At night, Yuzuru returned to the Uchiha compound from the Raikage Building.
The moment he stepped inside, he heard laughter bubbling through the house.
He walked into the backyard and saw Tsunade, Shizune, Kushina, Mikoto, Karura, Konan, and the others sitting together in lively conversation.
"Tsunade, Shizune—why are you two in my house?" Yuzuru asked curiously.
Hearing him, Tsunade turned her head and rolled her eyes. "I heard Kushina was here, so I rushed over."
"As for you, I was wondering why you kept staring at my chest on the way back. Turns out you're a big scumbag."
"With four stunningly beautiful wives at home, you certainly know how to enjoy yourself."
Tsunade had never been one to hold her tongue. Her wolfish bluntness even made Yuzuru break into a faint sweat.
But he wasn't someone who liked to back down, so he replied directly, "Looking doesn't hurt anyone. If you don't want people staring, hide them yourself."
Tsunade didn't get angry. She just gave a light snort. "Where's the casino in Kumogakure? Take me there later to get familiar with the route."
Between the five hundred thousand ryō Yuzuru had given her and the one million ryō from the Third Raikage, she now had a total of one and a half million ryō.
With that much money suddenly on hand, she felt the familiar itch rising again.
"I'll take you after dinner." Yuzuru sat down beside the group. "Tsunade, go to the Raikage Building tomorrow. The Third Raikage will arrange your work moving forward."
Although the villages had begun establishing medical-nin systems modeled after Konoha, they were still far from complete. Their medical jutsu and knowledge were terribly lacking.
If Tsunade brought out everything she knew, Kumogakure's strength would leap forward once more.
A single excellent medical-nin could drastically improve mission survivability.
Tsunade waved her hand lazily. "Got it, got it. Buzzkill."
At that moment, Sakumo, Kakashi, Might Duy, Might Guy, Obito, and Fugaku walked in one after another.
Seeing Tsunade, Sakumo smiled. "Tsunade, we heard you'll be settling in Kumogakure, so we prepared a few gifts."
He then introduced the others.
Tsunade smiled warmly. "Sakumo-senpai, who would've thought we'd meet again here of all places."
Sakumo sighed. "The world is unpredictable. Who'd have imagined we would all become Konoha missing-nin?"
Yuzuru spoke unhappily. "Sakumo, when it was only the Uchiha clan, fine—but now even the Princess of the Senju clan is a Cloud ninja. How can we still be called missing-nin?"
"Compared to Sarutobi Hiruzen and those people, we are the true Konoha."
Sakumo, Duy, and the others froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.
He wasn't wrong.
The Senju and Uchiha—the clans who founded Konoha—were now all in Kumogakure. By that logic, they were the true Konoha.
Only Tsunade's expression stayed faint, without much joy.
But no one pushed her. She had only just arrived in Kumogakure and would need time to adjust.
They believed that once she grew familiar with Kumogakure's system, she'd realize what was truly right.
After dinner, Yuzuru brought Tsunade to the casino in Kumogakure.
Just like last time, no matter what Tsunade bet on, Yuzuru bet the opposite.
By the final round, they had earned quite a bit.
"Hehehe… next time I'm gambling with you again."
Tsunade happily threw an arm around Yuzuru's shoulder and pocketed half the winnings.
Gambling with Yuzuru was not only exhilarating—it made money. What more could she ask for?
Yuzuru replied casually, "That depends on whether I have time."
"Right…" Yuzuru said slowly. "I asked someone to spread the news in the ninja world that you're settling in Kumogakure. That okay?"
"No problem, no problem." Tsunade staggered forward. "I've got things to do tomorrow. I'm heading back."
Watching her leave, Yuzuru turned and walked in another direction.
If he could make Tsunade his woman, wouldn't he be able to awaken the Senju bloodline?
The power of all creation…
The Rinnegan…
It wouldn't be far.
——
——
Late at night.
Uchiha compound.
The door to Yuzuru's house was quietly pushed open. Wearing black clothing, Karura slipped past the night patrol with practiced ease.
Once she left the compound, she rose into the sky using her Sand Release kekkei genkai.
"Barrier—open!"
After dispelling the barrier, she flew unhindered until she reached a mountainside outside Kumogakure, where she slowly descended.
"I'm here."
Karura spoke softly into the empty darkness.
A woman in black clothes and a black hood stepped out.
"Karura. Long time no see."
As she approached, Karura's expression darkened. "Pakura. What did you come for?"
Sensing Karura's distance, Pakura's gaze drifted—just briefly—over Karura's swollen belly.
"Karura, you haven't forgotten the mission you received when you came to Kumogakure, right?"
Karura's voice turned cold. "The moment Sunagakure abandoned me, we stopped being comrades."
"The village was forced by circumstance. You don't need to hold a grudge." Pakura spoke calmly. "I came to ask you to hand over every piece of information you have about Kumogakure and Yuzuru Uchiha."
Karura let out a cold sneer. "Dream on."
Pakura raised an eyebrow. "Have you forgotten Yakamaru is still in Sunagakure?"
"If you don't cooperate, I can't guarantee what might happen to him."
Karura bit her lip, trembling with anger. "Despicable!"
Pakura shrugged. "Enough chatter. Tell me your choice."
"Will you give me the intel I want? Or will you give up your little brother Yakamaru?"
Karura took a deep breath. "No matter what, I will never betray Kumogakure or Yuzuru."
"I'll tell the village your decision." Pakura's voice softened a little. "Don't hate me, Karura. I'm only following orders."
They had once been close friends. If not for the village's pressure, she would never have forced Karura like this.
Karura stepped forward, pleading softly. "Pakura… can you save Yakamaru?"
"I'll try." Pakura said solemnly. "Don't worry too much. With my influence in the village, there's a chance I can protect him."
But just as she finished speaking, a hearty laugh rang out behind her.
"Pakura, you really are naïve."