After Ryujiro and Naruto completed their mission and returned back, many villagers couldn't take their eyes off the boxes on the cart.
"Ryujiro, how are we going to divide this money?" Naruto asked eagerly.
Ryujiro glanced at Naruto and pulled out a few wrinkled bills from his pocket.
"Here you go."
"Huh?" Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Ryujiro! Are you kidding me?!"
"That much bounty, and you're giving me just this bit of money? You're too stingy."
Ryujiro looked at Naruto indifferently. "If you say one more word, I won't even give you this."
Naruto immediately deflated, begrudgingly accepting the wrinkled bills while inwardly cursing Ryujiro.
"Hey!" A familiar voice called out.
"Naruto, I've been looking all over for you."
Naruto's face lit up with joy. "Pervy Sage?!"
Jiraiya smiled at Naruto and Ryujiro. Ryujiro nodded slightly at Jiraiya.
"Ryujiro, Tsunade is looking for you. Once you've dealt with this, head to the Hokage's office."
'Tsunade looking for me? Is she going to make me handle more paperwork?'
Naruto had wanted to complain to Jiraiya about Ryujiro's stinginess but was dragged away by Jiraiya before he could react.
Watching Naruto struggle in the distance, Ryujiro shook his head helplessly.
After parking the cart at the Hyuga residence, all the Hyuga clan members looked at Ryujiro with curiosity.
"Ryujiro-sama? What's all this?"
"These are the treasures from the Land of Flowers. Move them to my room," Ryujiro instructed calmly.
"Yes, sir."
Ryujiro didn't care about the rest. Whether the Hyuga clan members would be tempted to steal was up to their courage.
Though not a Hyuga by blood, Ryujiro's status within the Hyuga clan had increased a lot.
"Hinata isn't here?" Ryujiro asked as he opened the door to the dojo, finding it empty.
"Brother Ryujiro, sister is out on a mission," came a petite and delicate voice beside him.
Ryujiro smiled faintly. "It's you, Hanabi."
"Did you rob the Land of Flowers? You brought back so many treasures," Hanabi teased.
Ryujiro's face darkened. "What nonsense. Do I look like someone who would do that?"
Hanabi giggled. "I'm just kidding brother. Father is looking for you. Could you go see him?"
Oh? Hiashi-sama is looking for me?
Guided by Hanabi, Ryujiro entered a room. She respectfully announced, "Father, I brought big brother Ryujiro."
"Thank you, Hanabi. You may go," Hiashi said.
Hanabi closed the door and left. Ryujiro sat down and asked, "Hiashi-sama, what's the matter?"
Hiashi looked at Ryujiro and said slowly, "The Fourth Raikage of the Hidden Cloud Village contacted the Hokage a few days ago.
He wants to visit the Hidden Leaf Village.
Did you have any conflict with the Hidden Cloud during your mission in the Land of Flowers?"
A visit from the Raikage, especially that hot-headed guy, likely spells trouble.
"Yes," Ryujiro answered frankly.
Hiashi's face changed slightly, and he sighed. "I knew it. So, did they die?"
Ryujiro nodded. "Yes."
Hiashi's heart skipped a beat. Dead? No wonder the Raikage was coming. He must be looking to settle this.
In reality, Hiashi misunderstood.
If the Raikage knew who had died, his reaction would be more intense.
Although every village values its elite Jonin, it wouldn't warrant such a grand reaction unless it was someone like Darui.
If they knew Darui was dead, it could spark a war between the two nations.
Jonin, huh?
Would the Hidden Cloud demand Konoha hand over Ryujiro, similar to their past threats against the Hyuga clan?
Hiashi harbored no goodwill towards the Hidden Cloud or the Land of Lightning.
The incident where Hinata was kidnapped had been orchestrated by them, and they never admitted their wrongdoing, instead using it to pressure Konoha and the Hyuga clan.
If the Land of Lightning really made such a demand, the Fifth Hokage wouldn't agree.
Ryujiro was the Hokage's assistant. Handing him over would make Konoha a laughingstock.
Seeing Hiashi's troubled expression, Ryujiro fell into deep thought. The Raikage wants to visit Konoha?
Thinking of the muscular man whose destructive power was akin to a human-tailed beast, Ryujiro realized that the news from the Land of Flowers might not have reached the Land of Lightning yet.
Perhaps the Raikage's visit wasn't because of that.
Darui? Heh, maybe. But even if they knew, so what?
If they want to start a war with Konoha? Ryujiro would welcome it.
Leaving the Hyuga residence, Ryujiro headed to the Hokage's office.
Besides Tsunade, Koharu and Homura, the two Hokage advisors, were also waiting for him.
"Ryujiro, as the Hokage's assistant, you should be helping the Hokage manage village affairs, not causing trouble by taking the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki on missions," Koharu scolded.
"After the Sand incident, Konoha hasn't recovered, and now you've caused more trouble."
Koharu glared at Ryujiro with a deep look.
"Koharu," Homura tugged at her sleeve. Now wasn't the time to antagonize Ryujiro.
Ryujiro gazed at Koharu with a haunting look.
"Trouble? Just because the Raikage is coming, you consider it trouble?"
"Heh, Konoha's decline from being the strongest village is partly due to people like you."
"What do you mean by that!" Koharu snapped, glaring at Ryujiro.
Ryujiro disdainfully looked at Koharu. If not for him and Tsunade, Koharu might have already compromised with the Sand.
Despite Konoha being in the right, Koharu's fear of war made her grovel.
"Enough! Advisors, please leave. I need to speak with Ryujiro alone," Tsunade ordered, clearly displeased with Koharu.
"Koharu," Tsunade's icy gaze made both advisors pause.
Koharu gritted her teeth and left in a huff. Homura sighed helplessly and followed.
---------------
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Tsunade rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on.
"Ryujiro, no matter what, they are still village elders. You should at least be polite to them," Tsunade said with a hint of resignation in her tone.
Ryujiro found a seat and sat down, crossing his legs.
"Just because they are old, I should be polite to them?"
"If they are merely relying on their age for respect, they might as well retire from their positions as Hokage advisors."
Ryujiro spoke mercilessly.
"Sigh, the village that my grandfather built with his own hands has ended up like this," Tsunade said, sitting down beside Ryujiro.
As Ryujiro glanced over, his eyes couldn't help but notice the massive peaks of Tsunade's bosom.
Are they really that bouncy?
Ryujiro quickly averted his gaze.
This woman was indeed formidable, Ryujiro thought.
"What do you think about the Raikage visiting Konoha?" Tsunade asked Ryujiro.
"What else can I think? Since he is here to visit Konoha, we should receive him with the hospitality of a guest."
"If he's here to cause trouble, then Konoha will stand its ground."
Tsunade glared at Ryujiro.
"You say that so easily. This is the Raikage we're talking about. In his youth, he once broke the left horn of the Eight-Tails."
"That old hag wasn't wrong either; the current Konoha can't withstand much turmoil."
This was what gave Tsunade a headache. Being Hokage was incredibly troublesome.
She would have preferred to spend her life gambling in the casinos.
Ever since becoming Hokage, she hadn't visited a casino for several days, and it was driving her crazy.
"It's just the Raikage," Ryujiro said nonchalantly.
"No need to worry too much, Granny. As long as I'm here, nothing will go wrong in Konoha."
Tsunade's face grew rigid and gradually darkened.
"Who are you calling Granny, you brat?"
Ryujiro glanced at Tsunade. "Now that I think given your age, you're more like an aunt than a granny."
Tsunade's patience had its limits, and she punched Ryujiro out of nowhere.
With a loud "bang," like the roar of a cannon, Tsunade's punch made the entire Hokage's office shake.
However, Ryujiro didn't dodge. Tsunade's punch seemed to hit something hard.
Looking at the transparent barrier before her, Tsunade frowned and asked, "What is this, kid?"
"A defense wall," Ryujiro replied.
Defense wall?
Was it a ninjutsu?
But this kid didn't form any hand seals.
This brat has so many strange abilities, Tsunade thought.
"Forget it. Since you've said it like that, when the Raikage arrives, stay by my side. I want to see what his real purpose is."
What other purpose could there be? He's probably here to question us.
Ryujiro thought to himself.
---
Ryujiro returned home and entered his spiritual space.
Sosuke Aizen.
The most charismatic villain of Bleach, Aizen was cunning and incredibly powerful, one of the most beloved villains in the series.
Ryujiro always felt Aizen's end was too abrupt, much like how Ichigo mentioned in the original anime whether Aizen might have longed to lose his powers.
Standing above all others is lonely.
From birth, Aizen saw himself as superior to everyone else, unmatched by anyone. Such invincibility is a path to solitude.
If Aizen's template reached 100%, would Aizen be also summoned?
Forget it, no point in overthinking.
Fighting against such a character was also great training.
For three days and nights, Ryujiro stayed in his spiritual world, while outside, many people gathered around his bed, their eyes filled with worry.
Especially Hinata, whose hands were tightly clasped together.
"Boom—"
In that instant, everyone felt a heavy pressure, not just in Ryujiro's room but throughout the entire Konoha.
Inside the room, Kakashi, Guy, and others almost fell to their knees.
"What is this pressure?"
"Is it coming from Ryujiro?"
"What an overwhelming force, it feels like our souls are trembling."
The spiritual pressure emanating from Ryujiro was heavier than ever, indicating that his power had increased once again.
Hinata looked at Ryujiro with worry.
Ryujiro-kun...
The next moment, Ryujiro opened his eyes, the excitement and passion for battle still burning within them.
As expected of Aizen, only a spiritual projection of him could give Ryujiro this feeling of having met a worthy opponent.
"Huh?"
"Why are you all here?" Ryujiro finally noticed the many people gathered in his room.
Hinata immediately threw herself into Ryujiro's arms. "Ryujiro-kun!"
Hearing the girl's tearful voice, Ryujiro felt a pang of heartache.
Ino and Sakura looked on enviously.
They envied Hinata, wishing they too could have someone like Ryujiro.
"Ryujiro, what was that pressure that you just released?" Kakashi asked seriously.
Ryujiro frowned.
Pressure?
Is Kakashi referring to spiritual pressure?
Could it be that the spiritual pressure got out of control?
"Just one of my special ability," Ryujiro said lightly.
Another ability?
Just how many tricks does Ryujiro have up his sleeve?
Even though Ryujiro was from Konoha, he still made Kakashi feel uneasy.
"Ryujiro-kun, you've been sleeping here for three days and nights," Hinata said, her eyes slightly red as she looked up at Ryujiro.
Three days and nights?
Ryujiro was taken aback.
Had he been fighting Aizen in his spiritual space for three days already?
No wonder these people looked so worried.
Ryujiro patted Hinata's head. "Don't worry Hinata, I'm fine."
"Everyone I'm sorry I got you all worried for nothing, now you can all go home and relax. I'm okay."
Aside from Kakashi, who gave Ryujiro a deep look, the others said a few words to Ryujiro before leaving.
Ryujiro looked tenderly at Hinata, pulling her into his arms and gently said.
"I'm sorry Hinata, I made you worry so much."
"Ryujiro-kun, you meditated for too long this time."
"I was very worried about you."
Tears still stained Hinata's eyes, and Ryujiro wiped them away.
"It was a bit long this time, but I gained a lot from it."
"Next time, I won't make you worry."
"Yes," Hinata softly replied, enjoying the brief, beautiful moment.
Aside from the Raikage's impending visit to Konoha, there was another significant event in the Hidden Sand Village.
The position of Kazekage couldn't remain vacant for long, especially after the village's Jinchuriki of the One-Tail defected, making the situation in the Sand Village unstable.
Someone needed to take the position of Kazekage to stabilize the current situation.
After persuasion from the high-ranking officials of the Sand Village and the Land of Wind, Chiyo finally agreed to take up the position of the Fifth Kazekage.
When the news of Chiyo becoming the Fifth Kazekage reached Konoha, even Ryujiro was surprised.
It was unexpected that the old woman would become the Fifth Kazekage.
It seemed the Sand Village had truly run out of capable candidates.
---------------
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