Chapter 148 : You Have Surpassed The Fourth Hokage
Although Tsunade could maintain her youthful appearance indefinitely, she was still, in reality, over fifty years old.
With an age gap of more than thirty years between them, anything too outrageous was simply out of the question.
Jiraiya had been thinking too much lately, especially after seeing Tsunade frequenting those red-light district establishments.
He glanced at the two of them chatting and laughing together and said, "We’re heading back tomorrow. You two should be ready."
Riku and Tsunade looked up at the same time, meeting Jiraiya’s gaze. Riku replied, "Is there anything to prepare? Can’t we just check out and leave?"
Tsunade didn’t speak but nodded in agreement with Riku’s words.
Seeing the two of them move so in sync, the corner of Jiraiya’s mouth twitched. "Alright, alright, I’m talking too much."
He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but something about them felt strange.
Watching the two of them continue their easy banter, Jiraiya suddenly felt like a third wheel—unnecessary and awkward.
Meanwhile, Naruto was still training in the mountains behind the village.
During this time, Shizune was rarely seen at Tsunade’s side. Every time she went to visit Riku, she would instruct Shizune not to follow.
The group of four stayed in this odd dynamic until late into the night. After a day of rest on Baanchu Street, they packed up their things and departed.
Standing at the edge of Bamboo Street, Tsunade stretched her limbs and said with a smile, "Finally, we’re leaving this place."
Jiraiya chuckled. "You say that, but I think you’ve grown quite fond of it. After all, it’s the most famous gambling district in the ninja world."
Tsunade shot him a glare, then turned to Riku. "Riku, let’s put you to the test. Since you’ve mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, can you teleport all of us straight to Konoha?"
Jiraiya stared at her in disbelief. "Are you serious? Tsunade, have you lost your mind? Even the Fourth Hokage couldn’t do that."
Shizune also frowned. Tsunade’s request was clearly unreasonable.
But Riku didn’t object. He looked at Tsunade’s smiling face and gave a helpless laugh. "Alright, I’ll give it a shot."
Jiraiya stepped in, concerned. "Don’t listen to her, Riku. She’s just making things hard for you on purpose. I think she’s still mad about that Genjutsu you pulled on her the other day."
Jiraiya believed he was hitting close to the truth.
Still, he didn’t think Tsunade would really give Riku such a hard time—especially not a junior she seemed to care about.
But Tsunade ignored Jiraiya’s comment, her beautiful eyes still fixed on Riku with a smile.
Riku sighed. "Honestly, it is possible. It’ll just cost a lot of chakra."
Jiraiya looked stunned. "You’re not serious, are you? This is too difficult."
Naruto chimed in, concerned. "Yeah, Riku, if it’s that tough, forget it. We can just walk back to Konoha. Why listen to Granny Tsunade?"
At Naruto’s choice of words, a dark vein throbbed on Tsunade’s forehead—she was clearly pissed.
Riku gently patted her shoulder, signaling her to stay calm. At the same time, he used the touch to mark her with the Flying Thunder God seal.
He did the same with Shizune, Naruto, and Jiraiya.
Then Riku stood in the center of the group. "Get close to me so I can cast the technique properly."
Jiraiya was skeptical but curious nonetheless.
As the others gathered around him, Riku closed his eyes.
Tsunade kept her gaze on him the entire time, smiling softly. She loved seeing him like this—focused, serious.
And in an instant, the world around them shifted.
Almost immediately, the four of them were transported from Baanchu Street to Riku’s home in Konoha.
A violent surge of chakra erupted from Riku’s body. The amount of chakra consumed was immense—comparable to using a Tailed Beast Bomb.
It was only about one percent of his total chakra, but still far more than he typically used. Not since he was a child learning ninjutsu under Kakashi had he expended so much chakra in a single burst.
The group took a moment to look around.
Tsunade was the first to speak, laughing triumphantly. "See? I knew you could do it. That was no problem at all for you."
Jiraiya, on the other hand, was stunned into silence.
He knew full well that even Minato couldn’t teleport this many people at once.
From the familiar sight of Hokage Rock visible from Riku’s yard, Jiraiya confirmed it—they were back in Konoha.
After a long pause, he turned to Riku with a complex expression. "You’ve really surpassed the Fourth Hokage. Riku, I have to say—your strength now has definitely exceeded his."
"If it weren’t for your age, I’d recommend you for the position of Fifth Hokage."
Riku gave a weary smile. "There you go again, Master Jiraiya. Didn’t I say already? I have no intention of becoming Hokage. Let Naruto carry that dream. I believe he has the potential. Once he masters the Nine Tails’ power, he’ll reach Kage-level in no time."
And it was true—Naruto, with control over Kurama, could surpass even high-tier Kage-level shinobi.
Of course, the power granted to Naruto by the Sage of Six Paths—the Yin-Yang balance and Six Paths chakra—was an entirely different matter.
But still, Riku had complete confidence in Naruto’s future.
Naruto’s eyes lit up at the praise. "Don’t worry, Riku! I won’t let you down. I will become Hokage!"
Riku patted him on the shoulder, smiling. "I believe in you. When you become Hokage, I’ll be your bodyguard."
Naruto’s eyes welled up with emotion. The fact that Riku had already thought ahead to their future touched him deeply.
Of course, Riku was also using it as an excuse to avoid taking on the Hokage mantle himself.
Tsunade rolled her eyes. "So I’m going to be the Fifth Hokage now. What, you don’t want to be my bodyguard?"
Riku grinned. "Of course I do. After you retire, I’ll go work for Naruto."
Jiraiya blinked in surprise and turned to Tsunade. "Wait... you want Riku to be your personal guard?"
Tsunade nodded seriously. "What, got a problem with that?"
Naturally, Jiraiya had no objections. In fact, he thought Riku was more than qualified.
Not only was his strength beyond sufficient, but he was also Tsunade’s student.
And as the incoming Fifth Hokage, Tsunade had every right to choose her own personal guard.
Chances were, she’d even recommend Riku for a Chūnin or maybe even Jōnin promotion. It wouldn’t be out of the ordinary.
So if Riku became Tsunade’s bodyguard, Jiraiya would be fully supportive.
After all, in many villages, the personal guards of former Kage often went on to become Kage themselves.
Especially for the First, Second, or even Third generations, this was something of an unwritten rule.
Whether people accepted it or not... it carried weight.
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