This mission was clearly orchestrated by Danzo — and it targeted Aoyama Ryuyun specifically.
Tsunade's expression darkened instantly.
"That old dog…"
Her fist slammed down on the table with a thunderous crack.
She had just declared yesterday that nothing would happen.
And now, this mission appeared out of nowhere.
Was Danzo deliberately trying to slap her in the face?
"The more I think about it, the angrier I get."
Tsunade rose abruptly, the veins on her temple twitching. "I'll go deal with that scheming bastard myself—"
"Alright, alright." Ryuyun waved a hand calmly. "You'd better save that anger for training. You're still far from strong enough to become Hokage."
Tsunade froze mid-step.
"Hmph!" she huffed, glaring at him.
Strength wasn't something one could just "improve on command," after all.
Meanwhile, Ryuyun picked up the mission scroll and read through it leisurely, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Beside him, Kurenai Yuhi still looked somewhat lost. She didn't yet understand the true darkness lurking beneath Konoha's surface, but even she could sense that something about this wasn't right.
"Ryuyun-nii… is this mission dangerous?" she asked nervously, clutching her sleeve.
"Don't worry."
He reached out and gently placed his hand on her head.
Dangerous?
Perhaps for others.
But for Aoyama Ryuyun, it was just another challenge.
"I will never fall before reaching the pinnacle."
His eyes gleamed with unshakable confidence — that same arrogance that made even Tsunade and Kurenai pause, momentarily awed by his presence.
"Go," he said lightly, "bring me my swords."
"Okay!"
Kurenai darted into his room, quick and obedient.
As Ryuyun secured the scroll inside his cloak, Tsunade frowned, still uneasy.
"How about I go with you?" she asked suddenly.
"Hmm?" He turned his head slightly.
"Don't… don't overthink it!" Tsunade barked, folding her arms. "It's not because I'm worried about you!"
Ryuyun chuckled. "Did I say anything?"
Still, her concern was obvious.
"There's no need," he said finally, tightening his gloves. "If they've gone through all this trouble just for me, wouldn't it be rude not to show up?"
Just then, Kurenai came running out, holding two beautifully forged ninja swords in her small hands.
"Ryuyun-nii!"
"Thanks."
He strapped both swords to his waist — one on each side — and smiled faintly.
"Let's see what Danzo is really plotting this time."
---
The southern edge of Konoha — a quiet, seldom-traveled forest.
During wartime, it had become even more deserted. Only the distant hum of insects filled the air.
Standing alone among the trees, Aoyama Ryuyun rested both hands lightly on the hilts of his swords.
"I'm already here," he said flatly, his voice carrying across the woods. "How much longer are you planning to hide?"
His Observation Haki had already sensed them the moment he left home — several presences tailing him from the shadows.
Silence.
The forest gave no answer.
Ryuyun smiled coldly.
"Still waiting for a clean kill, huh?"
Typical Root behavior.
They never struck until the target's guard dropped — always lurking, always calculating.
"If that's the case…"
He lifted one foot and pressed it into the ground.
"Earth Scroll — Rock Flow!"
Cracks shot out in every direction as slabs of stone erupted upward like geysers, sweeping through the trees.
Five figures in black cloaks and porcelain masks leapt out, landing lightly around him.
Their movements were silent and disciplined — standard Root formation.
"They didn't even see him form hand seals…" one of them murmured, eyes narrowing.
Ryuyun smirked.
Of course they hadn't. They couldn't comprehend the nature of the Float-Float Fruit's power.
The squad leader stepped forward.
"Aoyama Ryuyun," he said firmly, "Lord Danzo requests your presence. Come quietly."
"You don't look like you're inviting me," Ryuyun replied lazily.
"If you resist," the leader warned, raising his blade, "we have orders to use force."
Ryuyun's expression hardened.
"That's why I hate when people point swords at me."
The forest seemed to tighten around him — an invisible pressure radiating from his body.
"You—"
"Wave Slash."
A golden arc of energy tore through the air.
The leader froze, eyes wide, before collapsing to the ground — cleaved cleanly across the chest.
"What—what was that?!"
"So fast!"
The remaining Root operatives stumbled back, disbelief on their faces.
By the time they realized what had happened, Ryuyun's right sword was already drawn. The other blade slid free an instant later.
"My answer," he said quietly, eyes cold, "is to make sure none of you report back."
He smiled faintly — not out of malice, but out of inevitability.
After all, he hadn't planned to provoke Shimura Danzo.
But if Danzo wanted to test him, he would just have to show him what that cost.