Konoha: The Honored One

Shizune's delicate face was a mixture of confusion and worry. She glanced at Gojo, who was unusually serious—a rare sight. Questions swirled in her mind, but she didn't dare voice them.

Why was Gojo, of all people, suddenly involving himself in village affairs? It just didn't add up.

And why on earth did he pick Tsunade-sama to be Hokage?

"After losing the Hokage, there are surely better candidates for the position than me, right?" Tsunade's voice carried a mix of skepticism and annoyance. She crossed her arms and studied Gojo's relaxed demeanor.

The village had plenty of strong, capable shinobi who wanted to protect it. Take Jiraiya, for example—he was just as legendary as she was, if not more so.

And in her eyes, much stronger.

Gojo raised two fingers, a playful glint in his eye. "Well, to be fair, there are three people stronger than you in the village right now."

Tsunade's brow twitched. She was already regretting this conversation.

"First, there's Danzo and his little bag of tricks. Then there's Pervy Sage—you know, Mr. Frog Summons. And let's not forget Might Guy, who can open the seventh gate and turn into a glorified glowstick."

The corners of Gojo's mouth curled into a smirk. "But despite all that… you're still the strongest."

Tsunade blinked, her amber eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Oh? And why's that?"

Gojo leaned closer, his tone taking on an exaggerated seriousness. "Because, Tsuna, you've got me." He placed a hand on her shoulder, his trademark cocky smile in full effect. "If I say you're the second strongest, then no one in their right mind will dare call themselves first."

It took a second for the meaning to sink in.

Tsunade's eyebrow twitched as Gojo continued, "After all, having a backer like me is its own kind of strength, right?"

The seventh squad stared at Gojo, dumbfounded. This was not the profound analysis they'd been expecting.

Even Shizune, who'd been on the verge of interrupting, froze in place, her face a mix of shock and panic. She glanced nervously at Tsunade.

Was this it? Would this be the day Gojo finally crossed the line?

"Gojo," Tsunade began sweetly, her tone dripping with venom. She placed a hand on his cheek, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "I see you've grown bold—mocking the person you respect most, huh?"

The words might have sounded affectionate, but the danger was palpable.

"Now, now," Gojo replied smoothly, pulling out a lollipop from seemingly nowhere. With the utmost casualness, he poked her chest with it. "Let's not pretend you haven't grown either." His grin widened as he added, "And the hips? Chef's kiss."

The room froze.

Tsunade's face turned an impressive shade of crimson, her body trembling with barely suppressed rage. A massive chakra flare erupted from her, and the telltale vein popped on her forehead in the shape of the angriest hashtag imaginable.

The entire building began to quake.

"RUN!" Shizune shrieked, grabbing Team Seven by their collars and yanking them out of the room.

Shizune sighed heavily as she glanced back at the scene. This wasn't the first time Gojo had triggered Tsunade's fury, but the aftermath was always terrifying. "That man's like a human matchstick," she muttered under her breath. "One spark and she's an inferno."

"Release your Limitless Technique," Tsunade growled, clenching her fists. Her knuckles cracked ominously. "Let your dear mother punch you just this once."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, easy there, Tsuna-chan!" Gojo raised his hands defensively, still smirking. "Do you really want to leave me a smoldering crater? That's a bad look for someone aiming to be Hokage, you know."

Ignoring his protests, Tsunade swung her fist with enough force to obliterate a mountain.

Yet, just before impact, her fist came to a halt against an invisible barrier. The destructive force instead erupted outward, leveling the entire hotel.

From the relative safety of the street, Team Seven stood slack-jawed, watching the rubble settle.

"I… I'm broke," Shizune whimpered, collapsing to her knees as the weight of the inevitable repair costs crushed her spirit. She could practically feel Tsunade's gambling winnings evaporating.

Gojo, however, scratched his cheek, looking around at the destruction with mild interest. "Well, that's gonna leave a dent in the wallet," he remarked nonchalantly.

"You're paying for this," Tsunade snapped, dusting herself off.

"Eh, I'll start a GoFundMe," he replied, casually pulling her into a hug.

Tsunade stiffened at first but soon relaxed. She could sense his concern beneath the teasing exterior.

"Scared, huh?" Gojo's voice was softer now. "You've been carrying a lot, Tsuna. I get it." He rested his chin on her head, his usually smug smile gentler than usual.

Tsunade's expression softened as well. For all his antics, Gojo had a way of making her feel safe—like everything would somehow be okay.

"...Just don't leave me," she murmured against his chest.

"Hey, I'm Gojo," he said, his grin returning in full force. "Invincible, remember? You can lean on me as much as you need to."

Tsunade couldn't help but smile as old memories flickered through her mind. The scrappy boy she'd taken in had grown into a man—one who could protect her, even from herself.

"Thanks," she whispered.

But Gojo, never one to let a moment stay serious for too long, tipped her chin up and wiggled his eyebrows. "So, about that kiss..."

Tsunade rolled her eyes but leaned closer, a soft blush coloring her cheeks.

From a safe distance, Shizune and Sakura watched the scene unfold.

"Uh, is this normal?" Sakura asked, her jaw dropping.

Shizune clamped a hand over Sakura's mouth, her expression dead serious. "Shh! This is the good part."

Sakura blinked at the absurdity of it all. One minute Tsunade had been ready to pummel Gojo into oblivion, and now... this?

As Tsunade and Gojo drew closer, Sakura couldn't help but think: What the hell did I just witness?