The Hokage Guard Platoon has always been an odd squad. Their main responsibility, after all, was to protect the strongest person in all of Konoha.
Of course, in the face of a powerful enemy, they could sacrifice themselves to buy the Hokage time to escape. However, any leader who would abandon their subordinates and flee the battlefield isn't worthy of being called Hokage in the first place.
Though Raidō Namiashi, Genma Shiranui, and the others weren't old, they had served as guards for three different Hokage. When they learned they were out of a job, the disbelief on their faces was plain to see.
Koharu Utatane pondered for a moment before speaking softly. "Does the Fifth have a suitable candidate in mind? I believe there are a few good shinobi well-suited to serve as guards..."
"That won't be necessary." Naruto Uzumaki shook his head, tapping his forehead. "For now, let's just transfer Team 3 to my side to serve as guards."
Team 3, led by Jonin Might Guy, consisted of Neji Hyuga, Tenten, and Rock Lee.
No matter how you looked at it, Team 3 was not a standard choice for such a role.
Koharu Utatane frowned. "Team 3's supervising Jonin, Might Guy… even as a Jonin captain, he has some shortcomings. He doesn't seem suitable..."
It was a polite way of saying Might Guy wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. For a team of four—one Jonin and three Genin—to have two members who weren't exactly bright, another who didn't seem particularly strong, and only Neji Hyuga's Byakugan being somewhat useful... it was a strange pick.
"I know." The young Hokage nodded, looking at Koharu with a slight, knowing smile as he narrowed his eyes. "But they should be willing to obey a Hokage's orders..."
"..."
Koharu awkwardly lowered her head. Perhaps out of habit, Raidō and the others had been following the elders' commands. She hadn't expected Naruto to use this to make a point as soon as he returned.
Naruto glanced around the room, puzzled at not seeing two familiar faces. "Where are Granny Tsunade and Pervy Sage?"
"Lady Tsunade should be assisting the Fifth with administrative duties," Koharu replied, her expression a bit confused. She didn't quite know how to define Tsunade's recent behavior.
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Hokage's Office.
When Naruto walked in, he found Tsunade sitting in the Hokage's chair. She was handling paperwork with her legs crossed, a sake pot resting on the desk beside her.
This woman really doesn't care about her image at all!
Jiraiya wasn't in the office. He was probably off peeping at some hot spring bath. He never seemed like the type to sit in an office anyway.
"The brat is back! I heard you did well in the Sand Village!" Tsunade uncrossed her legs and waved for Naruto to come over. The gesture made it seem as if she were the Hokage of Konoha.
Alright, I did indeed steal her position, Naruto thought with a grimace.
However, as he walked up to Tsunade, the woman suddenly pulled him into her embrace and began messing up his hair. "Hey, brat, don't do such dangerous things like you did this time, you hear me?"
The young Hokage wanted to struggle free, but his vision was filled with a large expanse of white. He said with an awkward expression, "Granny Tsunade, the Sand Village wasn't that dangerous, was it?"
"Still talking back?" Tsunade lightly punched him on the head, then carefully rubbed the spot.
The corner of Naruto's mouth twitched. Why is she still so violent?
"Alright, you're back just in time to try on your Hokage robe!" Tsunade pulled a long, white robe out from under her desk and, to Naruto's dismay, began helping him put it on.
The Hokage robe was a custom-made uniform. The design for Naruto's was based on the prototype left behind by his father, Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage. Aside from looking cool, it was actually useless.
Tsunade clicked her tongue, shaking her head with a sigh. "You're only thirteen this year. Having to re-customize your robe every year is going to be a huge expense..."
"...Then just make it bigger," Naruto said, slapping his forehead.
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Tsunade glared at him unhappily. She then reached out to straighten the collar of his robe, her voice softening. "You are the Fifth Hokage of Konoha. You can't lose face for the village..."
"..."
Hearing the woman in front of him talk about the Hokage's dignity felt... strange. The young Hokage glanced at her speechlessly. He couldn't exactly say out loud, "Actually, the Fifth Hokage was supposed to be you, and with your gambling and drinking, you would have been the one throwing the Hokage's dignity on the ground, wouldn't you?"
"Hey, hey, hey, brat, that look in your eyes is very disrespectful!" Tsunade wrapped her arm around his neck, bringing her face close to his. He could feel the warmth of her breath on his lips.
Before Naruto could say anything, Tsunade patted his head and said softly, "Since you're back, this office should be returned to you... Lord Fifth Hokage."
"..."
Naruto was silent for a moment before slowly nodding. He looked into her eyes seriously. "Yes. I won't let you down, Granny Tsunade."
He would not forget their promise. Now that he was Hokage, he would start to change this distorted ninja world. He would make it a better place, a world without wars, so there would be no more people like Tsunade who were hurt by them.
"Then... do your best." Tsunade bit her lip, suddenly lowering her head as she released his neck.
Seeing Naruto's slightly puzzled look, Tsunade squatted down again. She took the pendant that had always been around her neck and was about to hang it on him. "Hey, brat, this was left to me by my great-grandfather. In the future..."
"But the First Hokage said you stole it," Naruto interrupted with a wry smile, taking the pendant from her hand. It glowed faintly as it came into contact with his Wood Style chakra.
This accessory had been made by the First Hokage to help his wife, Mito, suppress the Nine-Tails. It was later snatched by a money-grubbing Tsunade.
Ignoring Tsunade's expression, the blond youth hung the pendant back around her neck. "Sorry, Granny Tsunade, I can't accept it," he explained in a low voice. "My will is different from Lord First Hokage's will."
"...Is that so?" Tsunade lowered her head again, somewhat disappointed.
"Most importantly..." Naruto's smile was quite helpless. "This pendant has the First Hokage's power to restrain the Nine-Tails' chakra, but I'm a perfect Jinchuriki now... If I wear it, it would actually be deadly."
This was literally true. If he were to wear the pendant, the inscribed formula on it would absorb his Wood Style chakra and, in turn, suppress the Nine-Tails. This necklace was something he really couldn't wear.
"Will it... make you lose your life?" Tsunade's body trembled slightly. Her voice suddenly became a bit strained, her eyes misting over. "Yes... it really does make people lose their lives..."
Two people she loved had once died on the battlefield wearing this very pendant.
Naruto knew this and instantly regretted his poor choice of words. After a long moment, he slowly reached out and hugged the woman in front of him, soon feeling a dampness spreading on his chest.
"I'll use a jutsu to absorb the chakra inside..." he said helplessly. "Then it should be fine, right?"
Bonus:
Nine-Tails: You dare take that pendant, and you're dead!
Tsunade: You don't take that pendant, and you're dead!
Naruto: ...
Nine-Tails: You take it, and I'll destroy it!
Tsunade: If it's destroyed, you're finished!
Naruto: ...
Hashirama Senju: How about... you guys just give it back to me? I originally wanted to give it to Mito...
Madara Uchiha: Give it back? Don't be ridiculous! Naruto Uzumaki, smash it