Konoha: Gu master

"So it's really just a kid, huh?" Tsunade muttered as she observed Shinho Aburame. Though she found him somewhat likable, his small stature made her doubt the rumors even more.

"Shinho," Iruka introduced, "this is the Third Hokage and Lady Tsunade."

[Tsunade.] [Current Achievement: The Best Way to Overcome Fear.] [Passive Achievement: Unknown.]

Fear? Shinho thought. Could it be referring to Tsunade's hemophobia?

"Lord Hokage. Lady Tsunade," Shinho greeted calmly, his tone respectful yet not servile.

Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and nodded, while Tsunade frowned, feeling a bit annoyed. Shinho reminded her of a young Orochimaru—calm and unfazed by everything. And had he just spaced out a moment ago?

"Iruka, you can head back to your class," Sarutobi said, glancing at the classroom. The eager, admiring looks of the students brought a warm smile to his face, reassuring him that his efforts had not been in vain. He was determined to guide Konoha to even greater heights.

"Yes, Lord Hokage." Iruka nodded and returned to the classroom.

"Let’s go somewhere quieter," Sarutobi suggested, leading the way toward the training grounds.

As they walked, Shizune, carrying her pink pig, TonTon, introduced herself, "Hi, I’m Shizune."

Shinho glanced at her, nodding politely. "Hello, Shizune-san."

Seeing his well-mannered response, Shizune beamed with delight. She couldn’t help but feel drawn to the young boy, resisting the urge to pat his head. She found herself hoping that Shinho would become her junior, someone who could share her burden—especially the constant headaches caused by Tsunade's love for drinking and gambling, both of which she was notoriously bad at.

Up ahead, Tsunade realized something: Shinho couldn't possibly be like Orochimaru—after all, he calls people ‘sister.’

"This place will do," Tsunade said, stopping and turning to Shinho. "Show me the Chakra Scalpel."

Both Sarutobi and Shizune were curious. Though Sarutobi had already heard from Miyata Rika, he hadn’t seen it firsthand. Shizune, on the other hand, was purely intrigued.

Shinho formed the seals, and soon, a faint green glow appeared around his hands—chakra, though he knew it was truly his vital energy, or zhēnyuán.

"It’s real?" Tsunade muttered, her skepticism fading as she stared at the Chakra Scalpel in disbelief.

"See? I wasn’t lying," Sarutobi chuckled, clearly pleased.

But Tsunade didn’t respond. She fell into a deep silence. In the past, she would’ve been overjoyed at discovering such a talent and would’ve immediately taken him under her wing. But now, she couldn’t care less about titles like Hokage or the village itself.

Sarutobi’s smile faded. He knew Tsunade's feelings too well. Even the role of Hokage hadn’t been enough to convince her to stay. She had lost too much during the wars and had never fully recovered.

But she had come back, hadn’t she? That meant a part of her still cared.

"Well, since you’re here, why not teach him for a couple of days?" Sarutobi suggested, opting for a compromise.

Tsunade glanced at Shinho, who maintained his usual calm demeanor. She clenched her teeth slightly. His attitude was really getting on her nerves. As one of the Legendary Sannin, she was used to people treating her with respect, not like this casual indifference.

"You, kid." Tsunade grabbed him by the head, pulling him close as she muttered, "I’ll teach you for two days. If you disappoint me, we’re done."

Shinho felt the weight of her soft, warm chest pressing against his head, and he instinctively tried to push away.

Amused by his struggle, Tsunade smirked. Not so calm now, huh?

Suddenly, her expression shifted. Wow, he’s strong.

Pulling back slightly, she realized something. Shinho not only had an exceptional talent for medical ninjutsu, but he also possessed natural physical strength—just like her. That revelation stirred something within her. Despite his aloofness and quiet nature, she saw herself in him.

Maybe, just maybe, he could be the one to inherit her medical skills, especially since she could no longer serve as a medic due to her hemophobia. Shinho, it seemed, was even more suited for the role than Shizune.

"Wait for me at the school gate after class," Tsunade ordered, turning away and leaving swiftly.

"See you later, Shinho!" Shizune called out cheerfully as she followed after Tsunade, already switching to a more familiar tone.

"You’ve got to impress her if you want her to stick around," Sarutobi said with a smile, though his tone was laced with hope.

No matter what, this was a step in the right direction. Konoha had developed well over the years, but there hadn’t been another ninja of Tsunade’s caliber to steady the village. Now, one of the Legendary Sannin had returned, and her presence alone would bring much-needed stability.

"I understand," Shinho nodded and returned to class after parting with Sarutobi.

The moment he stepped back into the room, he could feel all eyes on him. His classmates were bursting with curiosity—after all, being personally called out by the Hokage was no small thing.

"Let’s continue," Iruka tapped the podium to regain the students’ attention. "Today’s lesson is about the Will of Fire."

Shinho opened his textbook. The first page displayed the well-known phrase: "Where the leaves dance, the fire burns. The fire’s shadow will illuminate the village and make new leaves sprout."

The signature taste of Konoha, Shinho mused.

When class ended, Naruto rushed up to him, eager to ask, "What did the Third want?"

"He introduced me to a teacher," Shinho replied, not hiding the truth.

There was no reason to. Soon enough, word of Tsunade taking him as her student would spread through the village, especially among the major clans. Shinho actually welcomed the attention. The more people knew, the safer he would be—so long as he kept close to Tsunade.

"Teacher?" Ino perked up, recalling the woman who had been with the Hokage earlier. "That lady who came with the Third?"

"Yeah," Shinho paused before adding, "She’s Tsunade."

"What?!" Ino’s voice shot up in shock.

Nara Shikamaru raised his head from his desk, while Kiba practically leaped out of his chair.

Only Choji, focused on his bag of chips, and Naruto seemed unaffected. The former couldn’t care less about anything but his snacks, and Naruto simply didn’t know who Tsunade was.

"She’s one of the Legendary Sannin!" Ino exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with admiration. Her voice trembled with excitement. My instincts were spot on!

"Who’s Tsunade?" Naruto scratched his head, utterly clueless.

The rest of the class could only chuckle in response.