Konoha: Gu Master

At the old Senju residence, Shinho opened the door and stepped into the living room.

He paused, spotting Tsunade curled up asleep on the sofa.

The faint scent of alcohol still lingered in the air.

Shinho crouched beside her, studying her peaceful face. Tsunade lay on her side, her head resting on her arm, her breathing slow and steady.

Her top, slightly disheveled, clung to her form. 

The snowy white of her skin rose and fell gently with each breath, tracing the curves of her figure.

Shinho blinked.

The sight alone washed away the fatigue of his afternoon at the office.

At that moment, Tsunade's eyes opened.

"Good evening, Teacher," Shinho greeted smoothly, his expression calm.

"Evening?" Tsunade rubbed her temples, frowning. "How long was I asleep?"

"Looks like you really were drunk." Shinho chuckled. "You forgot that you sent me off to work this afternoon."

"I wasn't drunk!" Tsunade retorted instinctively. But then she hesitated, turning her head away. "I drank too much and forgot. Yes, I don't really remember anything."

"...?"

Shinho raised an eyebrow, looking at her with skepticism.

What's that supposed to mean? That sounds a bit too indifferent.

"What's with that look?" Tsunade glared at him, annoyed.

"I didn't say anything," Shinho replied, tilting his head. "But, Teacher, what were you just thinking about?"

"I…"

Tsunade started to explain but stopped. Instead, she reached out and flicked him hard on the forehead. "None of your business!"

Luckily, Shinho was crouched; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to reach him.

"Does being my teacher mean you can just mess around?" Shinho caught her hand with ease.

"Why not?" Tsunade grinned, her tone teasing. She instinctively tried to pull her hand back but couldn't.

"Let go!" Tsunade demanded, pulling harder.

"Childish," Shinho said, shaking his head before releasing her hand.

Caught off guard, Tsunade fell back into the couch with a jolt. Her body shook slightly as she adjusted herself.

Shinho's eyelid twitched.

"Go to hell!" Tsunade shouted, her embarrassment flaring. She lashed out with a kick.

Shinho stepped back, catching her by the ankle.

Her soft, fair sole stopped just inches from his face.

Even immobilized, Tsunade refused to give up. Her toes curled and stretched, as if trying to reach him.

Without a word, Shinho began tickling her sole with his knuckles.

"Wait!" Tsunade burst into laughter, squirming uncontrollably. "You—hahaha—stop it…!"

She tried to raise her other leg, but Shinho caught it, pinning her completely.

"Hahaha! Stop! You're… such a… jerk!" Tsunade's laughter grew louder, her golden hair disheveled as she flailed helplessly.

It reminded Shinho of shaking a coconut.

With a pop, Tsunade activated her Body Flicker Technique, vanishing in an instant.

She reappeared on the opposite couch, panting for breath.

Her flushed face was tinged with visible embarrassment, and she knelt slightly, glaring at Shinho. Her legs were trembling.

"You little brat!" Tsunade clenched her fists, the sound of her knuckles cracking. "Do you have a death wish?!"

"Teacher," Shinho said, unperturbed, a smirk playing on his lips. "Do you remember what happened at noon now?"

"I… I don't" Tsunade faltered, her tone losing its edge.

"I can help you remember," Shinho said, walking up to her. A faint fragrance wafted from her as he approached.

"I…" Tsunade instinctively leaned back, but it was too late.

When she felt the soft press of lips against hers, her eyes widened in shock.

At noon, she'd been tipsy. But now, she was fully sober—and completely unprepared.

A few seconds later, she pushed Shinho away and disappeared again, retreating to her bedroom.

Inside, Tsunade clutched her chest, trying to steady her breath.

It had been so close—if she hadn't reacted, she might not have been able to stop him.

The memory of the kiss replayed in her mind, making her heart race faster.

"That damn brat!" Tsunade muttered, ruffling her hair in frustration.

Her golden locks became tousled, and combined with her flushed face, she exuded an unintentional air of sensuality.

…

Back in the living room, Shinho licked his lips and sighed inwardly.

Too bad. Noon had been far more exciting.

Still, he considered it a significant victory.

Tsunade was clearly teetering between acceptance and hesitation.

Stretching lazily, Shinho sat on the couch and closed his eyes.

For now, he decided to leave Tsunade be. And with Shizune absent, there wasn't much else for him to do but train.

…

Konoha Hospital

Sasuke Uchiha watched as Sakura Haruno performed a "necessary examination" on him.

"Don't move, Sasuke-kun," Sakura said, her face glowing with delight.

Standing outside the room, Kakashi couldn't help but feel something was… off about her cheerful expression.

Good thing she's just a nurse-in-training and wasn't wearing a nurses uniform, Kakashi thought. If she were, this scene would definitely be… disturbing.

At that moment, his attention shifted to his left.

In the previously empty hallway, an Anbu ninja wearing a mask had appeared silently.

"You're Yugao, right?" Kakashi recognized her by her long purple hair and sighed inwardly.

The sight reminded him of the late Hayate Gekkou.

"Hatake-senpai," Yugao Uzuki greeted respectfully, nodding her head.

Kakashi, a former Anbu and the famous Copy Ninja of Konoha, deserved her deference.

"Does the Hokage have a mission for me?" Kakashi asked lazily, his expression as blank as ever.

Sasuke perked up immediately, his gaze snapping toward Yugao.

Although it had only been an afternoon, he was already ready to leave the hospital. 

The only reason he had stayed was to respect Mikoto Uchiha's instructions. If there was a mission, though, he could use it as an excuse to leave.

"No," Yugao replied, holding out a scroll. "This is about the Hokage Guard."

Kakashi blinked in surprise as he accepted the scroll. After reading it, his face returned to its usual calm.

"I have no objections," Kakashi said, shaking his head.

As a team leader, he had little time to spare for the Hokage Guard. Stepping down from that role was a relief to him.

Besides, the current Hokage was his student. Status and power were the last things he cared about.

Yugao bowed slightly and headed to her next destination.

…

Training Ground Three

A sparring match was underway between Shino and Hinata Hyuga.

Kiba watched with his jaw practically on the ground.

Although it was a friendly match, Shino refrained from using dangerous techniques like Explosive Parasitic Insects or Blast Kikaichu Bugs. Even so, without these, he was clearly outmatched by Hinata.

To compensate, Shino activated Sage Mode.

Now that Shinho was Hokage, there was no longer any need to keep Sage Mode a secret.

Sage Mode offered numerous enhancements, the most critical being its amplification of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu.

Though the great sanctuaries each had their unique sage arts—like Ryuchi Cave's Inorganic Reincarnation—Shino was largely self-taught. He hadn't yet developed a signature sage technique of his own.

For now, he relied on the Aburame clan's secret arts.

Under the boost of Sage Mode, Shino's secret techniques had their power amplified several times over.

Though not as awe-inspiring as Naruto Uzumaki's future displays, Shino's performance was still remarkable.

Hinata Hyuga initially relied on her Gentle Fist techniques but quickly fell into a disadvantage.

In response, she transformed into her Snow Fairy form, using ice and snow for combat.

The fight between the two leveled out, becoming evenly matched.

From a distance, Yugao Uzuki sensed the two powerful chakra signatures and instinctively quickened her pace.

When she arrived and saw Shino and Hinata sparring, she was stunned.

She had seen Hinata's Snow Fairy form during the Chunin Exams, but it had grown significantly stronger.

Shino's Sage Mode, however, was a first for her.

His improvement since the Chunin Exams was terrifying—even she felt a hint of danger watching him.

Yugao couldn't help but marvel.

Konoha's younger generation hadn't just avoided a decline; they had become even more fearsome.

With the youngest Hokage in history leading them, the village's future was undoubtedly bright.

"Yamato-senpai," Yugao said as she resumed her task.

Yamato, ever the stoic product of Root, reacted with his usual calm. For him, Hokage orders were never to be questioned, only to be obeyed.

After receiving Yamato's acknowledgment, Yugao left to deliver the final message—to Asuma Sarutobi.

…

Sarutobi Clan Compound

Beside a pond, Asuma Sarutobi sat fishing.

Having just completed a mission with Team 10, he had given them two days off and decided to spend his free time fishing.

The rod and equipment he used had belonged to his late father, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

With a cigarette in his mouth, Asuma gazed at the water's surface, his expression calm.

After several minutes, footsteps approached.

"Asuma-senpai," Yugao greeted, handing him a scroll.

Asuma set his fishing rod aside and unrolled the scroll.

At first glance, his expression stiffened.

The scroll began by announcing the disbanding of the Hokage Guard Platoon, replaced by the newly formed Hokage Assistant Corps.

The second section listed the new assistants: four names, none of which were his.

In essence, Asuma had been reduced to a regular Jonin.

Despite being the son of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen's influence had long since faded. 

Without the Hokage Guard's status, the Sarutobi and Shimura clans were increasingly distanced from Konoha's power center.

Asuma hesitated, his expression souring.

"This is a direct order from the Hokage," Yugao said firmly.

Asuma frowned.

Logically, Shinho Aburame, as Hiruzen's grand-disciple, should have left a higher position for the Sarutobi clan. Yet this...

Could he confront Shinho about it?

The reasoning in the scroll was clear: he had been a passive member of the Hokage Guard while also serving as a team leader, spreading himself too thin.

"I understand. Thank you," Asuma finally said, rolling up the scroll.

Still, he resolved to consult Tsunade about the matter. Since Shinho had already informed him, it was unlikely to change, but would be worth discussing.

…

Senju Residence

The sound of the door opening drew Shinho's attention.

As expected, it was Shizune.

"Welcome back," Shinho greeted with a warm smile as he walked over.

"Were you waiting for me?" Shizune asked, slightly surprised.

"Not intentionally," Shinho replied, glancing down. "Let me help you with your shoes."

Before Shizune could respond, Shinho crouched down.

"What was the reaction to the Hokage Assistant announcement?" Shinho asked, glancing up at her long, black-stockinged legs as he reached for her shoes.

Shizune's body tensed. She could feel his hands lightly brushing her leg.

He's taking advantage of me!

"Not… much reaction," Shizune said, suppressing a shiver as a wave of tingling sensations coursed through her.

"That's good."

Shinho deftly twisted off her high heels, revealing her nylon-clad feet.

"Thank you," Shizune said, stepping back quickly. "Is Lady Tsunade home?"

"She's in her room," Shinho replied, watching her retreating legs wistfully.

Say what you will, but the smooth, elastic feel is incredible.

Noticing his gaze, Shizune clicked her tongue and muttered, "Pervert!"

"Pervert?" Shinho straightened up, feigning innocence as he stepped closer.

Shizune backed up until she was pressed against the door, her heart racing. She opened her mouth to speak, but froze as Shinho pulled her into an embrace.

"Shi—" Shizune's face turned crimson as she felt his hand slide naturally to her skirt.

"Shizune-nee," Shinho whispered, silencing her with a kiss.

Her body softened, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

When his hand began being dishonest and wander lower, she abruptly pushed him away.

"I… I'll go to the kitchen!" Shizune stammered, fleeing with her head down.

In the kitchen, she leaned against the wall, her breathing unsteady, her eyes misty.

Pulling at her skirt, she could still feel the warmth of his hand.

That scoundrel is too skilled at this!

…

An hour later, dinner was served.

"Teacher, aren't you going to drink today?" Shinho asked, noting the absence of honey wine on the table.

Normally, a bottle accompanied every evening meal.

"I drank at noon. No wine tonight," Tsunade replied casually, glancing at him before looking away.

Shinho smirked knowingly, and Tsunade felt her heart skip a beat.

Shizune looked on in surprise.

Tsunade turning down alcohol? That's so uncharacteristic.

Given her character, she should using drinking at noon as an excuse to drink at night.

"You still on missions, brat?" Tsunade asked, clearly trying to change the subject.

"Yes," Shinho explained. "Primarily to build reputation."

"Reputation?" Tsunade echoed, her brow furrowing. "That's quote thoughtful."

She considered his words. Shinho had relied on connections to become Hokage, but his reputation still needed strengthening.

"To build fame, you need to do S-rank missions," Tsunade siad.

After thinking for a second, she said aloud. "I'll join you next time."

"Eh?" Shizune exclaimed in surprise.

"It's nothing. Just a way to make some extra money," Tsunade said nonchalantly.

Shizune saw through her.

She's worried about him. Definitely.

"I believe Shinho is scheduled to head out tomorrow with Team 8," Shizune said with a smile.

Tsunade's gaze sharpened.

That's Hinata Hyuga's team!

"I'll come along," Tsunade declared.

Shinho's eye twitched.

Shizune-nee, I owe you for this one!

He had decided to properly "educate" his disobedient assistant later.