XX-level Hokage

She is "Sea King" Shirahoshi.

Although she was already a mother, Bai Xing's pitiful and tearful expression remained unchanged. She clutched a handkerchief tightly in her hand, looking helplessly at the exquisite yet "tiny" furniture around her.

"Oh, Shirahoshi, come in quickly."

She was led in by a gentle woman with short brown hair and purple floral patterns on her face—Nohara Rin.

Lin, dressed in a white medical ninja outfit, smiled as warmly as a spring breeze. She wasn't surprised by Shirahoshi's size at all; instead, she very naturally took Shirahoshi's enormous hand (relatively speaking) and led her to the specially made, widened cushion.

"It's too narrow here... Won't it break the floor?" Shirahoshi shrank back, tears welling up in her eyes. "Mashiro-sama clearly said she would make the door bigger."

"It's alright, Shirahoshi," Rin said softly, handing over a plate of extra-large glutinous rice balls. "The floor here is reinforced with earth magic and is very sturdy. Besides, I'm so glad to see you. When we first met, that child kept talking to me about wanting to see a very big and beautiful mermaid aunt."

Upon hearing the name "Hatsumi," Shirahoshi relaxed slightly: "Hatsumi... is that energetic short-haired girl? Ruri likes her a lot too, saying she's like the ageless, 'Felen' older sister."

"Pfft... This analogy..." Nami, who was drinking tea, almost spat it out. "If Felen heard this, he'd probably kick someone again."

Lin smiled and sat down next to Bai Xing, straightening the hem of her feather robe for her: "Actually, Chu Jian in our family was also a headache. She was too clingy, always saying she wanted to be my knight and protect me from harm. Even though... I'm no longer that little girl who needs to be protected."

A flicker of memory crossed Rin's eyes. Once, as the Three-Tails' jinchūriki, she chose to die protecting the village from Kakashi's Lightning Blade. In this new timeline, she survived, became a mother, and while the shadow of her past remained, she felt a profound gratitude for life.

“I understand.” Shirahoshi nodded vigorously, picking up a skewer of dumplings (which looked like toothpick meat to her). “Ruri too. Although she’s timid, whenever she senses I’m in danger, she becomes incredibly large and shields me. Sometimes she might even break the house… but it’s a child’s heart.”

“Yes.” Lin looked at Shirahoshi, her eyes filled with empathy. “Our children, though somewhat special, even somewhat strange (one is a Jinchuriki and the other a Sea Lord), both love us in their own ways.”

“Speaking of which,” Izumi interjected, pouring Shirahoshi a large glass of juice, “you and Rin are actually quite similar. You both possess powerful abilities (Sea King and Three-Tail) within you, yet you both have such gentle personalities.”

"Huh? Me...do I look like Sister Lin?" Bai Xing blushed shyly. "Sister Lin is so capable, she's a doctor, and she can even take care of Master Mashiro...all I can do is cry."

"Being able to cry is a kind of power too," Nami said with a smile. "Look at Ruri, she just cried and somehow managed to knock the enemy unconscious. That's a skill too!"

"Nami-neechan!" Shirahoshi called out playfully. Act Three: The Story of "Mashiro"

Four women with very different personalities get together, and their conversations go around in circles, but they always end up talking about the same thing – Mashiro.

“To be honest,” Nami peeled an orange (which she had brought herself), “sometimes I really want to cut off Mashiro’s tail and sell it for money. That guy, he clearly has a tail that could drive any woman crazy, but he’s always as slow as a block of wood. At this meet-and-greet, he actually let us come over first, and then he ran off somewhere to slack off.”

"She's probably with Himawari." Izumi said gently, "I heard Himawari's recently become obsessed with a new game and insists on dragging Mashiro to play it." "That Himawari... she's Kaguya's..." Nami paused, seemingly still somewhat wary of the Otsutsuki clan, "Never mind, as long as she..."

"As long as we don't smash the moon down."

"Actually, Lady Mashiro works very hard," Shirahoshi whispered in defense of her husband. "To keep the Sea Kings in the Calm Belt in line, she has to go to the deep sea every night to unleash her Haki. Sometimes when she comes back, she smells of seawater all over her body and is so tired that she falls asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow."

“That’s why we have to help her share the burden,” Lin said with a smile. “I’m helping out in the medical department, Izumi is managing the police department, Nami is managing the finances, and Shirahoshi is comforting the sea creatures. We are all protecting this family in our own way.”

"Hmph, I did that to prevent her from going bankrupt!" Nami said haughtily, but then casually distributed the peeled oranges to everyone. "But speaking of which, these oranges are really sweet. Next time, let Zona take a few boxes to the Ninja Academy to sell. We should be able to make a fortune."

“You…” Izumi shook her head helplessly, “By the way, I heard that Kushina and Hikaru are here too? Why haven’t I seen them yet?”

"I guess Lady Tsunade snatched it away," Rin speculated. "Lady Tsunade has been eyeing a drinking contest with Kushina for a while now, and as for Hikaru... she probably wants to challenge Hancock to a duel."

Upon hearing "drinking contest" and "gesturing," the four mothers in Shuifangting fell silent for a second.

"I hope they don't tear down the cloud terrace." Nami glanced at the ceiling with heartache. "Those cloud trees up there are very expensive." Act Four: A Sudden "Shake"

Just then, the ground shook violently again. This time it wasn't Shirahoshi walking, but a real shockwave from the ground. Whoosh!

The water in the pond was jolted up two meters high, and the oranges in Nami's hand fell to the ground.

"What's going on? An enemy attack?" Nami instantly went into battle mode, reaching for the Clima-Tact (albeit a modified version) at her waist.

"No...it seems to be over at the training grounds." Rin, who possessed sensory abilities, closed her eyes and sensed it. "Such a strong chakra reaction...and Haki...Is it Mangekyou and Felen?"

"It's not just them." Izumi activated her Sharingan and looked out the window. "I sensed Ruri's chakra... She seems to have grown bigger again?"

Upon hearing "Liuli grows bigger," Bai Xing's face instantly turned pale: "Ah! Liuli! She must be terrified! I have to go see her!" Bai Xing suddenly stood up.

This stop was not a big deal. She forgot that although she had shrunk, she was still a huge creature, and because of her emotional excitement, her internal control had slightly malfunctioned.

"Boom—!"

Pink smoke instantly filled the entire Shui Fang Pavilion. "Cough cough Bai Xing! Control yourself!" Lin shouted.

When the smoke cleared, the once elegant pavilion had its roof blown off. Shirahoshi, now half her original size (about ten meters tall), was awkwardly stuck in the ruins of the pavilion, her huge fish tail sweeping Nami's ledger into the pool.

"Beep beep beep... I'm sorry! I've caused trouble again!" Bai Xing looked at the mess around her and habitually started to cry. Huge tears fell like a torrential rain.

"My ledger!!!" Nami screamed, jumping into the pool without a care for her image to retrieve the soaking wet notebook. "Shirahoshi! This is this year's budget! You have to pay for it! You absolutely have to pay for it!"

"Um... Nami, forget about the ledgers for now." Looking at the large hole in the ceiling and the tiles falling down, Izumi sighed helplessly. "Looks like our tea party can't continue either."

"It's alright, it's alright, as long as no one is hurt." Although Lin was also soaked, she immediately jumped onto Bai Xing's shoulder to comfort the frightened giant mermaid. "Bai Xing, don't cry, take a deep breath. Let's go to the training ground to see the children."

"Mmm...okay." Bai Xing sobbed, slowly shrinking back to her previous two-meter size, but it was clear that Tingzi could not be saved.

Act Five: Also a kind of "lively" scene. Ten minutes later.

Nami, soaking wet (holding the dried ledger with heartache), Izumi, having tidied herself up, and Rin, with Shirahoshi by her side, walked out of the ruins of the Water Pavilion.

They looked towards the distant training ground, where dust swirled and the faint outlines of green, monstrous light, red, imposing lightning, a giant paper net, and... a ghost being subjected to "sweet punishment."

"Honestly, none of them are easy to deal with." Nami sighed, but couldn't help but smile. "Whether they're the youngest or the oldest (referring to Shirahoshi), they're all a bunch of troublemakers."

“But that also shows that the house is very lively, doesn’t it?” Lin said with a smile.

"Yes." Izumi looked at the chaotic yet vibrant scene, her eyes filled with tenderness. "This is the future Mashiro wanted, isn't it? Even if there's constant bickering, even if they occasionally tear the house down, as long as everyone is together..."

“As long as we’re all together, we can always make back the money we spent on repairing the house,” Nami chimed in, her eyes resolute. “Let’s go! Let’s go see those troublemakers! And while we’re at it, let’s teach that always-late Mashiro a lesson!”

"Agreed." Bai Xing weakly raised her hand. "Seconded." Lin smiled gently.

“Let’s go then.” Quan took the lead and started walking.

Four mothers, each with their own personality and love, stepped into that chaotic yet incredibly warm "battlefield" that belonged to all of them.

Around the corner not far away, Tsunade and the others, who had just come down from the cloud terrace, also witnessed this scene. "Heh, looks like things are getting pretty intense over there." Tsunade looked at the half-collapsed Shuifang Pavilion and laughed gleefully.

“Likewise.” Kushina shrugged. The two armies finally met.

To welcome their shared love and to protect these unique children, an alliance called "Mothers" is officially formed at this moment.

Bonus Chapter: Tea Party (Part 4)

Location: Ninja Kingdom, Imperial City, North Garden "Listening to the Wind Bamboo Forest" Time: Fifty minutes after the start of the Royal Meet-and-Greet

The North Garden of the Imperial Palace is a quiet bamboo forest, far away from the hustle and bustle of the martial arts arena and the luxury of the Cloud Terrace. It is a sanctuary that Mashiro specially created for her family members who love the sounds of nature.

A gentle breeze rustled through the emerald green bamboo leaves.

However, the bamboo grove was far from peaceful today. A rapid, somewhat exasperated, grumbling voice startled the birds in the grove. "This is outrageous! Those two brats dare to criticize our taste in a place like that?!"

Tayuya sat on a stone bench in the bamboo pavilion, her long red hair casually draped over her shoulders. She held her magic flute in her hand and was angrily banging it on the stone table. She wore a modified version of the Otogakure-style clothing, which retained her combat prowess while adding a touch of royal elegance, but her mouth was still as sharp as ever.

"Exactly! To pick out that Sun and Moon Twin Stars... no, I mean the limited edition Black and White Twin Stars dress for them, I went to every high-end boutique in the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire!"

Sitting opposite her was Shouhan. This former Princess of the Wind Shadow, now the Imperial Concubine, was sitting with her legs crossed, waving her signature giant iron fan (a miniature version) in her hand, looking displeased.

"That lazy girl, Xing, actually dared to say our aesthetic sense is perverse in front of outsiders?!" Shouhan's eyebrows shot up. "I think she's asking for trouble! And Ya, I heard she's been trying to get pocket money from Zhenbai again? Where did all the money she gave her last time go?"

"Don't even mention it." Tayuya rolled her eyes. "That kid, Ya, is obsessed with money. I heard that she actually hooked up with that pirate girl named Zona at the banquet hall, and they're even planning some kind of international shopping spree? It's infuriating! She didn't inherit any of the artistic talent of our Music Clan, only her greed!"

The two looked at each other and simultaneously let out a long sigh.

This is the dilemma of being a "strict mother." They have extremely high expectations for their daughters (such as having to wear matching outfits and being obedient), but Sachi and Mei, who are going through a rebellious phase, are clearly not realistic.

Just as the two were preparing to launch the second round of their "criticism session," a white blur suddenly darted down from above the bamboo grove. "Garchu!!! There's a nice smell here!"

Instead of using the main entrance, the visitor jumped down from the top of the bamboo, landing steadily in the center of the stone table, spilling the tea that Tayuya had just poured. "Wh...what is that?!" Tayuya was startled and instinctively gripped her flute tighter.

A girl with snow-white fur and rabbit ears (she looks like a girl, but she is actually the mother) was sitting on the table, her nose twitching and her red eyes curiously looking at the snack in Tayuya's hand.

She is Carrot, a member of the Mink Tribe's Musketeers.

Although she is already a mother, Carrot still looks like a child. She wears a short skirt and a cape, exuding a wild vitality.

"Ah! It tastes like carrot cake!" Garrot's eyes lit up, and without any hesitation, she reached out, grabbed a piece, and stuffed it into her mouth. "Delicious! Garchu!" she exclaimed excitedly as she pounced on Tayuya, who was closest to her, rubbing her cheek against Tayuya's face.

"Hey! What are you doing! Stop rubbing against me! Your fur is in my mouth!" Tayuya yelled in despair, trying to push away the overly enthusiastic rabbit.

"This is a greeting! I'm Carrot!" Carrot released Tayuya and tried to rub her cheek against him again. Takumi reacted quickly, swinging her iron fan to block Carrot's "cheek attack."

"Stop! I know who you are, one of Mashiro's concubines over there, the mother of that rabbit (Coco)." Temari said calmly, "Please sit down and talk, don't act like a monkey... even though you are a rabbit."

"Hehe, hug me!" Carrot wasn't angry at all. She nimbly flipped herself onto the stone bench, swinging her legs back and forth. "I heard some really nice sounds coming from this side, so I jumped over here. By the way, are you guys here to play too?"

"We're discussing our child's education," Tayuya said irritably, wiping the rabbit fur off her face. "Unlike you, you don't act like a mother at all."

“Yes, I did!” Carrot tilted her head. “Coco was fighting that guy named Hatsumi just now, and I was cheering her on! Coco’s electric claws have improved a lot!”

Tayuya and Tehan exchanged another glance: This is definitely a bad example. Just then, a soft footstep came from the bamboo path.

"Excuse me. I heard it was quite lively over here, so I couldn't resist coming to check it out."

A woman dressed in a light blue traditional kimono slowly walked out. She had long, dark green hair and a gentle yet mysterious demeanor, as if she had stepped out of an ancient painting.

She is Guan Yueshi.

She comes from eight hundred years ago and carries a sense of tranquility that is completely different from this modern capital city.

“Mrs. Shi.” Shouhan straightened up slightly, abandoning his bossy posture. Even someone as assertive as Shouhan maintained a degree of respect for this woman who was said to have transcended a long period of time.

"Please sit down." Although Tayuya had a sharp tongue, she knew her limits and moved slightly to the side.

"Thank you." Shi gracefully took her seat, looking at Carrot on the table who was munching on a carrot, a gentle smile appearing in her eyes. "Such vibrant life. It reminds me of the days when I was adventuring at sea a long time ago."

"Huh? Sister Shi has been to the sea too?" Carrot asked curiously, leaning closer. "Was it the kind with lots of sea monsters?"

“Yes,” Shi nodded, his gaze somewhat distant. “Back then, there was no distinction between these two kingdoms. The sea was vast and dangerous. But now…”

She glanced at the meticulously manicured bamboo grove around her and the distant skyscrapers that were faintly visible.

"Lord Mashiro has created an incredible world." Toki sighed softly, "My daughter, Kohaku, can quietly draw her bow in such a world without worrying about being attacked by pirates tomorrow, or bearing the burden of 'opening up the country.' To me, it's like a beautiful dream."

"Amber is indeed a very talented child," Shouhan rarely praised her. "Just now at the training ground, I saw her use her bow and arrow to stop that berserk Liuli (although Guan Chen was the main controller and Amber was the support). I really hope my lazy Xing can learn from that calm and collected personality."

“Every child has their own ‘time.’” Shi smiled and poured Temari a cup of tea. “Although Sachi seems lazy, she’s actually very insightful. She knows what’s important and what’s not. This might be a flaw in chaotic times, but in prosperous times, it’s a blessing.”

"Hmph, you just spoil them." Tayuya pouted, but her expression softened considerably. "But speaking of which, Toki, I heard your daughter Amber can see the future? Could she help me see when my brat Ya will pay back the money she borrowed from me?"

"Pfft..." Shouhan, who was drinking tea, spat it out. "You lent her money?"

"She said she wanted to invest in some ninja world's number one idol girl group." I thought, after all, she's my daughter, maybe she has musical talent. "Tayuya looked regretful, and as a result, she used the money to hoard a bunch of limited edition 'Kuka'!"

As they chatted, the topic naturally shifted to their respective strengths.

Speaking of which, Tayuya's flute playing seems to possess a special power. "Looking at the magic flute in Tayuya's hand," he said, "I heard a melody outside the forest just now. Although it carried a hint of anger, the timbre was extremely beautiful."

"Of course!" Tayuya instantly became confident when the topic turned to her field of expertise. "I am the No. 1 of the Sound Five! My flute can not only kill, but also control people's minds. It's just that now that there is peace, I can only use it to play lullabies."