Danzo had already foreseen it: in the near future, once Aoyama Ryuyun was fully subdued by the Tongue-Binding Curse, he would become the ultimate weapon under Root's control — a perfect killing machine.
Help Hiruzen eliminate his enemies?
Don't joke — Danzo Shimura was far from that noble.
"Mm."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded calmly, showing no trace of suspicion.
"In a few days, I'll assign Aoyama Ryuyun a solo mission. Once he leaves the village alone… I'll leave the rest to your Root operatives."
"Don't worry," Danzo said, his tone low and pleased, the faintest smile creeping beneath his bandages. "It will be done."
Hiruzen said nothing more.
There had been a time when he genuinely admired Aoyama Ryuyun — the civilian prodigy who had risen above his station, a symbol of Konoha's meritocracy.
But that admiration had curdled into resentment.
Now, Hiruzen Sarutobi only wished the boy would disappear from this world entirely.
Danzo left without further comment, his cane tapping rhythmically against the polished wooden floor. The smirk on his face lingered long after he passed through the door.
To any outsider, it would seem as if he'd just received wonderful news.
In a sense, he had.
---
"It seems I should pay Tsunade a visit," Hiruzen muttered once he was alone.
His focus shifted from vengeance to something more pressing — his eldest son's ruined arm.
There were medical ninjutsu capable of regenerating or reattaching limbs. For an elite jonin like Shinnosuke, losing an arm was a crippling blow.
And Tsunade — the greatest medical-nin in the shinobi world — was right here in Konoha.
Without hesitation, Hiruzen rose and left the Hokage's Office, pipe smoke trailing behind him.
---
Meanwhile, Aoyama Ryuyun remained blissfully unaware of the schemes forming in the shadows between Hiruzen and Danzo.
Not that it would have mattered — even if he had known, Ryuyun likely wouldn't have cared.
At that moment, he was in the Senju Clan's training grounds, surrounded by the remnants of shattered stone and uprooted trees.
"Zanpa!"
Golden energy crackled through the air — the dazzling light of Ryuyun's sword aura.
"Hah! Heavenly Foot of Pain!"
A sharp, confident voice rang out.
Tsunade, her body wrapped in a vibrant green chakra glow, brought her heel down with devastating force.
"Boom!"
The earth split open with a thunderous crash. Dust and debris exploded outward, leaving the training ground a cratered mess.
"Whoosh!"
In an instant, Ryuyun appeared at the edge of the ruin, watching the spectacle unfold. A faint smile played on his lips.
When Tsunade appeared beside him — her breath steady, her chakra calm — Ryuyun nodded approvingly.
"Congratulations, Tsunade," he said warmly. "You've finally stepped into the ranks of Kage-level shinobi."
He hadn't expected her to master the Strength of a Hundred Seal so quickly.
The diamond mark glowing on her forehead was proof — her Yin Seal was complete.
"Heh!"
Tsunade chuckled, flexing her fists with visible pride. "Finally! All that training was driving me insane. I think I've earned a few nights of gambling."
Some things, Ryuyun thought, never changed.
Her words were lighthearted, but the look in her eyes betrayed the truth — her relentless training had less to do with ambition, and more with him. She refused to fall behind Aoyama Ryuyun.
Meeting her gaze, Ryuyun smiled — a soft, knowing smile.
He raised one hand and gestured toward the shattered ground.
"Earth Scroll."
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The earth groaned and shifted as if alive. Chunks of rock slid back into place, fissures sealed themselves, and within seconds, the training ground was whole again.
Tsunade folded her arms, smirking. "Your power never ceases to amaze me. No matter how many times I see it, it feels like magic."
Ryuyun chuckled lightly. He'd never bothered to hide the power of the Float-Float Fruit from her.
Sooner or later, the world would see it for themselves anyway.
"Come on," he said casually, waving her along. "Let's go back."
The two walked toward the Senju compound, sunlight streaming through the trees.
"Compared to your house," Tsunade teased, "this place must feel like a palace."
Indeed, the Senju estate was grand — sprawling courtyards, ancient trees, and wide-open spaces filled with the scent of cedar. The courtyard of Tsunade's home alone was several times larger than Ryuyun's entire property.
"If you like it," she said lightly, though her tone carried a trace of hope, "you could always live here."
Ryuyun shook his head with a faint smile. "Forget it. I'm used to my own place."
"Hmm. Alright then."
Her disappointment was brief, soon replaced by a playful grin.
"If you won't live here with me, then I'll just move in with you."
Ryuyun laughed. "You really haven't changed at all."
Tsunade laughed with him, her golden ponytails swaying slightly as they walked.
---
Later that afternoon, while sharing tea in the courtyard, Tsunade's tone suddenly shifted.
"So… I heard you cut off Shinnosuke's arm."
Her brow arched with curiosity — and mischief.
Ryuyun blinked. "You already heard?"
"Of course. I might've been training, but news travels fast when it's that juicy."
She leaned back with a smirk. "You didn't even call me for something that fun. If I'd been there, it wouldn't have stopped at just one arm."
Her utter lack of restraint made Ryuyun laugh out loud.
He reached out and tapped her forehead lightly — the same gentle gesture that Uchiha Itachi would one day use on his little brother.
"You're the one destined to be Hokage," he said softly. "Let me handle the dirty work."
Tsunade blinked, caught off guard by the warmth in his tone.
Then, with a faint chuckle, she looked away. "You and that forehead thing… you're so weird."
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