Chapter 96: A Moment of Peace

Konoha: The Calm Before the Storm

For the first time in weeks, there was no war council, no tense meetings behind closed doors, no whispered strategies about what came next.

For the first time in weeks, Ryusei allowed himself to rest.

And surprisingly, Tsunade insisted on it.

"We're going," she had said, her arms crossed, her golden hair swaying in the afternoon breeze. "You've built a damn world, and I haven't even gotten to see it properly."

Orochimaru had chuckled. "I must admit, I am curious."

Jiraiya had grinned. "A whole world, huh? Bet it's missing a good bathhouse."

And just like that—Ryusei found himself standing at the edge of Yomotsu Hirasaka, the swirling golden and black void leading into his realm, watching as three of the strongest shinobi of their era prepared for… a picnic.

Jiraiya had two large sake bottles strapped to his back.

Orochimaru, ever the enigma, carried a simple scroll filled with rare foods and tea from the Land of Hot Water.

And Tsunade—his Tsunade—held onto his arm, smirking as if daring him to deny her.

Ryusei exhaled slowly, his Golden Six Magatama Rinne Sharingan shimmering in amusement.

"Fine," he murmured, stepping forward.

And in an instant, they were gone.

Ryusei's Realm: A New World in Bloom

The sky was a golden hue, streaked with soft clouds that moved lazily across the endless horizon. The land stretched wide, vast and untouched, with rivers flowing through emerald valleys and mountains that glowed faintly with chakra.

Here, the air hummed with life.

A world still in its infancy, yet brimming with potential.

Jiraiya whistled lowly, placing his hands on his hips. "Damn. You weren't kidding about the size."

Orochimaru's golden eyes flickered as he scanned the surroundings. "It's… stable," he murmured. "Not just an artificial space. You've made it self-sustaining."

Tsunade let out a breath, stepping forward, feeling the land beneath her feet. "It's beautiful," she admitted.

Ryusei stood beside her, watching as the wind played through her golden hair. "It's not finished," he said quietly.

Tsunade glanced at him, arching a brow. "Then let's fix that."

She stepped forward, placing both hands on the ground.

And then—life surged.

Her Wood Release flowed into the land like an unstoppable tide, great trees bursting from the soil, their roots expanding deep into the world's foundation. Lush green forests unfurled, their leaves shimmering with chakra, absorbing the very essence of the planet.

But she didn't stop there.

With gentle precision, she guided her chakra into the planet's core, weaving her wood energy into its very cycle, ensuring that the trees and rivers would never fade.

The first breath of an eternal world.

Ryusei watched her, his expression unreadable.

Tsunade sat back on her heels, a small bead of sweat on her forehead. "That should do it."

Jiraiya let out a low chuckle. "Hah. You two just made a planet green like it was nothing."

Orochimaru smirked. "It's almost offensive how effortless that looked."

Tsunade turned to Ryusei. "It's your world. Want to test it?"

Ryusei didn't answer—he simply reached out.

The ground responded instantly.

A single thought from him, and the trees flourished further, stretching toward the golden sky. The rivers surged, their waters crystal clear, carrying the life Tsunade had infused into the core.

The land was now complete.

And yet—one thing was missing.

Jiraiya grinned.

"Well, if we're making a world, might as well do it right."

He stepped forward, placing a hand against the core of the world—and in an instant, nature itself trembled.

Sage energy flooded the land.

The sky shifted, the clouds swirling as pure natural energy was absorbed into the realm's very essence. The rivers glowed, the mountains pulsed with new life.

It was now perfect.

A world where the balance of chakra, nature, and energy was in harmony.

Jiraiya wiped his brow, grinning. "That ought to do it."

Ryusei stood still, watching his world breathe.

For the first time, he felt something deeper than victory.

He felt… pride.

Tsunade leaned against him, nudging his shoulder. "It's beautiful," she murmured.

Ryusei turned to her, his golden eyes softening.

"It's ours."

Tsunade blinked—then smirked. "Damn right it is."

Jiraiya clapped his hands together. "Alright! We've made history—now let's drink to it."

Orochimaru sighed but didn't argue as he sat down on the newly grown grass. "I suppose even gods deserve to relax once in a while."

Tsunade pulled Ryusei down beside her, resting her head against his shoulder. "You do, especially."

Ryusei glanced at her, amused. "I thought you'd say that."

She rolled her eyes. "Damn right. You act like you don't need breaks, but even you deserve a moment of peace."

Ryusei was silent for a moment.

Then, slowly, he intertwined his fingers with hers.

Tsunade blinked, caught off guard—then smiled.

Jiraiya noticed immediately.

"Oho?" He smirked. "What's this?"

Orochimaru, sipping his tea, smirked. "Finally."

Tsunade shot them both a warning glare, but Ryusei simply chuckled.

Jiraiya grinned. "Damn. Took you long enough."

Tsunade scoffed. "Shut up and drink."

Jiraiya laughed.

The day stretched on in laughter and warmth, the tension of war momentarily forgotten.

For this one, perfect moment—

They were not warriors.

Not legends.

Not weapons of fate.

They were simply friends.

And as the sun set over the horizon of Ryusei's world, Tsunade rested against his chest, closing her eyes.

For once, she wasn't worried about tomorrow.

Because he was here.

And as long as he was, she knew—

They would be unstoppable.

End of Chapter 96.