(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
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The doors closed. The air shifted.
No more diplomacy. No more pretense.
Leo stood calmly looked at Kazuma.
"Prepare."
That was all he said.
Kazuma didn't ask what. He already knew.
"…Yes."
Both men left the room.
Purpose clear. War was coming again.
Behind them—Silence lingered.
Heavy.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Danzō stood still for a moment.
Watching. Thinking.
Then turned and left without a word.
Outside the chamber—He stopped briefly.
One Root operative stepped forward silently.
Danzō spoke low voice.
"Make contact with Kirigakure."
No hesitation.
"No matter the cost."
The operative bowed.
"What do we offer?"
Danzō's eye narrowed looking at the direction where Leo has left.
"…Information."
A pause.
"And an opportunity."
His voice dropped further.
" Condition... A suitable host for the next Nine-Tails from the war spoils."
The Root operative didn't react. Just nodded. And vanished.
-Nod
"...."
Inside the Meeting Room...
The Konoha jōnin quietly excused themselves.
Sakumo gave Tsunade a brief look.
A silent message.
'Be careful.'
Then they left.
Now—Only three remained.
Mito. Tsunade. Nawaki. Silence stretched.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Then—Mito spoke looking at her grand daughter.
"Are you still angry?"
Tsunade snorted immediately.
-Snort!
"Of course I am."
She turned away slightly.
"You tried to use me for a political marriage."
Blunt. Honest.
"…And the worst part?"
She crossed her arms tightly.
"He rejected it."
A pause.
Her voice dropped slightly.
"I don't even know why that bothers me more."
Mito chuckled softly.
-Chuckle!
Of course. She understood immediately.
"Tsunade… You've had many who chased after you. Men who would bend over backward just to stand beside you."
She smiled faintly.
"And you rejected all of them."
Tsunade didn't respond.
"...."
Because it was true.
"But this time…"
Mito's eyes gleamed slightly.
-Gleam!
"You were not chosen."
That hit. Directly.
"…And he gave you the choice instead."
Tsunade clicked her tongue.
"…Tch."
Relief. Annoyance. Pride. Confusion.
All tangled together.
Mito shook her head slightly.
-Sigh!
"Such a troublesome girl."
Then—Her expression changed.
The warmth faded. Replaced with something sharper.
Serious.
"Tsunade."
Her tone alone made Tsunade look at her.
"...."
"This is not just about marriage."
Nawaki who just entered after the meeting finished straightened slightly.
Mito leaned forward looking at Tsunade.
"Tell me. How many Senju missions have gone wrong recently?"
Tsunade frowned hearing her question.
-Frown!
"…More than usual. How many of those involved… incorrect intelligence?"
Tsunade's eyes narrowed.
"…A lot."
Mito nodded slowly.
-Nod
"And how many deaths?"
Silence.
"…Too many."
The air grew colder.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Mito's voice dropped.
"Do you think that is coincidence?"
Tsunade didn't answer.
Because now—She was thinking.
Mito continued to explain.
"The Senju name still holds weight. But our power …is declining."
Her fingers tapped the table lightly.
-Tap! -Tap!
Measured. Controlled.
"And the Uzumaki? They were isolated.Targeted. Left without aid."
Her eyes sharpened.
"Two allied clans. Both weakened. At the same time."
Tsunade's breath slowed.
"…You think someone planned this."
Mito looked directly at her.
"I don't think. I am certain."
Nawaki's voice came out small confused and angry.
"…Who would do that?"
Mito didn't answer directly.
But her gaze drifted—Toward the direction of Konoha.
Tsunade understood. And her fists clenched.
"…The higher-ups."
Mito didn't deny it.
"If Uzumaki falls… If Senju weakens…"
Her voice turned colder.
"…what remains to oppose them?"
Silence. Heavy.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Uncomfortable. Real.
Mito leaned back slightly.
"That is why I moved."
Her eyes locked onto Tsunade.
"If we do nothing …the Senju will disappear."
The words didn't echo. They sank.
"Not in one day. Not in one war. But slowly. Quietly. Until nothing remains."
Tsunade stood still. Processing.
"...."
Then Mito delivered the final piece.
"And the only reason that has not already begun…"
Her gaze flickered toward where Leo had been.
"…is because someone stronger than the system just appeared."
Silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
For Tsunade—Everything changed in that moment.
This wasn't about marriage. This wasn't about pride. This was about survival.
And for the first time—She understood why her grandmother had moved so quickly.
And why… Leo Morningstar wasn't just an option.
It was must.
Meanwhile—What Danzō believed to be whispered in secrecy…
…had never been his alone.
Within his shadow—Something listened.
Not a presence. Not a chakra signature. Not even something a sensor-type could detect.
Just—Eyes. Cold. Patient.
Watching from a place where light had no authority.
One of Leo's Shadow Soldiers.
As Danzō Shimura walked toward his guest quarters, Root operatives trailing behind him like silent echoes, every word he spoke…
Every intention he formed…
Every betrayal he planned—Was heard.
Recorded. Understood.
A flicker. A distortion.
And the shadow peeled away from Danzō's feet—Vanishing without a trace.
Leo's Mansion...
Unlike the rigid structure of Konoha's compounds—This place breathed.
Warm light spilled from tall windows.
The faint aroma of freshly cooked food lingered in the air like a quiet promise of peace.
Inside—Leo had just arrived.
He removed his coat casually, placing it aside as if the world outside carried no weight worth bringing in.
From the dining area—Soft footsteps.
-Thud. -Thud.
Aemma appeared, setting down the final dish with practiced care.
Beside her, Sasami adjusted the plates, her movements neat, precise.
"Welcome back," Aemma said gently.
Leo nodded slightly.
-Nod!
"Mm."
For a brief moment—It looked like an ordinary day.
Almost.
Then—The shadows shifted.
Behind Leo—A figure rose soundlessly from the darkness.
Kneeling. Head lowered.
The Shadow Soldier had returned.
"Report."
Leo didn't even turn.
"...."
The soldier spoke in a hollow whisper.
"Danzō has made contact with Kirigakure."
Aemma paused for second serving.
"...."
Sasami's hand stilled slightly. But neither interrupted.
They knew better.
"The condition—A host for the Nine-Tails."
Silence.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Thick. Heavy.
Then—Leo chuckled. Low. Amused.
-Chuckle!
Not surprised. Never surprised.
"…Of course he did."
He finally turned slightly, eyes gleaming with something sharp.
"Always reaching for power that isn't his to hold."
The Shadow Soldier continued.
"Root operatives will move toward Uzushiogakure."
That, Was the line.
The moment the board shifted.
Leo's expression didn't change much. But something in the air did.
Like a blade being unsheathed without sound.
"Then listen carefully."
His voice was calm. Too calm.
The kind of calm that came before something irreversible.
"Kill every Root ninja…"
A slight pause.
"…who steps out of Uzushiogakure."
No anger. No hesitation.
Just—Judgment. A decision.
The Shadow Soldier bowed deeply.
"As you command."
And vanished.
Returning—To the very shadow it came from.
Back in the corridors of guest quaters—Nothing looked different.
Danzō continued walking.
Root followed him like a shadow.
But somewhere between one step and the next—Death had already been assigned.
Back in the mansion—Leo sat down as if nothing had happened.
Aemma gently placed the final dish before him.
"…It will be taken care of?" she asked quietly.
Leo picked up his chopsticks.
"Yes."
Simple. Certain.
Sasami hesitated then asked with a narrowed eyes.
"…Will there be war?"
Leo took a bite. Calm. Unbothered.
Then—
"Only for those who insist on starting one."
Night draped Uzushiogakure in a velvet hush.
Lanterns swayed.
Laughter spilled through narrow streets.
Somewhere, a shamisen hummed like a lazy heartbeat.
Leo walked alone.
"...."
No guards. No urgency.
Just a quiet orbit through a village that still breathed.
Then—A voice cut through the night.
Sharp. Irritated. Familiar.
"…THIS DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE!"
Leo's brow lifted a fraction.
"…Of course."
He turned towards the gambling house.
Gambling House...
Inside the Gambling House.
The air was thick with tension and coins.
Cards slapped against wood.
Chips clinked like tiny declarations of war.
At the center—Tsunade
Leaning forward. Eyes locked. Completely consumed.
Around her, a few Uzumaki clan members sat with the calm confidence of men who had already tasted victory.
"Reveal."
Cards turned. A beat.
Then—
"…Again?!"
Tsunade slammed her hand on the table.
"I had better odds than that!"
One of the Uzumaki men chuckled.
"Luck isn't fond of you tonight, Princess."
That only made it worse.
Coins slid away from her.
Another loss.
Another irritation added to the pile.
"Again."
She pushed forward what remained of her money.
All of it.
No hesitation.
And that's when—Leo stepped beside her.
Silent. Effortless.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Like he had always been there.
He glanced down at her cards.
A small pause.
Then—
"…You're playing this wrong."
Tsunade didn't even look at him.
"I didn't ask for commentary."
Her tone was sharp.
Annoyed.
As Leo bagan to help her.
"And if I lose this—"
She finally glanced sideways at him.
"…you're compensating me."
A challenge.
Half serious. Half irritation looking for a target.
Leo's lips curved faintly.
"Fine."
Simple. Agreed.
The game resumed.
Cards drawn. Bets placed.
The table leaned forward—Pulled into the gravity of the final round.
Leo leaned slightly closer.
Not touching. Not obvious.
Just enough.
"Hold."
A whisper. Barely there.
Tsunade's fingers paused.
For a split second—She considered ignoring him.
Then—She didn't.
Another round. Another draw.
Leo's voice again—
"Now."
She shifted one card. Just one.
The table stilled. Final reveal.
One by one—Cards hit the table.
Confidence. Smirks. Certainty.
"...."
"...."
"...."
Then—Tsunade laid hers down.
Silence.
The shift was instant. Like the air itself had been flipped.
"…That's not—"
"…Impossible—"
"…Wait—"
Tsunade blinked. Once. Twice.
-Blink! -Blink!
Then looked again. She had won. Clean.
"...."
Decisive. No tricks. No cheating.
Just—A perfect hand.
The Uzumaki players stared. Then slowly leaned back.
"…Well."
One of them exhaled.
-Sigh!
"That's… unfortunate."
Coins slid back toward her.
This time—In her favor.
Tsunade didn't touch them immediately.
She was still staring at the cards.
As if expecting them to change their mind.
Then—Her gaze snapped to the side.
-Snap!
At Leo with wide eyes.
"…You."
A pause.
Suspicion. Confusion.
A flicker of something else she hadn't quite named yet.
"…What did you do?"
Leo straightened slightly.
Hands relaxed. Expression calm.
"Nothing."
A beat.
Then—
"You just played it correctly."
Tsunade stared at him. Longer this time.
"...."
Trying to read him. Then she scoffed.
"…Tch."
But she didn't argue further.
Because—For once—Luck hadn't betrayed her.
She pulled the winnings toward her.
"…You're staying."
Not a request. A statement.
Another round began.
Across the table—The Uzumaki members exchanged glances.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N):
Guys My New Fic name is:
-->Star Entertainment: Building An Empire.
-->Mahabharat: Shiva's Last Variable
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