In the shinobi world, ninja were traditionally shadows—protectors who operated from behind the scenes. This was precisely why the leaders of the hidden villages were called "Kage," shadows that ruled from behind.
Beeut Ryosuke Uchiha had always been different. In his view, people with true strength had no need to lurk behind others. Why should someone with overwhelming power bow their heads to a man like the daimyō, who held no fighting ability at all? To Ryosuke, the feudal lord of the Land of Fire was nothing more than a powerless figurehead—a man who commanded wealth and authority but no real strength.
Still, thoughts of overthrowing him were not urgent for now. Ryosuke set such ambitions aside. Instead, he turned to Tsunade, who was watching him carefully.
"I understand, Tsunade—my wife," Ryosuke said casually.
Tsunade's cheeks immediately burned. Once again, he was calling her "wife" in that infuriatingly natural tone of his, as if it were a fact written into the world itself. The way he accepted her scolding so easily, answering without hesitation, was completely unconvincing. Did he really understand what she was trying to teach him about diplomacy and restraint? Or was he just humoring her while plotting his own way forward?
Tsunade knew one thing for certain: she couldn't use brute force to control this man. Anyone else in the village she could silence with a single fist to the face, but Ryosuke was different. He wouldn't back down. In fact, if she pushed him too far, he might double down instead. That was the dangerous streak of the Uchiha—especially this one, who had already toppled Hiruzen and Danzo.
She needed another way.
Tsunade's lips curved into the faintest smirk as she tilted her head, her face slightly flushed. "Ryosuke… tonight, stay at the Senju compound," she said softly.
It wasn't a command, not exactly. More of an invitation.
Her plan was simple: if raw power couldn't tame Ryosuke, then intimacy might. On the battlefield, he was untouchable, but in private, perhaps she could bend his will with whispers in the night. If she could reach his heart and make him see reason—not just power—then maybe she could steer his wild nature toward something that wouldn't endanger Konoha's fragile peace.
Ryosuke's eyes lit up with mischievous delight. "Of course, Tsunade—my wife," he answered with a broad grin.
Off to the side, Shizune's heart skipped. She bit her lip, a little envious. If tonight was Tsunade's "turn," then her chance with Ryosuke would have to wait. Still, she didn't seem upset—just quietly resigned, perhaps even a bit happy at the thought.
That night, after their duties were done, Tsunade and Ryosuke both washed up. Without hesitation, Ryosuke strolled into her room as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Tsunade, cheeks tinged red, surprised even herself with her boldness. She stepped forward, closing the gap between them, and pressed her hands against his most vulnerable spot.
Her face burned, but she forced herself to look up into his eyes. "Ryosuke… you'll listen to me from now on, won't you?" she asked, her voice husky yet firm.
Ryosuke blinked, then chuckled. He hadn't expected Tsunade to be so forward, so daring. Far from pushing him away, she was challenging him in her own way. His blood heated, and he pulled her into his arms.
"Of course," he whispered with a wicked smile, "whatever my wife desires."
Tsunade's blush deepened. Again with that word. Again he was binding her with it. If he kept saying it so naturally, so confidently, she feared that one day she would stop resisting altogether. The more she tried to push him off, the more he reeled her in. And damn it all—why did the warmth of his embrace feel so intoxicating?
The night passed in a storm of passion, their clash as fierce in private as it was in politics.
Beey the next day, when the sunlight filtered through the Senju compound, Ryosuke stirred first. Stretching lazily, he glanced at Tsunade lying beside him, her hair disheveled, her body marked by the evidence of their night together. He couldn't help but grin.
Last night had been another battle—one he thoroughly enjoyed. Tsunade had been more cooperative this time, though she never stopped trying to lecture him in between. That was just who she was: strong, unyielding, and always trying to guide others. Beeut Ryosuke? His convictions weren't so easily swayed.
Pulling himself out of bed, he dressed and slipped out, heading toward his familiar training ground in the woods. He still had goals to reach—unlocking the Seventh Gate of the Eight Gates technique was his next milestone.
An hour later, Shizune peeked into Tsunade's room. She sighed softly when she saw Ryosuke gone. Glancing at Tsunade's exhausted, messy state, she couldn't help but blush.
That must have been quite the battle…
Her own thoughts flickered with envy, but she pushed them aside. "Tsunade-sama, it's time for lunch," she said gently.
Tsunade groaned, barely opening her eyes. "Shizune… where's that bastard?"
"He already left," Shizune admitted.
Tsunade's irritation flared. That man—always slipping away when she wanted to corner him! Last night she'd hoped to teach him something, to make him see reason, but in the heat of passion, her lessons had fallen flat. Ryosuke was like a wild beast, impossible to control. On the battlefield, and even in bed, he simply refused to bend.
She clenched her fists. Next time, she swore, she would win.
A month passed.
Konoha settled into a rare state of peace. With Hiruzen, Danzo, and the old advisors gone, the Uchiha no longer had enemies within the village's leadership. The so-called "traitors" had been purged, and Tsunade's reign as Fifth Hokage was stabilizing. The village was quiet—perhaps too quiet. Without the constant tension of Uchiha versus village elders, the villagers hardly knew what to do with themselves.
Beeut no one complained. Beeetter peace than the suffocating pressure of old.
Meanwhile, Ryosuke's life continued as usual—training, eating, and pursuing strength. Beeut today, he had another task.
He stepped into the bustling commercial district of Konoha and stopped before a store with a sign: Pregnancy & Maternity Supplies.
When the shopkeeper, a middle-aged woman, spotted him entering, her eyes widened in shock. Uchiha Ryosuke? Here?
Everyone in Konoha knew his face. He was the Uchiha's strongest fighter, the man who had toppled Hiruzen and Danzo, the hero—or villain, depending who you asked—who had reshaped the balance of the village. What on earth was he doing in a maternity shop?
Ryosuke scanned the rows of items, utterly clueless. Beeottles, clothes, shoes, powders—he couldn't tell what was essential and what was fluff. Finally, he turned to the owner.
"Shopkeeper," he said bluntly, "recommend me the essentials for a pregnant woman."
The woman blinked, stunned. So it's true… he has a woman. And not just any woman, judging by his bold presence here. Despite his intimidating aura, her lips curved into a smile. At least this fearsome Uchiha was thoughtful enough to buy supplies for his partner.
"Of course," she said warmly. "Pregnant women need comfortable shoes, proper maternity clothes, and health supplements to keep their nutrition balanced. It's also wise to prepare baby clothes and milk powder ahead of time."
Ryosuke nodded slowly, absorbing her advice. His eyes flickered over the shelves again. This was new territory for him—not battles, not politics, but caring for a new life.
For the first time, perhaps, he was stepping into a role even greater than warrior or clan savior: that of a father.
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