced Orochimaru to consider becoming Hokage.
Because he knew that only by becoming Hokage could his research proceed smoothly.
No one would stand in his way then.
It was the same for Tsunade.
In the original story, Tsunade left Konoha early on, never caring about what went on there. Dan Kato's death, as well as Nawaki's, were her emotional scars.
But now, Dan Kato had nothing to do with her—it was entirely one-sided infatuation from him.
And Tsunade paid him no mind at all.
Moreover, Nawaki was alive and well, thriving.
Given these circumstances, Tsunade wouldn't fall into despair.
After being forced into her position in the Logistics Department, Tsunade grew weary of the Third Hokage's repeated disappointments.
Add in the effects of the ongoing war and Sunagakure's sudden declaration, and Tsunade finally had the desire to rise to power.
If you can't handle it, step aside—I'll take that position myself.
——————-
Next Bonus: 2500 power stone
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(P)(S): If you're interested, you can read up to chapter 400+ at Patreon com/ Emik01.
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