Chapter 4: 4
Tsume quickly hugs her and sets up a dinner party for her success, and new position as the meeting ends. She took responsibility for calling all their friends. Kushina readily agrees.
Throughout the day, Hiruzen introduces her to various staff as they come in. She's also introduced to types of paperwork by some chunin named Daikoku, who stammered whenever she got close.
Namely, mission assignment, another chunin handled payout slips but was busy today they only greeted once.
Hiruzen showed him letters from Nobles and industrialists meant for top-tier management only. He also told her some important letters were meant for Hokages only. He encouraged her to learn slowly.
As the day ends, Hiruzen tells her she doesn't necessarily have to wear the Shinobi outfit while working here.
Advising her to wear anything formal. He also tells her she would receive her table in Hokage's office by tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.
Kushina reached home around 7, where Naruto greets her gleefully, telling her about pranks he pulled on senior bullies, much to her amusement. She gets him quickly ready for the party, much to his delight in having back-to-back parties.
Today Inuzuka Matriarch had booked a buffet at another one of Akemichis. As Kushina reaches there, she's enveloped in hugs by Mikoto.
"Congratulations, Kushi-chan, I knew you could do it. What wonderful news you would be an inspiration for all Kunoichis being the first female Kage".
Soon she is greeted by Hitomi, who again congratulates her and wishes her well for the future. Similarly, Yoshino from Naras and other ladies congratulate her.
They all have brought their kids along, much to the delight of the kids as they try on various sweets and foods under Choji Akimichi. Kids are under watch by respective handlers as ladies get busy in their chatter and drinks.
Soon the party comes to an end. As the party comes to an end, guests leave one by one. Mikoto takes her to a side and whispers, "So found any handsome lad in the office? "Blush adorning her cheeks, she replies, "Mikoto, that's not what I am there for. Besides, I have Minato ".
Mikoto giggles a bit "it's not like I'm asking you to eat them. I just asked you about cute guys. You are the one with dirty thoughts."
Sighing in exasperation, she gets away from her Mikoto catches her hand. "I know you, Kushina, and we were in the same team right, so if you require any help with formal mumbo jumbo, as you used to call it back, then don't be afraid to ask for help. I know as a clan matriarch those can be a pain sometimes."
Smiling back at her friend, she hugs her, "I will hold you onto that."
They bid goodbye. Kushina soon reaches their home thinking about what the future holds for her.
As she sleeps that night, she has a dream with her face on Hokage mountain next to her Husband's with herself standing over her sculpture looking over the village. Little she knew what the future held for her.
—
It's been a week since she joined Konoha in her official role as deputy Hokage. She got more understanding of the work of Kage. It wasn't as high profile hotshot as they made it out to be a brave, fearless leader protecting the Village.
That definition could only be applied When the Village was under attack or peril. All other days, Normal days, it couldn't be anything other than glorified office work with paperwork and lots of paperwork.
It never seemed to end.
No matter how much she finished up the piles, they always remained fully stacked. Two days ago, Hiruzen had chuckled at her looking at the forlorn, lost look at those stacks.
Other than that, it had been a fun week. Even though learning about different processes hadn't been fun, Kushina understood how things worked.
Moreover, Old Ma-no, Hiruzen she still was trying not to call him that, but he had told her usually her subordinates were to prepare reports for her in fundamental matters.
It was higher level or top profile cases were those for which she had to apply her skill. He had not yet introduced her to those types, citing she needs to learn from bottom to upper level.
Her shifts usually ended around 7 or 8 PM, a couple of times, and she had invited Hiruzen for dinner. He had joined them once when he had a light workload on Tuesday.
Naruto was delighted to see his pseudo grandpa, with Hiruzen telling him some exciting stories about Shodaime that day.
Usually, Hiruzen remained at the office till around 11 PM. She had offered him to stay, but he had declined her, citing she was still new to the job, and He would ease her into it slowly as she knows more and more about the job.
Kushina didn't know why but she felt shudders running down her back on hearing his tone, and he chuckled like creepy Sannin Orochimaru. That thought came into her mind if all Sannin got quirks from him.
Jiraiya, whom she had forbidden from entering her house without Minato, was a self-proclaimed super pervert. She still remembered when he had the gall to peep on Minato and her at their wedding night.
So maybe he got perviness from Hiruzen. Orochimaru was a total psycho with creepiness knowing no bounds. Maybe he got it from the dark side of Hiruzen that she had a brief encounter with today.
And finally, Tsunade, her somewhat distant cousin, was a drunkard and gambler. They said she got into gambling by Shodaime, but what about being drunk.
She didn't know it for sure, but these three players had her hand in her present screwed, short-tempered self. Anyone living with those three would need psychological evaluation within a year, and poor Tsunade had to live most of her Kunoichi life with them.
She shuddered at that imagination.
On a Happy note, as she came out of the tower, citizens and shinobis bowed or greeted her while children, especially girls, looked at her in awe.