"Sensei/Senior, are you running for Fifth Hokage?"
The two boys still couldn't completely shake the influence of the word "Hokage." In their minds, the Hokage was someone truly remarkable.
For Sasuke, he had been taught from a young age what the position of Hokage meant to the Uchiha. Moreover, with his father's and brother's eyes injured because of Obito, if his sensei could become Hokage, they would have more ways to fight back.
Naruto's situation was different. His childhood dream had been to become Hokage. After the incident with the Third Hokage, he had developed an aversion to the position. But as he grew older and more mature, he also learned that his own father was the Fourth Hokage. He could now view the role of Hokage with a level head. Hearing that the person he respected and admired most was running for Fifth Hokage made him very happy.
On the other hand, his "Sis Tsunade" was also a candidate. For a moment, he was torn, unsure of who to support.
Kawasaki hadn't seen Naruto in a while. He reached out, placing a hand on each of their heads.
"So even you two have heard the news?"
Sasuke nodded. "It's all over the academy."
"And after we left school, everyone on the streets was talking about it," Naruto added.
Kawasaki chuckled. In truth, he had little interest in the position of Hokage. His previous actions were merely a ruse to mislead the Third Hokage and force him into making a misjudgment. If the Third hadn't stepped down voluntarily, Kawasaki would have continued to rally the clans and expose the Third's dark secrets until he was impeached.
However, the Third had anticipated Kawasaki's next move and proactively initiated the election for the Fifth Hokage.
But for Kawasaki, the election was just a formality. His true goal was to accomplish other things during the process. The next Hokage had already been decided internally; he had no reason to be excited. It was only because others didn't know that it had caused such a stir.
"Sensei, when are my father and brother coming back?" Sasuke's question pulled Kawasaki back from his thoughts.
"Fugaku and Itachi need to have their eyes cloned. It will take another half a month or so," Kawasaki explained. "But even when their eyes are replicated, they won't be awakened yet."
Sasuke's expression soured. "Does that mean my brother won't be able to train with me anymore?"
Kawasaki smiled. "What are you thinking, Sasuke? You couldn't beat your brother even if his eyes weren't awakened."
"I don't believe you," Sasuke retorted. "I have three tomoe now. How could he possibly beat me without his eyes awakened?"
Kawasaki didn't argue. "We'll see when Itachi has recovered." He then changed the subject. "Naruto, Sasuke, you're both about to graduate. Who do you want to be on a team with?"
At the mention of graduation, Naruto's eyes lit up. Aside from their academic classes, there wasn't much left for them to learn at the academy. They were both eager to become ninja and start going on missions.
Naruto threw an arm around Sasuke's shoulder. "Of course I want to be with Sasuke! As for anyone else, it doesn't matter. None of them are as strong as Sasuke anyway. Right, Sasuke!"
Sasuke awkwardly shrugged off Naruto's arm, feigning indifference. "No one in our class is particularly strong. You're the only one who's decent. Being on a team with you... I guess that would be alright."
Naruto beamed. "Then it's a deal, Sasuke! We'll be inseparable from now on!"
Sasuke snorted. "It's not like we get to decide the team assignments."
"Don't worry," Kawasaki reassured them. "I guarantee I can get you two assigned to the same team."
Naruto was ecstatic. "Wow! You're amazing, Senior!" Everything Kawasaki had promised before had come true, one by one. His first reaction wasn't doubt or verification, but pure, unadulterated cheering.
Seeing Naruto's excitement, Sasuke turned his head away and muttered, "Idiot."
However, Kawasaki caught the faint smile that touched the corner of Sasuke's lips.
"What's all the excitement about?" Tsunade asked, having just arrived from the hospital.
"Sis Tsunade!" Naruto shouted happily.
Even though she had heard it many times, Tsunade couldn't help but smile every time Naruto called her that.
"Lady Tsunade," Sasuke said, much more relaxed around her now that he was more familiar.
"Alright, what were you all talking about?"
Naruto couldn't wait to share his joy. "Senior just said he'd get me and Sasuke put on the same team after graduation!"
Tsunade thought for a moment. Given Naruto and Sasuke's unique statuses, it was entirely possible they would be placed together. She nodded. "Kawasaki's right. You two have a very high chance of being on the same team."
"Okay, you two go on to the dinner table. I have something to discuss with Tsunade," Kawasaki said, shooing the boys away.
"Tsunade, the higher-ups had a meeting today. The Third has decided to officially begin the selection for the Fifth Hokage."
"Oh? Was that the old man's idea?" Tsunade asked with a hint of confusion. She was aware of Kawasaki's recent activities and had expected him to demand the Third's impeachment.
Kawasaki smirked. "The Third isn't one to just sit back and wait for the worst. Guess who he nominated?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Who else could it be besides you and Orochimaru?"
Kawasaki shook his head. "The council elder, Mitokado Homura, nominated you to run for Fifth Hokage."
Tsunade's brow furrowed. "I have no interest in being Hokage! That stubborn old coot is really sticking his nose where it doesn't belong!"
Tsunade was no fool. She immediately realized someone was trying to use her as a pawn. Even if she refused to play their game, her nomination was meant to cause problems for Kawasaki.
"I'll go withdraw from the election tomorrow," she declared. She truly had no desire to be Hokage. Her current life was good—a moderate amount of work each day, a little gambling to unwind after her duties, plenty to eat and drink, and her little brother to share meals with. Becoming Hokage would mean giving all of that up. Naturally, she was unwilling.
But Kawasaki stopped her. "Not so fast. The vote is still a long way off. I wanted to talk to you about something else."
"This new batch of medical students... isn't it time for their practical training?"
Tsunade's expression grew troubled at the mention of it. "You're right. Theory and practice on animals can only teach them so much. But it's not wartime, so we don't have many injured shinobi. And your facility is so far from Konoha, no one would be sent here."
Kawasaki had already considered this. "That's precisely why I was thinking of setting up a period of free practical combat training."
"Practical combat training?" Tsunade didn't immediately follow.
Kawasaki explained his idea in detail. "...in live combat, injuries are inevitable. When that happens, the medical unit will have as many patients as they could possibly need."
Tsunade stared at him as if she were looking at a ghost. "I thought you were trying to score political points. So this was your real plan all along."
Kawasaki shrugged, a familiar move for him. "It's not intentionally for political points. But it allows newly graduated genin to accumulate real combat experience, which is far better than them dying senselessly on a battlefield."
The ones who died most often on the battlefield were genin. The academy graduates these days were at least somewhat better off. During the wars, you were considered a graduate as long as you could throw a kunai and a shuriken.