"In this war, please take care of Kurenai for me!"
Kurenai had already graduated from the Ninja Academy — which meant that in this war, she would also be participating.
This wasn't training, and it wasn't a harmless skirmish.
This was a real shinobi world war.
Yuhi Shinku always glared at Shiki with those resentful dad-eyes…
But he wasn't stupid.
He understood one thing very clearly:
With Shiki's strength, protecting Kurenai was easy.
Shiki smiled lightly.
So this was what Shinku had been worried about.
"Don't worry. Even if you hadn't said anything, I'd still look after Kurenai."
"…Thank you."
She was his only daughter.
Yuhi Shinku could only sigh helplessly.
He was just a regular jōnin — strong, but not strong enough to safeguard others during a war.
After giving Shiki a firm nod, Shinku hurried back. There was still work to do before the next ninja war fully broke out.
"Will the Hidden Mist really declare war on Konoha?"
After returning home — now alone with Shiki — Tsunade finally asked the question that had been sitting in her mind.
Tsunade trusted Shiki.
If he could openly warn Hiruzen like he did in the Hokage Building, then it meant one thing:
Shiki was certain that Kirigakure was going to declare war.
"Don't you believe me?"
Shiki walked into his room and picked up Oto and Kogarashi, the twin blades resting on his sword stand.
He glanced over at Tsunade.
"Of course I believe you," Tsunade answered immediately.
But if the Mist really joined the war…
Then Konoha would be facing a four-village alliance.
Even Tsunade wondered if Konoha could withstand that.
"Relax."
Seeing what she was thinking, Shiki smiled.
He strapped Oto and Kogarashi onto his waist.
"Trust me. No matter who the enemy is — as long as I'm here, Konoha won't lose.
I'll use this war to show the entire ninja world…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…that this era belongs to the Golden Lion."
Tsunade went silent.
For a moment, her gaze softened — almost enchanted.
It was that confident smile.
The same one that had pulled her in from the very beginning.
"I've always believed in you. From the very start."
Shiki raised a hand and gently tapped her forehead with a smile.
"Shiki-nii!"
"Lord Shiki! Tsunade-sama!"
Just as the two shared that brief peaceful moment, the sound of footsteps rushed in from the courtyard.
Kurenai came sprinting in, panic in her eyes.
Shizune followed behind her — calmer, but still visibly worried.
"What's wrong?" Shiki asked.
"It's the village! It suddenly turned… chaotic!"
Kurenai and Shizune both looked to Shiki instinctively.
They had just graduated. They were supposed to start doing D-rank missions with their squads.
But before their first task even began, it was abruptly canceled.
All squads were ordered to assemble.
And the entire village looked like it was preparing for something huge.
"It's not chaos," Shiki corrected.
"The village is entering a wartime state."
"Preparing for… war?"
Kurenai and Shizune froze.
Even if they were new genin, they weren't clueless.
This would be their first real battlefield and it felt surreal.
Seeing Kurenai's stiff expression, Tsunade snorted and jabbed at her:
"Oh? Aren't you always bragging about being brave? Why're you trembling now? Don't go out there calling yourself Senju Tsunade's apprentice — you'll embarrass me!"
"You—you…!"
It wasn't the most elegant comfort, but it worked.
Kurenai snapped out of her daze and puffed up angrily.
"Hmph! I'm not scared! I'll get stronger and one day I'll protect Shiki-nii myself!"
Her small face was serious.
It was clearly something she genuinely believed.
Tough goal, Tsunade muttered internally.
She doubted anyone could surpass Shiki at this point.
Shiki didn't shoot Kurenai down, though.
He just smiled gently.
"Protecting me, huh? Maybe someday.
But for this war, just stay near me and listen."
"H-hey! Does that mean I can go to the battlefield with you!?"
Kurenai's eyes widened in surprise.
She really hadn't expected Shiki to take her with him.
"Of course. If you go alone, I'd be worried."
War wasn't a playground — one careless moment could get a genin killed.
"Hehehe~"
The moment Shiki said that, Kurenai's nervousness vanished.
If she was with him, she felt like nothing could go wrong.
"Oh yeah — what about Shizune? Is she coming too?"
Shizune, who was much quieter and not as strong as Kurenai, also wanted to participate.
She was family — of course Shiki planned to look after her too.
"Ah—!"
She'd thought Shiki only cared about Kurenai.
Shizune hadn't dared bring it up herself.
But before she could say anything—
"I'll take Shizune," Tsunade suddenly announced.
"Huh?"
Shiki blinked.
"What? I'm a strong ninja too. I can protect one subordinate, can't I?"
"…Tell the truth."
Under Shiki's stare, Tsunade held firm for a few seconds.
Then she broke.
"Fine, fine! I just don't want to do chores on the battlefield! If Shizune's with me, she can help take care of daily stuff!"
At the side, Kurenai instantly pounced.
"Lazy! You're just lazy and want Shizune to babysit you!"
"Keep talking and I'll smack you," Tsunade muttered without even looking at her.
Shizune, meanwhile, smiled shyly.
"It's fine. I'll try my best to take care of Tsunade-sama."
"Good."
Tsunade nodded, satisfied with her student's seriousness.
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