Being watched by so many pairs of eyes, Naruto said with complete innocence, "I can't stab myself, can I?"
His gaze swept across each person in turn. "Unless... Kakashi-sensei? Sasuke? Sakura?"
As Naruto's eyes landed on each of them, Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura shook their heads in perfect unison with remarkable speed.
Jiraiya's face contorted with fury and resentment. (╬￣皿￣)=○
"Sensei! She fainted!" Seeing Tsunade collapsed on the ground, Shizune shouted in panic.
"Don't shout. It's just unconsciousness—nothing serious." Naruto stopped Shizune's panicked cries, then pointed at Jiraiya's arm. "First, help stop the bleeding."
Shizune looked over and saw Jiraiya's deeply resentful expression, blood still flowing freely from his arm. As a medical ninja, she immediately shifted into professional mode despite her panic. She hurried over and began treating the wound with practiced efficiency.
After Shizune finished bandaging Jiraiya's injury, Naruto addressed her in a gentle tone. "Sister Shizune, you can't let your sensei lie on the cold ground like this. She won't wake up for a while. Why don't you carry her on your back and come with us?"
Shizune's face immediately showed embarrassment. She stammered, "But... but Tsunade-sensei doesn't want to go with you. When she wakes up, she'll beat me for this."
"Then where are you planning to go?" Naruto asked abruptly. "Do you have any money?"
Hearing the word "money," Shizune's protests died in her throat. She answered honestly, her shoulders slumping. "We don't have any money. Tsunade-sensei gambled it all away. We had one thousand ryō at the end, but it got stolen by a street thief."
Looking at the lost and helpless Shizune, Naruto spoke with warm kindness. "Shizune, we're not bad people. You know Jiraiya-sensei—he would never hurt Tsunade. And me?" He placed a hand on his chest. "I'm Konoha's Fifth Hokage. I won't hurt you either."
Hearing Naruto's self-disclosure, Shizune's eyes widened dramatically. She stared at Naruto in disbelief. "You're the Fifth Hokage of Konoha? But isn't Konoha still under the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen?"
"Shizune, that's right." Jiraiya spoke up, a trace of pride coloring his tone. "The person standing before you is indeed Konoha's Fifth Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto."
His chest puffed out slightly. His disciple Namikaze Minato had been Konoha's Fourth Hokage. Now Naruto had acknowledged him as sensei as well. That meant two of his students had both become Hokage.
This achievement filled Jiraiya with undeniable pride.
"Wow! Really? I've met Hokage-sama in person!" Shizune's amazement was utterly sincere. "Hokage-sama is so young!"
"Sister Shizune, will you come with us if you carry Tsunade on your back?" Naruto's voice remained gentle and reassuring. "Don't worry. When she wakes up, I'll explain everything. I'll tell her I coerced you and that it's completely not your fault."
"Okay... then I'll leave it to Hokage-sama." Shizune bowed at a full ninety degrees.
"Then let's go, Sister Shizune." Naruto smiled warmly. Shizune really is an honest person. Honest people are easy to persuade.
Shizune immediately crouched down beside Tsunade. With practiced movements, she hoisted her unconscious sensei onto her back. Naruto gestured for everyone to follow and began walking toward the town.
Shizune hurried after him. "Hokage-sama, you can't go that way!"
Naruto turned his head, his expression perfectly puzzled, clearly expecting an explanation.
Shizune spoke haltingly. "Tsunade-sensei and I just escaped from there. She lost gambling and owes a lot of money. If you go back there, debt collectors will chase us down."
"I see." Naruto's face showed theatrical enlightenment. "In that case, let's go elsewhere. There's another small town not far from here. There shouldn't be anyone chasing debts there, right?"
Shizune's eyes filled with grateful tears. "Thank you so much, Hokage-sama! Let's go there—we haven't been to that town yet."
Watching Naruto's performance, Jiraiya, Kakashi, and the others all thought the same thing simultaneously: What a waste that Naruto didn't become an actor. He's terrifyingly good at this.
The group immediately set off toward the other town.
When they arrived, Naruto led Shizune directly to a luxurious hotel. As the dignified Fifth Hokage of Konoha, he naturally wasn't short of funds. When traveling on official business, one should choose quality accommodations.
Even if Naruto somehow lacked money, Sasuke was wealthy now. After Hiruzen Sarutobi's death, all the Uchiha clan's property had been returned to Sasuke. The Uchiha had been a major clan with extensive business ventures. The wealth could sustain him for several lifetimes without worry.
Living in such a luxurious hotel, Shizune felt overwhelming gratitude toward Naruto. When she'd followed Tsunade, they were either fleeing from debt collectors or on their way to another gambling den. Tsunade-sensei took every last ryō to gamble with, sometimes not even leaving money for meals. Staying in a hotel this luxurious? Completely unthinkable.
After Tsunade-sensei was settled into a room, Naruto brought Shizune to the hotel restaurant. He ordered a large table full of delicacies to entertain her properly.
Shizune hadn't eaten such delicious, expensive food in ages. She almost wished she could sell Tsunade-sensei on the spot and live happily ever after under Naruto's care.
After the satisfying meal, Shizune returned to Tsunade-sensei's room with a full belly, letting out an unladylike burp. She looked at her sensei lying peacefully on the bed and settled in to wait for her to wake up.
Just as she entered the room, Naruto appeared carrying some additional food. "I prepared some dishes for when Sister Tsunade wakes up. She can eat then."
"Mm." Shizune nodded, watching Naruto leave. She thought to herself, Hokage-sama is so considerate. He's handsome, capable, and knows how to take care of others. Unfortunately, he's too young. I heard he's only twelve years old this year.
A twelve-year-old Hokage. Even hearing it shocked Shizune to her core. At the same time, she felt deep admiration. Naruto must be incredibly powerful to have defeated her sensei so thoroughly.
About two hours later, Tsunade finally stirred. Her eyes opened slowly, taking in the luxurious ceiling above her. She jolted upright on the bed, completely disoriented. "Where is this?"
Shizune had been hugging Tonton in the corner. Seeing her sensei wake, she shouted happily, "Sensei! You're awake!"
"Mm. I feel dizzy." Seeing Shizune brought Tsunade some relief. She asked, "Where are we?"
"This is a hotel. Come on, sensei, eat something first. You must be hungry." Shizune helped Tsunade to the table and pushed several plates of food in front of her.
Tsunade picked up a pork knuckle, about to take a bite. Suddenly, she froze. Her eyes focused sharply on Shizune with dawning suspicion. "A luxury hotel? Expensive food? Tell me the truth—have you been hiding money from me?"
"I don't have any!" Shizune explained patiently. "Hokage-sama brought us here. I thought, since you fainted, we needed to find somewhere for you to rest, right?"
"You silly child. You're so honest that one day you'll be sold and still count the money for whoever bought you." Tsunade scolded with an affectionate smile. Then her expression shifted as she caught a detail. Surprise flooded her features. "Wait. What did you say? Hokage-sama? Who? Is it Sarutobi Hiruzen?"