33 Chap 33 - Tsunade: Cousin, Don't You Have a Heart?!

Tsunade ignored the fact that her cousin was sitting on her bed, in a position that clearly indicated he wasn't embarrassed or even bothered to be lying on a woman's bed.

At that moment, she could only feel sadness and anger when she saw Ryuuji's face.

Of course, none of that mattered much to Ryuuji, as he knew he could handle his cousin and her feelings.

" Tsunade, tell me, why do you seem to hate me so much? "

Tsunade clenched her fists tightly.

" Do you even need to ask?! It was after your 'little visit' in Konoha that everything started to go wrong for me! You showed me those things while putting me in Genjutsu.

How could I not feel angry at being trapped in this place? How could I not feel hate after having my brother taken from me? "

Ryuuji already figured that was the reason, Tsunade still didn't believe his words and still thinks her brother is dead. Which was strange, because no bodies were found for sure.

Did Orochimaru or Hiruzen do something? Anyway…

" So tell me, cousin…do you want to come with me to Uzushiogakure? "

Tsunade smacked her lips.

" I'll never give up the place my grandfather built! I'll stay here until I can change this place and make it back to what it should be. "

Ryuuji smiled and continued:

" Then why didn't you do anything? It's been almost two years since the day I came to Konoha and showed you all the things Hiruzen and Danzo have done in the last few years. That's a long time, isn't it? "

Tsunade let a bitter laugh escape her lips.

" With my strength, what can I do? I think if I question my Sens- I mean Hiruzen, I'll wake up the next day with my head off my neck.

In fact, I think I just keep my position as Kunoichi and Jounin because of my worth and because I didn't say anything about what you showed me to anyone. "

Ryuuji slightly frowned.

" This is not something Hiruzen would do so openly…"

" He's changed…Hiruzen has changed a lot after what you did to Danzo Shimura. It seems the only thing on his mind right now is revenge and power. It's almost as if the old Hiruzen was just a mask, a mask you tore. "

Ryuuji couldn't help the amused laugh that escaped his lips.

" It's good that you noticed that, Tsunade, because that's exactly who your Sensei is.

He and Danzo are the main reasons why things between our villages have gotten the way they have…of course, we can't forget the questionable acts of your Great-Uncle, Tobirama. "

Tsunade wanted to refute Ryuuji, but unfortunately, she knew the red-haired boy was right in his words.

The hot blonde looked at Ryuuji and smacked her lips again.

" Tsk! Forget about it, I'll find a way to solve my problems. Now tell me why you're here! "

Ryuuji smiled and threw the bait to Tsunade:

" You know, two days ago I was walking through the Elemental Nations and witnessed a very interesting scene…"

Tsunade tilted her head doubtfully but let Ryuuji continue.

" I witnessed the exact moment when Orochimaru, your friend, killed an Iwagakure shinobi and after that, a small brown haired boy ran like a madman until he fell into a trap prepared for your friend.

Like the good guy that I am, I wouldn't let the brown haired boy die for no reason so I saved him... right now, said boy is in Uzushiogakure along with Granny Mito, training to help his "Onee-sama" conquer the rank of Fourth Hokage. "

Tsunade, who was still processing Ryuuji's words in her mind, widened her eyes.

" T-That…y-you're lying! "

" Tsunade, can your situation get any worse than it is now? Why would I lie to you? With my strength, do you think I need to lie to you? Is there anyone who can stop me from doing what I want? "

Tsunade looked at Ryuuji and the redhead could see the internal struggle that was taking place inside Tsunade's head.

Ryuuji wasn't the type of guy who liked to force his hand, so he reached out to Tsunade in a friendly way.

" Trust me, Tsunade. You only need to take my hand and in the blink of an eye, you'll be close to your brother. "

Tsunade alternated her gaze between her outstretched hand and Ryuuji's eyes.

As if an invisible force welled up in his body, Tsunade reached out and squeezed Ryuuji's hand.

Ryuuji didn't wait any longer and teleported to the Hiraishin mark inside his Great-Aunt's house.

When Tsunade opened her eyes, she was in front of her grandmother, who was looking at her in slight surprise.

" Ryuuji-kun, you started acting faster than I thought. "

Ryuuji smiled and just sent his grandmother a wink.

" I certainly wouldn't let my cousin suffer from a false loss. I'm this man who loves his family, after all. "

Mito couldn't help but let a melodious laugh escape her lips.

" Absolutely, Ryuuji. I can never underestimate how much a man full of 'family love' you are.

Ryuuji also smiled, leaving only Tsunade not understanding anything.

Tsunade stomped to the ground angrily at being excluded.

Mito, seeing her granddaughter acting like a spoiled brat, smiled slightly and opened her arms. In the next instant, Tsunade threw herself into her grandmother's arms and began to vent.

Ryuuji noticed that Nawaki was approaching and decided to withdraw, leaving the small Senju-Uzumaki family to have their well-deserved "reunion".

…

Tsunade, Mito and Nawaki took a little tour of Uzushiogakure while talking about Konoha and other less important matters.

While they spent hours at this, Ryuuji was enjoying time with his pregnant wife-mother, talking and playing with their daughter, even though she still can't interact with him as she is growing up in Benihime's womb.

" Ryuu-kun, don't you listen when I say that Hikari-chan kicks a lot when you talk to her? "

Ryuuji ignored his mother and continued talking to the unborn baby.

" Really, Hikari-chan? Do you like to hear daddy's voice? "

To Benihime's unhappiness, Hikari gave another kick, causing the red-haired woman to let out some air through her mouth.

Benihime looked at Ryuuji who was totally ignoring her to talk to the baby and even feeling uncomfortable, she couldn't help but feel a strange happiness inside.

After a few more minutes of conversation between "father and daughter", Ryuuji heard Tsunade's footsteps approaching his house.

Knowing he needed to speak with his cousin, Ryuuji said goodbye to his mother and the unborn baby.

" I'll be right back, my dears. "

…

In a red flash, Ryuuji appeared in front of Tsunade, who jumped in fright.

With a smile on his face, Ryuuji wrapped his arm around Tsunade's waist and pulled her closer to him.

" Be careful, Tsunade-chan. You need to be more attentive when walking around. "

Tsunade let out a huff and fled from Ryuuji's arms.

" You're just like Grandma Mito said you were…a hopeless womanizer. "

Ryuuji just smiled, after all, that wasn't a lie.

" So, besides talking about my habit of loving beautiful women, did you and Granny Mito talk about anything else? "

Tsunade felt shameless anger at her cousin, but she just took a deep breath and focused on what really mattered at the moment.

" Yes… we talked about the possibility of me becoming Hokage and making Konoha the place my grandfather wanted it to be. "

" And you think you can do that? "

Tsunade smiled lightly.

" I didn't think I was capable until I talked to Granny Mito. Now I know what I must do to make my voice heard in Konoha. "

It's obvious, Mito Uzumaki helped Hashirama make Konoha stronger, so she sure knows ways to get Tsunade to build a small faction that will support her as Hokage.

" Very well, cousin. Looks like you found a way to go. "

Tsunade put on a complicated expression before letting out a sigh.

" Hey Ryuuji…Grandma Mito said you would help me. That's true? "

Ryuuji let out a sigh and slightly nodded his head in a positive way.

" I can help you in any way I can, but don't think I'll put Konoha ahead of Uzushio, because I never will. All I can do for you now is help you get stronger, because let's face it, you're going to need to get stronger if you really want to be worthy of the Hokage position. "

Tsunade nodded and accepted things as they are.

" The first thing I need to do is stop the war between our two villages. Do you have any idea? "

Ryuuji frowned before replying to Tsunade:

" Tsunade, I don't know what you and Granny Mito talked about, but the war between our two villages is something the Third Hokage wants above all else, not just for personal revenge or collective gain, but also to cement his name as supreme leader of Konoha. "

Tsunade, who was taken aback by Ryuuji's answer, felt anger well up in her heart. Using all her willpower to hold on and not attack, she replied to Ryuuji:

" B-But Ryuuji, there must be some way to stop this conflict! If we go to war, how will we create an alliance between our two Villages again?! "

" You are very naive woman, cousin. I understand your reason for not wanting a war against Uzushio, especially now that Konoha is dealing with three other Shinobi Villages, but this war will happen, that's a fact. Hiruzen already convinced the people that could stop this war. You won't be able to stop it. "

" T-That…"

Ryuuji didn't let Tsunade recover and continued, this time showing things from another perspective:

" You might think I'm a monster for saying what I'm going to say, but war also have their positive side. You see, when Hiruzen attacks Uzushio, he is doomed to fail. After such a glaring failure, his reputation and morale will be drastically damaged.

Each clan of Konoha will place the blame for this defeat in Hiruzen's lap and he will be able to do nothing to defend himself but accept defeat. Maybe he won't lose his Hokage post now, but this situation is exactly what you need to emerge as a Hokage candidate. "

Tsunade's eyes widened and she looked at Ryuuji as if he were a monster, a real monster.

" B-But it will cause thousands of deaths…even the shinobi of Uzushiogakure will die in this battle! You don't care?! "

Ryūji let out a sigh.

" Of course I do, Tsunade. But I'm not a nanny, neither for Uzushio nor for Konoha. Your people need to learn the true face of Hiruzen and the pain of betraying their allies, and my people need to learn to fight with their own fists, without depending on me for everything. The war between our villages will do this almost perfectly. "

Tsunade didn't take Ryuuji's words very well, but before she could refute him, Ryuuji ended the matter.

" Don't try to convince me otherwise, Tsunade. The war will not stop of its own accord, that is the reality! If you don't have the ability to understand and accept that fact, then you're not worthy of being Hokage.

Do you think Hiruzen will get out of the chair for you to sit your big ass on it? Do you think the Konoha Clans will accept you as a new Hokage for no apparent reason? You? That besides being Hashirama's granddaughter, doesn't have any other considerable accomplishments?

Don't make me laugh! "

Tsunade cringed at Ryūji's words, but she wasn't a simple woman. Endless anger welled up in her chest, making her raise her head and glare at Ryūji fiercely.

" I know! I fucking know! I just wanted to avoid this situation! If I was as strong as my grandfather, I could avoid this shitty situation! "

With each word, Tsunade stomped on the ground, creating a crater and several cracks in the ground around the two of them.

Ryuuji smiled slightly and spoke as if it were something simple:

" Then make yourself stronger than Hashirama so that it doesn't happen again. Now stop being a spoiled little girl and go back to your house, because you have a lot of work to do. "

Tsunade let out an angry huff, but shook her head slightly.

" Tomorrow I'm going to Konoha to start your training, so don't be surprised when I show up at your side. "

Before Tsunade could question Ryuuji or say that this method was too dangerous, Ryuuji sent her to her house via the Hiraishin Mark he left in her room.

As soon as Tsunade was sent back home, Mito came out from behind a tree and walked towards Ryuuji.

" Ryuuji-kun, did you have to be so rude to my granddaughter? "

Ryuuji just smiled at his grandmother.