Tsunade shot Kazuki a look full of disdain.
"Knowing how scared you are of dying, even if the Administration assigns missions, they won't put one on your head."
Uzumaki Mito glanced at her calmly.
"Tsunade-hime, if you don't want the Administration assigning missions to Kazuki, then don't speak so carelessly in the future."
Tsunade crossed her arms.
"Grandma, you actually want him going on missions?"
"Fine. If he has to go, at least wait until Kushina has a child!"
Kazuki nearly choked.
She said that way too directly.
Wait until Kushina has a child?
…Why did that suggestion sound kind of appealing?
Kushina's face turned bright red. She fidgeted and glared at him.
"Sister Tsunade!"
How could she say something like that out loud?!
Mito's expression grew serious.
"If we do that, what will the village think of the Senju clan?"
"Konoha was built on the idea that the village comes first."
"No one gets special treatment."
"And besides—"
She looked at Kazuki.
"He may say he doesn't want to be Hokage. He may say he wants Kushina to become Hokage."
"But how can someone lead the village if he hides from missions?"
Tsunade pouted.
"That's still better than dying."
"You still think Nawaki and Dan's deaths were accidents?"
"I don't know if they were accidents," Tsunade replied stiffly. "But I don't want another one."
"He's the last male of the Senju bloodline."
Kazuki blinked.
Wasn't she the one who disliked him before?
Why was she suddenly protective?
Tsunade continued stubbornly,
"With his strength, once the teacher retires, with Grandma's support and mine, he could easily become Hokage."
Mito shook her head.
"You're being naïve."
"You think strength and family backing are enough?"
"Kazuki, listen carefully."
"Hokage is chosen by the will of the people."
"Not because someone is strongest."
"But because the entire village recognizes them in their hearts."
Kazuki's eyes sharpened slightly.
That… made sense.
Mito continued.
"Why didn't Uchiha Madara become Hokage?"
"Was he weak?"
"At that time, his strength wasn't inferior to your grandfather."
"So why did Hashirama inherit the title?"
"Because the village chose him."
"Even many Uchiha didn't truly support Madara."
"You still think being strongest is enough?"
Kazuki suddenly understood something that had always bothered him.
Orochimaru.
Why didn't he become Hokage?
Was it really just Hiruzen's personal choice?
Or was it that most of Konoha didn't want someone like Orochimaru leading them?
Becoming Hokage wasn't just about power.
It was about trust.
About reputation.
About perception.
Subtle.
But decisive.
Tsunade huffed.
"I know all that. What does that have to do with this?"
"If Kazuki refuses missions, what will people think?"
"What will they think of the Senju clan?"
"And you still want to compete for Hokage?"
Mito nodded.
"It's too early to talk about Hokage."
"Kazuki, focus on building merit first."
"Earn battlefield credit."
"Build relationships with the village's jonin."
Kazuki thought to himself—
Too early?
Not really.
War was coming.
After the next major conflict, Hiruzen would step down.
That's when the Fourth Hokage would be chosen.
And that—
Would be Kushina's opportunity.
"Grandma, do whatever you think is right. I'm too lazy to argue."
Tsunade snorted.
"And you call that a proposal?"
"One flower and you think you can marry our Kushina?"
"Tsunade-sama!" Kushina squeaked, face red.
Right then, Jiraiya entered the courtyard.
He still had bandages on his face.
From the last punch.
"Kazuki…"
The way he said his name made Kazuki's instincts sharpen.
Mission.
War.
He wasn't afraid.
If anything—
There was a flicker of anticipation.
Tsunade cut Jiraiya off.
"Perfect timing! Judge this!"
"Kazuki proposed to Kushina with one flower. Is that enough?"
Jiraiya scratched his bandaged cheek.
"I mean… I think it's fine—"
BAM!
Tsunade punched him mid-sentence.
"Gah!"
He flew straight out of the courtyard.
A loud crash echoed outside.
Ten minutes later—
Jiraiya sat back down.
Now both cheeks were wrapped in bandages.
He looked like a mummy.
"Kazuki. I'm here about a mission."
"Kirigakure?" Kazuki asked calmly.
Jiraiya nodded.
"Yeah. Sounds like you've been paying attention."
"The unrest in the Hidden Mist caused a mass exodus of civilian ninja."
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen's crackdown has made things worse."
Kazuki frowned slightly.
"We're going to rescue them?"
Jiraiya shook his head.
"We don't have the manpower to save everyone."
"This time, we're extracting one person."
"One very important person."
"A young girl."
"She possesses two kekkei genkai… at a very young age."
Two bloodline limits.
Kazuki already knew who that was.
Terumi Mei.
And if Kirigakure was already collapsing internally—
Then the gears of the Third Great Ninja War were fully turning.
Team Seven wouldn't stay in training for long.