Of course, Aoyama Ryuyun wasn't that tasteless. After all, this was a battlefield camp.
"Some things can wait until after the war, when we return to Konoha."
"Really?"
As soon as Aoyama Ryuyun finished speaking, Kurenai Yūhi's face suddenly lit up with joy.
Ryuyun was a little confused as to why she was so happy.
Then he heard her quickly continue,
"Promise me, Liu Yun-gege—when we return to Konoha, we'll be together!"
Before he could respond, Kurenai Yūhi turned and ran out of the tent,
not giving him any chance to refute her words.
"This girl…"
Inside the tent, Aoyama Ryuyun fell silent for a moment before letting out a helpless smile.
He wasn't stupid. Of course, he understood what that little girl meant.
Shaking his head with a faint smile, he thought that he'd still need to speak with Tsunade about it.
But after all these years, he believed Tsunade had already prepared herself mentally for the matter between him and Kurenai Yūhi.
---
While things were getting somewhat heartwarming on Aoyama Ryuyun's side,
Konoha Village was far less peaceful.
"Damn it! This Aoyama Ryuyun is truly infuriating!"
Evidently, Ryuyun's reply had already reached Konoha.
Upon hearing the message he sent back, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura immediately erupted in anger.
Only Hiruzen Sarutobi remained composed, his expression unreadable as he stared at the kneeling Anbu before him.
"Did Aoyama Ryuyun truly say that?"
"Y-yes, Hokage-sama, he did!"
The Anbu's voice trembled slightly.
It was supposed to be a simple message delivery,
yet he felt the same pressure as when carrying out an S-rank mission.
"He also said… if you, Hokage-sama, are dissatisfied, you should personally go to the battlefield and fight the Hidden Cloud yourself!"
"…"
This time, Hiruzen Sarutobi fell completely silent.
But Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, already furious, grew even more livid.
"Threat! That's a direct threat against the Hokage!"
"Hiruzen! You must severely punish this Aoyama Ryuyun!"
Their outrage had less to do with loyalty and more with wounded pride—
they couldn't bear to see their authority challenged.
After sitting in high positions for so long, both had grown arrogant.
Hiruzen didn't respond right away.
Instead, he waved his hand lightly toward the Anbu.
"You may withdraw."
"Yes, sir!"
The Anbu nearly sighed with relief.
Without hesitation, he vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.
Now, only Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura remained inside the Hokage's office.
"Hiruzen, you—"
"Enough!"
Before Koharu could finish, Hiruzen cut her off sharply.
"And after this so-called severe punishment, will the two of you replace Aoyama Ryuyun on the battlefield against the Hidden Cloud?"
His cold tone silenced them both.
Do you even use your brains anymore?
Inwardly, Hiruzen found himself missing Danzō Shimura—at least Danzō had the capacity to think strategically.
If circumstances allowed, Hiruzen would have dealt with Aoyama Ryuyun long ago.
But he knew very well that Ryuyun was not like the late White Fang.
The same method that had crushed Hatake Sakumo wouldn't work here.
Ryuyun was too independent, too dangerous, and far too respected on the front lines.
The fact that he'd already dared to strike Sarutobi Shinnosuke proved it—
if cornered, Aoyama Ryuyun would not hesitate to draw his blade against Konoha itself.
"Even so, it's unacceptable! The prestige of Konoha's Elder Council must not be challenged!"
"Indeed! Disobedient subordinates like him must be punished!"
Their synchronized shouting gave Hiruzen a headache.
Please, just leave. Let me have some peace.
"Alright, enough. We'll discuss punishment after this war."
He knew Konoha couldn't afford to lose Aoyama Ryuyun right now.
The village desperately needed his strength to hold back the Hidden Cloud.
Still, Hiruzen kept the man's insubordination in mind.
When the war was over… he would deal with him personally.
"After this war ends," Hiruzen muttered, "Aoyama Ryuyun will be handled."
Unstable elements must be removed sooner rather than later.
"Good," Koharu and Homura replied in unison, finally satisfied.
But they didn't realize that—
while they were plotting to deal with Aoyama Ryuyun after the war—
Ryuyun himself was already planning to purge Konoha's useless higher-ups the moment the Third Shinobi World War ended.
---
"By the way," Hiruzen asked suddenly, "has the Hidden Mist made any moves?"
He recalled Ryuyun's earlier words—how the Mist might soon declare war as well.
"No," Koharu answered. "Hidden Mist is as quiet as ever."
Homura scoffed. "Aoyama Ryuyun overestimates himself. The Mist wouldn't dare start a war with us right now."
"That's good," Hiruzen nodded lightly. "As long as they remain neutral, the situation is manageable."
---
Meanwhile — on the frontlines between Konoha and the Hidden Cloud.
Three or four days had passed since the Third Raikage led his troops in a raid on Konoha's camp.
In that time, the battlefield had been strangely calm.
It was understandable.
The Third Raikage had lost an arm,
and the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki, Yugito Nii, had been captured by Aoyama Ryuyun.
Even for someone as fearless as the Raikage, this was no time for reckless attacks.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
Inside the Hidden Cloud command tent, the one-armed Third Raikage roared in fury,
slamming his fist onto the table and shattering it into splinters.
The tension in the room was suffocating.
Even his son, Ay—the future Fourth Raikage—didn't dare speak rashly.
"Still no news? There's really no way to rescue Yugito Nii?!"
If it had been anyone else, perhaps the Raikage could have let it go.
But Yugito Nii was no ordinary kunoichi—she was the Jinchūriki of the Two-Tails.
Losing her was unacceptable.
"My apologies, Raikage-sama," one of the Cloud officers replied nervously.
"Other than knowing that Yugito Nii was captured, we've found no trace of her location."
Those responsible for guarding her were all loyal to Aoyama Ryuyun.
Even if the Hidden Cloud had spies within Konoha's army,
it would take time to locate her.
"Bang!"
With another explosive blow, the Third Raikage smashed what remained of the table into dust.
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