Negotiations after a war like this would, as always, be handled by the two elders—
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.
"Understood," they replied, bowing slightly.
There was nothing more to say.
Meanwhile — Konoha's frontline camp
Shiki lay flat on a mat, relaxed and careless, while Tsunade knelt beside him, using medical chakra to knead out the tension in his shoulders.
"This," Shiki exhaled with absolute satisfaction,
"…is the life."
Tsunade tried not to laugh, but the smile broke through anyway.
"You know…"
Shiki continued lazily, eyes half-closed,
"…those old foxes in the upper ranks are probably already thinking of ways to target me."
Tsunade's hands paused.
"Hah? Impossible."
Her tone was serious.
"After defeating a Tailed Beast, after ending the entire war—you're Konoha's hero. The terminator of the Second Ninja War. Who in the world would dare target you?"
"You're still too young," Shiki muttered.
"Excuse me?" Tsunade glared.
Without thinking, Shiki lifted his hand, offering it for the next round of massage.
Tsunade rolled her eyes hard but she still took it, holding his wrist gently and applying chakra into the muscles.
Shiki continued calmly:
"If you were still alone, they wouldn't do anything.
But now? Things are different."
Tsunade blinked.
"…Different how?"
"Because I'm with you."
"—!"
Tsunade froze for a second, the tips of her ears turning faintly red.
But confusion soon replaced embarrassment.
"What does me have to do with any of this?"
"The higher-ups destroyed the Senju clan from the shadows," Shiki said with a cold smile.
"And now I'm openly on your side. Of course they'll think I'll take your side in whatever comes next."
A Reincarnator insight.
He knew Konoha's darkness better than anyone here.
He would not end up like Sakumo Hatake, manipulated and pushed into a corner until death.
"No one dares to point at me and run their mouth," Shiki added casually.
"If they do… I'll just kill them. Until no one dares anymore."
He said it like discussing the weather.
Tsunade stared at him.
Then...she smiled. A soft, relieved, dangerous smile.
"…Then you're on my side?"
Shiki flinched at her tone, glanced at her grin, and instantly turned his head away.
"Tch… stop talking nonsense."
He snatched his hand back.
"Change spots. Your chakra is overheating."
Tsunade snorted, rolled her eyes again—but obediently moved to the next spot.
"Tsunade-sama! I—"
Nara Shikaku approached quickly, planning to report something important.
But the moment he arrived—
He froze.
Dead still.
Because right in front of him…
Tsunade of the Sannin was kneeling beside Shiki, massaging him like a gentle, attentive wife.
Shikaku's jaw nearly hit the ground.
No way.
He knew Shiki and Tsunade were close.
He suspected things.
But he never—never—expected to see this side of Tsunade.
That violent, terrifying, gambling-addicted, table-breaking, bar-smashing Sannin…
Acting soft.
Caring.
Affectionate.
Meanwhile, his own wife at home was a strict, terrifying Nara woman with hands faster than shuriken.
Shikaku felt a tear forming.
"…I see."
So the world is unfair.
"What exactly are you planning to stare at forever?"
Tsunade's calm voice snapped him out of his daze.
She didn't even stop massaging Shiki.
No embarrassment.
Pure Tsunade pride.
Her posture completely said:
"Yes, he's my man. What's your problem?"
And Shikaku, being Shikaku…
…could only bow politely and left.
"Y-Yes, Tsunade-sama. My apologies!"
Of course Shikaku had come at the worst possible time.
Tsunade didn't care much about his sudden appearance, but after noticing the amused smile tugging at Shiki's lips, she immediately rolled her eyes again.
"So tell me—whose fault do you think this is?"
She jabbed a finger toward him.
"If you weren't acting like this, no one would've seen anything!"
Shiki only shrugged.
"Forget it. Go see what Shikaku wants."
Standing up, he stretched his shoulders lightly. Tsunade's massage skills truly were on another level.
Tsunade blinked.
"…We're going to him now?"
Shiki clicked his tongue.
"Idiot. What are you imagining? This is a shared military camp, not your private room. You think I'd put up a sound-proof barrier or something?"
He flicked her forehead lightly.
"I wasn't thinking anything!"
She denied it instantly—too fast.
Shiki didn't bother arguing. Instead, as they walked out together, he spoke calmly:
"The Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans—Ino–Shika–Chō—hold real weight in Konoha. If you want the Hokage seat in the future, you'll need their support."
He continued, ticking points off with his fingers:
"The Nara clan handles medical logistics and battlefield strategy.
The Yamanaka clan runs all of Konoha's intelligence operations.
The Akimichi clan controls military ration pills… and more than half the barbecue shops in the whole damn village."
"Seriously?" Tsunade muttered.
"And since the Warring States period, the three clans have always acted as one. Even noble clans like Hyūga or Uchiha don't provoke them casually."
Tsunade nodded slowly. She didn't understand politics well—but she understood Shiki was saying it for her sake.
"Shikaku!"
As they stepped outside, Nara Shikaku approached with a deeply embarrassed expression.
"Shiki." He greeted with a polite nod—
Then he spotted Tsunade.
His face immediately turned pale.
"T–Tsunade-sama, I swear I didn't mean to walk in earlier! You won't… uh… kill me, right?!"
God only knew what kind of heart attack he got from witnessing Tsunade massaging Shiki like a gentle wife. With her reputation, Shikaku wouldn't be surprised if she silenced him on the spot.
Tsunade's eyebrow twitched.
"In your eyes, am I some kind of murderous brute?"
Shikaku responded instantly.
"Absolutely not!"
He valued his survival too much to hesitate.
Shiki waved his hand.
"Alright, enough small talk. Save it for later. You came because something happened, right?"
Shikaku's expression hardened.
He checked his surroundings cautiously, then leaned closer to Shiki and Tsunade.
"…There is indeed an issue."
[Author Note]📢
Hey everyone!
Just a quick update — I've started a new Naruto novel:
Naruto: I'm Atomic
It's a fresh project with cleaner writing and a steadier release pace.
If you enjoyed my previous stories, feel free to check it out!
Thanks for the support 🗣️
— Arthorain