With his eyes closed, Aoyama Ryuyun said calmly,
"If I were still alone, of course nothing like this would happen—but now, things are different."
Tsunade paused and tilted her head slightly. "Different how?"
"Because now I'm with you."
"...Huh?"
To be honest, Lady Tsunade was momentarily caught off guard by Aoyama Ryuyun's blunt words.
Embarrassment flashed across her face, but her curiosity outweighed it.
"What's wrong with being with me?"
"Those fools in the higher-ups turned the Senju Clan into what it is today," Aoyama Ryuyun said, opening one eye lazily. "Now that I'm with you, of course they'll assume I stand on your side."
As a transmigrator, Aoyama Ryuyun understood the political rot festering inside Konoha better than anyone.
He had long expected the village elders to mark him as a potential threat.
Of course, he wasn't like Sakumo Hatake.
If anyone dared whisper behind his back…
Heh. He'd silence them all—until no one dared speak again.
Protect Konoha? Protect what Konoha? Aoyama Ryuyun valued his own life far more.
He disdained men like Sakumo Hatake—heroes who died without ever realizing they'd been betrayed by their own comrades.
Hearing that, Tsunade's hands hesitated briefly.
Then, with a small, teasing smile, she looked at him.
"So… are you on my side then?"
"..."
Aoyama Ryuyun turned his head slightly, catching her gaze. Then, with a sigh, he pulled his hand free.
"Don't say such nonsense. Let's find another place."
"Tch."
She rolled her eyes but obediently said nothing more.
---
"Lady Tsunade! I—"
Nara Shikaku's voice echoed as he approached, but when he saw the scene before him—Tsunade gently massaging Aoyama Ryuyun's hands—his entire expression froze.
He knew they were close, but this? The mighty Princess of the Senju Clan, the strongest kunoichi alive, being this gentle?
He suddenly thought of his own wife at home.
For a brief, tragic moment, Nara Shikaku wanted to cry.
"So… how long do you plan to keep standing there?"
No one could read minds, but Tsunade clearly caught Shikaku's stunned expression. She glanced at him coolly, unbothered.
As for embarrassment? Please. She was Tsunade of the Sannin—beyond such trivial concerns.
If people found out she was with Aoyama Ryuyun, so be it.
"Ah—sorry!"
Realizing he'd been caught staring, Shikaku bowed quickly and beat a hasty retreat.
Not that it mattered. Tsunade noticed Ryuyun's smirk and rolled her eyes again.
"So whose fault do you think that was?" she grumbled.
If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have been caught like that.
"Forget it," Ryuyun said, standing and stretching lazily. "Let's see what Shikaku wanted."
"Eh? You're going now?"
Tsunade looked a little surprised.
"Idiot, what are you thinking?" Ryuyun flicked her forehead lightly. "This is a camp. Not exactly soundproof."
"I wasn't thinking anything!" she snapped, turning away.
He smirked, unconvinced, and continued,
"The Ino–Shika–Chō Trio holds a lot of sway in Konoha. If you ever plan to become Hokage, you'll need their support."
Tsunade blinked. "...The Ino–Shika–Chō Trio?"
Ryuyun nodded. "The Nara Clan manages most of Konoha's medical logistics. The Yamanaka Clan runs intelligence operations through their Mind Body techniques. The Akimichi Clan handles food production and those military ration pills everyone relies on. Hell, half the barbecue restaurants in Konoha are theirs."
He crossed his arms. "Each of them controls a critical supply chain. And together, they've been allied since before Konoha was founded. Even the Hyuga and Uchiha don't easily mess with them."
"Among them, the Nara Clan leads the trio. Win over the Nara, and the rest will follow."
"I see…" Tsunade nodded, not fully grasping the political nuance, but she understood one thing—Ryuyun was doing this for her.
---
"Shikaku!"
They soon found the Nara Clan strategist waiting nearby, looking awkward.
"Ryuyun!" Shikaku greeted with a quick smile, then turned toward Tsunade—and froze again.
"Lady Tsunade… I swear, I didn't mean to intrude. You're not going to… you know… kill me to keep quiet, right?"
Given what he'd walked in on earlier, Shikaku's nerves were understandable.
Tsunade shot him a deadpan look. "Do you people really see me as that violent?"
"Of course not!" Shikaku replied instantly.
Self-preservation over pride—every time.
Ryuyun sighed. "Alright, you two can sort this out later. Shikaku, you came here because something's happened, didn't you?"
Shikaku's expression sobered. He looked around carefully before lowering his voice.
"Yes. And it's serious…"
Visit patreon.com/Akeyno to get 30+ chapters