"…Sorry, President… and everyone."
Saeko glanced around at the chaotic, blood-stained environment and let out a soft sigh.
"I can't even properly welcome you."
Utaha shook her head with a faint smile.
"We didn't come here to be welcomed."
Her usual sharp tone softened slightly.
Asuna stepped forward, her gaze resting on Ryujin with a hint of gratitude.
"I mainly wanted to meet everyone… and to thank you, President."
"If you hadn't uploaded the memory about SAO being a death game…"
She paused briefly.
"…I would have logged in."
And once inside—
There would have been no guarantee she could ever come back.
"It was nothing."
Ryujin coughed lightly, clearly uninterested in dwelling on it.
After a short exchange, everyone quickly became familiar with one another.
Saeko also introduced the school nurse—
Kikuchi Shizuka.
Although Ryujin already knew who she was from memory—
Seeing her in person…
He couldn't help but glance twice.
Not out of desire.
But comparison.
Tsunade.
Kikuchi Shizuka.
Both…
Unreasonably impressive.
"…Hard to tell."
Ryujin silently came to a conclusion.
After all—
One was dressed.
The other…
He had already confirmed personally.
"…Hm?"
Shizuka tilted her head, looking at the group with innocent confusion.
"So… these are all your friends, Saeko?"
Her gaze shifted toward Ryujin.
"…Then is he your boyfriend?"
"..."
Saeko froze.
For a moment—
She didn't even know how to respond.
Eriri, Asuna, and the others all turned to look at her.
Utaha rubbed her forehead.
"…So this is what they call a natural airhead."
"HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!"
Saeko immediately corrected her, her voice slightly tense.
"He's just… a friend!"
"Eh? Really?"
Shizuka blinked innocently.
"But you two feel like a couple…"
"…How exactly did you reach that conclusion?!"
Saeko was on the verge of losing her composure.
Shizuka's reasoning was simple.
Earlier—
Both of them had killed without hesitation.
Clean.
Decisive.
Without fear.
So naturally—
In her mind—
They matched.
Meanwhile—
Everyone else just stared.
"…Does she really not understand what's going on outside?" Eriri whispered.
Saeko sighed.
"…It took me a while to accept it too."
Now it made sense.
Why something had always felt… off about her.
Ryujin didn't dwell on it.
"We explain things to her. Then we leave."
His tone was direct.
"We need to find a safe location and establish a base."
He didn't have time to waste.
Fifteen days remained—
Before the Uchiha rebellion.
This trip had three purposes.
Help Saeko.
Earn points.
And most importantly—
Verify something.
World Origin.
If his theory was correct—
Then this journey would change everything.
The group quickly began preparing.
Gathering supplies.
Getting ready to leave.
But one thing was clear—
They weren't going to save anyone else.
Not because they were heartless.
Every one of them—
Was kind.
But in the apocalypse—
Human nature—
Was far more dangerous than zombies.
And they had already seen it.
When Ryujin entered earlier—
Those so-called "survivors" hadn't hoped for rescue.
They had hoped—
That he would die somewhere else.
So they wouldn't be dragged into danger.
Cold.
Selfish.
But understandable.
In a world like this—
Kindness without caution—
Was suicide.
No one spoke about rescuing others.
They didn't need to.
They all understood.
Meanwhile—
Back in the Naruto world.
Inside the Senju estate—
Something unexpected happened.
Tsunade had returned earlier to handle some clan matters.
After speaking with several elders, she prepared to leave.
By now—
Ryujin should have already prepared dinner.
Just thinking about it—
Made her a little hungry.
But the moment she stepped outside—
Under the scorching sunlight—
Her expression suddenly changed.
Her body swayed.
A strange sensation hit her.
Dizziness.
Nausea.
A sudden urge to vomit.
"…What… is this…?"
She held onto the wall, bending slightly.
Moments ago, she had been thinking about food—
Now—
Her appetite was completely gone.
"…Something's wrong…"
Her breathing became uneven.
Her chest felt tight.
Poison?
That was her first thought.
But after checking—
There was nothing.
Impossible.
With her vitality—
With her medical knowledge—
This shouldn't happen.
"Tsunade!"
An older woman quickly approached, concern evident in her voice.
"If Hiruzen is overworking you, we won't let it slide!"
This was Senju Reidai.
One of the clan elders.
And the one who cared for Tsunade the most.
"I'm fine…"
Tsunade forced a smile.
"I just… feel a little uncomfortable…"
"…Like something's about to come up…"
Reidai frowned and stepped closer, examining her carefully.
Pulse.
Breathing.
Chakra flow.
Everything seemed normal.
But then—
Her gaze slowly shifted.
Toward Tsunade's abdomen.
A thought appeared.
Uncertain.
Shocking.
"…No way…"
She hesitated for a moment.
Then—
Spoke.
"Tsunade…"
"…tell me honestly…"
"…Are you pregnant?"
Silence.
The world—
Seemed to stop.