Even though he was already immensely powerful, Aoyama Ryuyun never neglected his basic sword training. Discipline was part of his nature.
"Is that so?"
Kushina nodded curiously. She'd be meeting him soon anyway.
Neither Kushina nor Minato Namikaze noticed that while they were talking about Aoyama Ryuyun, Jiraiya, seated beside them, was quietly rolling his eyes.
He had already accepted that Tsunade had a boyfriend—but hearing about it again still stung.
Can't they talk about something else instead of stabbing me right in the heart?
Trying to distract himself, Jiraiya turned toward Orochimaru, who was sipping tea on the opposite side of the table.
"Speaking of which, I thought you wouldn't show up to something like this," Jiraiya said with mild surprise. "A dinner party isn't exactly your thing."
Orochimaru gave a thin smile and raised his cup. "It just so happens I had nothing better to do."
In truth, with Danzo gone, many of Orochimaru's experiments had been suspended. The facilities, funding, and secrecy Root provided were all gone.
How… inconvenient.
Jiraiya sighed dramatically, leaning back. "It's killing me. That brute Tsunade's actually getting married!"
But before he could continue his lament, a familiar, cold voice cut in behind him.
"Jiraiya, who exactly are you calling a brute?"
Jiraiya froze. "T–Tsunade?"
Turning around, he saw Tsunade walking in with Aoyama Ryuyun at her side. For a moment, he was completely speechless.
What a coincidence.
Tsunade crossed her arms, a faint smile curving her lips. "I'm in a good mood today. But if I hear you say something like that again, I'll rearrange your face. Got it?"
She was half-joking, half-serious. Though Ryuyun already knew about her temper, Tsunade still preferred not to show her violent side in front of him. Maybe it was instinct—wanting to look her best in front of the man she loved.
"Got it, got it!" Jiraiya nodded rapidly, like a pecking chick.
You think I'd risk my life twice? No thanks.
Tsunade clicked her tongue and ignored him, sitting down beside Ryuyun.
"Long time no see, Kushina."
As the granddaughter of Senju Hashirama, and given that Uzumaki Mito—Kushina's distant relative—had been the First Hokage's wife, Tsunade and Kushina had always shared a familial warmth.
"Sister Tsunade! You look so beautiful today!" Kushina said with a bright grin.
For once, Jiraiya nodded sincerely. "Yeah, Tsunade—you really do look beautiful tonight."
"..."
Tsunade's expression brightened at Kushina's words—but immediately soured at Jiraiya's.
She turned a dangerous glare on him. "Complimenting me in front of my man? Feeling brave, are you?"
"Uh—!" Jiraiya froze.
He realized too late how that sounded. Given Tsunade's current status, he should've known better than to tease her like that. Especially with Aoyama Ryuyun sitting right beside her.
Ryuyun wasn't glaring. He was smiling—but there was something in that smile that made Jiraiya's skin crawl.
Why does that look feel so deadly…?
Jiraiya slumped silently, defeated. Can't we just have one peaceful meal?
"Are you Aoyama Ryuyun?"
Kushina's curious voice saved him from further embarrassment.
She leaned forward, studying the man who had managed to make the temperamental Senju Tsunade so gentle.
Ryuyun met her gaze evenly. "Hmm?"
He wasn't offended—but his attention lingered briefly on her striking red hair.
Uzumaki Kushina. The current Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.
Her Uzumaki heritage didn't interest him. What caught his attention was the dense, volatile chakra coiled inside her.
It radiated danger.
But before he could analyze further, Tsunade's voice interrupted him, tinged with jealousy.
"Oi. Is that girl really that pretty? You've been staring for quite a while."
I'm right here, you know? You've got some nerve doing that in front of me.
"Uh…"
Ryuyun blinked, realizing how it looked.
Kushina and Minato shifted uncomfortably but said nothing. Confronting the Golden Lion himself didn't seem wise.
Tsunade's gaze remained fixed on him, sharp as a kunai.
Ryuyun raised a hand casually. "You're overthinking it. I just sensed a dangerous chakra from Uzumaki Kushina, so I looked a little longer, that's all."
"Oh."
That explanation made sense to Tsunade—and to the rest of the table as well.
After all, as the Nine-Tails' host, Kushina's chakra wasn't exactly subtle.
"I didn't expect Lord Liu Yun's sensory abilities to be so sharp," Minato said in admiration. "To perceive the Kyuubi's presence through her seal… that's remarkable."
Ryuyun chuckled softly. "Observation comes naturally. Just like how I could sense a little mouse hanging around my home these past few days."
Minato stiffened.
He didn't need to ask what Ryuyun meant. That "mouse" had been him—under direct orders from the Third Hokage.
Ryuyun's golden eyes met his through a faint smile.
That same smile carried no hostility… and yet, it made Minato's heartbeat quicken all the same.
"Uh—"
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