303. The Strongest Hokage

Hokage Office

"Alright, from today onward, you're the Fifth Hokage."

Tsunade pressed Hanekawa into the Hokage's seat, clapped her hands, and said with a smile.

"The inauguration ceremony isn't for another two days," Hanekawa corrected.

"Technically speaking, you're still the Hokage right now."

"Two days earlier or later makes no difference," Tsunade said dismissively.

"What? Are you in a hurry to hit the casino?" Hanekawa blinked at her.

"Is that not allowed?" Tsunade dropped all pretense, declaring defiantly, "When I'm not on missions, even you as Hokage can't stop me from going to the casino!"

Though her life had changed dramatically, drinking and gambling remained her two great passions.

Now that she was no longer Hokage, she felt entitled to make up for the hard work of the past year.

"Shall I assign you a mission right now?" Hanekawa raised an eyebrow teasingly.

"You wouldn't dare!" Tsunade glared at him indignantly. "I'm your teacher! Whether I take missions is my decision alone!"

"Here." Hanekawa stood up and gently offered her a bankbook.

"That's more like it." Tsunade's expression softened as she accepted it, her lips curling upward.

"And what's my reward?" Hanekawa chuckled at her money-grubbing expression.

"You'll get it tonight." Tsunade licked her lips suggestively. "Come pick me up then."

"Mm." Hanekawa felt a rush of heat at her blatant implication.

"I'm off now. Be good and do your work." Tsunade flicked his forehead playfully before turning to leave with a smile.

The door closed behind her.

Hanekawa settled back into the Hokage's chair.

Truthfully, everything had gone so smoothly that becoming Fifth Hokage felt almost anticlimactic.

But for Konoha, this was a momentous event that would shape the village for decades.

After the jonin council meeting, news of Hanekawa's succession spread throughout Konoha like wildfire - yet it caused barely a ripple of controversy.

His youth was the only point of contention, but his overwhelming power and achievements rendered that concern moot.

Within hours, the news reached every corner of the shinobi world.

Since the Third Great War, Konoha had become the de facto center of the ninja world.

While other villages monitored all developments, a Hokage transition wasn't just news - it was a seismic event.

___

Raikage's Office, Kumogakure

"Mabui," the Fourth Raikage folded his arms gravely. "Should we send representatives to the Hokage inauguration?"

Captured by Hanekawa during the war, the Raikage had become more cautious, understanding that recklessness brought only danger - especially with Konoha's current dominance.

All Kumo could do now was quietly rebuild.

"Though Hanekawa hasn't invited us, we must attend," Mabui sighed.

While inaugurations were typically internal affairs, the current political climate left no room for diplomatic missteps.

Offending Konoha through absence would be disastrous.

"Who goes?"

"Without formal invitation, you needn't attend personally," Mabui considered.

"Samui and I will go. We can also assess how Hanekawa's leadership might affect Kumo."

The Raikage nodded. Leadership changes in major villages always brought policy shifts. As defeated parties, they feared Hanekawa might alter his stance toward Kumo.

With Samui already in Konoha and Mabui's sharp mind, they could gather crucial intelligence.

"Mabui," the Raikage added suddenly, "how's the chakra cannon progressing?"

"Smoothly. It should be operational within six months." Mabui allowed herself a small smile.

Despite their crushing defeat, Kumo hadn't given up - the chakra cannon represented one path to resurgence.

Officially called the Spacetime Chakra Cannon, its theoretical power could destroy the moon.

"A shame it wasn't ready for the war," the Raikage lamented.

Mabui remained silent.


The cannon's immense cost and difficulty weren't why it missed the war - it was their overconfidence.

From the Third Raikage down, everyone had believed victory certain. No one imagined Hanekawa's rise would bring such devastating defeat.

"I'll make preparations immediately." Mabui bowed before exiting. With the ceremony in two days, they couldn't afford delay.

Similar discussions occurred in Iwagakure and Sunagakure, both deciding to send envoys with gifts.

__

Mizukage's Office, Kirigakure

"That bastard!" Mei Terumi crushed the scroll in her hand, teeth gritted. Her resentment toward Hanekawa ran deep - after stealing her first kiss, he'd disappeared without responsibility.

Taking several deep breaths, she calmed herself.

Staring at the scroll, a surreal realization struck her: Hanekawa had become Fifth Hokage while she was Fifth Mizukage.

Their positions made any relationship impossible. What future did they have?

Mei unconsciously clutched her chest, feeling her heartbeat quicken with indecision.

"Why should I suffer alone?" she suddenly snorted. "I won't let that pervert off so easily!"

She resolved to visit Konoha personally, using his inauguration as pretext. But should she bring a gift?

Mei looked down.

Though concealed by boots, she could still feel the anklet Hanekawa had given her - a gift meant to satisfy his fetishes, yet a gift nonetheless.

What should she give in return?

__

Hokage Office, Afternoon

A knock interrupted Hanekawa's thoughts.

"Enter."

"Hanekawa... I mean, Lord Hokage." Samui entered, quickly correcting herself.

"Just Hanekawa when we're alone." He smiled dismissively.

"Hanekawa," Samui's lips quirked upward as she presented a scroll. "This just arrived from other villages via ANBU."

"What do they want?"

"They request permission to attend your inauguration." Samui handed him the scroll.

Scanning it, Hanekawa immediately understood Kumo and Iwa's motives.

"Your friend Mabui is coming," he noted casually.

"Her real purpose is to gauge whether your policies toward Kumo will change as Hokage," Samui admitted after hesitant glance.

"Does that count as betraying Kumo?" Hanekawa met her gaze.

"Someone as intelligent as you would deduce Mabui's intentions anyway," Samui deflected skillfully, both avoiding the question and complimenting him.

"Clever girl." Hanekawa beckoned her closer. He understood her difficult position as a Kumo-nin caught between loyalties.

Samui stepped forward obediently.

"Wearing stockings today?" Hanekawa's hand slid up her thigh.

"Not under these pants," Samui answered automatically. "Should I change? Black or white?"

"Don't bother." Hanekawa delivered a sharp smack to her backside. "Why do I get the feeling you don't think highly of me?"

Samui's body tensed, her cheeks flushing.

Though Hanekawa possessed unparalleled power and accomplishments, in her eyes he remained... thoroughly male.

His bedroom demands left her exhausted each time.

Hanekawa chuckled at her silence.

While he'd initially kept Samui for her body, he'd grown fond of her.

"Go meet Mabui when she arrives."

"Thank you." Samui bowed gratefully.

"And where's Kaguya?" Hanekawa pulled her into his lap.

"In your ANBU office," Samui gasped as he embraced her. (In this world, few knew Kaguya's true identity as the Rabbit Goddess, so they used her name without the Ōtsutsuki clan designation - too conspicuous.)

_

Hokage Office

Hanekawa had already been considerate enough to massage her chest for her.

"I forgot to tell her I've changed offices," Hanekawa mused as he kneaded the taut fabric of her ANBU vest, lost in thought.

He was contemplating how to arrange Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. Should she remain an ANBU member, or become the Hokage's secretary?

As for Tsukihime, he already had plans for her.


Hanekawa intended to have her take over as ANBU Commander.

The current ANBU Commander was the eldest son of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Though diligent and mistake-free, he wasn't truly one of Hanekawa's own people.

Entrusting the position to Tsukihime would be far more reassuring.

But Kaguya, who cared only for chakra and him, wasn't suited for roles like ANBU Commander or Hokage Secretary.

After some thought, Hanekawa decided to keep her by his side for now, alongside Samui, as a personal guard.

When idle, she could be sent to search for special energies across the shinobi world—like the Dragon Vein, Star Village's meteorite, or the Geller Stone.

With Kaguya's power, she could easily convert them into chakra to cultivate new Divine Tree fruit.

"Anything else?" Hanekawa removed Samui's mask, finding her face flushed, her eyes brimming with allure.

"Y-Yes... one thing," Samui panted, forcing herself to focus. "It's about Amegakure's Konan and Nagato."

Suppressing her discomfort, she retrieved a scroll.

"Open it," Hanekawa said, his hands otherwise occupied.

"Mmm..." Samui let out a sultry hum, her trembling hands unfurling the scroll.

Hanekawa glanced down to read.

It was the latest report from the "Thousand Sunny Company." They had taken control of Takumi Village and, following his orders, begun crafting ninja tools.

Hanekawa's strategy was simple: divide the tools into two categories.

One focused on affordability, catering to genin and chūnin.

The other pursued a high-end market, ensuring each tool possessed unique functions—thanks to Snow Country's Yukito Fubuki and his chakra armor technology.

Additionally, Takumi's Four Symbols Celestials had similar chakra armor techniques. In the original story, they wielded four special tools:

- The Peacock Twin Blades
- The Dragon Eye Extending Sword
- The Infinite Armor
- The Light Blade

These tools could perform jutsu like shinobi, granting significant combat advantages. Though expensive, they could be sold to jōnin or wealthy shinobi heirs.

A thought struck Hanekawa—selling to shinobi had limited profit potential.

Why not market them to daimyō and nobles? By modifying the tools into chakra-charged items like explosive tags, even non-shinobi could use them.

"Send the scroll back," Hanekawa released her, took a pen, and scribbled a few lines.

"Yes." Samui, now free from the intoxicating sensations, regained some clarity.

"Your reward comes later." Hanekawa patted her backside.

Though disappointed, Samui said nothing, taking the scroll and leaving the Hokage's office.

Hanekawa kept writing, outlining reforms for Konoha's administrative structure.

As Hokage, he intended to reshape the village's institutions—though he would retain some positions out of respect for Tsunade's brief tenure.

- Hokage Advisor (Hatake Sakumo)
- Hokage Guard (Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Kushina, Might Duy, Aburame Shibi)

These were trusted allies who needed no changes.

The Hokage Strategist position, however, would be abolished and replaced with Hokage Secretary—filled not by Nara Shikaku, but by Yūhi Kurenai.

With Hanekawa as Hokage and Tsunade retired, their team had effectively dissolved. Assigning Kurenai as secretary made sense—she was capable, intelligent, and... well, other reasons were obvious.

He initially considered making Rin Nohara a secretary too, but worried about potential conflicts.

Instead, he decided to place her in charge of Konoha Hospital—renamed the Medical Division.

Nara Shikaku, though losing his strategist role, wouldn't retire.

Hanekawa needed his expertise to handle tedious tasks.

He planned to appoint him as the second Hokage Advisor, filling a vacancy and acknowledging the Ino-Shika-Chō alliance's influence.

Beyond existing departments, Hanekawa intended to establish new ones—like a Commerce Division and Mining Division.

As he wrote, time slipped away unnoticed—until a faint fragrance caught his attention.

Hanekawa looked up to see Kaguya.

Though masked, her horns betrayed her identity.

"Time to leave," she stated coolly.

"You go ahead," Hanekawa closed the scroll.

"Why?"

"I still have work."

He stood, approached her, and removed her mask. Gazing at her soft lips, he kissed her.

Kaguya blinked but reciprocated, engaging in a silent battle of tongues.

Minutes later, they parted.

"Wait for me at home," Hanekawa said.

Kaguya licked her lips, satisfied with her "interest payment," then vanished.

Hanekawa exhaled.

Sometimes, too many women are troublesome.

The reason he didn't return with Kaguya? Tsunade was still at the casino.

He'd promised to pick her up. Failing to do so would raise uncomfortable questions.

Fortunately, Kaguya was easily placated—her concerns limited to just two things. A late-night visit would suffice.

Flying Thunder God Technique!

Hanekawa appeared inside the casino.

"Perfect timing!" Tsunade spotted him and waved eagerly.

"Losing again?" he teased.

"Shut up!" She glared, yanking him onto the seat beside her.

They sat pressed together, but neither minded—they were long past formalities.

As for onlookers? None would dare gossip unless they wanted to be exiled from Konoha.

Tsunade had called him over to leech his luck. Now brimming with confidence, her face glowed with excitement.

Hanekawa's gaze trailed from her pale neck downward, lingering on her milky skin.

"I win!" Tsunade cheered, forgetting all about going home.

Hanekawa snapped his fingers, casting a line-of-sight barrier around them.

His hand slid up her thigh, beneath her pants, reaching the hem of her shirt.

"Don't you dare!" she hissed.

"Sensei, it's your turn to bet," Hanekawa reminded her innocently.

Tsunade glanced at the table—then froze in shock.

How bold is this brat?! Doing this in a casino?!

"Lady Tsunade?" The dealer called.

"I... bet big." She inhaled sharply.

But then Hanekawa's fingers traced her waistband, teasing the strap beneath.

"We're going home!" Tsunade finally snapped, grabbing his wrist.

"Of course, Sensei." Hanekawa grinned, pocketing her winnings before teleporting them away.

"Brat!" Tsunade tried to scold him, but her body went limp as his fingers struck a pressure point.

"Sensei," Hanekawa said solemnly, "allow me to apologize properly."

She glared, but resistance was futile.

By midnight, she was forced to surrender completely. She'd attempted to use her Strength of a Hundred Seal, but Hanekawa forbade it—leaving her utterly defeated.

"Rest well." He stroked her hair.

Tsunade closed her eyes, drifting into sleep.

Once sure she was out, Hanekawa teleported to Kaguya's room.

The space was dark, lit only by faint moonlight. The moment he arrived, Kaguya pounced—wrapping around him like an octopus, both of them already undressed.

The sleepless night passed like fleeting dew.

---

The Next Day

The only major event was the civilian vote—a lively affair involving the entire village. Hanekawa left the arrangements to ANBU.

By afternoon, the results mirrored the jōnin vote: unanimous approval.

That evening, the Fire Daimyō arrived.

---

A New Day – Hokage Inauguration

At 9 AM, the Hokage Tower plaza swarmed with villagers and shinobi.

Having attended Tsunade's inauguration, Hanekawa navigated the ceremony with ease.

His focus was on the foreign delegations—particularly Kirigakure's Mei Terumī, whose resentment radiated across the distance.

After this, I'll have to comfort my little maid properly.

"The village is yours now, Hanekawa," Tsunade said, passing him the Hokage hat.

"I'll do my best, Sensei." He smiled.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

[S-Rank Trait: Strongest Hokage]
[Activation Condition: Become Fifth Hokage]
[Effect: Fire Release potency +200%, immunity to enemy Fire Release techniques.]

Hanekawa's brow arched at the sudden notification.


Now the title "Strongest Hokage" is truly mine.

__

Worth 2 chapters