Aoyama Ryuyun didn't bother explaining further.
He rested his chin on one hand, looking at Tsunade with mild amusement.
"Let's make a bet."
Tsunade's eyes brightened instantly.
"What kind of bet?"
As expected, the mention of gambling sparked her interest.
"I bet the Konoha White Fang is about to die."
Tsunade frowned in disbelief. "That's impossible! The White Fang is a Kage-level shinobi — how could he possibly—"
But Aoyama Ryuyun's confident expression gave her pause. Considering Konoha's deep-rooted corruption, Tsunade's face gradually hardened.
"Those bastards... are they planning to move against Sakumo Hatake?"
If they'd dared to destroy the Senju Clan, what was the White Fang to them?
"Their actions will only make Konoha weaker and weaker!"
Furious, Tsunade slammed her fist against the floor.
Sakumo Hatake was one of the pillars of Konoha's military strength — his loss would shake the entire village.
But mid-sentence, Tsunade froze.
"Wait… Sakumo's strength is almost equal to Hiruzen Sarutobi's. If they really wanted to eliminate him, the price wouldn't be small."
She refused to believe Sakumo Hatake would simply stand by and let the higher-ups destroy him.
Aoyama Ryuyun smiled faintly. "Then tell me, Tsunade — would you believe me if I said the Konoha White Fang will take his own life?"
Tsunade stared at him as though he'd gone mad.
"How is that possible!?"
A Kage-level shinobi committing suicide? Ridiculous.
Of course, Aoyama Ryuyun didn't blame her disbelief. Without knowledge of what was to come, even he wouldn't have believed it.
"Then let's wager on it," he said lazily. "I bet the White Fang will eventually commit suicide."
After a moment of silence, Tsunade nodded. "…Fine. It's a bet."
She didn't believe it for a second, but she was too proud to back down.
"What are the stakes?"
"I haven't thought that far ahead," Ryuyun shrugged. "What do you want to bet?"
"In that case," Tsunade said, eyes sharp, "if you lose — you'll help me."
The last surviving heir of the Senju Clan needed an ally, someone strong enough to strike back when the time came.
And Aoyama Ryuyun fit the bill perfectly.
"At that time, I'll ask you to raise your blade against Konoha's higher-ups. Do you dare?"
Tsunade met his gaze directly, her golden eyes blazing with conviction.
After discovering that Hiruzen Sarutobi was behind the Senju Clan's downfall, whatever remained of her respect for him had long since turned to ash.
You wiped out my clan — and you still expect me to call you teacher? Do you really take me for a fool?
Ryuyun chuckled softly. "We'll talk about it when you can win."
His voice was indifferent, almost teasing.
"Hmph!"
Tsunade glared at him, irritated. For all his overwhelming power, the man was insufferably lazy.
Over the next half-month, Aoyama Ryuyun continued his daily sword practice while experimenting with the Float-Float Fruit's power. In that time, Konoha had remained eerily quiet.
But today — that peace shattered.
The Konoha White Fang, who had maintained a perfect mission record for years, had finally failed.
In order to save his comrades, Sakumo Hatake had abandoned his mission. Though it resulted in failure, Sakumo felt no regret. To him, comrades were always more important than orders.
Yet the world did not see it that way.
"What a disgrace."
"If not for him, the war might've already ended."
"Once a hero, now a sinner!"
It didn't take long for the village's praise to turn into venom.
Once celebrated as a hero, Sakumo Hatake was now a man reviled — condemned for showing compassion.
As he walked the streets, hollow-eyed, the whispers of villagers tore at his spirit. Even his own son, Kakashi, had turned away from him.
Does that mean the mission is really more important than a comrade's life?
Without a word of defense, Sakumo lowered his head and disappeared into the crowd.
"This…" Tsunade's voice faltered.
She and Aoyama Ryuyun stood side by side, watching in silence as the broken man passed.
"Why… why did it come to this?"
"The villagers are fools," Ryuyun said flatly. "They believe whatever the higher-ups tell them."
Though he had known this would happen, witnessing it firsthand still left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"The village my grandfather founded…" Tsunade murmured, her tone full of irony. "He dreamed of a place where people could understand one another. And now—"
She laughed, but there was no humor in it.
"Thanks to Hiruzen and the others, that dream is already dead."
"Are you just going to watch?" she asked suddenly, glancing at Ryuyun. "I heard your relationship with Sakumo was pretty good."
Ryuyun shrugged. "So-so. He's too blindly loyal. A man willing to die for this village isn't worth saving."
They had fought together once during the war, nothing more.
Tsunade didn't respond. She only sighed and looked at Sakumo's fading silhouette.
"…I lost."
She hadn't forgotten their wager.
Though Sakumo hadn't taken his own life yet, anyone could see where this road was leading.
Tsunade turned to him, her voice calm. "What do you want me to do?"