Chapter 140: “You Regret My Shadow”

"Uh… Teacher, aren't you going to the Hokage building today?", Aoba felt a bit numb under Tsunade's gaze. After sitting in his seat, he took the initiative to start the conversation.

Tsunade rolled her eyes, "With Shikaku there, it's the same whether I go or not."

"But isn't today the graduation exam for the Ninja Academy? Shouldn't you at least go prepare the class placement list for the students?"

"That's exactly why I don't want to go to the Hokage building," Tsunade showed an extremely displeased expression.

She could throw everything else to Nara Shikaku, but the graduation class placements of the Ninja Academy were something the Hokage always had to personally handle. She couldn't shirk that.

This wasn't a simple task.

It required considering the characteristics of both students and teachers.

When she first became Hokage, she was full of ambition and high spirits, feeling she would definitely accomplish great things.

But now…

Being Hokage is also just a job.

Slacking off is the true essence of working.

"Teacher, you're the Hokage now," Aoba held back a laugh.

Tsunade stared at Aoba's face, squinting her eyes, and began to think.

Her eyes lit up.

"Say, what do you think about me assigning you a seven-man squad?"

"Huh?"

Aoba widened his eyes, anxiously saying, "Teacher, don't mess around."

Although five years had passed and the girls had matured a lot, no longer quarreling so easily like before, there was still no lack of open and covert rivalries.

If they were grouped together, it might be fine in the short term, but over time, wouldn't it become a disaster?

Would they even be able to complete missions?

"How am I messing around?", The corners of Tsunade's mouth slightly curled up. Her smile didn't fade, but instead shifted to her face.

"Three-man squads are a Konoha tradition. Konoha has never had a seven-man squad before," Aoba spoke seriously, hoping Tsunade would rescind her decision.

"Is that so?", Tsunade's smile deepened. She crossed her hands under her chest, her plump thighs instinctively crossed, and her chin slightly raised.

"But I'm the Hokage now. Whatever I want to do—I can do."

"Even if I form a seven-man squad or dismantle Ino-Shika-Cho, no one would have any objections."

Aoba opened his mouth wide. He hadn't expected Tsunade to actually inherit quite a bit of Sarutobi Hiruzen's spirit.

'Then what is my current position?'

His mouth unconsciously said those four words, "You will regret this!" [T/N: Danzo's catchphrase for Hiruzen]

"Ahahahahaha~", Tsunade burst out laughing. Her body trembled, and even the peaches on her chest bounced along.

Because she was still wearing a kimono nightgown, a large amount of spring scenery was revealed.

Sitting across from Tsunade, Aoba only felt dazzled, inevitably distracted.

Still laughing, Tsunade also noticed Aoba's gaze. Her cheeks slightly reddened.

She hadn't minded this kind of gaze before, and even more intimate actions weren't without precedent.

But ever since that last time, she now felt somewhat unnatural.

Her smile faded, and she instinctively adjusted her clothes, "I see you're getting more and more out of hand, brat!"

Aoba only looked for a moment before looking away. After all, he saw it from time to time anyway.

A few glances more or less didn't make a difference.

Shizune, who had been quietly eating breakfast at the side, was a bit stunned by the scene. She glanced at Tsunade's majestic front, then lowered her head to look at her own plain self.

A sense of defeat rose from within.

'Now it seems…'

'Even Karin has more curves than me, right?'

Called out by Tsunade, Aoba didn't feel awkward at all. On the contrary, he was quite frank.

"Because teacher, you're the most beautiful person I've ever seen."

Tsunade heard this and slightly curled her lips. She really appreciated the praise from her disciple.

Otherwise, why keep maintaining her youth?

At the same time, she couldn't help glancing at the Shizune who was doubting her own life. Her smile deepened, "You really have a sweet mouth."

"No wonder those little girls are all head over heels for you."

"But, teacher is way past the age of being a little girl. Words like that don't work on me."

Aoba couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

'Maybe fix your facial expression before saying that?'

"Teacher, actually I think with my current strength, even if I don't join a ninja squad, it should be fine, right?", Aoba suggested.

With Aoba's current strength, he no longer needed a team leader. No one in Konoha could really lead him anymore. Tsunade knew that too.

In these five years, not counting the Kekkei Genkai drawn from the system, he had already mastered all of Tsunade's medical ninjutsu.

But Tsunade obviously wasn't going to agree.

She decisively refused, "That's not acceptable. Ninja squads are a Konoha tradition."

"..."

"Teacher, you're so double-standard…"

Tsunade didn't care at all about her disciple's discontent, and said, "Ninja squads are also an indispensable part of a ninja's life. They help you quickly become a qualified ninja and understand the importance of comrades."

Tsunade didn't want Aoba to become a lone wolf in the future. Since he wanted to become Hokage, then he had to understand the importance of comrades.

"Once you pass the Chunin Exams, I'll assign you a few missions. After that, I'll promote you to Jonin."

"By then, you can start preparing to take over my Hokage position."

She had long since wanted to quit this crappy job.

"This…", Aoba was speechless. Tsunade had already planned out his entire future in detail.

"Of course, there's actually one more not-so-big but not-so-small reason," Tsunade suddenly said.

"What reason?"

"The Hyuga clan hopes that after graduating, Hinata can return to the clan and not join a ninja squad."

"Why?", Aoba was confuse, 'There wasn't any such clause before?'

But he quickly figured it out. The Hinata back then couldn't compare to the current Hinata at all.

Now Hinata was the perfect main family successor. Of course, the Hyuga clan didn't want her to go out on missions and risk danger.

"What does that have to do with me?", Aoba didn't understand.

"Under the reasoned argument of the Hyuga clan head and elders, they made a concession. If she can be in the same team as you, then they agree to let Hinata join a ninja squad," Tsunade explained.

"After all, if she's in the same team as you, there's no problem guaranteeing her safety. As for whether you accept or not, that's up to you."

Aoba pursed his lips, "Does Hinata know about this?"

Tsunade shook her head, "They came directly to me. Hinata probably doesn't know yet."

"All right, I got it," Thinking about Hinata's hopeful gaze before graduation, Aoba still agreed in the end.

"Mm," Tsunade nodded, then asked.

"Then who do you want as your team leader?"

Aoba thought for a while, "Then let's go with Sister Kurenai."

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