Chapter 113: Uchiha Sasuke’s Maniacal Laughter

Shinho Aburame studied the Three-Star Cave intently.

Aside from its sheer size, it looked like an ordinary tree. Without close inspection, one could easily miss the three rooms embedded in its trunk.

He glanced around, noting the absence of any stairs or lift platforms. But as a ninja, he didn't need to follow traditional routes.

Shinho entered the first-level room.

The first thing he noticed was its size.

The second was how empty it was.

It was a bare room, suitable for living but currently quite plain. Shinho made a mental note to renovate it when he had the time and to purchase some furniture.

The second and third levels were slightly smaller than the first, but still quite spacious.

In Shinho's view, the tree could easily accommodate a dozen people without feeling cramped.

For just one person, it felt like a waste of space.

It seemed this would be the perfect location for the secret base of the Heaven's Will organization he had in mind.

He just needed to choose the location carefully.

Placing it within the Aburame clan's grounds would be too conspicuous.

With a thought, Shinho returned the towering tree back to its compact form, the Three-Star Cave.

"Amazing!"

Hinata's white eyes sparkled as she looked at Shinho. She had grown accustomed to his occasional displays of new tricks. 

As a young lady of noble birth, she had come to greatly enjoy these little surprises.

They had shown her that the world of ninjas held many pleasures beyond just training in the Gentle Fist.

"Did you need something from me?" Shinho asked with a smile.

"N-no... not really."

Hinata instinctively lowered her head, her cheeks flushed pink.

She wasn't quite sure how to deepen their relationship, but being around Shinho felt right. She always felt happy when she was with him.

"I'll walk you home," Shinho offered, adding, "I need to visit my teacher after."

He was curious to see how her first day as Hokage had gone.

"Okay," Hinata agreed with a nod.

The two walked together, chatting as they went. Or rather, it was more like a question-and-answer session—Shinho asked a question, and Hinata would reply.

It gave him the amusing sense of interacting with an AI assistant, one named "Hinata."

Before long, they arrived at the Hyuga clan's compound.

"Huh?"

Hinata was surprised to see Hiashi Hyuga standing at the entrance.

This was a first for her.

Normally, he never waited for her after school.

"Father," Hinata greeted quickly, bowing her head.

"Go inside," Hiashi said with a slight nod.

Hinata paused, puzzled.

Wasn't he waiting for me?

But he didn't offer an explanation, and she didn't ask.

She took one last, lingering look at Shinho before turning to head inside.

"..."

Hiashi remained silent as he watched her go.

Do you think I didn't notice?

This child's heart is clearly with the Aburame, not the Hyuga anymore.

"Hiashi-san,"

Shinho greeted politely. "Did you need to speak with me?"

"As expected of the Hokage's student—you're very perceptive."

Hiashi's words confirmed that he wasn't waiting for Hinata but for Shinho.

You're not exactly being subtle.

Shinho thought wryly.

He had walked Hinata home many times, and never once had Hiashi been there to greet her. Given that Tsunade had just become Hokage, the implication was clear.

"Does the Hokage have any plans in mind?"

Hiashi asked directly, not bothering with small talk.

In his mind, if Shinho was close to his daughter, then he was practically family. It made sense to be upfront about his concerns.

"There are plans, but they mainly concern the Uchiha."

Shinho gave a smile before adding, "Do you have any requests? I can pass them along."

Hiashi fell into a brief silence.

He certainly had requests, but he worried about coming across as too eager and potentially earning Tsunade's disapproval. He had to be cautious.

"I hope the Hokage can address the issue concerning Hanabi."

Hiashi finally said.

The Caged Bird Seal, huh?

Shinho understood immediately.

He nodded in agreement, knowing that he couldn't refuse this request, especially when it involved Hinata's sister.

"Feel free to visit the Hyuga clan whenever you have the time,"

Hiashi said, forcing a smile that looked rather stiff.

Shinho couldn't help but shiver slightly at the sight.

Retreat!

He quickly excused himself and hurried away.

At the Hokage Building.

Shinho made his way up the stairs, only to be stopped at the entrance to the Hokage's office by a member of the Anbu.

She had long purple hair, wore a dog-like mask, and carried a katana strapped to her back.

She looked vaguely familiar to Shinho.

In the original story, there were only a few female characters with purple hair who were members of the Anbu.

This might be Yugao Uzuki, the girlfriend of the chronically ill Gekkō Hayate.

"The Hokage has instructed that no one is to disturb her,"

Yugao said in a flat tone.

Shinho raised an eyebrow.

Instructions?

Was Tsunade slacking off already?

It wasn't that Shinho was slandering her—Tsunade was known for her laziness in the original series. But he didn't expect her to start slacking off on her very first day on the job.

That's just like Tsunade!

"I'm Shinho Aburame."

Shinho lifted the takeout container he was holding. "I'm here to bring her lunch."

Yugao hesitated for a moment.

As a member of the Anbu, she knew that Shinho was Tsunade's student.

"If there's any issue, I'll take responsibility,"

Shinho said confidently. "You won't be blamed for anything."

"Very well, go on in,"

Yugao relented after a few seconds, stepping aside to let him pass.

She couldn't afford to offend the Hokage, but was it any safer to offend the Hokage's student? Probably not.

If he whispered something negative to the Hokage, she might end up being assigned to a difficult mission and end up meeting a grim fate.

"Are you Yugao Uzuki?"

Shinho asked, turning back at the doorway.

"How did you know?"

Yugao asked, surprised.

"I know Gekkō Hayate-sensei."

With his guess confirmed, Shinho stepped into the Hokage's office.

He couldn't help but shake his head at the sight before him.

Tsunade was sprawled across her desk, fast asleep.

"Hokage-sama!"

Shinho cleared his throat and called out.

"I wasn't lazing around!"

Tsunade shot upright, but relaxed when she realized it was just Shinho.

Her relief quickly turned into a glare.

This brat definitely did that on purpose!

"Sensei,"

Shinho pulled out a tissue and handed it to her. "You've got some ink on your face."

"When did you get here?"

Tsunade took out a small mirror, wiping her face as she spoke.

"Just now."

Shinho opened the takeout container. "It's barbecue."

"At least you have some heart."

Tsunade couldn't help but lick her lips. After a whole afternoon of intense work, she was starving.

"Where's the sake?"

Tsunade asked after a bite of the barbecue, realizing what was missing.

"You're seriously thinking about drinking in the Hokage's office?"

"I'm the Hokage, who would stop me?" Tsunade retorted confidently. "Besides, after working hard all day, can't I enjoy a little break?"

"Just one bottle," Shinho said with a smile.

"One bottle is enough," Tsunade said, reaching out her hand. "Now, hand it over!"

As soon as Shinho took out the honey wine, she snatched it away, taking a few long gulps before letting out a satisfied sigh, a smile spreading across her face.

"If you're so free, why don't you help me with these files?" Tsunade suggested, tilting her head. "My biggest regret was listening to you and taking on this lousy job as Hokage."

She was overwhelmed in her understanding that, the workload never ended.

Shinho glanced down and noticed that Tsunade had her bare feet resting on stacks of documents.

So this is how you do your job as Hokage?

"Why don't you ask the Hokage advisors for help?" Shinho asked, pulling a document from beneath her feet.

"I don't like those two old geezers," Tsunade replied, not hiding her dislike.

"Why not just replace them?" Shinho suggested casually.

"That's a bit tricky," Tsunade frowned. "They have a lot of seniority."

"Sure, they're experienced, but they're also old. They seem to be at a reasonable age fpr retirement," Shinho pointed out. "You just need to pick replacements who aren't afraid of them."

"Such talents aren't that easy to find," Tsunade said, raising an eyebrow and looking at Shinho with expectation.

"But that doesn't mean they don't exist," Shinho countered, offering a suggestion. "Like Shikaku Nara, for example."

Tsunade smiled "Not bad," 

Tsunade pondered, the idea was growing on her. Shikaku might lack seniority, but he was clever enough. Most importantly, he had the support of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

"You really are cut out to be Hokage," Tsunade declared with a wave of her hand, making a hasty decision. "I've decided—once you're an adult, I'll pass the title of Hokage to you."

"Ypu just make sure not to slack off, Sensei," Shinho scolded, rolling his eyes. 

"And what about the second advisor position?" Tsunade didn't seem to care much, focusing instead on getting Shinho to do more. After all, he was incredibly useful.

"Think of it yourself," Shinho replied, not indulging her.

If I'm going to be a rebellious student in the future, I might as well start practicing now.

Tsunade took a fierce bite out of her barbecue, tearing through the meat, causing Shinho to feel a shiver run through him.

Her bite is really something.

"I've got someone in mind," Tsunade suddenly said, her eyes lighting up. "Choza Akimichi."

Choza Akimichi had once been a guard of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and a teammate of the current advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.

"He has the strength and qualifications, but he's from the Ino-Shika-Cho trio," Shinho reminded her.

Both Hokage advisors being from the same alliance could lead to a power imbalance.

"True," Tsunade took another sip of her drink. "Not a great choice."

Hiashi Hyuga was already the leader of the largest clan. Adding a Hokage advisor position to his influence would make the Hyuga even more dominant.

The Uchiha were now without Fugaku, making it hard to find a suitable candidate among them.

Similarly, the smaller clans like the Inuzuka and Aburame were in the same position.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was an option, but Tsunade wasn't eager to deal with the potential trouble that would bring.

After much thought, she realized the remaining options were among the elite jonin.

Kakashi Hatake?

Tsunade rubbed her chin.

He didn't seem quite qualified yet, and his mindset still needed to mature.

"Maybe I should just do away with the Hokage advisors and set up a Hokage Guard Squad to take over their duties," Tsunade said, growing impatient.

Shinho chuckled at her suggestion.

"What are you laughing at?" Tsunade pulled him close, slinging her arm over his shoulder, and leaned in. "You seem awfully happy."

"No, no," Shinho quickly shook his head, feeling the pressure of her "assets" against him. "I meant that it's a brilliant idea, Sensei!"

In the original story, it was mentioned that the Hokage advisors held a status nearly equal to that of the Hokage.

From Sarutobi Hiruzen to Naruto Uzumaki, all five Hokage had Koharu and Homura as their advisors.

They wielded significant power, though their practical usefulness was often lacking.

Replacing them with a Hokage Guard Squad with slightly less authority would significantly increase the Hokage's direct power.

In practice, it might be more accurate to call it a Hokage Secretarial Team.

"Sensei," Shinho decided to ask directly, "What about the issue with Hanabi?"

"Hiashi must have put you up to this," Tsunade released him and replied, "Fine, I'll do you a favor. I'll take Hanabi as my student."

Shinho was caught off guard by her response.

Is that how she plans to handle it?

But upon further reflection, having Hanabi as both his junior and sister-in-law might be interesting.

"I'll accept her as my student, but I won't be teaching her much. It's would be more of an honorary title," Tsunade clarified, waving her hand dismissively.

After all, Hanabi would be learning the Gentle Fist, a technique Tsunade had no knowledge of. This arrangement mainly protected Hanabi from being marked with the Caged Bird Seal.

"How about being my secretary?" Tsunade asked, a sly smile appearing on her face.

She realized that their earlier conversation had felt a lot like a discussion between a Hokage and her secretary.

Konoha didn't have a position like a secretary, unlike the Hidden Cloud Village, where such roles existed because the Hokage advisors served a similar function.

"Maybe when I'm older," Shinho answered, declining politely.

At that moment, a knock came at the door.

Tsunade quickly put away the takeout containers, slipped back into her high-heeled sandals, and composed herself before saying, "Come in."

Shinho couldn't help but note her sudden change in demeanor—a perfect shift from casual to professional.

"Hokage-sama," Yugao Uzuki reported, "Uchiha Sasuke has woken up and left the hospital."

"He's already awake?" Tsunade asked, surprised.

She had expected it to take two or three days, not just one.

"Where is he now?" Shinho interjected.

"At the Uchiha clan's compound," Yugao said, glancing at Tsunade.

"And Aunt Mikoto?" Shinho asked.

"She woke up this morning and stayed by Sasuke's side, but in the afternoon, she couldn't stay awake and fell back asleep. Sasuke left while she was resting," Yugao explained.

"Sensei," Shinho thought for a moment and then said, "Let me go talk to Sasuke."

He was confident that, having read the original story, he understood Sasuke better than most.

"Go ahead," Tsunade agreed after a moment of thought.

In her mind, Shinho was one of the few friends Sasuke had left. Having him talk to Sasuke seemed like the best course of action.

Shinho left the Hokage Building and headed toward the Uchiha compound.

There, he found Sasuke standing in front of his home, tears streaming down his face as he cried uncontrollably.

Shinho sighed, wondering how he should begin the conversation.

"Sasuke," Shinho said slowly, "If you want to take revenge on Itachi, you need to become stronger."

"Yes, I need to become stronger," Sasuke turned, revealing his Sharingan, each eye displaying a single tomoe. "Look, this is the invincible Sharingan."

He covered his right eye and suddenly burst into laughter.

"This is the power that Itachi killed Father for!"

Sasuke's expression twisted into a manic grin. "That's right! I'll kill them all! If I do that, I'll gain even greater power! Just like brother!"

"Sasuke," Shinho frowned, "Calm down."

"You just don't understand!" Sasuke replied arrogantly, flipping his hand. "Sure, I lost to you before, but now, I can defeat you with a mere flip of my hand!"

[tl/n: sasuke on that phase rn!]

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