Konoha: The Honored One

"Hmph." Sasuke snorted coldly, his expression one of complete disinterest. Love? What a waste of time. His focus was solely on power—gaining it, mastering it, and surpassing everyone else.

Meanwhile, Naruto groaned as he stirred awake, rubbing the back of his head where a dull ache lingered. He squinted against the sunlight, slowly piecing together his surroundings. Then his gaze landed on Tsunade's retreating figure, and a spark of indignation flickered in his eyes.

"You!" Naruto pointed an accusatory finger at Tsunade, his voice cracking with anger. "How dare you knock me out?! Just wait! I'll get stronger—strong enough to knock you down with the moves Gojo-sensei taught me!"

Suddenly, Tsunade stiffened, her face betraying an uncharacteristic flicker of panic. She shoved Gojo away in a hasty motion and turned to cough into her hand, feigning composure. "Ahem. My bad. Got a little carried away."

Gojo, leaning lazily against a tree, smirked under his blindfold. "No biggie, Tsuna. Happens to the best of us." Then, with a mischievous grin, he shifted his focus to Naruto. "Hey, fox boy, why don't you try dying once? Builds character."

"Naruto!" Sakura's voice pierced the clearing like a shuriken. Her pink hair seemed to bristle with rage as she stormed toward him, her fists clenched. "What did you just say?!"

Naruto blinked, his confusion evident. "Sakura-chan?"

"Don't 'Sakura-chan' me!" she snapped, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him upward with ease. Her fists found his stomach repeatedly, each punch punctuating her fury.

"Why are you hitting me?!" Naruto cried out, clutching his abdomen as he writhed on the ground.

Sakura glared at him, one hand pinning his head down. "Apologize to Master Tsunade and Gojo-sensei right now!"

"I'm sorry!" Naruto wheezed, tears stinging his eyes. Why am I always the one who gets hurt?

"Super idiot." Even Sasuke, usually indifferent, felt compelled to mutter under his breath, rolling his eyes at Naruto's antics.

Unbothered by the chaos, Tsunade turned to Gojo, her tone sharp and serious. "About the Hokage position—"

"It's settled," Gojo interjected, unwrapping a lollipop and popping it into his mouth with an air of finality. "Congrats, Tsunade! You're the Fifth Hokage. Try not to mess it up."

Tsunade's jaw tightened, her eyebrow twitching violently. "You don't just get to decide that!"

Gojo grinned wider, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Sure I do. Don't sweat it—you'll be great. I believe in you."

Tsunade opened her mouth to argue, only to close it again in frustration. There was no point. She spun on her heel, her temper flaring visibly. "Shizune, we're leaving."

"Y-Yes, Master Tsunade," Shizune stammered, clutching Tonton protectively.

Before they could take more than a few steps, a strange voice echoed from a scroll Gojo had casually begun spinning in his hand.

"Take care of Tsunade, Gojo. And my great-grandkids! I'll leave them in your hands!"

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke froze, their eyes darting between Gojo and the scroll.

"Did he just say...?" Sakura's voice trailed off, her face a mix of confusion and horror.

Gojo chuckled, waving the scroll theatrically. "Yup. That was the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju. And yeah, he knows we've got five kids. Keeps him resting easy, you know?"

Tsunade nearly tripped over her own feet. Her face flushed a deep red, and she whirled around, fists clenched. "You told him WHAT?!"

Gojo's grin was a perfect blend of charm and cheek. "Relax, Tsuna. I was just giving the old man some peace of mind."

"You're impossible!" she shouted, stomping toward him with murder in her eyes.

Unfazed, Gojo stepped forward and scooped her into a princess carry with practiced ease.

"Let me down, you idiot!" Tsunade yelled, squirming in his arms, though the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her true feelings.

"Not happening," Gojo replied cheerfully. "You're coming back to the village. Whether you like it or not, Lady Hokage."

As he disappeared with Tsunade in tow, his voice rang out behind him. "Hey, you three! Keep up, or it's five laps around the village tomorrow! Bare-bottomed!"

Naruto groaned, still clutching his bruised stomach. "Why is it always me?"