Naruto: Marrying Tsunade

Chapter 11 - Graduation

Konoha, Year 19

The air in the village was filled with a quiet but unmistakable anticipation. It was that time of year again—graduation season.

Ordinarily, students would complete their full curriculum before stepping into the world as proper shinobi, but with war looming over the land and tensions stretching across the frontlines, the academy had adjusted its policies. Now, students could choose to remain in school for a full year before graduation, receiving additional guidance from special jonin. However, for those eager to begin their journey sooner, early graduation was an option.

Many couldn't wait.

In the heart of Konoha, towering over much of the village, stood the Hokage Office Building.

Inside, within the dimly lit chamber of authority, a white-haired man sat behind a desk, his features stern and thoughtful. This was none other than the Second Hokage of Konoha—Senju Tobirama.

His sharp gaze was fixed on a particular figure standing before him.

"Sarutobi, I am relieving you of your current position," Tobirama stated, his voice firm yet measured.

The man being addressed was of medium build, with a somewhat unremarkable appearance. This was Sarutobi Hiruzen, one of Tobirama's most trusted disciples. Among his peers, he was often referred to as Monkey, a nickname derived from the meaning of his surname.

At the unexpected announcement, Hiruzen's heart tightened. Had he failed in some way? Was he not competent enough? His mind raced with questions, yet his response was steady.

"Teacher, have I done something wrong?" he asked earnestly, standing at attention.

Tobirama shook his head. "No, but I have a more important task for you," he said, allowing a rare, almost imperceptible smile to cross his face. "You will serve as a guiding jonin."

Hiruzen furrowed his brow.

A guiding jonin?

Unlike regular jonin, guiding jonin were entrusted with nurturing the village's youngest warriors, training them to become independent and capable ninja. It was an honorable duty—one that shaped Konoha's future—but at this moment, Hiruzen couldn't help but feel that the responsibilities he already held were more significant.

Still, his teacher's decisions were never without reason. If Tobirama had made this choice, then there was a purpose behind it.

Suppressing his doubts, Hiruzen accepted the folder Tobirama handed him. As his eyes scanned the pages, realization struck.

"Teacher… this is…?"

Within the folder were three sets of documents, each containing detailed profiles.

Orochimaru—top of the graduating class. His talent was nothing short of extraordinary. At only six years old, his abilities were already on par with those of a full-fledged genin. His intellect and skills far exceeded those of his peers, making him a prodigy unlike any seen before.

Jiraiya—an enigma of raw potential. His academic performance was unremarkable, and he often struggled with theoretical studies. However, his physical prowess was undeniable, boasting exceptional stamina and an immense chakra reserve that set him apart. He was unpredictable, but in the right hands, he could become formidable.

Tsunade—a natural-born genius. Second only to Orochimaru in academics, she excelled in all aspects of her training. But what truly set her apart was not just her talent—it was her lineage.

Senju Tsunade.

The granddaughter of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.

Hiruzen's breath hitched slightly. His eyes flicked toward Tobirama, seeking an explanation. Assigning the heir of the First Hokage to his team—what did it mean? What was his teacher planning?

Tobirama spoke as if reading his thoughts.

"The torch is passed on. The seeds of Konoha are now in your hands," he said.

For the first time, it truly dawned on Hiruzen—his teacher was preparing for the future.

Tobirama was already nearing fifty. Though still in his prime, he had spent his entire life on the battlefield, from the chaos of the Warring States period to the founding of Konoha. The scars of endless war lingered on his body, hidden beneath his robes. He had endured, but time would not wait for him forever. The wear of combat and old wounds would eventually catch up to him.

He had to plan ahead.

This year's graduates were exceptional, not just in talent but in destiny. The probability of another class surpassing this one was slim. Tobirama saw this as an opportunity—to shape the future leadership of Konoha. By entrusting these three promising students to Hiruzen, he was laying the foundation for what was to come.

Not only that, but in doing so, he was shaping Hiruzen himself.

This was a test, an unspoken decree. If Hiruzen succeeded in guiding them, he would prove himself worthy of shouldering something even greater.

Hiruzen clenched his fists, determination burning in his chest.

"Teacher, I won't let you down," he vowed.

Tobirama nodded approvingly, stepping forward and placing a hand on Hiruzen's shoulder. It was not just a gesture—it was an entrustment of duty, a silent promise that Konoha's future now rested in his disciple's hands.

A knock on the door interrupted the moment.

"Enter," Tobirama called.

The door opened, revealing a young man with neatly combed black hair and sharp, elegant features. He exuded an air of quiet confidence and refined composure.

Uchiha Kagami.

Another of Tobirama's prized students.

"Teacher, here are the reports you requested," Kagami said, stepping forward and placing the documents on the desk.

Tobirama gave a curt nod. "Well done."

Kagami bowed slightly. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

As Kagami exited, Tobirama watched him go, his expression unreadable.

In many ways, Kagami was everything a Hokage should be—talented, intelligent, composed, and, most importantly, loyal to the village beyond personal ties. He possessed the rare ability to see beyond the interests of his own clan, prioritizing Konoha above all else.

There was no one more suitable for the position of Hokage.

But that was the problem.

He bore the Uchiha name. He wielded the Sharingan.

If Hashirama were still alive, Tobirama might have considered Kagami as his successor. But times had changed. The Uchiha Clan no longer had the power balance necessary to support such a decision. Resentment simmered beneath the surface, worsened by internal conflicts. Not long ago, Uchiha Setsuna had nearly caused an uprising, proving how fragile the clan's stability truly was.

If an Uchiha were chosen as Hokage now, the consequences could be dire.

No, the village was not ready.

And so, as much as Tobirama respected Kagami, he had made his choice. The future of Konoha lay in the hands of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

With a quiet sigh, he returned to his work, his mind already weaving plans for the days to come.

---

In the classroom, Aokiji gave his sincere blessing to the three friends in the class who graduated at the age of six:

"Congratulations," he said with a relaxed smile. "You're all so young, and yet you're already contributing to Konoha's future. I really envy you."

His words, however, did not sit well with Tsunade. She frowned, crossing her arms in annoyance.

"With your talent, you could have graduated early too," she said, a trace of frustration in her voice.

Aokiji simply shook his head.

Am I stupid? Why would I rush to reincarnate?

He sighed dramatically and leaned back further. "You know me. I don't want to be a ninja. I plan to stay in school for a few more years, take it easy, and eventually get into business. Make some money, live a good life. Sounds much better than running around dodging kunai all day."

Tsunade scoffed, clearly unimpressed. "Hmph."

Her sharp golden eyes narrowed as she turned away in frustration. She had always believed that Aokiji was wasting his potential. With his skills, he could have easily been among the top students, yet he was completely indifferent to the path of a shinobi. That kind of attitude irritated her to no end.

She left without another word.

Aokiji exhaled in mild exasperation as he watched her storm off.

From an outsider's perspective, it was easy to see why she was disappointed in him. His skills had visibly declined over the past year. His once-sharp shuriken techniques were now sloppy, his reaction speed dulled. Compared to how he performed at the beginning of the year, he seemed like a completely different person.

Not long after Tsunade left, Jiraiya and Orochimaru also departed, heading to another classroom where they would meet their assigned jonin instructor.

As Aokiji watched his friends leave one by one, he realized there was no reason for him to linger in the classroom any longer. He still had school, after all.

But instead of going home when classes ended early that day, Aokiji wandered through the village, seemingly without direction. His steps, however, were far from aimless.

After a while, he arrived at one of Konoha's many training grounds. There, he spotted a familiar sight—a tall man standing before three young students, all of whom he recognized immediately.

Jiraiya. Orochimaru. Tsunade.

Their teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, stood in the center of the clearing, his hands folded behind his back.

At that moment, Jiraiya was in particularly bad shape. He was tied to a wooden training post, struggling against the ropes that bound him.

Nearby, Tsunade held a small silver bell in her hand, shaking it mockingly.

"Heh. Jiraiya, you actually thought you could beat me?" she teased, a triumphant smirk on her lips. "You're a hundred years too early! As expected, you're still the weakest one here."

Jiraiya's face turned red with frustration.

"Shut up! You flat-chested airbag!"

Tsunade's smirk instantly vanished. A dangerous twitch appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"What. Did. You. Say?"

Jiraiya paled as Tsunade's fist clenched tightly. He had just realized he might have made a very grave mistake.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, watching his students with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, sighed and shook his head.

"Have they always been like this?" he asked, glancing at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru, standing with his arms folded, nodded. "I suppose so."

Sarutobi observed Jiraiya struggling against the ropes and sighed again. Jiraiya was strong, certainly, but he lacked discipline. More importantly, he lacked focus. If he wanted to shape Jiraiya into a capable shinobi, he would need a more personalized approach.

"It's getting late," he said. "Orochimaru, Tsunade, you two can head home for today."

The two nodded, though Tsunade made sure to throw one last victorious glance at Jiraiya before leaving.

As she turned around, however, she suddenly spotted a familiar face sitting on the grass nearby.

Aokiji.

"Yo~" Aokiji greeted with a lazy wave.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Why are you here? Don't tell me you changed your mind about being a ninja?"

Aokiji yawned and stretched. "Nope. Just out for a stroll. Thought I'd drop by and see how you guys were doing."

Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a small pillow, placed it under his head, and lay down on the ground. "Don't mind me, just pretend I'm not here."

Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at the boy curiously.

Aokiji.

The name wasn't unfamiliar to him. He had seen the boy around before and knew that despite his apparent laziness, he possessed considerable talent.

Interestingly, Orochimaru seemed to share that opinion.

"Aokiji-kun is an interesting person," Orochimaru said with a faint smile once. "If he actually put in the effort instead of wasting time sleeping, I might not have been the top student this year."

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly at those words.

A compliment from Orochimaru was not something to be taken lightly. If he was saying Aokiji had that kind of potential, then the boy must truly be remarkable.

"Interesting," Hiruzen mused. "Tsunade mentioned earlier that Aokiji had no interest in being a ninja. Is that true?"

Orochimaru nodded. "Yes. He often talks about wanting a peaceful life. A wife, children, a warm bed... that sort of thing."

Hiruzen chuckled. "A simple and unpretentious dream."

However, his amusement was short-lived.

He understood that dreams were a luxury—one that not everyone could afford, especially in times of war.

Had this been an era of peace, Aokiji's aspirations would have been perfectly acceptable. But Konoha was at war. Every shinobi mattered. If Aokiji truly possessed the talent that Orochimaru claimed, then allowing him to waste it would be nothing short of irresponsible.

Hiruzen watched the boy carefully.

Lying there with a pillow beneath his head, he seemed completely at ease, as if he had not a single worry in the world.

But Hiruzen knew better.

Aokiji was sharp. Too sharp to be ignorant of what was happening in the world around him.

Perhaps it was time to guide him.

Not as a strict enforcer, but as a mentor.

Wherever the leaves dance, the fire continues.

One day, their generation would grow old, and when that day came, the next generation would have to carry the flame.

And whether Aokiji realized it or not, he had the potential to be a part of that future.