Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was calm.
Too calm.
And that was precisely why Danzo knew—this time, Hiruzen was truly angry.
The room was silent, heavy with tension.
Danzo's expression darkened. He, too, was furious, and there was no intention of backing down.
"Hiruzen," he said coldly, "I am the Hokage's advisor—yet you've kept me imprisoned here for over two years!"
His voice rose with suppressed rage.
"Is that still not enough for you?!"
Hiruzen's gaze hardened.
"And if it isn't," he replied, his tone suddenly sharp, "I can end it right now."
Before Danzo could react, Hiruzen's aura surged.
A kunai appeared in his hand, its blade pointed directly at Danzo's throat.
The shift was instantaneous.
Danzo froze.
For a brief moment, disbelief flashed across his face.
Was this truly Hiruzen?
The man who had once been his closest ally… his comrade… almost like family?
"Hiruzen…" Danzo's voice softened slightly, the anger replaced with caution. "I… made a mistake."
He exhaled slowly.
"I will remain here. I will retire peacefully."
There was a pause.
Then, almost reluctantly, he lowered his head.
It was not submission—at least, that's what he told himself.
It was… a temporary compromise.
"Hmph."
Hiruzen lowered the kunai but did not relax.
"This is your last chance, Danzo," he said firmly.
"If you make another mistake… I will not protect you again."
His voice carried no hesitation.
Danzo understood.
This was not a warning.
It was a promise.
"…I understand."
Though unwilling, he nodded.
Only then did Hiruzen turn and leave.
The moment the door closed—
Danzo's expression twisted.
"Damn you, Hiruzen…"
His voice was low, venomous.
"One day… when I become Hokage…"
"I'll make you pay for this."
The words echoed faintly in the empty room.
After venting his anger for some time, Danzo gradually calmed down.
His thoughts sharpened once more.
"Find Orochimaru," he said suddenly.
"I want every detail about this operation."
From the shadows, a Root ninja appeared briefly—then vanished again.
Meanwhile…
At Qingshui's apartment.
After leaving the Hokage's office, Qingshui had returned home with Nono.
The atmosphere there was completely different.
Warm.
Relaxed.
Peaceful.
For the first time in a long while, there were no missions, no restrictions, no dangers lurking in the shadows.
Only the quiet comfort of home.
Nono leaned lightly against Qingshui, her expression soft.
Back in Hozuki Castle, they had always needed to restrain themselves.
Here—
They could finally relax.
"Qingshui…" she said gently.
Before she could finish—
He pulled her into an embrace.
She didn't resist.
Instead, she smiled faintly, her arms naturally wrapping around him.
"Brother Qingshui…" she whispered, her voice filled with affection.
"I love you."
Simple words.
But filled with sincerity.
Qingshui's expression softened.
Without hesitation, he lifted her into his arms.
Nono let out a quiet laugh, holding onto him as he carried her further inside.
The room felt warmer.
More alive.
Compared to others, Nono's personality was open and expressive.
She didn't hide her feelings.
She didn't hesitate.
And that honesty made her presence comforting.
Later—
"Let's go take a shower," Qingshui said.
"Mm," Nono replied softly.
The moment was calm, unhurried.
Time passed.
Meanwhile—
Tsunade walked through the streets of Konoha.
Her expression, at first relaxed, slowly changed as she heard the news.
"Orochimaru… defected…"
She stopped.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then—
"…So it really came to this."
There was no shock.
Only a quiet sense of inevitability.
As his former teammate, she had always sensed this possibility.
Unlike Jiraiya, she didn't dwell on it.
After a brief sigh, she continued walking.
But soon—
Her mood changed again.
Excitement replaced the heaviness.
She quickened her pace.
There was something she wanted to share.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
If someone who knew her well saw her now, they would immediately notice the difference.
The most obvious sign—
The diamond-shaped mark on her forehead.
The Yin Seal.
After years of effort, she had finally completed it.
Not only that—
She had also perfected her techniques alongside it.
This achievement marked a new peak in her strength.
She reached Qingshui's apartment.
Her heart beat slightly faster.
For some reason—
She felt… expectant.
But as soon as she entered—
She paused.
Her gaze fell to the floor.
Clothes.
Scattered.
A mess.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"…Really?"
A faint smirk appeared on her lips.
"What a shameless brat."
She walked further in.
And quickly confirmed her suspicion.
At that moment—
Nono noticed her.
"Ah—!"
Her face instantly turned red.
She quickly looked away, clearly embarrassed.
Qingshui, however, remained calm.
He simply looked at Tsunade and smiled.
"You came at the right time."
Tsunade rolled her eyes.
"You really don't hold back, do you?"
Despite her words, there was no real anger.
Only familiarity.
Qingshui stepped closer.
"Tsunade… you've changed."
His gaze lingered briefly.
He had noticed it immediately.
Tsunade smiled.
"Of course."
There was pride in her voice.
"I finally succeeded."
For a moment—
The atmosphere shifted again.
Warmer.
Lighter.
Later that evening—
After everything had settled—
Qingshui prepared dinner.
The kitchen filled with a comforting aroma.
Inside the room—
Tsunade glanced at Nono with a teasing smile.
"I didn't expect you to be so bold," she said.
Nono immediately covered her face.
"I—I'm not…"
Her ears had already turned red.
Tsunade chuckled.
"Oh?"
"Then what was that earlier?"
Nono peeked through her fingers.
"And you're any better?" she shot back softly.
For a brief moment—
They stared at each other.
Then—
Both burst into quiet laughter.
There was no hostility.
No jealousy.
Only a growing understanding.
They both knew—
Qingshui would never abandon either of them.
And because of that—
There was no need for conflict.
"Dinner's ready," Qingshui called from outside.
The two exchanged a glance.
Then smiled.
As they stepped out—
Qingshui looked at them, a faint grin forming.
For him—
This quiet, peaceful life…
Was something worth protecting.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)