"A safe place?"
"Mm."
Without further discussion, the three quietly left the camp and stopped at a desolate stretch of sand under the cold desert moon.
"The nights in this desert are freezing," Tsunade muttered with irritation. "Why did we come all the way out here?"
"Lady Tsunade is still too young," Shikaku replied with a faint smile.
In truth, he wasn't mocking her — just being cautious. Walls had ears, and the camp was filled with spies loyal to Hiruzen Sarutobi. If anyone overheard what they were about to discuss, it could spell serious trouble.
However, Tsunade's eyes narrowed dangerously at his remark.
"What did you just say?"
That line might be acceptable coming from Aoyama Ryuyun, but from Nara Shikaku? Unforgivable.
"Uh—!"
Shikaku froze, instantly realizing his mistake. He'd momentarily forgotten that the real Tsunade — the one not smiling and playing medic — was famously short-tempered.
"Ahem." He cleared his throat quickly, redirecting the conversation. "Anyway… Liu Yun, word just arrived from Konoha. The higher-ups have finalized your commendation."
"Oh?"
Aoyama Ryuyun smiled faintly. "Let's hear it."
Tsunade, curious despite her annoyance, turned toward Shikaku.
"The decision is to promote you to Elite Jōnin," Shikaku said directly.
Elite Jōnin — the highest rank below Kage. Among Konoha's shinobi, it was a rare and honorable title.
However—
"That's it?" Tsunade frowned, stunned that Shikaku didn't continue.
"That's it," Shikaku confirmed, his tone grim.
"This…"
To Tsunade, it felt like mockery. A title — no matter how fancy — was still just a title.
Ryuyun had defeated the One-Tail Shukaku and ended an entire war. And all they offered him was a nameplate?
That wasn't a reward; it was an insult.
The decision hadn't yet been publicly announced, but with Nara operatives inside the Anbu, Shikaku had received the information immediately. After analyzing the situation, he realized it was a deliberate slight — a political maneuver — and came straight to warn them.
"Those bastards!" Tsunade clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles popped.
If not for Ryuyun sitting calmly beside her, she would have already stormed back to Konoha and smashed Hiruzen's desk to splinters.
They were out here bleeding for the village, while those old men sat safely behind their desks — and now they dared to pull this?
"Calm down," Ryuyun said evenly.
"I…"
One sharp word from him was enough. Tsunade fell silent, seething but compliant.
Shikaku couldn't help but be impressed. So it's true — only Aoyama Ryuyun can control her.
Ryuyun looked at Tsunade and spoke with quiet amusement.
"Didn't I already warn you this might happen?"
He wasn't surprised in the slightest. The moment he showed strength that could rival a Kage, the council would view him as a threat.
"But still…" Tsunade gritted her teeth, too furious to find words.
Ryuyun ignored it and turned to Shikaku with a faint smirk.
"I assume that's not the only reason you came all the way here to see me?"
"Mm." Shikaku nodded, his expression serious. "You're right. There's something else."
He hesitated briefly, then said, "If I'm not mistaken, Liu Yun… you intend for Lady Tsunade to become the Fourth Hokage, don't you?"
Ryuyun didn't even flinch. "Correct."
Tsunade blinked. "Huh?"
She had no idea how the two of them reached that conclusion so quickly. Conversations between men like this — fast, sharp, layered in politics — were clearly not her territory. But she trusted Ryuyun. Whatever he planned, she'd follow his lead.
Shikaku's lips curved into a rare smile. "In that case, the Nara Clan is willing to lead the Yamanaka and Akimichi Clans in supporting Senju Tsunade for the Fourth Hokage's seat."
Tsunade was completely taken aback. Wait—what just happened?
In mere minutes, Ryuyun and Shikaku had somehow turned her into a Hokage candidate.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi doesn't seem to understand," Ryuyun said, a hint of amusement in his voice, "that it's not by becoming Hokage that one gains recognition — it's by gaining recognition that one becomes Hokage."
The opinions of ordinary citizens could be swayed by propaganda, but the ninja clans were different. They had their own judgment, their own alliances. And lately, their trust in Hiruzen had begun to waver.
Shikaku nodded thoughtfully. "After all, even we understand the principle — 'when the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold.'"
Today, the council ostracized Ryuyun simply because they feared him. But if they could turn on him, who was to say they wouldn't turn on the clans next?
People like Shikaku never trusted politicians who ruled through paranoia.
"Compared to the Third Hokage," Shikaku added, "Lady Tsunade is far more straightforward. With her in charge, at least the clans would know where they stand."
Ryuyun smiled faintly. "That's precisely the kind of Hokage Konoha needs."
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