"Thank you, Katsuyu-sama!"
"Princess of the Senju."
Mizuki Ryosuke's voice carried a respectful yet measured tone as he looked at Tsunade. He chose to be direct, stating some of his goals outright rather than concealing them.
The object in his hand gleamed faintly under the light—the Ring of Five Kage. A relic from the time of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, the ring had been a symbol of unity among the five great nations when the First Five Kage Summit was held. This artifact was more than just jewelry; it was a historical testament to an era when the ninja world had sought peace, however brief that moment had been.
"I will definitely be back!"
Tsunade, momentarily stunned by the weight of the object before her, quickly recovered. She grasped Ryosuke's outstretched hand, her fingers slightly trembling—not out of fear, but from the whirlwind of emotions she was experiencing.
Almost instantly, a deep flush spread across Tsunade's face.
Mizuki Ryosuke, unbothered by pretense, introduced himself without hesitation. His right hand remained extended, meeting Tsunade's grasp with unwavering confidence.
"Senju Tsunade. Nice to meet you."
The moment their hands met, an inexplicable warmth coursed between them.
Tsunade's mind reeled, her thoughts flashing through the battle in Amegakure, the perilous moments before her rescue, and the enigmatic presence of the man standing before her. The shyness she felt was unlike anything she had experienced before, making her uncomfortable in an unfamiliar yet oddly compelling way.
"Thank you, Mizuki."
Hearing her say his name made Ryosuke pause briefly. His surname carried weight—Mizuki, a name with ties to the Land of Water. There was no mistaking the curiosity in her expression.
"If possible, please call me by my first name."
Tsunade blinked, slightly taken aback.
For a kunoichi of her stature, calling someone by their first name was no trivial matter. It implied familiarity, possibly even intimacy, depending on the context. But Mizuki Ryosuke had made the request so naturally that it left her with little room to refuse.
She inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself.
"Why?" she finally asked, her voice soft but steady.
Mizuki Ryosuke did not hesitate.
"Because I am the Fourth Mizukage of Kirigakure."
Silence.
Tsunade's body stiffened as the realization dawned upon her.
A ninja from Kirigakure—the Fourth Mizukage, no less—had risked his life to save her, a kunoichi from Konohagakure. The implications of this revelation sent her mind spiraling.
Mizukage…?
Her knowledge of Kirigakure's leadership was limited. The Land of Water was notorious for its secrecy, its policies dictated by bloodshed and isolation. Until recently, the Mist Village had been governed by the brutal "Bloody Mist" system. But what did she truly know about its new Mizukage?
In the entire Konoha village, only the higher-ups—Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo, and a handful of others—had access to detailed intelligence on Mizuki Ryosuke.
She narrowed her eyes.
"Why did you save me?"
Ryosuke's lips curled into a small, knowing smile.
"The reason is simple—because you are Senju Tsunade."
Tsunade's breath hitched.
His words were so direct, so unapologetic, that they caught her completely off guard.
She had expected deception, a carefully crafted lie to smooth over the situation—or, at the very least, some vague, poetic excuse. But Ryosuke had done neither.
Tsunade's heartbeat quickened.
This man… He was nothing like the others.
"Since Xiaogang's boyfriend is uninjured, I won't help you," Katsuyu interjected teasingly, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.
"Wha… WHAT?! BOYFRIEND?!"
Tsunade's reaction was instantaneous—her face turned scarlet, her eyes widened, and before she could stop herself, she delivered a powerful punch straight into Katsuyu's soft, squishy body.
BOOM!
The impact sent the clone of Katsuyu soaring through the air.
"Katsuyu-sama!!"
Ryosuke let out a chuckle. He had never expected to witness Tsunade's embarrassment firsthand.
Tsunade, on the other hand, was mortified.
This was the most embarrassing day of her life—even more than when she had lost all her money in gambling, or when she had been teased by Jiraiya about her fear of blood.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of Katsuyu's joke, the skin-to-skin contact from earlier, and the intensity of the past events made the atmosphere almost unbearable.
"…It's a perfect match."
The words had slipped out before she could stop them.
Ryosuke turned to her with a raised eyebrow, his expression amused.
Tsunade wanted to dig a hole and disappear.
"I-I mean—"
Mizuki Ryosuke exhaled slowly, sensing her flustered state. He reached into his robe and removed something—a ring.
Tsunade's breath caught in her throat.
A ring?
The design was unmistakable.
It was the Ring of the Mizukage.
In the center of the metal band, the kanji for "water (水)" was engraved, just as the Hokage's ring bore the kanji for "fire (火)."
Tsunade's blue eyes widened.
"The Ring of Five Kage…"
She had seen something similar before. Sarutobi Hiruzen possessed a similar ring, a relic of Konoha's history. But to see one belonging to the Mizukage in the flesh…
Tsunade's mind raced with questions.
Was everything just a trap? Had Mizuki Ryosuke orchestrated his encounter with Hanzō of the Salamander as a way to manipulate her?
Or…
Had fate truly conspired to bring them together?
The tentacles on Katsuyu's forehead swayed slightly, as if observing the human drama unfolding before her. Though her slug-like face lacked features, Ryosuke could almost sense the emotion of "amusement" radiating from her.
"Whoops, isn't it?"
"Oh hoo?"
Katsuyu chuckled again, enjoying the situation far too much.
Tsunade clenched her fists.
Her heart shouldn't be beating this fast.
She shouldn't feel this level of tension.
And yet—
Her gaze locked with Ryosuke's once more, and in that fleeting moment, she realized something terrifying.
This man…
Was dangerous.