[Check Out My P4treon For +50 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! And get chapters before publishing them here for free on my p4treon][https://p4treon.com/roooaaa]
===
Morning.
Tsunade slipped on the Hokage's ceremonial robe.
True to her usual style, she simply draped it over her normal sleeveless top without any fuss.
Sōma lay on his side, watching her.
After a moment, she turned and asked, "How do I look?"
"Absolutely stunning," Sōma replied without hesitation. "But today, there's an extra layer of authority—like a true Hokage. Very commanding."
"Sweet talker." Tsunade rolled her eyes, then clenched her fist. "Just make sure you don't go around charming every girl in the village from now on!"
"Sis, how did we even get to that topic?" Sōma protested, feigning hurt. "I was giving you a genuine compliment!"
Tsunade took in his expression—paired with that face of his—and immediately felt a pang of guilt.
After a brief pause, she leaned in closer and pointed to her forehead, hinting, "Since your sister is becoming the Fifth Hokage today… where's my gift?"
Sōma tilted his head up—but instead of her forehead, he pressed a quick kiss to the corner of her lips.
Tsunade froze for a few seconds, torn between fluster and irritation. "Where did you even learn this? Do you just enjoy taking liberties?"
"Not at all! Your lucky kiss is on the forehead, but mine isn't," Sōma argued shamelessly.
Too exasperated to keep debating, Tsunade simply bonked him on the head.
"If you're not at the inauguration ceremony, you're dead."
With that, she turned and left the room.
As the guest of honor, she had to arrive early—meaning she couldn't go with Sōma.
"She's getting more violent by the day," Sōma muttered, rubbing his head.
Of course, she hadn't hit him hard—otherwise, his life would've ended right there.
After getting dressed and having breakfast with Shizune, he headed for the plaza in front of the Hokage Building.
As a major village event, everyone was expected to attend—shinobi and civilians alike.
For the first time in a while, Sōma experienced something rare in the shinobi world:
Crowds.
It reminded him of his past life, crammed into subway cars during rush hour.
Honestly, it just proved how much influence the Hokage held in Konoha.
"Sōma-kun!"
A voice called from behind—Ino Yamanaka, tapping his shoulder.
Shizune's eyes gleamed with implications.
She knew about Sōma and Tsunade's… unconventional relationship.
First Hinata Hyūga, now Ino Yamanaka?
Sōma, do you think you're a cat with nine lives or something?
"I'll leave you two to chat," Shizune said with a smile, swiftly distancing herself from the impending disaster.
Sōma's lips twitched. He could already guess what she was thinking.
Turning to the energetic blonde, he grinned. "Are we that close now?"
The fact that Ino had used "Sōma-kun"—a term blending respect and familiarity—wasn't lost on him. Between a guy and a girl, it often carried… other meanings.
"Aren't we friends?" Ino's cheeks tinted pink as she averted her gaze, her bangs half-hiding her expression.
"We are friends," Sōma agreed, amused. "I'm just surprised, since you're Naruto's classmate, and he calls me 'big brother.'"
"That's fine! We'll address each other separately," Ino blurted out, then turned even redder under his knowing look.
"Ino-pig!"
Sakura Haruno stormed over, fuming. "You jerk! I went to your house to get you, and you just left without saying anything?!"
Behind her trailed Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki—one brooding, the other grinning as usual.
"Don't call me Ino-pig!" Ino snapped, more flustered than usual.
Normally, she wouldn't care—but she didn't want Sōma getting the wrong impression.
Sakura's eyes narrowed as she noticed Sōma. Ah. So that's how it is.
Nice one.
Ino mentally cheered for her best friend's accidental assist—but outwardly, she played it cool. "Sōma-kun and I just happened to run into each other."
Sakura blinked.
"Sōma-kun"?
Wait, what?
I haven't even made progress with Sasuke yet, and you're already—?!
She was this close to screaming.
"Let's keep moving," Sōma cut in, eager to avoid further chaos.
If he was late to the ceremony, Tsunade would actually kill him.
The five of them made their way to the plaza, now packed to the brim.
The noise of overlapping chatter was overwhelming—but with Naruto clearing a path (thanks to the villagers' lingering fear of the "demon fox"), they managed to squeeze to the front.
"Yo, Naruto!"
A man in a green jumpsuit waved enthusiastically—Might Guy.
His father, Might Dai, had once single-handedly fought the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, killing four of them.
As a result, the Eight Gates technique gained recognition in Konoha, and Guy himself rose to jonin.
His talent far surpassed his father's—opening the Eighth Gate had nearly ended the Fourth Shinobi War.
Guy, who loved running laps around the village, had befriended Naruto after a chance encounter. Their personalities just clicked.
Beside him stood a silver-haired, masked shinobi—Kakashi Hatake.
His gaze lingered on Naruto, emotions swirling beneath his calm exterior.
The son of the Fourth Hokage…
He wondered when Naruto would graduate.
Kakashi had left ANBU to become a jonin instructor—but so far, no team had passed his bell test.
His eyes then shifted to Sasuke Uchiha.
If anyone was suited to be his student, it's this kid.
Both wielded the Sharingan.
In the original timeline, Kakashi's slight favoritism toward Sasuke stemmed from seeing him as a potential successor.
Naruto jogged over to greet them, while Sōma hung back.
He'd hold off on interacting with Guy and Kakashi for now.
Once he became Hokage Advisor, he'd have plenty of opportunities.
Though at my current age, I'll need to pull some strings…
His achievements alone wouldn't be enough to command respect.
Before long, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade arrived, and the inauguration began.
"Wherever the leaves dance, the flames will follow. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village, and new leaves shall bud…"
As expected, the first order of business was the Third Hokage's passionate speech.
He waxed poetic about the Will of Fire, revealed the truth behind the Uchiha massacre, and milked Sarutobi Seiichi's death for sympathy.
By the end, Danzo's smear campaign had been thoroughly dismantled.
An hour later, Hiruzen finally wrapped up.
"Tsunade, would you like to say a few words?"
His face was flushed with excitement—he'd even moved himself with his own rhetoric.
"Sure."
Tsunade scanned the crowd, spotted Sōma, and smirked in approval.
Then she noticed the two unfamiliar girls beside him.
This little—
"Thanks for coming, everyone!" Tsunade raised a hand and declared, "Starting today, I'm the Fifth Hokage. That's it—dismissed!"
Sōma blinked.
Classic Tsunade.
Brutally efficient.
But very much in character.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 195 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 40 power stones I will publish the next chapter.
https://patreon.com/roooaaa
(Give me all your power stones)