XX-level Hokage

A hearty swallow broke the silence.

Tsunade leaned back unceremoniously in a large, cushioned rattan chair, holding a large sake cup in her hand, and downed the sake in one gulp. She wore her signature green robe with the gambling character on it, and her golden twin ponytails hung casually down her back. Although she was the oldest of the four, her well-maintained face (all thanks to the White Hair Technique) and her figure that could rival any other exuded a domineering aura that made people afraid to look directly at her.

"Hey, over there." Tsunade put down her drink, her eyes blurry with drunkenness yet gleaming with a sharp light as she looked across at the other side. "Since you're here, stop sitting in that weird pose. You're not tired, but I'm tired just looking at you."

Opposite Tsunade, a stunningly beautiful woman was leaning back in an extremely backward posture—one hand on her hip, her upper body almost parallel to the ground, her finger pointing at Tsunade, her gaze appearing as if she were staring at a ceiling panel due to the angle.

That's Boa Hancock, the "Pirate Empress".

She wore a deep red, high-slit cheongsam, with the Kuja Emperor's cloak draped over her back, and her long, black hair cascaded to the ground. As a woman possessing Conqueror's Haki, her aura collided silently with Tsunade's chakra pressure in the air, causing the clouds and leaves on the terrace to tremble slightly.

"Insolent fool." Hancock finally straightened up, her cold and beautiful face filled with arrogance. "I am the Empress of Kuja, and the most beloved woman of Lord Mashiro (self-proclaimed). How can you sit and drink while facing my beauty? Have all the ninja etiquette been eaten by dogs?"

Huh? Most favored? A brow furrowed on Tsunade's forehead. "Nai-i's words," she said, tightening her grip on the wine cup slightly. "This little brat has quite the nerve. As for who came first..."

"When I first met Mashiro, you were still playing in the mud!"

“That’s because you’re old,” Hancock added mercilessly, even flipping her hair. “My beauty is natural, unlike some people who need that diamond mark on their forehead to maintain their youth.”

The sake in Tsunade's hand turned into powder.

"You want to fight, you pirate girl!" Tsunade suddenly stood up, her green chakra aura erupting instantly. "Perfect timing! I saw my daughter and that guy named Feren weren't having enough of a fight, so how about we, as mothers, have a go?!"

"Just what I wanted!" Hancock's beautiful eyes turned cold, and jet-black Armament Haki instantly covered her long legs. "Fragrant Kick!"

Just as these two representatives of violent aesthetics were about to tear the roof off the palace, someone said, "Please stop now."

"Um, everyone, calm down."

Two voices rang out simultaneously, one as cold as ice, the other as gentle as water.

The blue-haired woman, Konan, who had been quietly folding paper all along, finally raised her head. She was wearing a long dress embroidered with red clouds (the Akatsuki's new formal attire, one of the few ways she could commemorate Akatsuki), her expression indifferent, and a pair of paper wings faintly appeared behind her.

"If you fight here and destroy the palace, it will be very difficult for Mashiro when she returns." Konan's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.

Calm down. "Besides, the repair costs will have to come from the national treasury. Recently, that girl, Ya, has been checking the accounts constantly, and I don't want to hear her complain."

Beside Hancock, Nefertari Vivi, with her long, light blue hair, was holding Hancock's arm with a wry smile.

“Hancock, please don’t do this,” Vivi gently advised. “This is ninja territory, and we are guests. Besides, Mashiro is coming soon, and she will be sad if she sees you fighting.”

Upon hearing the words "Mashiro will be sad," Hancock, who had been full of vigor just moments before, instantly deflated like a punctured balloon.

"Hmph... Since Vivi says so, then I'll spare this old woman for now." Hancock put away her domineering aura, gracefully sat back in her chair, and casually took a cup of fruit tea from Vivi's hand. "This tea is alright, although it can't compare to the tribute from Amazon Lily."

"Who are you calling an old woman?!" Tsunade was still furious.

"Alright, alright, Lady Tsunade." Konan sighed and poured Tsunade another cup of wine. "Why bother arguing with people from across the sea? Here, this is freshly brewed."

Have some osmanthus wine.

The four finally sat down again. Although the air was still thick with tension, at least there was no longer any sign of an immediate fight. After a few rounds of drinks (mainly by Tsunade), the atmosphere eased a little.

The topic naturally shifted from "who is more beautiful" to the eternal motherly question of "whose daughter is more outstanding".

Vivi held her teacup, her gaze gently fixed on the training ground below, where the faint sound of the wind stirred up by Alice's dance could be heard.

“Alice is a bit too strong-willed,” Vivi sighed softly. “In Alabasta, she was the perfect princess, but I always felt she carried too much on her shoulders. I really wish she could be a little more laid-back like Xing or Xiaonan over there.”

"What's so good about being lazy?" Konan replied casually, a paper flower that had appeared in her hand at some point. "Konan is just too lazy. All she does every day is sleep and daydream. I have to force her to even do ninjutsu training. Just now down there, I saw her not even bother to deal with that kid named Lilim and just sealed her away."

"That's efficiency." Tsunade interjected, a smug blush creeping across her face. "Ninjas are all about one-hit kills. But if you ask me, my Manka is the most impressive! Look at that monstrous strength, look at that bold spirit! That kick that sent that Kuja girl flying just now was truly beautiful!"

"Who did you say got kicked away?" Hancock's teacup cracked as she sneered. "Philan's retreat was tactical! Besides, Philan inherited my perfect looks and domineering aura. That noble temperament is something no wild girl who only knows brute force can compare to."

"Huh? Noble? I think it's just arrogance!" Tsunade retorted sarcastically. "That girl named Philon, the moment she got off the ship, she started calling me 'I, the Empress' this and 'I, the Empress' that."

If this were at the Weiye Huzhe School, he would have been beaten up with a sack over his head long ago.

“That’s the majesty of a king!” Hancock retorted. “Only the weak band together; the strong are always alone!” Vivi rubbed her temples, looking a bit of a headache. “We’re exchanging parenting tips, not holding a martial arts contest to find a husband.”

“Actually,” Xiao Nan suddenly spoke up, interrupting the second round of argument that was about to erupt, “I think everyone’s children are pretty good. At least… compared to our generation, they are living very happy lives.”

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere on the terrace fell silent.

Tsunade recalled that era of war, her deceased brother and lover; Konan recalled the endless rain in Amegakure and Yahiko's death; Vivi recalled the civil war in Alabasta that nearly destroyed the country; Hancock recalled her dark past as a slave.

“Yes.” Tsunade swirled her wine glass, the drunkenness in her eyes fading slightly, revealing a hint of world-weariness. “The Jade Era… Mashiro, that guy, really created a good era for these kids. Manka doesn’t need to worry about whether she’ll die on the battlefield tomorrow; she only needs to worry about whether the table is sturdy enough.”

“Philan doesn’t need to become ruthless just to survive.” Hancock lowered her eyes, her tone softening slightly for once. “Although I’m strict with her, it’s only because I want her to be strong enough to protect herself. After all, even now, this world isn’t absolutely safe.”

"That's why we're sitting here," Vivi said with a smile. "The Ninja Kingdom and the Ocean Kingdom may have different power systems and cultures, but as long as we mothers can understand each other, our children will have a brighter future."

"Hmph, I don't need anyone's understanding." Hancock turned her face away haughtily, "However... for the sake of this era, I can reluctantly admit that you ninjas also have your merits."

Act Four: About That Shared "Trouble"

The atmosphere warmed up a bit. But soon, another topic turned this warmth into a strange "united front."

“Speaking of which,” Tsunade suddenly put down her wine glass and leaned closer with a gossipy look, “that Mashiro guy, he’s been over there by the sea lately… hasn’t he caused you any trouble, has he?” Mentioning Mashiro, Hancock’s expression instantly became interesting—a complex mix of admiration, helplessness, and a hint of resentment.

"Hmph, that wretched woman." Hancock chewed on her handkerchief. "She's always busy with government affairs, and when she does come home, she just collapses into bed. Last time, I specially wore a newly made cheongsam, and she ended up talking to me all night about the Red Earth greening project! She's so clueless about romance!"

"Pfft." Vivi couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Lady Mashiro is indeed a workaholic. Even in Alabasta, she spends all her time in the laboratory researching the combination of ninjutsu and meteorology in order to improve the desert climate. I rarely even get to see her."

“We’re the same here,” Konan added casually. “In Amegakure (now part of the Land of Water), she even considered filling in part of the sea to solve the drainage problem. Sometimes when I want to discuss Konan’s education with her, I have to go to the construction site to drag her away.”

"Ha! Looks like we're all in the same boat!" Tsunade laughed, slapping the table. "That girl is just a restless, busybody. Even though she's the king of two worlds, she's still worrying about this and that all the time. Sometimes I just want to punch her and make her take a few days off."

"I've wanted to do this for a long time!" Hancock nodded in deep agreement. "How wonderful it would be to petrify her and take her back to Amazon Lily, with her by my side."

“If that happens, both worlds will be in chaos,” Vivi rationally reminded her.

"However," Xiao Nan looked at the paper rose in her hand, a faint smile appearing on her lips, "it is precisely because she is this kind of person that we... are willing to stay by her side, isn't that right?"

The four women exchanged glances. Although they were all hugging each other, the tenderness in their eyes was undeniable. "Tch, who wants to stay by his side? I'm only doing this for the gambling money," Tsunade retorted stubbornly.

“I did it to conquer her!” Hancock retorted stubbornly. “I did it for the country,” Vivi blushed slightly.

"I did it so that... the sun would shine again after the rain," Xiao Nan said softly.

Just as the four mothers reached a rare consensus and were about to raise a glass for their shared "family harmony," a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the entrance to the terrace.

"Kushina! Slow down! My shoes are about to fall off!"

"Hikaru! Stop dawdling! I smell alcohol! Tsunade Amanto must have hidden some good sake!"

Immediately afterward, a red whirlwind rushed in, followed by a black-haired woman with a cool and aloof demeanor, dressed in a white kimono. It was none other than Uzumaki Kushina and Uchiha Hikaru, who had just arrived.

"Yo! Everyone's here!" Kushina's eyes lit up the moment she saw the sake on the table. "Tsunade-sama! Long time no see! And Konan too!"

"Oh my, who are these two beauties? Are they sisters from across the sea?"

Tsunade looked at Kushina, her head throbbing even more: "Why did you, Red Hot Chili, come here too? And with the Uchiha clan members?" Hikaru ignored Tsunade and instead turned his gaze to Hancock.

In that instant, the Sharingan and Conqueror's Haki resonated once again.

"You're that Empress?" Light coldly scrutinized Hancock. "I've heard you have a strong aura?"

"And who are you?" Hancock sensed the provocation and slowly stood up. "Your eyesight is good, but before me, you're nothing but a mortal's struggle." "Uchiha Hikaru." Hikaru's fingers rested on her folding fan. "If you don't mind, I'd like to experience it for myself. Let's see if your domineering aura is stronger, or my eyes are more powerful."

The technique is more advanced.

"I can't ask for it!"

Seeing that the conflict that had just subsided was about to reignite due to the arrival of newcomers, Weiwei and Xiaonan sighed simultaneously. "How lively," Weiwei said with a wry smile.

“Yes.” Xiao Nan rubbed her temples. “It seems that today’s tea party is destined to be anything but peaceful.”

Kushina, already familiar with Tsunade, squeezed next to her and poured herself a drink: "Come on! Stop fighting! Have a drink first! I'm telling you, I saw Mashiro on the way here just now, she's on her way! If she sees you tearing this place down, nobody's going to sleep in bed tonight!"

This statement was far more devastating than anything else. Hancock and Hikari simultaneously concealed their presence.

"Since Mashiro is coming," Hancock smoothed her hair and sat back down, "then I'll maintain my elegance for now."

"I'm just saying hello," Hikaru said casually, finding a place to kneel down. Tsunade looked at the room full of "troublesome women" and helplessly raised her wine glass.

"Never mind, let's toast to this damned chaotic era." "To Mashiro." Vivi raised her glass.

"A toast to our daughter." Konan raised her glass. A toast to...love? Kushina chuckled. Six glasses clinked gently on the cloud-top terrace.

The crisp sound not only carries the pride and worries of mothers, but also the unique and resilient bond between two of the world's strongest women.

Bonus Chapter: Tea Party (Part 3)

Location: Ninja Kingdom, Imperial City, East Side, "Water Fragrance Courtyard" Time: 45 minutes after the start of the Royal Meeting

Unlike the intense clash of auras between the "Queens" and "Narutos" on the Cloud Terrace, the "Water Pavilion" on the east side of the palace is an elegant courtyard built by the water. Clear river water flows through it, and evergreen ninja shrubs and coral trees from the One Piece world are planted here. The environment is quiet and secluded, and it is a resting place specially prepared for mothers with relatively gentle (or seemingly gentle) personalities.

At this moment, a profound exchange is taking place here regarding "household finances," "childcare," and "desserts." Act One: The Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Heiress's Calculations.

"Pfft, pfft, pfft! Is this teacup made of translucent jade, a specialty of the Land of Fire? Its current market price should be 30,000 taels each." A figure of a certain color was examining a teacup closely, holding it up to the sunlight.

Nami wore a refreshing blue and white striped bikini top paired with high-waisted jeans (although she was already a mother, her figure was still stunning, and she retained the style of her original world), her long orange wavy hair shimmering in the sunlight. At this moment, her large eyes, which always sparkled with wisdom (and money), were rapidly estimating the cost of building this palace.

"And the weaving technique of these tatami mats, if I'm not mistaken, is the work of a master craftsman from the Land of Waves. Mashiro, although he says he doesn't waste money, every inch of the decoration here is burning money."

Nami put down her teacup, took out a small ledger she always carried with her, and scribbled something down while muttering to herself, "I have to include all of this in the royal assets' depreciation expense, and then make that idiot pay for it..."

"Nami, this is just a normal way of treating guests." A gentle laugh came from the other side.

Uchiha Izumi was kneeling beside the tea table, skillfully brewing green tea. She wore a light pink Uchiha clan uniform, her long hair was elegantly tied up, and the beauty mark at the corner of her eye made her look both virtuous and mature.

As the matriarchal figure of the Uchiha clan in the capital (although she didn't have an official title, everyone assumed that), Izumi was already very familiar with this kind of situation.

“Mashiro said that since we’ve connected the two worlds, we should give the children the best,” Izumi said, handing Nami a cup of tea. “Besides, these expenses should still be within the Empire’s budget. After all, the mission fees from the ninjas and the trade taxes from the ocean are increasing year after year.”

"Hmph, you have no idea how extravagant that guy is with money." Nami took the tea, complaining but still enjoying the aroma. Last time, to make an indestructible Weather Stick for that little girl named Zona, she used Wapo metal and chakra-conducting metal—that was incredibly expensive! And what happened? That brat Zona immediately tried to sell it for money!"

When her daughter is mentioned, Nami has a look of disappointment and frustration on her face.

“This shows that Zona has a good business sense, just like you.” Izumi covered his mouth and chuckled. “Unlike my Miko, who is excellent but too stubborn. In pursuit of the perfect tea ceremony, she will even use her Sharingan to observe the slightest changes in water temperature. Sometimes I think she pushes herself too hard.”

“What’s wrong with pursuing perfection? It’s better than being obsessed with money.” Nami sighed, then her eyes lit up as she leaned closer to Izumi. “By the way, Izumi-neechan, I heard that your Uchiha clan now monopolizes the security industry in the capital? That Sharingan surveillance system must be very profitable, right? Are you interested in opening a branch in the Ocean Kingdom? I can invest, even if it’s just 20%... no, even 10% is fine!”

Seeing Nami instantly switch from "complaining mother" mode to "business partner" mode, Izumi was stunned for a moment, then smiled helplessly.

"Well... you'll have to ask Miko. Most of the family business is being managed by that child. She says it's to train her leadership skills."

"Pfft, kids these days are all smarter than adults." Nami scoffed, but a hint of admiration flashed in her eyes. Act Two: The Gentle Monster and the Cowardly Giant

Just as Nami and Izumi were discussing the possibility of cross-industry business collaboration, a slight tremor came from the courtyard corridor. Thump, thump, thump.

Although the footsteps were very light, the ground still resonated because of the sheer density of the approaching figures.

A faint voice broke the silence.

A mermaid, whose height had shrunk to about two meters (to adapt to indoor conditions), but was still much taller than an average person, cautiously walked in with her head down. She had long, wavy pink hair, wore a cute hair accessory, and was dressed in a flowing feather robe.