"Ino, what about you?" Naruto asked.
Yamanaka Ino tossed her golden hair lightly over her shoulder. Her eyes sparkled with admiration.
"Of course it's Lady Tsunade! Lord Jiraiya and the others are amazing too, but Lady Tsunade is the granddaughter of the First Hokage—and one of the strongest kunoichi in the entire ninja world!"
She clasped her hands dramatically.
"And during the previous Shinobi Wars, many members of the Yamanaka clan were saved because of her medical ninjutsu. My uncle always says that without Lady Tsunade, he wouldn't be here today."
Shikamaru Nara, resting his chin in his hand with his usual bored expression, gave a lazy nod.
"Yeah… no one understands medical ninjutsu better than Tsunade-sama."
Naruto blinked.
He hadn't expected such unanimous admiration.
In his previous world, Tsunade had been popular, sure—but here, in Konoha itself, she was practically a legend.
Iruka clapped his hands to gather attention.
"That's enough for this morning. This afternoon we'll begin basic chakra refinement."
The classroom instantly filled with excited chatter.
"For this weekend, there will be a small practical assessment. Prepare yourselves!"
Even the normally indifferent Sasuke's eyes sharpened slightly.
A practical test.
Good.
He glanced briefly at Naruto.
Let's see what you're capable of.
Lunchtime
Naruto patted his pockets.
"…I forgot to prepare lunch."
He sighed.
"Curse Danzo and his midnight ambushes. I barely slept."
Just as he considered heading out to grab something quick, a round shadow loomed over him.
Choji stood there holding a neatly wrapped bento, chewing potato chips.
"Uh… Naruto… if you didn't bring lunch… you can have some of mine."
He hesitated painfully.
"But don't eat everything, okay?"
Naruto smiled faintly.
Before he could respond, Choji suddenly stiffened.
"Actually! I just remembered I'm not that hungry!"
He retreated suspiciously fast.
Naruto turned slowly.
Behind him stood Ino, fist half-raised in warning before she quickly pretended she hadn't done anything.
She smoothed her hair and smiled brightly.
"Since Choji changed his mind, you can eat mine."
She placed her bento in front of him with exaggerated dignity.
"Thank you, Ino."
She rested her chin on her hands, watching him eat with open satisfaction.
"Victory for Ino Yamanaka."
Naruto shook his head.
The bento was simple but carefully arranged—rice balls, shrimp, vegetables.
He ate quietly.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a familiar figure peeking from behind the classroom doorway.
Hinata.
The moment their eyes met, she flinched and disappeared.
Naruto paused.
He discreetly set aside a couple of rice balls.
Afternoon – Konoha Hospital
After school, Naruto followed Yakushi Nonou to a private office.
"Go in by yourself," Nonou said gently. "Be polite."
Naruto nodded.
He pushed the door open.
Inside, a woman lounged casually on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, boots resting on the low table without the slightest concern for decorum.
Blonde hair.
A green coat draped loosely over her shoulders.
Amber eyes that were sharp, confident, and faintly amused.
Tsunade.
The legendary Sannin.
Her gaze settled on him.
"So… you're Uzumaki Naruto."
Her voice carried authority without effort.
Naruto met her eyes calmly.
"And you must be Tsunade-sama."
She snorted lightly.
"No need for formalities."
She leaned forward, elbows resting on her knees.
"Let me see you."
Naruto didn't flinch.
Tsunade observed him carefully—the posture, the eyes, the chakra flow.
After a moment, she leaned back again.
"Hm."
There was a faint smile.
"You don't look like a monster."
Silence hung in the room.
Then she asked, directly:
"Tell me, Naruto. What do you think the Hokage is?"
Naruto didn't hesitate.
"Someone who protects the village."
Tsunade's expression didn't change.
"And what is the village?"
Naruto paused slightly.
Then he answered:
"The people worth protecting."
For the first time, Tsunade's eyes sharpened with genuine interest.
Outside the office, Nonou and Shizune waited quietly.
Inside, the future began to shift.