Hokage Office.
Tsunade leaned back in her wide chair, her feet resting casually on one corner of the desk. In her hand was a cup of steaming tea.
She narrowed her eyes, gently blew on the surface, took a small sip, and let out a satisfied sigh.
"Ah... how relaxing! The reforms Shinichi proposed are truly wonderful. I never thought being Hokage could be this easy!"
After being implemented for some time, the effects of the administrative decentralization and process simplification plan were gradually becoming clear.
Many routine administrative tasks had been handed over to different departments. Only truly important or strategic matters were left for the Hokage to personally review and decide.
Now that the negotiations between Konoha and Sunagakure had concluded, and it was certain that war would not break out, Tsunade's life had become extremely comfortable.
She was almost starting to fall in love with this job—if she ignored the budget meetings that still gave her a headache and the nagging of certain old-timers.
In front of the desk, slightly to the side, Shizune was buried in a pile of forms and reports. Her pen moved quickly as she recorded information, her brow furrowed.
"Lady Tsunade, even so... is it really okay for you to delegate so many routine administrative tasks? You still need to oversee the feedback and coordination between departments. Don't you think... you should handle a bit more yourself?"
Tsunade glanced sideways at her and snorted.
"Why should I do more?!"
She spoke with complete confidence.
"Those trivial matters were never supposed to be piled on the Hokage's desk in the first place. That brat Shinichi was right."
"The Hokage is a decision-maker and a pillar of stability, not a clerk. Only when everyone does their own job can efficiency improve. I see things clearly now, and my mind is sharp, so don't even think about tricking me into working!"
She paused, took another sip of tea, and said leisurely,
"Besides, there was no choice in the past. Now that there's a better way, why should I work myself to death? Shizune, you should learn too. Delegate things properly. Don't take everything on yourself."
Shizune opened her mouth, wanting to protest.
"But..."
Just then, the office door was pushed open.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya walked in one after the other.
As soon as Jiraiya entered, his gaze fell on Tsunade's relaxed posture.
"Yo! Tsunade!"
Jiraiya walked over with a loud laugh.
"Tsk, tsk, look at this! Our esteemed Fifth Hokage, living such a carefree life. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were vacationing at a hot spring inn!"
"None of your business!"
Tsunade lowered her feet with a look of disdain and set her teacup on the table with a thud.
"I call this... rational allocation of working hours!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled at the scene.
But when his gaze swept across Tsunade's empty desk, a complicated look flashed in his eyes. Then he sighed with emotion.
"Seeing you like this, I'm actually a little envious."
Hiruzen laughed at himself.
"Why didn't I think back then that I could delegate so many routine tasks instead of tying myself to this desk for decades?"
He shook his head.
"Thinking about it now, those decades... almost feel wasted. I always thought doing everything myself was being responsible, but I neglected what was truly important in life."
Tsunade curled her lip at his sentiment and did not respond.
She leaned forward slightly, resting her arms on the desk. Her gaze shifted between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya.
"You two," she said impatiently. "Why aren't you properly teaching your precious new disciples for that master-disciple contest of yours? Why come here instead? Have nothing to do? If you're really that free, I don't mind assigning you some serious missions."
Jiraiya laughed and waved his hand.
"It's nothing like that!"
"It's just that I've stayed in the village long enough. So I plan to... leave the village for a while."
Tsunade's eyes darkened slightly, but her expression remained unchanged as she said casually,
"Your legs are your own. If you want to go, then go. Who could stop you?"
"Well..." Jiraiya rubbed his chin and continued, "The thing is, I want to... take Naruto with me!"
Tsunade immediately frowned.
She looked sharply at Jiraiya, then glanced at the silent Hiruzen Sarutobi beside him.
"Take Naruto out?" Tsunade's tone grew heavy. "Have you thought this through? At a time like this, taking the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki out of the village..."
She tapped her fingers lightly on the desk.
"The Akatsuki Organization has been watching from the outside."
"Although they haven't officially begun large-scale operations to capture Tailed Beasts, the Nine-Tails... remains one of their ultimate goals!"
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