Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!

Knock, knock, knock...

It was still early morning when a knock sounded at the door of the Sarutobi Clan residence.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had only fallen asleep in the middle of the night, was jolted awake. His wife, Biwako, was still sound asleep beside him.

Grumbling, he threw on a coat and made his way to the door.

A masked Ninja stood before him.

"What is it?" Hiruzen asked, his voice edged with irritation. His face showed signs of exhaustion, and his patience was already wearing thin from the poor night's rest.

"Lord Hokage, it's bad," the Anbu Ninja said urgently. "A large number of villagers have gathered in front of the Hokage building, demanding an explanation from you. More villagers are still arriving. You should come and take a look."

Hiruzen's sleepiness evaporated as alarm set in. "What explanation?" he asked, his tone sharper.

"It's the same rumor as before," the Anbu explained quickly. "They're saying that because you didn't go to war, many lives were lost. This time, the crowd is much larger, and they're demanding a reasonable explanation."

The Ninja's concise explanation spared him Hiruzen's temper, but the news was still troubling.

"No force is to be used. Notify Counsellor Homura. I'll be there immediately," Hiruzen said firmly. While frustrated, he wasn't reckless enough to suppress the situation with violence. He turned back to change into his Hokage robes.

"Yes, Lord Hokage," the Anbu replied, closing the door before vanishing from sight.

Moments later, Hiruzen emerged from his home in his official robes, hurrying toward the Hokage Building.

Even before he arrived, the deafening chants of the crowd reached his ears.

"Give us an explanation!"

"Give us an explanation!"

...

Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't fathom how things had spiraled to this point. He had sent people to calm the situation, yet here he was, staring at banners waving in the crowd. His heart churned with unease.

It felt like an invisible net had tightened around him. Could this be Kawakaze Hatake's doing? he wondered.

"Lord Hokage, would you like to disguise yourself?" an Anbu ninja asked cautiously, appearing at his side.

"Hm," Hiruzen grunted, using the Transformation Technique to alter his appearance. Disguised, he pushed through the crowd and slipped into the Hokage's Office.

Inside, Homura Mitokado was already waiting for him.

"Hiruzen, how did things get to this point?" Homura demanded anxiously. "Didn't you send someone to deal with this?"

This uproar was disastrous for Hiruzen's reputation. If he were forced to step down, it wouldn't bode well for Homura either. A quiet retirement might even become a far-fetched dream.

"It must be Kawakaze Hatake behind this," Hiruzen said grimly. "It's not too late—I can still fix this."

He had formulated a plan on the way over. By admitting his mistake and distributing compensation immediately, he could pacify a significant portion of the crowd. The remaining dissenters would be manageable.

"Kawakaze Hatake? As expected, a dog that doesn't bark bites the hardest," Homura muttered bitterly.

"Go get ready. I'm going to make a speech," Hiruzen instructed, trusting no one but Homura to make the necessary preparations.

"Okay," Homura agreed without hesitation, eager to carry out his orders.

Only after Homura left did Hiruzen sit down in his chair. Closing his eyes, he began rehearsing the words he would say to the crowd.

Outside, the sun rose higher, bathing Konoha in light and bringing the village to life. The crowd in front of the Hokage building grew larger, with more villagers arriving out of curiosity.

The Anbu ninja remained on high alert, scanning the crowd for agitators. Identifying and capturing the instigators would be an achievement in itself.

"Midori, well done," Fugaku said, speaking from the shadows far from the Hokage building. His face carried a rare smile, clearly pleased with the unfolding events.

"The show has only just begun," Midori replied, a faint smile breaking through his usually stoic expression.

The two had arrived early that morning to observe how Hiruzen would manage the growing unrest.

"Lord Kawakaze doesn't even have the interest to watch," Fugaku said with a shake of his head. He couldn't help but feel that his own composure still fell short.

Little did he know, Kawakaze hadn't even woken up yet, still sound asleep with Tsunade. To Kawakaze, this was merely an appetizer for Hiruzen Sarutobi—knowing the outcome was enough; the process held no interest.

Midori didn't respond to Fugaku's musings. He could comment on Kawakaze's plans but knew he wasn't qualified to assess his character.

"Here they come," Fugaku said as his attention shifted.

A platform had been erected in front of the Hokage building, and Hiruzen was stepping onto it.

The sight of him ignited an emotional response from the crowd. Some villagers became more vocal, while others, especially those who had lost loved ones in the war, wept openly. The pain of the war lingered, refusing to fade.

"Everyone, be quiet," Hiruzen said, raising a hand to calm the crowd.

Whether due to his long-standing authority or the villagers' desire to hear his explanation, the noise gradually subsided. Aside from a few murmurs, the crowd grew still, ready to listen.

Hiruzen took a deep breath, preparing to deliver his speech.

"I know you are dissatisfied," Hiruzen said, his voice steady. "I am also deeply saddened by those who died on the front lines. As Hokage, this is my dereliction of duty. I apologize to you here."

He removed his hat and bowed deeply to the gathered villagers. His gesture, paired with his grief-stricken expression, managed to sway many in the crowd.

"Old fox, you're really good at putting on an act," Fugaku muttered with disdain from his vantage point. "We were fighting for our lives on the frontlines, while he was enjoying a good life in the village."

Midori added quietly, "He's been wearing a mask for so long he's forgotten what he really looks like."

"Let's see what other tricks he has up his sleeve," Fugaku said, continuing to observe Hiruzen's performance with cold detachment.

"Lord Hokage, why didn't you go to the front lines?" an old woman cried out from the crowd, her voice heavy with grief. Tears streamed down her face as she continued, "As far as I know, the leaders of the other villages went to the front lines. If you had gone, maybe my son wouldn't be dead."

"Yes, yes!" others in the crowd echoed.

"Why?"

"Give us an explanation!"

...

The villagers' emotions flared up again, but Hiruzen straightened his back, maintaining his composure. The situation was still within his calculations. As long as he navigated the next part smoothly, the crisis could be defused.

Meanwhile, the Anbu Ninja stationed nearby focused on the old woman who had spoken. Her words had clearly stirred the crowd, and they suspected she was intentionally inciting unrest. However, after a careful investigation, they confirmed she was just an ordinary villager. This discovery left them feeling frustrated and uncertain.

One of the Anbu, unable to suppress his doubts any longer, turned to his captain. "Captain, why didn't Lord Hokage go to the front lines?" he asked quietly. The pain of his own loss was evident in his voice—he had lost a close friend to the Iwa Ninjas and still remembered breaking down in front of the Memorial Stone.

"Lord Hokage has his own plans," the captain snapped. "Does he need to explain himself to us?"

Despite his harsh tone, the captain couldn't shake the unease in his own heart. The question lingered unanswered, even for him.