Aoyama Ryuyun's praise made Tsunade feel slightly smug.
As she continued massaging him, the atmosphere around them quieted.
The earlier awkwardness faded, replaced by a comfortable calm.
"Speaking of which," Tsunade said softly, "it feels a little strange without that girl, Yuhi, around."
Although they constantly argued whenever they met, now that Kurenai Yuhi was gone, Tsunade found the silence oddly unsettling.
"Well, we're about to go to war," Ryuyun replied casually. "Naturally, Yuhi had to be taken home by her father, Shinku Yuhi."
Although Shinku Yuhi himself wasn't assigned to the front this time, he had still taken his daughter home — a reasonable move for any parent before a major campaign.
---
At Shinku Yuhi's residence
"Brother Liu Yun..."
Leaning by the window, Kurenai Yuhi whispered his name softly.
Shinku Yuhi stood nearby, his expression helpless.
What sin did I commit, he thought bitterly, to let my daughter meet Aoyama Ryuyun of all people?
"Don't worry," he said aloud, trying to sound reassuring. "That kid, Liu Yun — with his strength, he'll be fine."
He had fought alongside Aoyama Ryuyun before; he knew the boy's ability was no bluff.
"Hmph! You don't understand anything!"
Kurenai snapped at him and turned back toward the window, ignoring him completely.
"..."
Shinku Yuhi was speechless. For a moment, he truly felt like throttling someone.
Even though Kurenai believed Aoyama Ryuyun would return safely, belief and worry were two very different things.
---
"Alright! Get up!"
Tsunade's firm voice broke the silence as she ended the massage.
Ryuyun stretched his legs, feeling the fatigue from his training melt away.
"That was really good," he admitted.
"Of course it was!" Tsunade huffed proudly before quickly masking her tone. "Don't overthink it. It's just a small reward — because you're going to help me become Hokage!"
She would never admit she'd done it for him personally.
"Is that so?" Ryuyun smirked. "Then if I succeed, will the reward become... a lifelong one?"
"Depends on your performance!"
She didn't say it outright, but the meaning was obvious.
And Aoyama Ryuyun wasn't foolish enough to miss it.
---
The next day, the front-line campaign intensified.
Two thousand ninja were assembled — mostly civilians, the unfortunate cannon fodder of every great war.
The clan ninja were the backbone, but the bulk were ordinary shinobi.
"Tsunade, are you sure you don't want me to go with you?"
At the Konoha gate, Jiraiya's eyes were misty. His tone carried genuine concern — rare for him.
"Get lost! Don't disgust this old woman!"
Tsunade shot back, clearly exasperated by his overdramatic behavior.
"Wuwuwu…"
Jiraiya's exaggerated sobs made her roll her eyes.
She turned away, refusing to indulge him further.
Nearby, Orochimaru also watched her quietly.
"Be careful," he said simply.
Unlike Jiraiya, Orochimaru didn't show emotion, but his intent was the same.
"I will."
Tsunade's voice softened. Her feelings toward Orochimaru were complicated — her brother's death still cast a shadow between them.
But she nodded anyway.
Orochimaru sensed the distance and smiled bitterly. There was no way to mend something like that.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, came to see her off. His presence lent morale to the departing forces.
"Tsunade, you must return safely," he said earnestly.
"Of course," she replied curtly, her tone almost detached.
She gave him a final glance — sharp and unreadable — then looked toward the assembled two thousand shinobi.
"Follow me!"
One by one, their figures vanished into the trees, heading for the front.
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, watching Tsunade's back fade into the distance.
She knows… doesn't she?
Her tone had made that clear.
But she didn't know everything — not yet.
The evidence is gone, Hiruzen thought coldly. You'll find nothing, Tsunade. Don't blame me — this is all for Konoha.
---
By the time they reached the front lines three days later, the Sunagakure battlefield was on the brink of collapse.
"Lady Tsunade!"
The Konoha shinobi stationed there almost wept with relief when they saw her.
If no reinforcements had come, they wouldn't have lasted another day.
"Mm."
Tsunade nodded calmly, her demeanor switching instantly to battlefield command.
"What are the casualties?"
"Lady Tsunade," the leading jonin reported grimly, "Sunagakure's full-scale attacks have been relentless. We've held the line, but of the original two thousand, fewer than five hundred are still able to fight."
Tsunade's brows furrowed. The Ino–Shika–Cho trio standing beside her mirrored her expression.
"How can the losses be this high?"
"The Third Kazekage, Chiyo, and the One-Tails Jinchuriki — they're all here," the jonin said bitterly.
Everyone fell silent.
That explained everything.
Against opponents of that caliber, lasting this long was already remarkable.
"You've done well," Tsunade said, placing a hand on the man's shoulder. "From here on, leave it to us."
"Understood!"
Relief washed over the surviving soldiers as Tsunade's forces took their positions.
---
Inside the command tent, Tsunade, Aoyama Ryuyun, the Ino–Shika–Cho trio, and several jonin gathered around the map.
"Shikaku," Tsunade said directly, "any ideas?"
Strategy wasn't her domain — she knew her limits.
Nara Shikaku examined the map carefully.
"Sunagakure's attacks have been ferocious. It's like they're determined to take us down no matter the cost."
The losses on both sides were staggering. Sunagakure was fighting like a starving beast cornered.
Bang!
Tsunade's fist slammed against the table.
"Are those idiots from Sunagakure out of their minds? This isn't war — it's suicide!"
Aoyama Ryuyun, who had been silently studying the map, finally spoke.
"This war won't last much longer."
"Huh?"
Even Shikaku looked up, surprised.
All eyes turned to the young jonin, but Ryuyun didn't waver.
"The Second Great Ninja War has dragged on too long," he said evenly. "Sunagakure is the poorest of the Five Great Villages. Their resources are spent — they can't sustain this any longer."
Someone frowned. "Then why are they fighting so desperately?"
"They're desperate because they have nothing left," Ryuyun explained.
Nara Shikaku's eyes lit up. "Exactly. Sunagakure's like a starving jackal — dangerous, but dying. That's why they even deployed the One-Tails Jinchuriki."
He looked at Ryuyun with genuine admiration.
Smart men understood each other easily.
"After the war, Aoyama Ryuyun, we should talk sometime," Shikaku said.
"Gladly," Ryuyun replied with a faint smile.
With that, the doubters fell silent.
"Ahem!" Tsunade cleared her throat, half-proud and half-annoyed. "Enough admiration. Let's get to business."
"Right," Shikaku said, refocusing. "Sunagakure's plan is clear — they want to strike hard and fast, push straight toward Konoha."
If not for Sakumo Hatake's tragic death, Sunagakure might already have surrendered.
Now, they were throwing everything into one final gamble.
"The Third Kazekage, Granny Chiyo, and the One-Tails Jinchuriki... that's a terrifying combination."
"Enough analysis," Tsunade said sharply. "Tell me how we beat them."
"Two options."
Everyone turned to Shikaku.
"The first: we defend and hold the line. Sunagakure's supplies will run dry soon enough, and they'll be forced to retreat."
"Next."
"The second: we strike them head-on. If we crush them once — decisively — they won't have the strength to recover."
Shikaku hesitated for a moment.
"But... with the Third Kazekage, Chiyo, and the One-Tails in play, a direct battle will be extremely difficult."