"Hiss!"
Hatake Sakumo said nothing, only drawing in a sharp breath.
Damn it, his heart hurt!
Sometimes, he wondered if one day he would die—
not by the hands of enemy ninjas from other villages,
but because of this man beside him.
"How about taking on some low-rank missions—like weeding or something? A zero-percent success rate is just…"
Aoyama Ryūun immediately shook his head.
"I'm one of Konoha's most outstanding new-generation ninjas! How could I stoop to doing such low-level tasks?"
"…"
Hatake Sakumo could already imagine how dark the future of Konoha might become.
Still, he didn't refute Ryūun's first sentence.
He even nodded slightly, not out of mockery but recognition—
because Aoyama Ryūun's strength truly was formidable.
There was a reason he'd been assigned to the White Fang's elite squad—
it was because of his overwhelming ability.
"When we get back, I'll explain everything to the Hokage."
A simple C-rank escort mission had failed,
and Hatake Sakumo felt utterly exhausted by it all.
"Eh, really?"
Aoyama Ryūun immediately started complaining.
"Isn't writing the mission report the team captain's job?
Captain White Fang, you're being awfully irresponsible!"
Throughout the entire village of Konoha,
"Really now?"
Hatake Sakumo gave him a deathly glare.
"Alright, alright!"
Ryūun smacked his lips and nodded perfunctorily.
Chatting idly, the group returned to Konoha.
At the village gate, two unfamiliar Chūnin were on guard duty.
"Lord White Fang! Lord Ryūun!"
Though most members of the Uchiha clan were known for their pride,
they weren't fools—they knew when to act high and mighty, and when to be humble.
"Lord White Fang, thank you for your hard work!"
The words made the corner of Hatake Sakumo's mouth twitch.
Are they mocking me?
The mission had failed—what "hard work" was there to thank him for?
With a silent sigh, Sakumo said nothing more.
"Let's head back."
Aoyama Ryūun immediately responded,
then turned as if to leave.
But before he could take two steps, Sakumo—his eyes half-dead—blocked his path.
"Where are you going?"
"Uh… haha, I think I just saw someone I know!"
The flimsy excuse made Sakumo roll his eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn't flip into his skull.
"Uh… over there…"
Without waiting for permission, Aoyama Ryūun slipped away.
He glanced around the busy street, pretending to look for someone—
then his gaze stopped in one direction.
"Oh, I really did see someone I know."
Following Ryūun's line of sight,
Hatake Sakumo raised an eyebrow—
as if watching an entertaining scene unfold.
He quietly stepped aside, not stopping him.
…
"Tsunade, I heard you don't have any missions lately. How about we go grab a meal together?"
On the street, a Konoha jōnin was smiling warmly at a beautiful blonde woman—
Senju Tsunade.
Her lovely face, however, showed nothing but impatience.
Who wanted to have a meal with him?
If she had free time, she'd rather go gamble.
They weren't even close!
"It's nothing serious,"
the man—Kato Dan—said gently, not the least bit angry.
"So, Tsunade, when are you free? I was thinking maybe—"
"Grandpa Dan!"
Before Kato Dan could finish, a loud, cheerful voice suddenly cut through the air.
Bang!
Everyone blinked in confusion—then came the sound of a heavy thud.
"Ryūun!"
Tsunade's beautiful face instantly fell.
"You again?"
"Just happened to be passing by. What, can't say hello now?"
By then, Hatake Sakumo had also caught up.
Tsunade gave a brief nod of acknowledgment.
Although the name "White Fang of Konoha" carried great weight,
as the granddaughter of the First Hokage, Tsunade's status in the village was equally exalted.
She subtly pulled her arm free from Kato Dan's grasp.