Konoha: Gu Master

In the Hokage's Office, Shinho sat behind the Hokage's desk, meticulously flipping through documents.

Shizune stood silently behind him, observing his work with a mixture of pride and nervousness.

Tsunade leaned back on the sofa, her eyes closed as if in rest, though her thoughts were elsewhere—deciding which casino to visit after the 9 a.m, Jōnin meeting.

While the official villagers' vote was pending, it was merely a formality. Both the daimyō and the Jōnin had already expressed their approval of Shinho's appointment.

Suddenly, the door burst open with a loud bang.

"Tsunade!"

The booming voice of Jiraiya filled the room.

"Shut up!" Tsunade snapped, startled.

Jiraiya immediately froze mid-step, instinctively aware of the danger zone he had just entered.

"I rushed back overnight after hearing the news," Jiraiya explained sheepishly, trying to defuse her anger.

"Spare me the act—you have reverse summoning," Tsunade retorted, her nose wrinkling as she sniffed the air. "You reek of women. Looks like you've been having a great time."

Caught off guard, Jiraiya could only stand there, momentarily speechless.

"Long time no see, Naruto," Shinho greeted, glancing up from his work.

Naruto Uzumaki's wide eyes darted toward the young man seated at the Hokage's desk.

At first, Naruto hadn't fully believed the news, but now the sight before him confirmed it.

"That's awesome!" Naruto suddenly shouted, his face lighting up. "This means no one can compete with me for the title of Seventh Hokage!"

Shinho blinked, momentarily speechless at Naruto's brain worked. He had anticipated some level of disappointment or resistance—but not this.

Truly the most unpredictable ninja.

"Well, don't get too confident," Shinho teased, smiling. "You've still got Sasuke to worry about."

"Sasuke doesn't stand a chance!" Naruto declared, tilting his chin upward confidently. "I'll beat him for sure!"

"Such energy," Tsunade was unable to suppress a chuckle.

"Well, he is my student!" Jiraiya said, puffing out his chest in pride.

"You took him on as your student?" Tsunade raised a brow.

Jiraiya shrugged. "He's earned it."

Ah, the Child of Prophecy? Tsunade thought, rolling her eyes internally.

"Remember to attend the Jōnin meeting at 9." Tsunade reminded him.

"You're really retiring?" Jiraiya asked, frowning. "Shinho's still too young—you should have held your position for a few more years."

"Then you take over!" Tsunade snapped. "I've had enough of this job."

"Ah... never mind. Shinho will do just fine," Jiraiya relented, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

Shizune watched this exchange with a wry expression. 

Wasn't the Hokage position supposed to be the village's most coveted role? They treated it as if it were a burden to avoid at all costs.

"How's Naruto's training going?" Tsunade asked, steering the conversation elsewhere.

"There's still a long way to go," Jiraiya admitted with a sigh.

Teaching Naruto to control the Nine-Tails was no easy feat. A slip-up during one such attempt had nearly cost Jiraiya his life.

"There's no need to rush," Tsunade said. "Things are peaceful in the village for now—Naruto can continue his training outside."

"What about the Akatsuki?" Jiraiya's tone turned serious, his gaze briefly flicking toward Naruto, who was talking with Shinho before landing back on Tsunade.

"I haven't received any recent intel," Tsunade replied, her expression darkening. "We lost contact with Itachi after the Chūnin Exams."

"I see. I'll investigate when I get the chance," Jiraiya offered.

"When you get the chance?" Tsunade's sharp gaze cut through his words. "And when exactly will that be?"

"Ehem..." Jiraiya coughed awkwardly, unable to meet her eyes.

"Go chase your son of prophecy," Tsunade said dismissively, turning her attention to Shinho. "The village will be in capable hands under the new Hokage."

Jiraiya hesitated but said nothing further. As much as he cared for Tsunade, his life was committed to fulfilling the Great Toad Sage's prophecy.

"When are you leaving?" Tsunade asked evenly.

"Tomorrow," Jiraiya replied, his voice tinged with melancholy. He knew tsunade was probably disappointed in him.

"Good, then you can stay for the succession ceremony," Tsunade said, her tone softening just slightly.

"That works," Jiraiya replied, forcing a smile. "And what about you? Any plans for retirement?"

"Of course, I'll…" Tsunade began, but abruptly stopped, sneaking a glance at Shinho. Satisfied that he wasn't paying attention, she lowered her voice. "...head to the casino."

Jiraiya blinked in surprise.

Since when did Tsunade care about being caught doing something like that? For a brief moment, he felt a flicker of envy towards Shinho.

"Just like you, I guess" Jiraiya remarked with a chuckle. "Going back to wandering from casino to casino?"

"No, I'll stay in Konoha this time," Tsunade replied, her gaze steady despite his curious look. "That brat just became Hokage—I can't leave him unsupervised."

"True," Jiraiya agreed, nodding. "He's young, and it's good to have someone keeping an eye on him."

At that moment, a knock on the door interrupted their conversation.

"Come in," Shinho called, ending his chat with Naruto, which had largely consisted of listening to the younger ninja complain about Jiraiya and the stuff he saw in his two and a half years journey.

"Lord Hokage," Yugao Uzuki announced as she entered. "It's almost 9 a.m. Most of the Jonin have already gathered in the meeting room."

"Let's head out," Shinho said, standing up. Then he glanced at Naruto. "You should go find Sasuke and the others."

Naruti couldn't attend the meeting since officially he was still a genin.

"Got it!" Naruto replied eagerly, dashing off. He'd long missed his friends.

…

The Hokage Building Meeting Room.

"Why a sudden Jonin meeting?" Kakashi Hatake asked, glancing around the room.

Jonin meetings were mandatory and only held for significant matters. Given their busy schedules, such gatherings were rare.

"You'll find out soon enough," Asuma Sarutobi said, his tone tinged with complexity.

The specifics discussed at Shinho's birthday celebration hadn't been disclosed beyond the clan leaders, but the implications were becoming clear.

"Mysterious," Might Guy commented before turning to Kakashi with a grin. "Kakashi, how about a youthful showdown after the meeting?"

Since the jonin meeting was held today, none of them had any missions. 

"Nop, I'm too busy," Kakashi replied flatly, without the slightest bit of hesitation.

"Is that Lord Jiraiya?" Kurenai Yuhi asked, her eyes widening.

"It really is," Asuma Sarutobi responded, an idea striking him.

Jiraiya's return to the village at this moment could only mean one thing: he was here to support Shinho Aburame. Clearly, Tsunade was pulling out all the stops to aid her student.

"This must be something big," Kakashi said, his usual tired expression showing a glimmer of curiosity.

"The last time Jiraiya attended a Jonin meeting was when Lady Tsunade became Hokage," Kurenai noted, her heart skipping a beat. "Could it be...?"

"You guessed it," Asuma confirmed with a nod.

"Who is it?" Kurenai's eyes lit up with anticipation as she turned to him. "Judging by age, it should be someone from our generation, right?"

She couldn't help but fantasize about it being Asuma himself. 

If he became Hokage, marrying him would be a significant win.

"..." Asuma hesitated, his expression unreadable.

No man wanted to embarrass himself in front of the woman he admired, but this time, Kurenai's guess was off the mark.

Just then, Tsunade slammed her hand on the table, commanding everyone's attention. She scanned the room, confirming that nearly everyone had arrived.

There were one or two absentees, but their votes wouldn't affect the outcome.

"I've called everyone here today for one reason," Tsunade began, her tone serious. "The vote for the selection of the Sixth Hokage."

The room erupted in murmurs.

None of the Jonin had anticipated this announcement. 

Considering Hiruzen Sarutobi's long tenure as Hokage despite his age, Tsunade was clearly still young by comparison. Her decision to retire so soon left many puzzled.

However, some had already begun speculating about the successor. 

Based on age and experience, many assumed the likely candidates were Kakashi Hatake or Asuma Sarutobi.

"I nominate Shinho Aburame as the Sixth Hokage," Tsunade declared without any preamble.

The room fell into even louder murmurs.

"What? Shinho?" Kakashi's usual deadpan expression flickered with surprise, his eyes narrowing slightly in disbelief.

"Shinho is just a Chunin, isn't he?" Kurenai gasped, covering her mouth in astonishment.

"As expected from Kakashi!" Guy suddenly gave a thumbs-up, grinning. "Your student has beaten my student to become Hokage! I've lost again!"

He was referring to Shinho and Naruto.

"..." Kakashi tugged at the corner of his mouth, feeling an incoming headache.

This isn't the place to be comparing accomplishments! 

Moreover, while Shinho had technically been his student, Kakashi hadn't taught him much of anything. In truth, Shinho was more of a teammate than a student.

"Will someone as young as Shinho gain the village's acceptance?" Yamato, who had remained silent until now, asked cautiously.

"I'm not sure," Kakashi admitted hesitantly. "We'll see after the vote."

While Shinho was undeniably talented, his lack of experience might prove problematic. 

Unlike Minato Namikaze, he hadn't built a reputation through wartime achievements. Tsunade's support alone might not be enough.

Asuma hesitated, thinking, They don't know how extensive Shinho's connections are. There's nothing to worry about.

The rising chatter in the room subsided when a calm yet authoritative voice broke the noise.

"I support Shinho," Jiraiya said, his tone decisive.

Following his declaration, clan leaders including Hiashi Hyuga, Mikoto Uchiha, and Shikaku Nara quickly voiced their agreement.

A stunned silence enveloped the room.

The gathered Jonin exchanged bewildered glances.

Kakashi scratched his chin thoughtfully. Am I about to have a Hokage as a student? This is ridiculous.

Asuma let out a heavy sigh. The Sarutobi clan's hopes have officially been dashed.

He now faced another pressing concern: the restructuring of the Hokage Guard Platoon. 

It was customary for a new Hokage to reassign personnel, often disbanding the previous administration's inner circle.

Minato Namikaze's guard platoon was a prime example—its members had either returned to regular duties or been relegated to mundane tasks like guarding the village gates.

Asuma had no desire to end up sidelined. 

The Sarutobi clan depended on him to maintain their standing. 

Fortunately, Shinho's character didn't seem overly aggressive or vindictive, so retaining his position wasn't entirely out of the question.

"Then, let's proceed with the vote," Tsunade said firmly, dismissing the scattered murmurs.

Shinho will be Hokage—nothing can stop this, not even if Hiruzen Sarutobi himself came back to life.

Shizune stepped forward, carrying the ballot box. She moved methodically from left to right, collecting votes from each Jonin.

Fifteen minutes later, she returned to the podium.

"Count them," Tsunade instructed with a glance.

Shizune nodded, carefully extracting and tallying each vote. For every "yes," she made a mark.

Before long, the results were in.

"More than four out of five people voted in agreement," Shizune announced, a small smile playing at her lips.

"I hereby declare Shinho Aburame the Sixth Hokage," Tsunade proclaimed with a bright smile. 

"The results will be announced to the public this afternoon. Following the villagers' vote of approval, the succession ceremony will take place tomorrow morning."

Her eagerness to retire was palpable. Though the timefrane was tight, everything adhered to protocol.

The reactions around the room varied widely, but ultimately, their opinions no longer mattered—the decision was final.

"Meeting adjourned!" Tsunade declared with a decisive wave, her no-nonsense attitude cutting through the lingering disbelief.

Many of the Jonin were still reeling from the sudden announcement when they realized the podium was already empty.

"Shouldn't the new Hokage say a few words?" Shibi Aburame asked, adjusting his glasses.

"If you want a speech, you can call him back," Shikaku Nara quipped.

"Never mind. He'll be busy enough as Hokage," Shibi replied, though he couldn't suppress a proud grin.

"You've raised an exceptional son," Choza Akimichi said, his tone tinged with admiration.

"Shibi," Inoichi Yamanaka extended a hand in invitation. "You should come visit more often—after all, Ino and Shinho are quite close."

"I will," Shibi replied warmly, shaking Inoichi's hand.

The gesture made it clear: the Ino-Shika-Cho trio was extending their support to the Aburame clan. 

Previously considered second- or third-tier in Konoha's hierarchy, the clan had now firmly risen to the top tier.

Hiashi Hyuga hesitated, considering joining the conversation but ultimately deciding against it to avoid overstepping.

He resolved to invite Shibi to the Hyuga estate in the coming days for a discussion, primarily about the future of Hinata and Shinho.

…

[Achievement Unlocked: "I Am the Hokage!" Reward: Slavery Gu.]

[Slavery Gu: Rank 5 Gu. Single-use. Grants control over a Rank 5 Gu Master.]

Back in the Hokage's office, Shinho Aburame walked alongside Tsunade.

As expected, an achievement had been triggered. The reward, however, left him momentarily stunned.

A Rank 5 Gu Worm? And a Slavery Gu at that?

While undeniably rare and valuable, its nature was surprising. 

Shinho was currently only a Rank 4 Gu Master, and the entire ninja world likely didn't have a single Rank 5 equivalent.

Of course, the dynamics of the ninja world differed from Gu cultivation. Shinho speculated that anyone with power comparable to or slightly below a Rank 5 Gu Master could be targeted. That opened up a wide range of possibilities.

The only downside was its one-time use.

Who should I use it on? Shinho pondered, though he dismissed the idea of using it on allies. If it came to it, his sights would be set on rival villages like Kumogakure or Iwagakure.

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