"Bang!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed his palm onto the desk, the sharp crack echoing through the Hokage's office.
"Impossible!"
His voice trembled with fury. "Tsunade must never learn the truth about the Senju clan."
Across from him, Danzo's single visible eye narrowed with cold disapproval.
"Hiruzen, you should have prepared for this long ago," Danzo said, voice low and emotionless. "Anything… or anyone… that threatens the stability of Konoha should be erased before it grows."
Even the two elders—Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane—began adding pressure.
"Yes, Hiruzen," Koharu said nervously. "This situation is dangerous. The sooner it's resolved, the better."
"Exactly," Homura added. "You should have let Tsunade decline alongside the rest of the Senju. That would have prevented all of this."
Their fear was obvious. Hiruzen and Danzo were both shadow-level powerhouses.
They were not.
Tsunade's monstrous strength?
Neither elder could survive a single punch.
Hiruzen shook his head fiercely.
"Everything else, fine. But this—this matter—I will not allow!"
Danzo's face darkened, anger boiling beneath his calm exterior.
"Hiruzen…"
He stepped forward, voice laced with irritation. "This soft hesitation of yours… it is exactly why Konoha weakens."
"Enough!" Hiruzen barked. "This matter is absolutely out of the question! Tsunade's identity is not something we can simply 'remove.'"
Danzo's expression chilled further.
"Aren't you worried she will one day threaten your position as Hokage?"
"If that day comes," Hiruzen said coldly, "I will deal with it myself."
A tense silence filled the room.
"And now," Hiruzen said, lifting his chin, "leave. All of you. I am still the Hokage."
"…Hmph."
Danzo turned sharply, cloak swaying behind him.
"I hope you remember this moment," he muttered. "You will regret it."
He strode out of the office without another word.
Koharu and Homura exchanged a frightened glance and hurried after him.
Hiruzen was finally alone.
He exhaled shakily and rubbed his temples.
"Danzo… Danzo…"
Outside the Hokage Building, Koharu and Homura chased after Danzo.
"Danzo!" Koharu hissed. "You and Hiruzen were the ones who originally suggested weakening the Senju clan. If Tsunade learns anything, we'll be dragged into it too!"
"We have nothing but our titles," Homura added, voice trembling. "If she comes after us—"
Danzo cut him off with an irritated click of his tongue.
"If it truly comes to that, hide inside the Root compound. No one enters without my approval."
Koharu and Homura finally breathed out in relief.
"That's… good. Very good."
Danzo only gave them a hollow glance, turned, and walked away.
He had no patience for cowards.
Meanwhile, back at home, Tsunade wore a triumphant smirk.
"Did you see Koharu's face?" she said proudly. "That old bat nearly fainted. Honestly, I've wanted to shut her up for years!"
In the past, she restrained herself for her clan's reputation.
Now? She didn't bother pretending.
"But I'll still keep myself in check," she muttered after a moment. "If I push too hard, they'll target me. And I'm not stupid enough to think I can beat old man Hiruzen yet."
From the yard, the sound of metal rang out—
clang… clang…
Shiki paused mid-swing, resting his twin blades against the training post.
"Don't worry," Shiki said without turning around. "I'm here."
The words slipped out naturally, as if stating a simple fact rather than making a promise.
Tsunade froze.
Her clenched fists relaxed.
The tension in her shoulders eased.
And her eyes...the same eyes that used to glare down entire battlefields, softened as she looked at Shiki's back.
"…Idiot," she whispered, though her voice carried no anger.
Her expression had become gentle.
Far too gentle for the infamous Princess of the Senju.
"…By the way," Tsunade suddenly said, watching Shiki swing his blades, "you've been training nonstop. You must be exhausted."
Shiki raised a brow.
"Well, yeah. If my body doesn't feel anything after training, then I'm doing something wrong."
"That's not what I meant."
"Huh?"
Shiki glanced back with a puzzled look.
"I mean…" Tsunade cleared her throat, eyes shifting away, "after you're done training… I'll help you with a massage."
"Huh? You know how to massage?"
The disbelief in his tone made Tsunade explode instantly.
"What's with that surprised look?! Are you underestimating me?!"
She leaned forward with a glare.
"I'm a medical ninja—the medical expert of the Shinobi World. I know the human body better than most people know their own names! Of course I can massage properly!"
Shiki chuckled and nodded.
"Alright then. I'll trouble you later."
"Hmph!"
Tsunade clicked her tongue proudly, though her cheeks were faintly red.
After bathing, Shiki sprawled lazily on the tatami, wearing only a light yukata.
He looked over his shoulder.
"You're not moving. Are you embarrassed or something?"
"Just shut up and close your eyes!"
Of course she was embarrassed.
Tsunade had never massaged anyone outside of medical emergencies, much less a man lying casually in a yukata.
After a few seconds of mental preparation, she finally steadied herself and kneeled beside him.
Her chakra-enhanced fingertips pressed gently along his back.
"…Hmm. Not bad."
Shiki inhaled deeply. Tsunade's touch was precise—firm enough to relax muscles, soft enough to melt tension.
"Hmph. See? I'm amazing."
Shiki's praise made her chest puff out slightly as she continued massaging.
The room grew quiet… warm… peaceful.
Her fluster disappeared, replaced by a strangely gentle rhythm.
"…Speaking of which," Tsunade murmured, "it feels weird not having Kurenai here. I'm too used to that brat yelling at me."
"Her father dragged her home," Shiki replied lazily. "He's heading to war soon. Of course her father wants to keep her close."
Meanwhile... At the Yūhi Household
"Shiki-nii…"
Yūhi Kurenai lay against her windowsill, staring out at the darkened village.
Muttering his name under her breath.
Again.
And again.
Her father, Yūhi Shinku, stood behind her with an expression that screamed: What sins have I committed in this life?
How did my daughter end up attached to him…
"Don't worry," Shinku tried to reassure her, patting her head. "With Shiki's strength, he'll be just fine."
Kurenai whipped around, face pouting and cheeks puffed.
"You don't understand anything at all!"
Then she ignored him completely and continued staring out the window, whispering:
"…Shiki-nii…"
Shinku sighed.
She was gone—completely, utterly gone.
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