Shiki simply looked out across the dark desert, thoughtful.
Inside, his mind was calm:
The Second Ninja World War had barely ended.
And Konoha's peace never lasted long.
A few years—maybe less—and the next storm would rise.
War always came on its own.
You didn't need prophecy—just common sense.
But he didn't say any of that aloud.
"Don't worry," Shiki said with a faint smile. "I already have a plan. We just need the Ino–Shika–Chō to stand steady when the time comes."
Shikaku hesitated.
"…If you're confident, then I'll trust you."
Shiki wasn't going to explain every detail.
He wasn't going to say, 'Oh yeah, another war is coming soon.'
Even if he knew, he wasn't stupid enough to sound like some fortune-teller.
"Successful or not," Shiki added calmly, "the Ino–Shika–Chō will be safe. I'm not the type to gamble with allies."
Shikaku finally smiled.
"Then I'll return to camp. We'll keep in contact."
"Mm."
Shikaku left quickly, vanishing into the dunes, leaving only Shiki and Tsunade beneath the moonlit desert sky.
Tsunade watched the Nara clan head disappear before finally voicing her confusion.
"…But the Ino–Shika–Chō have always been loyal to the Hokage faction. Why would they suddenly switch to support me?"
Shiki chuckled.
"You said it yourself—they're loyal to Hokage.
Not to Sarutobi Hiruzen."
A single sentence.
And everything made sense.
--
Tsunade's eyes widened slightly.
"…I think I get it."
"They follow whoever actually protects the village," Shiki said. "Not someone sitting on the throne because of convenience."
He didn't elaborate further.
There was no need.
"It's too early anyway." Shiki stretched a little. "For now, all you need to do is train and raise your strength to another level."
Tsunade puffed up her cheeks, offended and proud at the same time.
"Don't worry! I'm a genius! Give me a few years and I'll reach a level that will surprise even you!"
Her confidence made Shiki laugh quietly.
He simply took her arm and walked her back to camp under the cold desert wind.
The Next Day — Konoha Gates
"Tsunade-sama!!"
"She's back!"
"Konoha won!"
Cheers erupted across the village as Tsunade led the returning troops.
Every villager knew the Second Ninja World War was over, and it was Tsunade who brought the victory home.
Civilians cheered, children waved flags, and even the Shinobi stood a little taller as she passed.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo waited at the gates.
Moments like this—moments full of prestige and attention—were things Sarutobi would never miss.
"Tsunade!" Hiruzen stepped forward with a benevolent smile. "On behalf of all Konoha, thank you."
He was her teacher, after all.
And seeing his student stand so tall… it made him feel safe, proud, and most importantly...still in control.
But Danzo.
Danzo did not clap.
Danzo did not smile.
He watched the scene with cold eyes.
Tsunade's popularity…
Her connection to the Senju name…
Her strength…
Her lineage…
Her victory…
'This woman… is another threat to the position of Hokage.'
The three words echoed in Danzo's mind:
Too. Much. Influence.
But unlike Sakumo Hatake, Tsunade wasn't someone Danzo could smear and manipulate.
She wasn't someone who would shoulder guilt and die quietly.
If Danzo tried the same trick—she'd break his jaw.
Literally.
He grit his teeth behind the mask of "loyal advisor," calculating silently.
I'll have to deal with her another way… indirectly.
Only Danzo himself knew how deeply that plan had already begun forming in his mind.
Tsunade stared at the smiling Sarutobi Hiruzen in front of her.
This man—this pleasant, gentle, "kind" old face…
Her stomach twisted.
Disgusting.
Absolutely disgusting.
She wanted to punch him. Hard.
But considering the clear gap between their current strengths, Tsunade suppressed the violent urge, forced a stiff smile, and nodded.
"…It's all for Konoha."
"Good! Good!"
Sarutobi nodded vigorously, satisfied with her "loyal" response, completely oblivious to the killing intent she was swallowing back down.
He led Tsunade, Shiki, and the Ino–Shika–Chō trio toward the village center.
Along the roadside, villagers finally noticed the blond swordsman walking next to Tsunade.
"That's Shiki-sama—the Golden Lion!"
"So young!"
"I heard he defeated One-Tail Shukaku!"
"What's Shukaku?"
"Idiot, it's a tailed beast! Like our Nine-Tails!"
"No way… that strong?!"
"That's a hero!"
"I heard he single-handedly ended the whole war!"
"Is he single…?"
Of course.
No matter the world, looks were a cheat code.
Golden hair.
Handsome face.
Lion-like aura.
Several teenage girls on the roadside were already blushing.
Shiki could naturally hear all of it.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face didn't change—pretending to be above such trivial things—but everyone knew he was grinding his teeth inside.
Shiki's fame couldn't be buried, no matter how much he wanted to downplay it.
Tsunade, walking beside him, noticed the sparkling eyes of the younger girls and immediately felt a sour taste rising.
"Tch. Idiots," she muttered. "Keep staring. Unlike you brats, I can actually touch him."
But when she saw Shiki stretching comfortably, enjoying the attention, the sourness amplified.
"You're not actually eyeing any of those little girls, right? Want me to go introduce you?"
Her tone dripped with peak sarcasm.
Master level.
Shiki didn't even blink.
"Think too much. One of you is already enough trouble."
"…What do you mean by that? Are you calling me annoying?"
"Aren't you being annoying right now?"
"I—! You—!!"
Infuriating. Absolutely infuriating.
Other girls get doted on by their boyfriends.
Tsunade, meanwhile, gets roasted alive every five minutes.
Shikaku and the others were already used to this dynamic. They simply smiled quietly.
To them, it was almost surreal—the terrifying, violent Tsunade acting like an embarrassed maiden around this blond swordsman.
But Sarutobi and Danzo exchanged glances.
Yes.
The intelligence was correct.
Shiki and Tsunade were definitely not "ordinary."
Soon, they arrived at the Hokage Building. Most ninja had already dispersed, heading home to celebrate the end of the war.
Only Sarutobi, Tsunade, Shiki, and the Ino–Shika–Chō trio remained as they stepped inside.
"This war could end thanks to you," Sarutobi said with that same benevolent smile.
No matter what he actually thought, he always maintained the mask of the kind, wise Hokage.
Tsunade didn't respond.
Shiki didn't respond either.
"..."
So Shikaku stepped forward first, wearing a polite smile.
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