It was as if, in that moment, Aoyama Ryūyun stood alone as the one and only king in this world.
"You… you…!"
Even a mid-level burst of Haoshoku Haki was something Dan Katō could not withstand.
The arrogance vanished from Dan's face, replaced by raw fear. Under the crushing pressure of Ryūyun's will, his knees trembled — and for a brief instant, he felt an urge to kneel.
"Scram," Ryūyun said coldly. "And if you dare to bother me again, I'll wipe out your entire clan."
It was only because this was Konoha that he didn't strike. Were they on the battlefield, he would have cut Dan down without hesitation.
Terrified, Dan didn't dare say a word. He stumbled backward, retreating as fast as his legs could carry him.
One could imagine how bitterly he must have cursed Ryūyun afterward — humiliated in front of Tsunade, the woman he admired.
But to Aoyama Ryūyun, it meant nothing.
If an insect doesn't attack first, why bother swatting it?
He released his grip from the hilt and turned toward Tsunade.
"So then, Tsunade-senpai, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Let's go inside," she said simply.
Having witnessed his Haoshoku Haki firsthand, Tsunade no longer saw the youth before her as a mere arrogant genius.
"Please," Ryūyun replied with a shrug.
He led her into the courtyard.
"Would you like some sake?" he asked as they entered.
People from the Pirate World rarely abstained from alcohol — and having inherited the Golden Lion's disposition, Ryūyun could drink anyone under the table.
Tsunade hesitated. "No, I—wait. Bring some."
Alcohol was one of the three taboos of a shinobi, but she needed it. Since Nawaki's death, sake had been her only relief.
"This is good," she murmured as she took the bottle from him, sitting casually in the courtyard.
"Tsunade-senpai—"
"Just Tsunade," she interrupted before he could finish.
Their strength was comparable; formalities were pointless.
Ryūyun didn't mind. Names were trivial.
"Then, Tsunade… you came here because of Senju Nawaki's death, didn't you?"
"Indeed! You know something, don't you?!"
She had just raised the sake pot to her lips, but his words froze her in place. Her eyes widened, all traces of drunken calm gone.
Ryūyun clicked his tongue. He didn't even glance at her as he picked up the sake pot she had set down.
"Hey—wait, that's—"
Before she could finish, he took a long drink from it.
"What's wrong?" he asked lazily, setting it down.
Tsunade stared at him, momentarily speechless, before sighing and waving her hand. "Forget it. Nothing."
Still, his nonchalance left her feeling oddly unsettled.
Ryūyun poured himself another drink and said with a faint smile,
"To ask that question, you must already have your suspicions."
"…Was it really Sensei?" she asked quietly.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi may not have done it personally," Ryūyun said, "but without his approval, how could the Senju Clan have fallen so low?"
He poured another cup, his tone utterly calm.
"Danzo Shimura exists to bear the Hokage's sins. The dirty work is his. The permission, however… always comes from above."
"They were my Second Grandfather's disciples!" Tsunade snapped, fury igniting in her eyes.
"Why? Why would they destroy my clan?"
Ryūyun smirked, resting his chin on one hand. "Because they were weak."
Tsunade's expression froze. "Weak?"
She was still young — brilliant and fierce, yes, but far from seeing the world as Ryūyun did.
He continued, voice level but cutting:
"Leave aside the First Hokage. During the Second's reign, Tobirama Senju despised the Uchiha, but he didn't exterminate them. He only marginalized them — because he had the strength to do so without fear of reprisal."
Everyone knew Tobirama's distrust of the Uchiha Clan. As Hokage, he created systems to keep them at arm's length — the Military Police Force among them. But for all his schemes, he never resorted to slaughter.
"Strength," Ryūyun said, raising the cup again, "is what keeps the blades of politics sheathed. The moment that strength fades, fear replaces respect."
He tilted the sake bottle toward her. "Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't strong enough to rule by fear, so he ruled by manipulation. To secure his power, he had to eliminate every potential threat."
He smiled faintly. "And tell me, Tsunade — what clan, after producing two Hokage in succession, wouldn't become a threat to the next?"
Tsunade's hands trembled slightly.
Ryūyun went to pour another drink — but before he could, Tsunade snatched the bottle from his grasp and drank straight from it.
He raised an eyebrow, then chuckled softly.
After draining the bottle, Tsunade's cheeks were tinged pink. Her gaze, however, was sharper than ever.
"Can you help me?" she asked suddenly.
Ryūyun set his cup down. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm just a jōnin."
His tone was nonchalant, but the truth was he didn't want unnecessary attention before mastering his powers.
"Stop joking," Tsunade said firmly. "That swordsmanship of yours — and that aura earlier — no jōnin could do that."
She leaned forward slightly.
"Your strength… it's already at the level of a Kage."