After some days, Tsunade had returned to her usual self, the tension around her and Hiro easing as she refrained from bringing up the love bites on his neck.
Suddenly, as they sat quietly in the room, Shizune burst in, her expression serious.
"Lady Tsunade!" she called out.
Tsunade looked up, her brow furrowing with concern. "What is it, Shizune?"
"Lady Tsunade, something big has happened. The Third Hokage… he's dead,"
Tsunade's heart sank at the words. "What? How?" sher tone sharp and immediate.
"It was Orochimaru," Shizune replied, maintaining her composure despite the gravity of the situation. "He used a forbidden technique to bring back the First and Second Hokage, forcing the Third to fight them. In the end, he sacrificed himself to seal Orochimaru's arms and protect the village."
Tsunade's fists clenched at her sides, anger bubbling just beneath the surface. "That snake… he used my grandfather and granduncle to fight against him? CURSE HIM! I'm going to find him and smash him to pieces!"
Hiro watched Tsunade's reaction closely, noting the flicker of pain and rage in her eyes. He stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Tsunade, there's no need to be impulsive. The Third Hokage sealed Orochimaru's arms, which means he can't use them. He'll likely come to you for help. If he does and you know the rest."
Tsunade took a deep breath, trying to rein in her emotions.
As she calmed down, Hiro's mind drifted into his own thoughts, already considering the implications of the situation. It's only a matter of time before Naruto and Jiraiya come looking for her, he mused. And when they do, seat of Hokage will be unavoidable.
She'll have to take it, he realized. And when she does, everything changes.
Tsunade, as Hokage, meant more than just a title. She was already his in every way that mattered. Not formally married, perhaps, but their bond ran deeper than that.
Once she became Hokage, it would place the entire Hidden Leaf Village under her authority—and by extension, his. Konoha would be under his hand, his control, their property.
But then came the shadow over his plan—Danzo Shimura. The man was a parasite, lurking in the shadows, always waiting to seize power. Danzo will try to use this chaos to his advantage, Hiro thought, a flicker of unease crossing his mind. Danzo won't allow Tsunade to take the seat uncontested.
How do I get rid of him? . For now, he didn't have an answer. But he knew Danzo was a problem that needed dealing with—soon.
Hiro's gaze sharpened as he looked at Tsunade, still struggling to contain her anger. First, she has to get the title, and then... we'll take care of everything else. One step at a time.
Shizune stood there, her mind racing as she took in the scene. Over the past few weeks, she had noticed how close Hiro and Tsunade had become. There was an undeniable shift in their dynamic, something unspoken but palpable. It wasn't just professional or friendly anymore—it felt deeper, more intimate.
She didn't dare say it out loud, but the way they moved around each other, the subtle touches, the shared glances—it was as if they had crossed a line that no one else had noticed yet.
...
In the quiet solitude of her room, Konan's breath hitched as her reflection in the mirror brought back vivid memories.
The love bites on her skin, hidden under the dark gown, seemed to glow with the intensity of her emotions. She bit her lip, eyes lingering on the marks, each one a reminder of the wild, passionate night she had spent with Hiro.
Unable to contain herself any longer, she turned away from the mirror and made her way to the bed, her footsteps light and hurried, her heart racing.
She threw herself onto the soft mattress, burying her face into the pillows as a wave of desire and longing crashed over her.
Konan's mind drifted back to that night, remembering how Hiro had taken control, how he had pushed her to the edge over and over again. She could still feel the heat of his breath against her neck, the way he had whispered her name, making her shiver in ways she had never experienced before.
It was nothing like the cold life she lived in the Akatsuki. With Hiro, she felt alive, reckless.
She turned over on her back, staring up at the ceiling, a soft smile playing on her lips as she recalled the way his fingers had teased her.
Konan pressed her face into the pillow, trying to stifle the warmth blooming inside her. She was in love with him, hopelessly so, and every stolen moment they had together only deepened her attachment.
...
As Naruto and Jiraiya walked through the bustling town, their focus remained on Naruto's Rasengan training. Naruto clutched a water-filled balloon, his task deceptively simple: rotate his chakra within the balloon without popping it. Yet for him, it was proving anything but easy.
"Concentrate, Naruto," Jiraiya said calmly but firmly. "You need the chakra to spin in all directions, not just one. Control is everything with the Rasengan."
Naruto frowned at the balloon, his teeth clenched. "I know that, but it's so hard!" he muttered, channeling his chakra once more. The water inside swirled, but with a small splash, the balloon burst, drenching his hands.
Jiraiya chuckled. "You're using too much force. The Rasengan isn't just about power—it's about precision."
Wiping his hands on his jacket, Naruto's frustration grew. "Easy for you to say! This feels impossible!" He grabbed another balloon, determination flaring in his eyes.
"It's not impossible," Jiraiya crouched beside him, "just takes practice. Stop trying to rush it. Don't rely on brute force. Feel the flow of your chakra—focus on making it spin in multiple directions."
Naruto took a breath, closing his eyes as he pictured the chakra's swirl. Slowly, he guided it inside the balloon as Jiraiya had explained. But once again, the balloon popped, sending water splashing everywhere.
"Damn it!" Naruto cursed, shaking off the water.
Jiraiya grinned. "You're getting better. Patience is key, Naruto. You'll get there."
Naruto scowled. "I don't have time to be patient! I need to get stronger now if I want to become Hokage!"
Jiraiya stood up, crossing his arms. "Strength isn't about rushing. If you want to be Hokage, you'll need control, not just power."
Naruto, gripping another balloon, looked down. The Rasengan was his path to strength, and he couldn't afford to fail. He had to prove to both Jiraiya and himself that he could master it.
"Alright," Naruto sighed. "I'll try again. But if this balloon pops one more time—"
"It will," Jiraiya interrupted with a laugh. "But you'll learn something each time it does. Just don't give up."
Muttering under his breath, Naruto grabbed another balloon, focusing on control rather than force. He shut out the bustling sounds around him, feeling the chakra swirl inside the balloon. Slowly, the rotation grew—but this time, the balloon stayed intact.
"Whoa!" Naruto's eyes widened. "I'm doing it!"
Jiraiya smiled proudly. "Good. Keep it up. Balance and control."
Just as Naruto was getting the hang of it, the balloon popped again. But this time, instead of frustration, Naruto grinned. "I'm getting closer, right?"
Jiraiya chuckled. "You are. Keep at it, and soon it'll come naturally."
Naruto's confidence soared as he grabbed another balloon. "I'm not stopping until I've mastered this! Believe it!"