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Just as Kazuki had predicted, Naruto was bouncing around energetically by the next morning, as if he'd already forgotten yesterday's incident.
Even when someone brought it up, making him blush crimson with embarrassment, he'd just shout a few red-faced retorts before letting it go.
In contrast, Sakura and Chōji felt too mortified to show their faces, hiding in their tents, unwilling to even go on patrol duty.
Kazuki didn't trouble them either. Compared to Naruto, they needed time to cool down before recovering.
Though Naruto was the main character, the ones suffering the most is Chōji followed by Sakura.
The two had truly been caught in an unexpected disaster.
The festive cheer and liveliness from the New Year hadn't faded yet. Kazuki didn't stop the camp's ninja from celebrating; as long as things didn't get out of hand, it was fine. Since there was no alcohol in the camp, everyone maintained some restraint without it.
Plus, with him overseeing the camp, if anyone did cause trouble, Kazuki would simply have to use more... decisive measures.
Compared to the quickly recovered camp, Konoha remained immersed in a festive atmosphere. Red lanterns hung everywhere, many people wore elegant kimonos, taking their families out for strolls.
Perhaps the only person in all of Konoha not feeling the joy was Tsunade.
After all, during the New Year period, even prisoners in Konoha's prison got a few good days—no work, better food.
Only Tsunade, the Hokage, failed to have a New Year with any festive feeling.
Instead, she was miserably stuck in the Hokage's administrative building, working overtime.
Every time this period came, it was when Tsunade felt most lonely and distressed.
In previous years, at least Kazuki had been there, lending a bit of a warm, familial feeling.
But now? Kazuki wasn't by her side.
Argh!!!
Why is it that during the New Year, everyone else gets to wear beautiful clothes and go out to enjoy themselves, while I have to sit in the Hokage's office doing miserable work?!
I quit!!
Whoever wants this job can have it!
Once this thought took root in her mind, she couldn't erase it.
"Shizune, go home and change. I'm taking you out for some good food."
"Huh?"
Now?
Shizune was stunned.
Aren't there still many tasks to handle?
"Eh? Lady Hokage, please wait! We—"
Tsunade covered Shizune's mouth with one hand and dragged her out of the Hokage's administrative building, heading straight for Kazuki's house.
They changed into clean, pretty new clothes and then went out to wander.
As for work?
Even a dog wouldn't do it!
Workhorses get rest time!
Only the Hokage has to sit in the office busy practically 365 days a year.
I'm going on strike! I want good food! I want to go out and have fun!
Thus, the Hokage, who had suffered all year, decided to truly relax, and then...
Work at the Hokage's administrative building ground to a halt.
"Lady Hokage played hooky?"
Shikaku seemed not to grasp the seriousness yet.
"Probably wants to relax over the New Year. It's fine; the village has no major matters recently. Taking a break is understandable."
"Alright, set those matters aside for now. Report them when Lady Hokage returns."
For unimportant matters, he could handle them.
But for things requiring the Hokage's personal stamp, he was powerless.
And so, various tasks piled up.
After all, Lady Hokage needed rest too. Moreover, playing hooky wasn't a one-time occurrence; better get used to it.
Just as everyone eagerly awaited their Lady Hokage to rest enough, play enough, and return to work... some people began to panic.
First, the Anbu.
They discovered they couldn't find the Hokage whereabouts. Even the Hokage's secretary, Shizune, was missing.
Good grief.
We can't even find them?
The Anbu headquarters went into an uproar. They immediately mobilized everyone, including those on vacation, calling them back at once to search for Tsunade and Shizune.
To their shock, scouring all of Konoha yielded no trace of the two.
Now people were truly alarmed.
The Anbu immediately sought out Shikaku, who was helping manage affairs.
"You're saying you can't find Lady Hokage's whereabouts? You suspect she left the village?"
You've got to be kidding me.
Playing hooky is one thing; going out to play is whatever. But directly slipping away from Konoha???
"Keep looking. She probably just went out to have fun. Search again, send more people. And don't let the news spread."
"Yes, sir."
The Anbu scurried off, leaving Shikaku, with metaphorical black lines on his forehead, pacing anxiously.
A sense of foreboding suddenly gripped him. He felt this time Tsunade's disappearance would be a major issue.
A few days later, Shikaku's premonition proved accurate.
Because the Anbu still hadn't found Tsunade and Shizune.
"Send a message to the border camp. Request the Advisor to return immediately to oversee operations."
Over those few days, Shikaku had suffered immensely. In that short time, he seemed to have aged several years.
The Hokage and her secretary were missing, and the news couldn't leak.
All the pressure fell on him. Shikaku felt he was going mad.
The pressure was immense, and piles of documents kept accumulating, needing someone to handle them.
But the people who could handle them—one was at the border camp, the other had simply run off.
Where she went, no one knew.
On the eastern border of the Land of Fire, Tsunade, with Shizune in tow, was traveling. Shizune wore a deeply troubled expression, constantly trying to persuade Tsunade.
"Lady Hokage, we really should go back. Otherwise, the village will fall into chaos."
"Relax, nothing will happen. I left a message. As long as Kazuki returns to take charge, it's fine. It's rare to get out; I want to walk around, see some sights."
Tsunade paid no mind, ignoring Shizune's pleas.
Originally intending to play hooky for just a couple of days, she suddenly recalled memories from long ago.
So she dragged Shizune out of Konoha, planning to wander, look around, clear her mind.
And so, Shizune, bewildered, followed Tsunade out of Konoha, traveling farther and farther.
Tsunade's disappearance was soon noticed by observant individuals.
The first to realize something was amiss was Homura. The Logistics and Medical Divisions had many matters requiring personal reports to Tsunade.
But after several consecutive attempts failed to see Tsunade, each time being turned away by Shikaku...
Time after time, Homura sensed something was wrong.
Knowing he couldn't hide it any longer, Shikaku chose to come clean.
"The Hokage chose to play hooky on the second day of the New Year, taking her secretary out. However, the Anbu soon discovered they couldn't locate Lady Hokage. To this day, they still haven't found her."
"Then what are you waiting for? Send more people to search!"
Homura immediately panicked, jumping to her feet.
The Hokage missing? This is no joking matter!