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When Ryoichi's consciousness returned, he found himself sitting in his office. His confused eyes roamed around the room, tried to remember the cause of his unconsciousness.
'I completed the deal and was waiting for the reports on assassins hired by Danzo.' He thought, but soon his eyes narrowed as he felt something missing.
Without wasting any time he unlocked the recording seal and a rush of memories crashed onto his head.
Ryoichi massaged his temple as his confused eyes slowly became calculative.
"Aina~ohh~Aina, you still have lots to learn. I hope this experience taught you something." Ryoichi muttered before summoning a subordinate to question him about how long he was gone.
The subordinate told him he was gone for a week which confused him as to why Aina didn't place him near the timeline they traveled to past. But with not many clues to come to a conclusion, Ryoichi didn't linger instead he informed his subordinates of his return and made preparations to return to Konoha.
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After more than a day of travelling, Ryoichi's carriage arrived in Konoha, after passing the gate checking. He told his subordinate to head for the Hokage's office.
"Retsu, arrange a meeting with Hokage," Ryoichi ordered his subordinate who nodded his head and quickly went inside the Hokage's office to get an appointment.
Ryoichi knew such action was unneeded. The Hokage should already know of his arrival and with his level of influence he has no need for an appointment, but the thing is Ryoichi doesn't like to barge in anywhere unannounced, at least in a place where announcing his arrival is more useful and impactful.
While Retsu went to get an appointment, Ryoichi observed the people hurrying in the rainy weather.
His emotionless eyes scanned the annoyed faces of mothers dragging their children from the rain to new Genins exiting the building with excited grins whether for finally getting missions or for being paid.
He saw shop vendors selling their wares, normal people buying daily essentials, Jonins leading their Genin team and experienced Chunins coming outside the Hokage building with blank faces.
Finally, his eyes landed on a peculiar group, his metallic gold eyes locked onto one of its members, A blonde teenage girl who was punching a white-haired teen with face markings.
"Tsunade…" Ryoichi muttered as Aina's figure overlapped hers.
Ryoichi thought of the future and the words of the projection of his future self. He became curious as to how his future self became like that. Does the woman in front of him can really make such big changes in his cold-hearted self?
Ryoichi let the curiosity take over and without realising he exited the carriage and approached Tsunade.
The slow rain dampened his clothes as he dismissed approaching Retsu before calling her out.
"Tsunade…"
She turned around, her wrathful eyes widened before they narrowed in suspicion.
"What?" She questioned as she knocked out Jiraya with a backhand.
"I was going to Yakiniku-qi for a bite, wanna tag along?" Ryoichi questioned with his usual smile plastered on his face which irked Tsunade like usual.
"Huh?" Tsunade tilted her head confusedly, seeing her reaction, Ryoichi repeated his words.
"I said I'm going to Yakiniku-qi for a bit-"
"I heard that bastard, but why are you asking me?" Tsunade cut him off with a tick mark on her forehead.
Ryoichi suppressed his instinct to annoy her and spoke. "Well, drinking alone is not as enjoyable as drinking with company."
"Ohh! You also do things for enjoyment. Consider me surprised." She said with a smug face.
Ryoichi smiled turned strained at her smug look, it reminded him of their childhood. She throws that look whenever she gets something over him.
"Forget it, it seems you're not interested in free drinks," Ryoichi said with a shake of his head and turned around.
Immediately Tsunade panicked as she hurriedly stopped him. "Wait a minute, who said I'm declining free alcohol."
"Yeah! She can never deny alcohol let alone free alcohol!!!" Jiraya stood up with a bleeding nose and supported Tsunade's statement loudly.
It attracted the attention of passersby which caused Tsunade to punch him again.
Orochimaru who was observing everything from the side shook his head at Jiraya. Then he turned back to Ryoichi again, silently observing him once more.
"You were saying?" Tsunade turned to Ryoichi again after socking Jiraya and questioned with a fake smile.
"Wanna join me at Yakiniku for a drink and barbecue?" Ryoichi asked once more to which Tsunade replied with a dazzling smile.
"Sure! Guys let's go and make a hole in this filthy rich guy's wallet." Tsunade started dragging her teammates towards Yakiniku-qi but before she could walk further Ryoichi stopped her.
"I invited only you, not your teammates." He said which made her frown.
Tsunade opened her mouth to speak but before she could Jiraya jumped before her and exclaimed, pointing his finger at Ryoichi.
"What!!! I will not allow you to go on a date with Tsunade." He shouted which attracted even more passersby.
Tsunade face turned red in embarrassment as she punched him again, harder than previous times.
"Who are you to allow me? My father?!!" She shouted and folded her arms. "I will not go without my teammates."
Ryoichi didn't say anything and looked at Orochimaru with a smile. Taking the clue Orochimaru suddenly spoke with his trademark slimy smile.
"Ahh! Lord Senju you have to forgive me, I was going to the training ground to check my newly created jutsu." He said. "Ohh! And please allow Jiraya to tag along.
"What?! Why me?!!! I don't want to." Jiraya exclaimed while Tsunade's eyes narrowed at him, she didn't miss the eye contact Ryoichi made with Orochimaru.
"To test the effectiveness of the jutsu," Orochimaru replied smoothly.
"How would I help you with that?" Jiraya questioned again.
"By testing the jutsu against you. If it doesn't take you out in less than ten seconds then the jutsu is useless just as you are."
It took a moment for Jiraya to realise the insult in Orochimaru's words and when he did he tried to curse at the snake boy but the snake boy just held his collar and started dragging him towards the training ground.
"Hey!!!"
"Oye!!!"
Both Tsunade and Jiraya shouted but Orochimaru ignored them both and continued walking till he disappeared in Ryoichi and Tsunade's view.
"So…" Ryoichi dragged. "Are you coming or not"
Tsunade turned to look at him deadpan before her expression turned smug, the vary smug he hates.
"If your lonely ass wanted the lone company of a beautiful woman like me you could have me asked on a later date. There was no need for you to chase my friends away."
"A woman? Sure. But beautiful? You sure your mirror isn't broken?" Ryoichi questioned, finally he couldn't suppress his instinct to annoy her anymore.
The result was instant, he saw her clench her fist. Ryoichi was prepared to dodge a punch so when she tried to hold his hand with hers, he became a bit surprised but regardless he didn't evade.
He just raised an eyebrow and let her drag him towards the Yakiniku-qi
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While Ryoichi was busy with his budding Romance, Hiruzen was fuming. Sometimes ago he dismissed all of Anbus and his advisers because Ryoichi requested a meeting.
Hiruzen was sure Ryoichi was going to talk or at least hint at his failed assassination attempt on him. So he prepared himself to feign ignorance and rehearse a proper response.
But when Ryoichi didn't come even after an hour of his appointed time he became puzzled and that puzzlement turned anger when his Anbu reported him of Ryoichi entering Yakiniku-qi with Tsunade.
That arrogant brat stood him up and then went on a date without informing him.
The audacity of this arrogant brat infuriates him to no limits.
It seems he has to take Danzo's words more seriously.
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