Tsunade couldn't help but stand up, bare - footed on the rock. Her eyes reflected the endless roses, whose red was as deep as Haruki's affection, seemingly never fading.
"Yeah, how beautiful they are," she murmured softly, as if praising the roses or echoing Haruki's previous words.
The moonlight, having traveled through the darkness of countless light - years, mingled with the fireflies, like a gossamer veil draping over her.
Haruki had never seen such a beautiful scene before.
In the distance, at the celebration, people came and went, with cheers and applause rising and falling.
The performance of the Aburame clan came to an end.
Hyuga Kaoru took the stage again and began to give the linking words.
Everything seemed to turn into slow - motion.
Tsunade turned to look at Haruki. A few seconds later, she showed a bright smile.
She stroked his hair and said, "What a waste of money."
"A beauty's smile can't be bought with money," Haruki pulled her hand gently.
"Slick talker!" Tsunade sat down next to him again.
"This isn't just idle talk. Let me tell you the Story of the King Who Lit the Beacons to Amuse His Beauty," Haruki held her hand.
"Stop it. It tickles," Tsunade caught his fidgety fingers after just hearing the beginning of the story. "Can you tell it properly? Tickling the palm, are you a kid?"
"Do you want to find out if I'm a kid?" Haruki's fingers started to play hide - and - seek with Tsunade's. One tried to tickle, and the other tried to stop it.
"How childish!" Tsunade rolled her eyes and was too lazy to play with him, so she pulled her hand out directly.
"Okay, okay. I'll continue," Haruki grabbed her hand and pulled it back, then played with it, but this time he didn't tickle.
"Go ahead. I'm listening," Tsunade pouted. She really had no way with this guy.
Haruki grinned smugly and started telling the story of King You of Zhou.
Tsunade listened while watching the performance on the stage.
The current performance was a scene from Jiraiya's novel.
Naruto was battling the witch of Mount Myoboku.
And the actor playing Naruto was Minato Namikaze.
This wasn't forced by Haruki. Just like in the original story, Minato really loved this novel. When he heard there would be a stage play where he could play Naruto, he ran up to Haruki and said he wanted to play the role.
It was so interesting that Haruki agreed right away.
Even to add more drama, he found Kushina Uzumaki to play the witch.
At the beginning of the rehearsal, the witch defeated Naruto.
If Jiraiya had seen it, he'd probably have been so angry that he'd spit blood.
Finally, after some persuasion from Haruki, Kushina finally followed the script. As the villain, she was defeated by the just main character.
"Hey, are you saying I'm a femme fatale with this story?" Tsunade shouted after hearing about King You's downfall and death.
"No. I'm just showing your charm. Those who don't reflect on themselves and blame women for their mistakes are just fatuous kings," Haruki couldn't help but shake his head. There were many such stories in ancient times, like the classic tale of Daji, the Nine - Tailed Fox.
Tsunade gave a soft snort, pressed her index finger on his forehead, and said, "Once I become Hokage, you have to behave yourself. If you get in my way, I'll... I'll..."
She repeated "I'll" twice and got a bit stuck.
"What will you do?"
Haruki glanced at her sideways and asked with anticipation.
"Of course, it'll be a severe punishment!" Tsunade made a scissor gesture and said fiercely.
"I'll definitely be very good! I'll never tempt you!" Haruki shrank his head. When it came to a man's most precious organ, he wisely backed down.
"What temptation? That sounds so vulgar!" Tsunade glared at Haruki, looking utterly speechless. "And what do you take me for? I'm not a fatuous king!"
"Hehe, actually, it wouldn't be bad to be a fatuous king. Sharing the same big quilt, doing whatever one pleases without any constraints (a traditional Chinese concept of close - knit sleeping arrangement and free - doing)."
"What did you say?" Tsunade immediately raised her eyebrows. Her boyfriend, although no less talented than her, was always so lazy and didn't care about anything. In her opinion, it was really a waste.
Haruki immediately shut up. After a moment and once her expression relaxed, he added, "Well, it's just a dream. It's normal to be bold in dreams."
"If you want me to be the Hokage, I'm naturally willing. But you can't be lazy either. From now on, you'll be my Hokage assistant." Tsunade gave him a look that said you're not getting away with it.
"Being a secretary, I like this job. As the saying goes, the secretary takes care of everything, whether there's work or not."
Although Tsunade thought Haruki's demeanor was a bit strange, she was relieved that he was being so proactive for a change.
"Ahem, there's something very important I want to tell you." Haruki put away his smile. "You mustn't get excited."
Tsunade was taken aback. Haruki's seriousness caught her off guard.
One second they were flirting, and the next... Hmm? She saw the roses around them. Could it be...?
Thinking of this, her face turned a bit red, and her heart rate quickened a little.
"I'm going to Sunagakure the day after tomorrow."
"!!!"
Although it wasn't what she had imagined, Tsunade's heart started pounding violently.
"What did you say?"
She leaned in front of Haruki. "Say it again. I didn't hear clearly just now."
"I'm going to Sunagakure. Don't worry, there's no danger."
"No danger?" Tsunade's face darkened. She pressed on his head. "Are you stupid? Since so many ninjas from Sunagakure have died at the hands of our Konoha ninjas, do you think they won't kill you on sight?"
"I'll take Minato with me. He has the Flying Thunder God technique."
"The Flying Thunder God isn't all - powerful." Tsunade didn't want to listen to his explanation at all. "And Minato isn't as powerful as The Second Hokage - sama. His strength is too weak."
"Of course he can't compare with The Second Hokage - sama, but he should be able to get me out of there."
"You have to go?" Tsunade saw his determination and couldn't help asking. "What on earth are you going to do?"
"Doing business." Haruki put his finger on her lips. "Commercial trade is extremely important, and I'm the only one who can talk to the Kazekage about it."
"Showing off!" Tsunade couldn't help biting his index finger. But seeing him pull it back and lick it, her face turned red. "If you really want to go, then I'll go too."
"? " Haruki widened his eyes. Ignoring the pain in his finger, he shouted, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
His attitude was even more resolute than when Tsunade had opposed his going.
"Oh? Why?"
Tsunade asked triumphantly. It's truly a turn of events!
"Damn! They might not make a move, but if you go, you definitely will. Don't forget about Chiyo."
"What's the use of that? Her [Poison] can't compare with mine, and she can't defeat me in a fight either."
"What's the point of saying this when you're at their turf?"
"Humph, I'm giving this same line back to you."
"..."
Damn it! She really shot herself in the foot.
Haruki stared at her, and Tsunade stared back at him.
The two refused to give in, glaring at each other.
After a long while, on the neighboring stage, amidst the noisy onlookers, the famous Uchiha clan was performing the School Clerk Dance.
Fugaku Uchiha covered his face. Under the strange looks from all around, he deeply regretted coming to the celebration in person.
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