After school, Kitazawa headed home.
"Back only now?" Yūhi Kurenai asked from the sofa, puzzled. "Did you have meetings all day?"
"No, I went back to the Academy this afternoon," Kitazawa said, sitting beside her.
"I see." Kurenai's expression cleared. "Did your students miss you?"
"I meant to just check in and leave, but they were too enthusiastic, so I ended up giving them new training plans," Kitazawa replied.
"That sounds like repaying kindness with a pile of homework," Kurenai blinked, then couldn't help laughing.
"How is that repaying kindness with ingratitude?" Kitazawa tapped her fair thigh with his hand. Her joke reminded him of a news story from his past life—some teacher 'rewarded' students by buying them a whole set of exercises.
"Okay, I'm cooking. What do you want for dinner?" Kurenai nudged him with a dainty foot.
"I'm good with anything," Kitazawa sighed. "After two and a half months eating out, everything at home tastes amazing."
"Home really is better." Kurenai stood, brushed his cheek with her soft, rosy lips, and headed for the kitchen.
After dinner, with a bit of time to spare, Kitazawa went to his room to keep refining his Severed-Limb Regeneration medical ninjutsu.
The war had left many Konoha shinobi missing arms and legs. If he could heal them in time, both his reputation and the impact of this S-rank medical technique would grow—and maybe his system rewards would be even richer.
Night deepened.
Kitazawa suddenly heard soft footsteps. Moments later, something warm and yielding pressed against his back.
"Kitazawa," Kurenai murmured, draping herself over him. "I've run a hot bath."
He turned and saw the dazed, adoring look on her face. He couldn't help smiling. "Shower together?"
"I'll… wait for you," Kurenai said demurely, cheeks flushed.
"At this point, does that line still work?" Kitazawa stood and scooped her up. Kurenai let out a surprised yelp but didn't struggle or refuse.
They went to the bathroom. Kitazawa slid into the tub. Heat rose all around, drawing a long breath from him. Kurenai lifted a leg and stepped in as well.
She had barely settled when Kitazawa leaned into her arms. She felt his face against her chest, bit her lip, trying to relax but not quite managing it. Kitazawa gave a light smack to her hip. Even with his mouth occupied, Kurenai understood what he meant; she sat up and shifted slightly. Kitazawa's arms circled her waist. He looked up at her—half-lidded eyes, rosy cheeks, an effortless, sultry allure.
Their first bath back home lasted two hours. In the end Kurenai, woozy from the soak, fell asleep.
A new day.
Kitazawa woke early—he had to assist Tsunade today. He glanced at the thoroughly worn-out Kurenai and couldn't help marveling again at the Senju bloodline's power—recovery far beyond ordinary shinobi.
He got out of bed and dressed. Waking early didn't mean Tsunade would be on time. After breakfast, he returned to tinkering with the limb-regeneration technique.
Nine a.m.
A knock sounded.
"Finally?" Kitazawa stood and went to the door. Outside were Tsunade and Shizune.
"Let's go," Tsunade waved and headed for the Hokage Tower.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had set aside an office just for her. When the three arrived, two people were already waiting: Nara Shikaku and Nara Suzaku. Two Nara jōnin—clear proof of Hiruzen's seriousness.
Suzaku hardly appeared in the original timeline, showing up briefly in the Fourth Great Ninja War.
"Tsunade-sama," Shikaku and Suzaku rose and bowed.
"Mm." Tsunade sat straight into the main seat. "What's the plan?"
Shikaku immediately laid out his arrangements—really, his overall plan. Four thousand shinobi had taken part in the war. He divided them into three merit tiers.
First: those who simply completed their missions—the minimal credit tier—no need for large extra rewards.
Second: those who performed excellently on top of that, over-fulfilling their missions.
Third: the very few with enormous merit—like Tsunade and Kitazawa.
Shikaku proposed issuing rewards to the first two tiers first, saving the third for last. Their contributions were too significant; deciding their rewards would require multiple discussions and final approval from Hiruzen.
"Good." Tsunade smiled. "Shikaku, you always make my life easy."
"Just doing my job," Shikaku said.
"Then let's split the work and begin," Tsunade sat up, unusually earnest. The sooner it was done, the sooner she could be free.
Shikaku handed out pre-sorted dossiers to Tsunade, Kitazawa, and Shizune. Kitazawa flipped one open—mission counts and descriptions from the war. His task was to assess performance based on the record—a preliminary evaluation. Final say rested with Tsunade.
Afternoon.
A knock.
"Tsunade-sama," Uchiha Itachi stood at the door but didn't enter.
"Kitazawa," Tsunade called, rising to go out.
"We'll step outside," Kitazawa told Shizune and the others, already knowing why Itachi had come.
"Let's talk here," Tsunade stopped in the corridor.
"Our investigation confirms he was formerly Root—codename 'Tiger.' After Root was dissolved, he joined the Anbu," Itachi said after a steadying breath. "But he's already been killed by Mist shinobi."
"A deliberate death wish?" Tsunade frowned. "Did you recover the body?"
Kitazawa wasn't surprised. Shimura Danzō wasn't stupid; he wouldn't leave evidence.
"We did, but it was damaged," Itachi said. "The Analysis Unit reports most of his brain memories can't be accessed."
"What a headache," Tsunade sighed. Without solid evidence, she couldn't move on Danzo. He was still a Konoha shinobi; Hiruzen and the others would block her.
"Anything else you need me to do?" Itachi asked, disappointed. Outside Konoha politics, he very much wanted Danzo dead—to avenge Shisui. But Danzo had slipped the noose again.
"Not for now. You've done well—stand down," Tsunade said.
"Yes." Itachi bowed slightly and left. He hadn't gotten to strike Danzo this time, but he'd seen a glimmer of hope. With Tsunade around, Danzo would pay sooner or later.
"Tsunade-sama," Kitazawa said once Itachi was gone, "we could take the initiative."
"What do you mean?" Tsunade looked over. "You don't mean assassinating Danzo, do you?"
"Tsunade-sama, that would violate Konoha's rules," Kitazawa blinked innocently.
"Out with it," Tsunade glared.
"Danzo targets you because he's obsessed with the Hokage's seat," Kitazawa said, clearing his throat. "If we start the Hokage selection process, he won't be able to sit still—he'll make a move."
"You're that eager to make me Hokage?" Tsunade laughed in exasperation.
"If you're Hokage, I get to cling to your thigh and strut around Konoha," Kitazawa said frankly.
"..." Tsunade was momentarily speechless. Why did it sound like he got all the perks?
"Dragging your feet isn't like you," Kitazawa teased.
"Do I need you to tell me that?" Tsunade stepped on his foot. "I'll decide."
"Of course, Tsunade-sama," Kitazawa said quickly. "Just a suggestion."
Tsunade fell silent, then chuckled at herself. "Come to the Hokage's office."
As Kitazawa had said—when had she gotten so wishy-washy? She turned; her tea-green haori, emblazoned with the kanji for "gamble," flared behind her. Kitazawa couldn't help smiling. Finally, the last step?
Bang! Tsunade kicked open the Hokage's office door.
"Oh, it's you," Hiruzen said placidly. "Work trouble?"
"Old man," Tsunade came straight out with it. "When are you retiring?"
Hiruzen froze. From anyone else, he'd think "Are you trying to start a coup?" But with Tsunade, he couldn't read her right away.
"Why ask that out of the blue?" he shook his head. "I'm Hokage. I retire when the next Hokage is settled."
"If you want to retire, start the selection," Tsunade said evenly.
"You mean…?" Hiruzen's eyes widened. He still struggled to believe it.
"I made myself clear. Don't make me repeat it," Tsunade's gaze drifted to the window. The Hokage Rock loomed faintly in the distance, and her feelings grew complicated. She'd never really wanted the job; she'd always wished for Nawaki to become Hokage—but fate had other plans.
"Good!" Hiruzen stood at once. "I'll send word to the daimyo now!"
The selection had three steps: the daimyo's consent, the jōnin vote, and the civilian vote. On paper, the daimyo's consent came first. In practice, the first step was the sitting Hokage's endorsement; once that was decided, the rest was mere procedure.
"I'll go myself," Tsunade said, coming back to herself. "We can use the victory to invite the daimyo to the celebration banquet."
"Good idea," Hiruzen smiled. "If the daimyo's in a good mood, next year's budget might be bigger."
A small portion of Konoha's funds came from mission fees; most came from the Land of Fire's allocations—that's why the Five Great Nations' daimyō held such sway. Money talked. More importantly, Hashirama's one-nation-one-village system had stood for so long no one thought to change it—or topple the daimyo.
"When do you leave?" Hiruzen asked, thorough as ever. "I'll have Shikaku pick a suitable escort."
"No need," Tsunade refused. "Kitazawa and I will go."
"Just you two?" Hiruzen blinked. "Is that… proper?"
"The daimyo won't mind," Tsunade said blithely.
"True," Hiruzen remembered her good ties with the Fire Daimyo's household. Of all Hokage, only Hashirama otherwise matched that. "Friday, then?"
"Friday," Tsunade decided. She'd taken on the merit-awards job; she wouldn't break her word. Time was tight, but shadow clones could speed things up.
"Friday…" Hiruzen mused. "Then I'll move Saturday's funeral to Sunday." Tsunade and Kitazawa had been crucial to the victory; skipping the funeral would look wrong.
"Mm." Tsunade paused. "Hold the jōnin and civilian votes next week."
"No problem," Hiruzen agreed without hesitation. Once the steps were done, he could retire before next Sunday. After decades as Hokage, he felt almost eager; the title meant carrying the whole village on your shoulders. He was old—it was time to pass the weight on.
"All right, the rest is yours. We're going back to work," Tsunade waved and left. She'd decided to be Hokage, but old habits die hard—she was still Tsunade; she'd slack if she could.
"Tsunade-sama wants Danzo to ambush us on the way to the Capital?" Kitazawa caught up and asked.
"Mm." Tsunade nodded.
"Just the two of us?" Kitazawa cleared his throat. "We should bring Itachi. If something really happens, he can move."
"What, no faith in me?" Tsunade eyed him.
"Of course I do, but I prefer stacking the odds," Kitazawa said seriously. "And we don't know how many men Danzo might bring."
"Fair point," Tsunade said after a beat. "Have Itachi tail us with an Anbu squad."
"I'll let him know," Kitazawa said.
Hokage's office.
"Haru," Hiruzen called once they'd gone.
"Hokage-sama," Haru entered.
"Inform the villagers and shinobi—we'll start the Hokage selection next week. Tell them to prepare to vote," Hiruzen ordered.
"What?" Haru looked startled. A Hokage change? Who would it be? Tsunade's name flashed to mind: she'd just been here, and no one in Konoha was more qualified.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Haru answered quickly. A new Hokage was a big deal for Anbu too—though the impact was smaller. Usually, a new Hokage selected two or three Anbu to groom; she herself was someone Hiruzen had chosen as a guard-type presence.
"Wait," Hiruzen added, remembering something. "Bring Danzo here, too."
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Haru bowed and left.
Hiruzen sat quietly in the Hokage's chair. He knew Danzo had never let go of the Hokage dream—yet he still wasn't fit for it. With Tsunade about to take over, Hiruzen intended to give Danzo a warning not to act rashly. After so many years working together, he didn't want to see Danzo ruin himself.
"Hiruzen." Before long, Danzo hobbled in on his cane.
"How's life at home lately?" Hiruzen asked with a genial smile.
Danzo blinked. After decades together, he sensed the undertone at once—Hiruzen never asked about his home life.
"Fine," Danzo said coolly.
"Seems you've adjusted," Hiruzen nodded. "After I retire next week, we can see each other more."
"You're retiring?" Danzo's pupils shrank; it felt like a hand clenched around his heart.
"Yes," Hiruzen smiled. "I'm old. It's time. I'll leave Konoha to Tsunade."
"Hiruzen!" Danzo burst out. "We should think this over carefully!"
"Is there anyone more suited than Tsunade?" Hiruzen shot back.
"..." Danzo bit back his words. He wanted to say "me," but he knew he didn't measure up. Still… he couldn't accept it.
"Danzo, you're getting on too. Some things you need to let go," Hiruzen said gravely.
"You've grown old—I haven't!" Danzo snarled, spun, and left.
Bang! The door slammed.
Hiruzen sat in silence, then shook his head. He'd said what needed saying. If Danzo did something foolish now, it wouldn't be on him—the next Hokage would handle it.
~~~
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