They hadn't even reached the village gate.
"Hahaha! We're finally back!"
Naruto shouted at the top of his lungs, sprinting ahead.
Sasuke followed sluggishly behind, shoulders drooping, dark circles hanging heavily beneath his eyes.
Souma glanced sideways at Naruto.
"You're unusually attached to the village."
"Of course!" Naruto grinned. "This is my home!"
Tsunade crossed her arms, clearly displeased.
"Hey, brat. Before we go any further, let's make something clear. I'll take the Hokage position—but that doesn't mean you get to dump everything on me."
Souma smiled lightly.
"Of course not. I'm still an ANBU squad captain, after all."
ROOT had never truly been an independent organization—just an ANBU division forcibly split off by Danzō. With Danzō gone, ROOT no longer existed in name.
And frankly, many of Souma's techniques needed ANBU channels for dissemination. He had no intention of letting it rot.
"When you take office," Jiraiya said cheerfully, "I can finally go back to gathering intelligence."
Tsunade shot him a look full of disdain.
Souma merely smiled.
At the village gate, Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki froze.
"L-Lady Tsunade?!"
Kotetsu nearly jumped out of his seat before snapping into a deep bow. "Welcome back to Konoha!"
"…Oh. You're still here?"
Tsunade squinted, then vaguely recalled him. "I've seen you before."
Name?
No idea.
"Kotetsu-senpai," Souma said smoothly, "we already reported Lady Tsunade's return to the Third Hokage."
"Y-Yes! Please register and proceed!"
Kotetsu didn't dare stop them.
Sasuke's unauthorized departure?
He pretended not to see it.
Izumo, calmer but no less respectful, bowed deeply.
To shinobi who had lived through war, the Sannin were living legends—names forged in blood, not propaganda.
Entering Konoha, Tsunade scanned the streets.
The village was lively.
The damage from Orochimaru's invasion had already been repaired. Most destruction had come from the summoned giant serpent—and even that had been handled swiftly.
"Go rest," Souma said. "Naruto, Sasuke."
Sasuke stiffened when Souma looked at him.
"…There's one more thing," Souma added mildly. "You left the village without permission. Even if it was concern for Naruto, rules are rules."
"…I'll write a self-criticism report," Sasuke said immediately.
"Good."
As they left, Tsunade glanced at Souma.
"You care a lot about the Uchiha boy."
"I just don't want him being targeted over trivialities."
She sighed.
"Konoha really has declined. Fewer shinobi than before."
"Endless wars," Jiraiya replied quietly. "Most villages are the same. Cloud lost the least—that's why they've been getting bold."
Tsunade's expression darkened slightly.
After a pause, she turned to Souma.
"Take me to the Medical Corps."
The hospital layout hadn't changed much. Tsunade navigated it effortlessly.
"You created the chakra scalpel?" she asked.
"Yes. Though originally, it was just an experiment in chakra shaping and cutting properties."
Her mouth twitched.
She'd expected something like that.
"Intent and application rarely align," Tsunade said. "But that technique has enormous value in micro-surgery."
Shizune listened like a student overhearing gods talk.
"For bone correction, adhesion separation, internal precision…" Tsunade continued. "It's excellent."
Shizune's eyes lit up.
They entered the Medical Corps.
The first person they saw was a bespectacled man.
Kabuto Yakushi pushed his glasses up and bowed.
"Captain Souma."
"This is Lady Tsunade," Souma said casually.
Kabuto froze—then reacted instantly.
"T-The Sannin?! I've admired you since childhood!"
Tsunade smiled politely.
"I have medication to deliver," Kabuto said regretfully. "The director is in the office."
And just like that, he left—perfect timing, flawless performance.
Souma narrowed his eyes slightly.
Still the same.
Inside, Tsunade paused.
The Medical Corps was… busy.
People rushed between stations.
Pharmaceutical work.
Experimental discussions.
Occasional arguments spilling out of labs.
"This is good," Tsunade said. "Very good."
This was what a medical division should feel like.
Souma smiled silently.
Then they met Director Kitayama.
After ten minutes—
"So these experiments," Tsunade said slowly, "are mostly based on Souma's frameworks?"
"…Yes."
Her expression darkened.
So they weren't innovators yet—just implementers.
Not useless.
But not independent.
"…Acceptable," Tsunade concluded at last. "At least they're not stagnant."
Her expectations had simply been too high.
Souma excused himself and stepped outside.
Kabuto was waiting.
Simple barriers rose silently.
"How's Otogakure?" Souma asked.
"Fully prepared."
"Subordinates?"
"I'll recruit more."
"Good. The red-haired girl from Grass—likely Uzumaki."
Kabuto nodded instantly.
"One issue," Kabuto added. "Jūgo."
Souma nodded.
"Orochimaru's curse mark source."
"I'll handle it," Souma said calmly. "Give him a kikaichū."
Kabuto hesitated.
"One… is enough?"
"It is."
Finally—
"Your neural research?" Souma asked.
Kabuto handed over a scroll.
Souma's eyes lit up.
Eye-nerve interference.
Chakra simulation.
Signal disruption.
"Well done," Souma said. "Submit this quickly. Tsunade's back."
Kabuto understood instantly.
"Before priority collisions."
"Exactly."
Inside the hospital, Tsunade stopped.
"…The Medical Corps is competitive," she said.
"…Brutal."
Then she smirked.
"But not bad at all."
And for the first time since returning—
She truly felt at home.
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