Translator-Sama - Chapter 370: Changes

Naruto finally regained consciousness under Shikamaru and the others’ calls. He walked over to Goku, head lowered deeply.

“I’m sorry, Goku-nii… I couldn’t stop Sasuke…”

“If you couldn’t stop him, then you couldn’t,” Goku replied calmly, waving his hand dismissively. “Let’s go back.”

With a casual flick of his sleeve, all of them vanished instantly.

---

Hokage’s Office — Konoha

Tsunade looked at Goku with a serious expression, her brows tightly knit.

“Explain something to me. With your abilities, I refuse to believe you couldn’t bring Sasuke back.”

“Bring him back… and then execute him?” Goku asked lightly.

He needed a convincing reason. After all, he didn’t want Tsunade becoming suspicious of him. Their relationship had finally progressed nicely—this was not the time to ruin it.

Tsunade frowned.

“If he’s willing to return, I can overlook his actions.”

“You might,” Goku replied calmly, “but others won’t. The Sharingan of the Uchiha clan isn’t coveted by Orochimaru alone.”

Tsunade fell silent.

Since becoming Hokage, she had discovered many dark undercurrents within Konoha. Root, in particular, was a constant shadow. Yet for the sake of stability, she could only maintain a fragile balance.

“Feeling the pressure now that you’re Hokage?” Goku teased.

“You’re the one who dragged me back into this miserable position!” Tsunade snapped. “And that Danzo… sometimes I really want to punch him.”

“You seem to be handling it well enough,” Goku smiled.

Then his tone shifted.

“If you really dislike him, I can make him disappear.”

Tsunade hesitated briefly—but shook her head.

“Where there is light, there must also be darkness. There are things Konoha cannot do openly. Root serves that purpose. As long as I maintain balance, it’s manageable.”

Goku merely smiled faintly.

Danzo’s ambitions ran deeper than she realized—but to Goku, Danzo was nothing more than a clown who could be erased at any time.

Tsunade’s gaze shifted to Tayuya.

“She’s from the Sound Village, according to our records. Which means she was Orochimaru’s subordinate.”

“She’s mine now,” Goku said casually.

Seeing Tsunade still frowning, he added, “I’ve confirmed her loyalty. Completely reliable. Unless you don’t trust me.”

Tsunade relaxed.

“If you say so, I believe you.”

Her trust in him was genuine.

Goku glanced at Tsunade’s teacup and grabbed it.

“Wait—that’s mine!” she protested.

“I don’t care whose it is,” he replied—then realized it was empty.

Shizune quickly offered, “I’ll pour another cup.”

“No need. Tsunade can do it.”

“Me? I’m the Hokage!”

“That’s exactly why.”

“Or you can pay me back the money you owe,” he added with a grin.

Tsunade froze.

“…Fine. You win.”

She stood up and poured the tea herself.

Knock knock.

“Come in,” Goku called casually.

Three figures entered.

Goku ignored two of them and focused immediately on the blonde kunoichi.

“Well, if it isn’t Temari. Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“So it’s you,” Temari shot back, recalling certain embarrassing memories from the Chunin Exams. Her cheeks flushed faintly.

“Call me Goku-nii,” he said smugly.

“In your dreams!”

“You’ve already let me take advantage before,” he muttered just loud enough for her to hear.

“You bastard!” Temari snapped, raising her giant fan.

“This is the Hokage’s office,” Tsunade interrupted sternly.

Gaara stepped forward.

“Temari, stand down.”

His voice was calm—no longer cold and murderous as before.

He bowed respectfully to Tsunade.

“My apologies, Hokage-sama.”

Goku smiled.

“You’ve changed, Gaara.”

Tsunade nodded.

“We appreciate Sunagakure’s support. Thank you.”

Gaara replied politely.

“We regret arriving too late to assist. By the time we arrived, everything had already been resolved.”

Before the conversation could continue—

An ANBU appeared instantly, kneeling before Tsunade.

“Hokage-sama! The high-security prisoners in the underground prison have rioted and escaped!”

Tsunade’s expression changed immediately.

“What happened?!”

Goku rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

'So it’s that incident… but it escalated quickly.'

“One year ago, a former Chunin instructor named Mizuki attempted to steal the Scroll of Sealing by manipulating Naruto,” the ANBU reported.

“He has now incited the brothers Fujin and Raijin to break through multiple layers of security. Along with several hardened criminals, they’ve escaped, injuring many guards. There are also signs of Sound Village involvement.”

“Sound Village… Mizuki… so Orochimaru again,” Tsunade muttered darkly.

She turned to Goku.

“I think you should handle this.”

“Why me again?” Goku protested. “Am I your full-time laborer?”

“You can refuse,” Tsunade replied calmly, “but I’ve already sent Kurenai and Asuma to investigate Mizuki’s connections to Orochimaru.”

Goku’s expression sharpened.

“You sent Kurenai?”

That settled it.

“Fine. I’ll go.”

Gaara stepped forward.

“If assistance is required, please allow us to help. We came to strengthen relations between our villages.”

Tsunade nodded.

“Very well. Goku, coordinate with them.”

She added firmly:

“This time, do not let the prisoners escape. Bring them all back.”

“No problem,” Goku replied smoothly. “What’s the reward?”

Tsunade immediately lunged at him.

“You still want rewards?!”

Goku shifted slightly, catching her as she stumbled into his arms.

“Careful,” he chuckled, hands resting on her curves.

Temari and the others stared, stunned.

“No outsiders here?” Goku teased.

“Let go!” Tsunade hissed, cheeks flushed.

He released her casually.

“Let’s move,” he said. “Can’t let Kurenai get hurt.”

He leapt out the window.

Tayuya followed instantly.

Gaara’s team bowed and followed.

Tsunade sighed, rubbing her temples.

“He could use the door…”

Shizune looked worried.

“Are you sure sending Goku-sama is wise? If he loses his temper, he might kill them all…”

Tsunade leaned back confidently.

“If he really wanted them dead, they’d already be gone.”

Her gaze softened slightly.

“And besides… if Goku is going… nothing will happen to Kurenai.”