Inside a small-town inn:
"Sakura."
"..."
"Sakura!"
"..."
"Sakura!!"
"..."
Tsunade gazed down at Sakura, who was fast asleep. A glistening thread of drool hung from the corner of her mouth, her posture completely lacking any semblance of decorum as she lay on her side, hugging Tsunade. Half of Sakura's body was pressed against her, and her small hand rested on Tsunade's chest, occasionally giving it a squeeze. Tsunade's famously short temper flared. She grabbed Sakura's ear and yanked her head up.
Sakura was dreaming of a giant steamed bun placed right in front of her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't quite get it into her mouth. The craving made her drool. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her ear. The bun in her dream didn't disappear, but it was replaced by an even larger bun. At the same time, an angry voice roared:
"Sakura!!!"
"Ow, ow, ow!" The furious voice and the pain in her ear made Sakura cry out.
Sakura sat up and rubbed her eyes. She saw that her master, Tsunade, was sleeping on her bed, and... she was completely naked. Sakura's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"Master... you... how... how... are you in my room...?" Sakura stammered.
"I'm in your room?" Tsunade gave her apprentice a look usually reserved for the profoundly stupid. "Think carefully about last night..."
"Last night?" Sakura vaguely remembered lying on Tsunade's bed, receiving treatment. And then... and then... she had drifted off to sleep...
"Ah... Where are my clothes?" Sakura suddenly realized she was also completely naked. Mortified, she grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around her body.
Wait, that's weird... Why am I feeling embarrassed? Ah, screw it, to hell with embarrassment! If anyone should be embarrassed, it's not me.
With that thought, Sakura threw off the blanket and stared back at Tsunade, eye to eye.
"I took off your clothes. They're over there," Tsunade said, unfazed, pointing to Sakura's clothes. "You fell asleep last night, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't wake you. So I let you sleep here."
"Oh~~~~~" Sakura uttered a drawn-out "oh," her gaze fixed dumbly on the swaying, ample bosom before her.
"What are you gawking at? Hurry up and get dressed. We're leaving today," Tsunade urged, seeing Sakura still staring blankly.
"Oh~~~~" Sakura moved mechanically, getting out of bed and struggling to put on her clothes. Then, she washed her face, slapping her slightly flushed cheeks to clear her head.
After freshening up, Sakura followed Tsunade to the dining room for breakfast.
"Sakura-chan, where were you last night?" Naruto and Jiraiya were already having breakfast. "I knocked on your door last night, but you didn't open it."
"Um, I was in Master Tsunade's room last night. She was checking my body," Sakura said, her face turning slightly red. She was still reeling from the thrill of sleeping with a completely naked Tsunade.
"Huh? Sakura-chan, were you injured...?" Naruto asked curiously.
"It's nothing. I'm fine now," Sakura said, composing herself. "Anyway, what did you want to talk to me about?"
"Well, uh, Sakura-chan, I've mastered the Rasengan!" Naruto announced excitedly, his face beaming.
"Oh, is that so? Good job. Keep working hard," Sakura replied casually, continuing to eat her rice.
"Tsunade, have you made your decision?" Jiraiya asked, noticing Tsunade seemed to be in a good mood.
"Hmm, I agree," Tsunade said, pausing before adding, "But I have one condition."
"Yes, tell me," Jiraiya said, relieved. As long as she agreed, that was all that mattered.
"Help me find out who hired the ninjas to assassinate me. I want concrete proof!" Tsunade's gaze hardened, her sharp eyes fixed on Jiraiya. "Do you understand?"
"I understand," Jiraiya replied solemnly, nodding at Tsunade's determined expression.
It seemed this incident had solidified Tsunade's resolve to root out the village's corruption. Someone in the village was in for a rude awakening.
And it was all too understandable. Tsunade was the granddaughter of the First Hokage and a disciple of the Third. As a medical ninja, she had made countless contributions to the village. Yet, because of someone's selfish interests, they dared to brazenly assassinate a hero of Konoha. It was no wonder Tsunade was furious.
"Wait, wait, wait, Pervy Sage, is she going to become the Fifth Hokage?" Naruto stood up, pointing at Tsunade, clearly still harboring some resentment.
"Sit down. You should address her as Lady Fifth Hokage," Jiraiya scolded.
"But, but, she clearly hates the title of Hokage!" Naruto protested, still pointing at Tsunade. "Anyway, I won't acknowledge her."
"Brat, it seems you haven't learned your lesson," Tsunade said with a cold smile, watching Naruto jump up and down.
Shizune, holding Tonton, chuckled awkwardly. Lady Tsunade hadn't even officially taken office, and she already had her first dissenter.
"Naruto, sit down. Stop causing a scene," Jiraiya said, feeling a headache coming on because of his disciple. "There is no one more suitable than Tsunade to inherit the position of Hokage. She is the granddaughter of the First Hokage and a disciple of the Third Hokage."
"Ah~~ Her~~~~" Naruto fell silent upon hearing that. Perhaps the First Hokage was a bit intimidating, after all.
"I won't stoop to arguing with a child," Tsunade said, shaking her head.
"Hmph," Naruto snorted and turned away.
Seeing Naruto's reaction, Tsunade added, "Hey, brat, you're called Naruto, right? Who's your Jonin sensei?"
Shizune, hearing Tsunade's question, immediately felt sorry for Naruto and his Jonin sensei. Of all the people to offend, they had to pick Lady Tsunade.
"It's Kakashi-sensei, hmph," Naruto replied, still disgruntled but answering honestly.
"Oh~~~~ Kakashi, is it?" Tsunade turned to Sakura and said, "Why didn't you tell me this idiot was on your team?"
"Haha, Master, you didn't ask," Sakura could only reply awkwardly.
The squabble between Tsunade and Naruto left Sakura unsure of what to do. She decided it was best to wait and see.
At the Uchiha Compound
Sasuke, as usual, woke up on time, prepared breakfast, and silently said, "Itadakimasu," to the empty house.
Over the past month, Sasuke had calmed his mind, striving to set aside his hatred and contemplate his path in life.
This period of reflection had allowed Sasuke to notice things he had previously overlooked. He finally faced his true inner self.
However, whenever Sasuke thought of Itachi, the irrepressible hatred would overwhelm him, convincing him that he shouldn't be so decadent.
This conflict left Sasuke feeling agitated as he arrived at the rear mountain of the Uchiha Compound.
Furious training helped to calm Sasuke's mind slightly. He sat on the ground, panting heavily, taking a break.
Suddenly, a voice came from beside him, "Impressive, as expected of this year's top rookie, Uchiha Sasuke."
Sasuke leaped to his feet, brandishing a kunai and guarding against the person in front of him. "Who are you?"
"Haha, we've met before, during the Chunin Exams," the person said, raising his hands.
Looking at the man with white hair and glasses, Sasuke thought for a moment and said, "I remember you now. You're Kabuto. What are you doing here?"
"Haha, I'm honored you remember me," Kabuto said, adjusting his glasses. "I'm here on behalf of Lord Orochimaru."
__________________
patreon.com/Shinobi_Scrolls