Since leaving that deserted island, the Konoha Senju had been sailing across the seas for over a week.
By now, they had left the Calm Belt behind and entered the East Blue.
Unlike the still and windless Calm Belt, the weather here was unpredictable and strange.
One moment the sky was clear and cloudless, the next came the rumble of thunder, and in an instant torrential rain would drench everyone basking in the sun on deck, soaking them to the bone.
On this day, the weather was pleasantly calm again. Everyone was lounging lazily on deck, while Arima stayed in his cabin, deep in thought about the future.
He studied the Rumble-Rumble Fruit in his hand, muttering to himself, "Skypiea seems cut off from the world. Should I claim it and turn it into the base of a 'New Konoha'?"
After a while, he spoke again. "Or maybe I should wait until I've circled the seas once… there are still too many secrets in this world.
The Marines… hmm, best not to provoke them yet. Otherwise, I'll be shackled everywhere I go.
And then there's the issue of Devil Fruits… how am I supposed to find them? I still owe millions in merit points…"
Thinking about his predicament, Arima realized he would have to walk the old road once again, exchanging world peace for rewards.
After pondering carefully, he decided to seize Skypiea first and then establish a great 'New Konoha' powerful enough to stand against the World Government.
Once the time was right, he would overthrow the Celestial Dragons' rule entirely. That way, the whole world would benefit.
With his path clear, a weight seemed to lift from his shoulders, and even the sunlight felt warmer and more endearing.
He stepped onto the deck, where his family was basking in the sun.
Tsunade sat in a wicker chair, playing with her daughter Yuna. Spotting him, she turned her head and asked, "Arima, where are we heading next?"
"We'll go to the Goa Kingdom first, meet with Vice Admiral Garp and his grandson, then head straight for Skypiea. That's where we'll build 'New Konoha'!"
"So we're finally founding 'Konoha,' huh? It's a pity that our comrades from the shinobi world can't be here."
A wave of nostalgia flickered through Tsunade's eyes. She missed the cherry blossoms outside her home, and even her two teammates.
Perhaps Orochimaru was still tirelessly buried in his experiments, while Jiraiya remained the same lecher, sneaking peeks at women's bathhouses under the excuse of "gathering material."
The thought made Tsunade chuckle, her mood lightening considerably.
"Tsunade, what's so funny?" Arima asked curiously, taking a seat beside her.
"Arima, what do you think Orochimaru and Jiraiya would do if they ended up in this world?"
Tsunade couldn't help her curiosity. She even wondered what would happen if the shinobi world and the pirate world merged.
"Orochimaru would definitely study the powers of Devil Fruits to no end. As for Jiraiya… I can't say for sure. He always does the unexpected.
Maybe he'd run off to Amazon Lily to 'research' the Pirate Empress. I've heard that island is the only all-female nation in the seas, it'd be paradise for him!"
"Haha, that really does sound like Jiraiya! … Arima, when will we be able to go back?"
"It'll take some time. I have debts to repay first."
"Debts? What debts?"
Tsunade tilted her head, puzzled. Who could Arima possibly owe?
"Think of it like this: we boarded a ship that sailed across time and space to bring us here.
Those debts are the price of the ticket. Either we repay with Devil Fruits, or we have to bring peace to this world before we can go home."
Arima smiled as he explained.
"No wonder you care so much about Devil Fruits."
Tsunade was satisfied with the answer. In truth, the content of his words didn't matter much to her, what mattered was his honesty.
Just then, Kushina, who had overheard their conversation, hurried over with a puzzled look. "Are we going home already?"
Arima laughed. "You only catch half of what I say. It'll be a while yet before we can go home. Don't tell me you're not enjoying yourself here?"
"Of course I am! Robin told me about Sabaody Archipelago, they have bubbles big enough to carry people!
And once you coat your ship in them, you can sail underwater, all the way down to Fishman Island. I've never seen a fishman before!"
Kushina's eyes sparkled with excitement. She seemed to miss the village not at all.
"But don't you miss your old comrades? That blond boy, for instance," Tsunade asked with a sly smile, curious about her feelings.
She knew Kushina had always been 'after' her Arima. What puzzled her was why she felt no urge to stop the girl.
Perhaps, Tsunade reasoned, she had always just seen Kushina as a child.
And yet, the shinobi world's original path had already changed. Tsunade was curious to know Kushina's true thoughts.
"Miss them? Why would I? We were just paired up by coincidence. Swap in someone else and the team would've worked the same. It's not like it couldn't function without one specific person."
Now Tsunade understood. Kushina hadn't yet formed deep bonds with her comrades.
"So… do you really want to marry Arima?" she pressed.
Kushina's face flushed crimson, and she stammered without an answer.
Tsunade recognized that flustered awkwardness. She realized the girl hadn't been joking about her feelings. Strangely, Tsunade felt no anger, no impatience.
Her heart rippled like a stone dropped into a lake, just a few waves before settling back to calm.
Smiling, Tsunade said, "That's fine. As long as you've got the confidence to win Arima's heart, I won't object."
Kushina's face turned an even deeper red. Flinging back a hurried, "Tsunade, I'm going to tell Granny on you!" she bolted away in embarrassment.
The man at the center of it all shrugged. "You two don't seem to care about my opinion on this."
Tsunade replayed the scene in her head, she and Kushina openly discussing marriage in front of him, and imagined Arima's exasperated expression.
She burst out laughing, Yuna in her arms kicking and waving with cheerful "ya-ya" cries, as if sharing her mother's joy.
Tsunade adored this easy, carefree atmosphere aboard the ship. It helped her forget the blood-soaked shinobi life.
Perhaps that was why she tolerated Kushina's interference with such grace.
For the rest of the day, Kushina was unusually quiet.
The ship seemed more subdued, though every time she glanced at Tsunade, she looked like she was on the verge of snapping back with some retort.
Finally, at bedtime, Kushina stood outside their cabin, raised her voice through the door, and declared.
"Tsunade-nee, I won't give in!"
Then she dashed off as quickly as she came.
Inside, Tsunade blinked and said to Arima, "Well, I've gone and made myself a rival in love."
Arima shrugged again. "You can work it out between yourselves. In your eyes, I'm just a tool with no say in the matter."
"Alright, Arima… I'll make it up to you tonight," Tsunade sighed, resorting to her ultimate move.
Secret Technique, Tsunade's Spoiled Charm.
"Not yet. First, I've got a gift for you," Arima said mysteriously.
"Oh? A gift? Is this because I so generously found you a little wife?" she teased, grinning.
She hadn't the faintest idea why he would suddenly give her something.
From his Kamui space, Arima produced a violet-colored fruit and placed it in her hand. "I counted the days. Tomorrow is your birthday. Happy birthday Tsunade."
Only then did she realize why he had suddenly disappeared for days, returning utterly exhausted and collapsing into sleep.
Recalling his weary figure, Tsunade felt a warm shiver spread from her head to her toes. Her heart swelled with tenderness, her eyes stung, and tears nearly overflowed.
She said nothing, only hugged Arima tightly.
That night, Tsunade gave herself to him with a tenderness as deep as it was shy.
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