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[NTU] [ARC-21] Chapter : 282
🕑 Added 2025-03-27 19:30:26 +0000 UTCNearly a year had passed since I returned to Konoha from the Land of Water.
In the Hokage’s office, a certain fiery blonde was buried in paperwork, frantically processing document after document.
As she stamped each one, she muttered curses under her breath.
“Uchiha Tōshirō, that damn bastard! He dumped all these administrative duties on me and ran off to enjoy himself. Damn it!”
With a vengeance, Tsunade slammed the Hokage seal onto a particularly unimportant document. She bit her lower lip, frustration flashing in her golden eyes.
She had never expected things to turn out like this. Her original plan was simple—to be a laid-back Hokage, assisting only as necessary, fulfilling her grandfather’s wishes in the most effortless way possible.
"Tsunade-sama… This just proves the Hokage trusts you."
Standing beside her, arms full of even more documents, Shizune remained calm, offering a few words of comfort.
To her, this was preferable. Compared to the chaotic days of running from one creditor to another, hiding in whatever backwater town they could find, life in the village felt peaceful—dare she say, comfortable.
Thinking back to those days of constant evasion, she shuddered. That was no way to live.
"Ah! Finally done!"
Two hours later, Tsunade pushed away the last stack of paperwork, stretching lazily as she gazed at the setting sun outside the window.
Shizune, still holding her own pile of documents, could only stare enviously at Tsunade's bust.
"Shizune, grab Tonton—we're going gambling!"
Tsunade rubbed her hands together eagerly. It had been far too long since she last set foot in a casino. Her gambling addiction flared up, and her honey-colored eyes gleamed with excitement as she turned to Shizune expectantly.
"No! This is all we have left for the month. If we lose it..."
Shizune clutched her wallet tightly against her chest, her expression filled with both grief and determination.
This was their only money until next month's salary. With half a month still to go, if Tsunade gambled it all away, they’d be completely broke again—no food, no supplies, nothing.
"That won’t happen! I have a good feeling today. I can win back everything I lost before!"
Tsunade's fists clenched with conviction, her eyes blazing with confidence. As her gaze flickered toward the stacks of paperwork cluttering her desk, her resolve hardened.
"Once I win big, I won’t have to deal with this endless bureaucratic nightmare every day!"
Determined, she lunged at Shizune, her hands reaching for the wallet.
"No—Lady Tsunade, if we lose, we won’t even have money for food!"
Shizune retreated into the corner of the office, desperately shielding her wallet like her life depended on it. Her posture was one of pure resistance, as if she were prepared to fight to the bitter end.
However, given Tsunade’s experience, Shizune’s resistance was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. She wouldn’t be able to hold out for long.
"Cough! Cough!"
Just as Shizune was about to lose all hope, the door to the Hokage’s office swung open.
"Hokage-sama!"
The moment she saw the newcomer, Shizune let out a relieved cry and dashed toward Toshiro, immediately taking refuge behind him.
"Please, Hokage-sama, talk some sense into Lady Tsunade!"
Seeing Toshiro was like spotting a lifeline. She wasted no time in airing her grievances.
"You have no idea! When I was traveling with Lady Tsunade, we spent every day running from debt collectors. Now that we’ve finally found some stability, she’s falling back into her old habits!"
As she spoke, her voice quivered, and her eyes welled up with unshed tears—clearly haunted by memories she would rather forget.
Toshiro sighed, rubbing his temples as he took in the scene before him.
"Tsunade..."
His tone carried both exasperation and warning.
"If I recall correctly, there’s still a massive gambling debt the village had to cover on your behalf."
He crossed his arms, eyeing her with a knowing look.
"If you have the time to gamble, why not use it to train more medical ninjas? That way, I could at least pay you a salary to help cover that debt."
Tsunade had accumulated a staggering amount of gambling debt over the years, and once she settled back in Konoha, word quickly spread. Soon, debt collectors were lining up at her doorstep, demanding repayment.
For Toshiro, this situation was like someone handing him a perfect opportunity just when he needed one.
He had been wondering how to keep Tsunade tied to administrative work, ensuring she remained buried in paperwork rather than indulging in her vices. Now, he had the perfect excuse.
"You can’t just ignore your debts, Tsunade. That would reflect poorly on Konoha’s reputation, wouldn’t it?"
Using the village’s finances, he had temporarily covered her debts, but not without a price.
Of course, Tsunade didn’t have the funds to repay the village outright, but as the old saying goes, "gambling debts must be repaid—one way or another."
Thus, Toshiro assigned her to handle a portion of the Hokage’s official duties, ensuring she earned a salary to gradually repay what she owed. The only downside? It was going to take quite a while.
He folded his arms and sighed dramatically.
"I’ve already warned every gambling house in the village not to lend you money. And yet, here you are, still trying to gamble away your living expenses. Honestly, Tsunade, your addiction is something else."
Toshiro rolled his eyes, exasperated. This woman is truly hopeless when it comes to gambling.
"You barged in without knocking!"
Tsunade scoffed at his lecture, casually straightening her clothes before flipping the conversation back on him.
Toshiro raised an eyebrow. Really? This was coming from the same woman who stormed into the Hokage's office whenever she pleased, without the slightest regard for decorum? The hypocrisy was almost amusing.
"I don’t have time to argue with you. I’m actually here for something important."
Ignoring Tsunade’s attitude, he walked over to the desk, pulled out a mission scroll, and stamped it with the Hokage’s seal.
Tsunade’s eyes narrowed. "What are you up to?"
She recognized the design of the scroll immediately—it was an official, high-ranking mission directly authorized by the Hokage. Ever since Toshiro had taken office, he hadn’t issued many missions of this caliber.
"This one is for Kushina-senpai."
With that brief explanation, he turned on his heel and strode out of the office, completely uninterested in whether Tsunade would return to gambling or not.
As he made his way home, he spotted Haku just leaving the academy. Toshiro slowed his pace and casually asked how things were going for him at the ninja school.
"Haku, are you getting along well with your teachers and classmates at school?"
After bringing Haku back to Konoha, Toshiro had arranged for him to receive basic education in reading and ninja training. Haku had mastered both with ease.
However, instead of immediately making him a ninja, Toshiro enrolled him in the academy, hoping to give him a chance to experience a normal childhood—one free from the burdens of war and duty.
"Everything is going well… But my classmates are a little too enthusiastic," Haku admitted with a small smile.
As he spoke, he glanced back at a group of girls still waving at him. His expression remained as pure as ever, his soft smile unfazed by the attention.
"That’s good to hear!" Toshiro replied.
Initially, he had been concerned that Haku might face the same kind of treatment Kushina once did—ostracized for being different. But to his relief, Haku had adapted remarkably well to life at the academy.
Within just a few days, he had effortlessly integrated into his class, and it seemed the female students had taken a particular liking to him.
As for any small issues that arose, Haku handled them with grace.
Toshiro never intended to turn him into a mere tool for battle. If anything, he simply wanted to give him the chance to enjoy a happy, carefree childhood.
"Did you understand all the information on medical ninjutsu that was given to you?"
Toshiro had taken note of Haku's keen intellect and gentle nature. He believed that guiding him toward becoming a medical ninja would be beneficial for both the village and Haku himself.
"It's a bit difficult... but I think I understand most of it!" Haku responded earnestly.
As he spoke, he lifted his hands, and slowly, a soft, light-green glow began to shimmer over them.
He looked up at Toshiro, his eyes filled with anticipation.
"A true genius," Toshiro murmured, ruffling Haku’s hair with a smile.
For someone to generate medical chakra without formal training, relying only on theoretical knowledge, was nothing short of remarkable. But given what he knew from the original timeline, Haku's natural talent made perfect sense.
Later that evening, after returning home, Toshiro enjoyed a warm meal prepared by Hana. With a cup of hot tea in hand, he allowed himself a rare moment of peace—until an unexpected guest arrived, breaking the tranquility.
"Hokage-sama, I apologize for disturbing you at this hour. There's an urgent matter that requires your attention."
