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He had thought Tsunade's heart was completely dead!
But it wasn't—she just hadn't met someone who caught her eye yet.
Is this disciple of mine also a sucker for good looks?
Recalling Kazuki's face, the Third Hokage was utterly defeated.
Being handsome lets you get away with anything?
To turn someone from an opposing faction into part of the "Hokage faction"!
This move—the Third Hokage had no words.
Any small schemes he harbored were completely crushed.
At this point, not only did most of the village support Kazuki, even his old comrade Homura would no longer back him.
In that case, why jump out and humiliate himself?
Wasn't retiring peacefully the better option?
"Where's Lord Advisor?"
Arriving at the Hokage's administrative building, Shikaku's first task was to ask the Anbu about Kazuki's whereabouts.
"Sir, Lord Advisor arrived at the Hokage's office very early and is currently working. Should we announce you?"
The Anbu ninja blinked blankly, answering seriously.
"No, no. Just a casual question."
Shikaku quickly waved his hand. I have nothing to report. Why announce me? Just let Lord Advisor focus on official duties.
As long as he wasn't playing hooky and neglecting work, everything else was fine.
Not working overtime was okay. Kazuki wasn't the Hokage; forcing him to stay late wasn't really appropriate.
At this point, as long as Kazuki could settle in the Hokage's office and handle official duties, Shikaku had no further demands.
Please, no more tricks at this critical time. And let nothing major happen to the village—just hold out until the Hokage returns.
On the vast open sea, Shizune miserably served as the boatswoman, paddling hard, while Tsunade...
Wearing a sunhat, she was leisurely fishing.
Lady Tsunade's luck... unbeatable.
Glancing at the bucket beside Tsunade, Shizune didn't know how to voice her complaints.
Tsunade's gambling luck was terrible; apparently, her fishing luck was just as bad.
A whole day, and she hadn't caught a single thing.
It was as if the bait Tsunade dropped in was tainted, scaring all the fish away.
"Lady Tsunade, why are we heading to the Land of Whirlpools at this time? The sea routes are currently controlled by Kirigakure. If we run into them, it'll be trouble."
Tsunade, nearly asleep under her sunhat, forced herself awake at the question and yawned.
"Nothing much. I just miss Grandma a bit, so I'm visiting the Uzumaki clan. Grandma always told me to visit the Land of Whirlpools more often to pay respects to the Uzumaki."
"But Lady Tsunade, you've never come before."
Since it was Mito-sama's instruction, you should have taken it seriously, My Lady...
But all these years, just this one visit?
"Shut up!!"
Tsunade's pretty face flushed; her pride was wounded.
It wasn't that she had any issues with Uzumaki Mito's instructions.
Not coming for so many years—she'd just been too busy before.
Later, she'd been running all over the shinobi world and simply forgot.
And Shizune had to poke at that sore spot.
"Oh."
Knowing she'd hit a nerve and Tsunade was now embarrassed and angry, Shizune obediently shut up and focused on rowing.
As for why they were rowing instead of just walking? Tsunade's reasoning was: Since we're out to relax, why rush?
Taking a boat would be pleasant, and she could fish on the way.
Good idea, but it turned Shizune into a manual laborer.
"But won't the village run into trouble if we're away too long? You're the village's leader, Lady Tsunade. Staying away too long will cause problems."
"What problems could arise?" Tsunade didn't care about such things.
"I don't want to go back right now. You'd better not leak my whereabouts, or else."
"But..." Shizune was very worried.
Tsunade huffed.
"That guy Shikaku is afraid of trouble and complications, so he'll immediately send for Kazuki to return. Once Kazuki returns, he'll see the note I left. Relax, nothing will happen! If they're really uneasy, they can just elect another Hokage. I wouldn't mind."
"Cough, cough!!!" Shizune was so shocked she choked on her own saliva, eyes wide, mouth agape.
"Lady Tsunade, did you have this idea from the beginning?"
"Of course not." Tsunade offered an awkward smile.
"We'll play for a while and then go back. So don't worry."
The more I listen, the more confused I get.
Lady Tsunade, I can't "don't worry."
Maybe we should just go back.
Shizune was terrified Tsunade's words would become reality.
Tsunade had too many tricks. She wanted to go back to the village; the outside was too dangerous.
As they say, the more you fear an accident, the more likely it finds you.
And sure enough, Kazuki had worked hard for many days just to clear village affairs. He hadn't even rested two days before trouble arrived.
To be precise, Kumogakure couldn't hold back any longer.
Trouble really had come.
Escorting Kumogakure's envoy to the Hokage's administrative building, Shikaku felt like slapping himself twice.
Had to run my mouth. Now see what happened.
Whatever you fear, it comes.
"Long time no see."
Sitting in the Hokage's office, Kazuki appraised Samui, the envoy representing Kumogakure before Konoha.
This woman gets more... distracting with time. How does she maintain herself? Her skin is even paler than before...
"It has been a while. But Lord Advisor, don't you think staring at a girl like that is rude?"
"Between friends, how can you call it rude?" Kazuki replied matter-of-factly.
"....."
Samui was momentarily speechless.
"So, the Raikage can't hold back any longer?"
All things in moderation. Kazuki wasn't the type to lose his way just from looking at a woman.
Having fought Iwagakure for so long in the Land of Waterfalls, Kumogakure could no longer restrain itself.
Because winter had passed, Iwagakure's supplies couldn't keep up with consumption. A felt the time had come.
So he secretly dispatched Samui to remind Konoha not to forget last year's agreement.
"Within half a month at most, the village will declare war on Iwagakure and fully intervene in this conflict. The Raikage-sama hopes Konoha will honor its word and not break its promise."
Samui relayed A's original message to Kazuki.
Kumogakure wasn't afraid of Iwagakure. But if their ally Konoha remained inactive, relying solely on Kumogakure would make it difficult to defeat Iwagakure. It might even push Ōnoki into a desperate, all-or-nothing struggle.
Even if Kumogakure eventually won, they wouldn't come out ahead.
So their ally Konoha had to strike.