Konoha: The Honored One

"Woman... Could it be?" Sakura suddenly had a realization, and a chill crept up her spine.

Oh no.

Gojo is evil.

Even though Orochimaru had been the enemy, she couldn't help but feel a little sympathy for what had just happened to him.

Naruto glanced at Sakura, looking confused. "Sakura, what does Gojo meant by 'sending him to a better place'?"

Sakura's face flushed a little, and a look of embarrassment flashed in her eyes.

Is he really this clueless?

Sasuke, hands in his pockets, turned his head slightly and gave Naruto a snide smirk. "You're such an idiot."

"What did you say, Sasuke?" Naruto's face darkened, and he shot a glare at Sasuke, then glanced at Sakura. He repeated the gestures several times.

Wait, did Sakura and Sasuke understand what Gojo meant? Was it just him who didn't get it?

Damn it! They thought he was the idiot, didn't they?

"Of course I know what it means!" Naruto puffed his chest out proudly, trying to play it off. "I totally get it. You guys don't need to worry."

Sasuke's smirk grew wider as he folded his arms. "Hmph, sure you do," he muttered, already knowing Naruto was bluffing.

"Are you laughing at me, you bastard?" Naruto snapped, grabbing Sasuke by the collar in a fit of anger.

"I'm laughing at you being an idiot," Sasuke said, his voice cold and detached as he lightly raised the corner of his lips into a half-smirk.

"Damn it!" Naruto's teeth ground together.

"Naruto, let go of Sasuke!" Sakura shouted, rolling up her sleeves and delivering a solid punch to Naruto's face.

"Thud!" Naruto crashed to the ground, clutching his face in mock agony, his eyes wide as he looked up at Sakura, pouting. "Sakura, why are you defending Sasuke?"

"Oh my God..." Shizune sighed in the distance, watching the chaos unfold with disbelief. "Gojo, what exactly are you teaching these kids?"

"You know, kids need to burn off some energy." Gojo suddenly appeared out of nowhere, effortlessly picking Tsunade up from Kurenai and giving the seventh squad a wide grin. "No need to stop them; roughhousing builds character!"

The seventh squad stared blankly at Gojo's antics, unsure of how to respond.

Was this really what teaching looked like?

"Gojo, what are you even talking about?" Sasuke muttered, already regretting his life choices.

Shizune shook her head in exasperation. "What about Orochimaru, though? What's the deal there?"

Gojo paused, his expression going a little more serious as he thought back to his encounter with Hidden Sound Village. "The ninjas there are strong, but not all of them like Orochimaru. Some of them really hate him," he said with a wry smile. "As for Orochimaru right now... pain? Pleasure? Who cares?"

Shizune didn't bother asking further. It was clear the snake had fallen from grace in ways that even she didn't want to know. Orochimaru was now stuck in the body of a woman—what a mess.

"Gojo, is this really Tsunade?" Naruto asked as he stared at Tsunade, who was still unconscious in Gojo's arms. His eyes were wide with curiosity.

"That's right." Gojo beamed down at the slumbering Tsunade, an almost too fond expression crossing his face. "She's the sweetest woman in the whole ninja world. Great temper, great personality, totally lovable."

Shizune, standing beside them, rolled her eyes. Great temper? Was this the same Tsunade who could obliterate someone with a single punch while wearing a smile?

"Good temper? Good personality?" Shizune muttered under her breath. She was used to Gojo's eccentricities, but this was too much.

"She's so beautiful..." Sakura whispered, her eyes wide as she gazed at Tsunade. The woman's figure was flawless, and her face—no one could deny—was nothing short of perfection.

Sakura's eyes drifted down to Tsunade's chest, and she felt a twinge of insecurity. The difference between their physiques was huge.

Now it all made sense. No wonder Gojo adored her so much.

"She's a legend, right?" Sasuke thought to himself. "If she's one of the Sannin, she must be a powerhouse."

But judging by how things had gone earlier, Tsunade didn't seem that strong. Gojo still seemed like the stronger one.

"Tch." Naruto folded his arms with an annoyed expression. "Is she the new Hokage? She looks kinda weak. Doesn't seem nearly as strong as the old man Hokage."

"Flies," Gojo muttered, raising his hand in one smooth motion and swatting Naruto in the head.

"Teacher Gojo, you jerk!" Naruto flew through the air, landing with a painful thud.

Sasuke and Sakura both sighed and shook their heads. Honestly, Naruto…

Making fun of Tsunade in front of Gojo was like asking to be slapped. It was his one soft spot. The idiot had no chance.

"Who's this lady?" Sakura asked politely, looking up at Shizune.

"Are you from the Seventh Squad?" Shizune greeted them warmly. "I'm Shizune, Tsunade's assistant—"

Before she could finish, Gojo interrupted. "She's Shizune, Tsunade's sidekick," he said casually, pointing to Shizune as though it was no big deal.

"Gojo!" Shizune's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. This was so not how she wanted to be introduced. Sidekick? Really?

Gojo, completely unaware of her frustration, continued. "And these are my little troublemakers," he said, pointing at the rest of the squad.

The seventh squad exchanged awkward looks. Was this really the kind of introduction you'd give to your own students?

"Anyway, that's the introduction." Gojo shrugged, seemingly pleased with himself. "Now, let's get to the good part: critique time."

He turned to Shizune, smirking. "Pig girl, I know you're weak, but seriously, is it this bad? With you around, will anyone even be in danger?"

He pointed to the pink pig beside him and added, "If I hadn't shown up today, Tsunade might've been in trouble. You might as well be eating the same feed as this pig."

The pig nodded solemnly.

Shizune clenched her fists, the frustration bubbling up inside her. She couldn't argue with Gojo's point, but it didn't make it any easier to hear.

"I'll get stronger," she said quietly, her voice full of determination.

"That's the spirit," Gojo said with a grin, slapping her lightly on the back. "You've got this. The weak have their own way of doing things, right?"

"Thanks, I guess..." Shizune mumbled. Was that supposed to be encouragement or a jab?

She was used to Gojo's teasing, but it was still frustrating. Especially after everything she did to help him cover for his nightly escapades.

"Let's go," Gojo said, hoisting Tsunade up in his arms. "I have a place we can go."

As the group started to move, Naruto whined from the back, rubbing his swollen face. "Sakura-chan, have some mercy on me!"

"Stop talking about Tsunade like that," Sakura warned, her eyes narrowing. "Keep it up, and the other side of your face will be just as swollen."

"Sakura-chan, please!" Naruto begged, his voice cracking.

Sakura sighed and shook her head as she followed the group toward Konoha, where they could finally get some rest.