Chapter 101: What Can Danzo Do?

It had been nearly two days.

By now, Guts and Tsunade were less than twenty miles away from Konoha. The sun hovered overhead, casting a warm glow over the forest trail.

Suddenly, Guts's expression sharpened.

He turned his head slightly and said

"To the northwest, around six kilometers out. Five people approaching Konoha."

Tsunade raised a brow.

"Only five? Not spies, then. No shinobi village would be dumb enough to send dozens of spies together and expect not to be noticed."

She paused, thinking.

"But… I haven't heard of any squads returning recently."

Guts didn't say anything else, just shifted direction. Tsunade nodded, and the two changed course, speeding toward the approaching chakra signatures.

Before they even arrived, five figures appeared ahead of them.

Perched silently on the trees were five masked figures in standard-issue gray flak vests, animal masks on their faces.

"Anbu," Tsunade muttered under her breath.

One of them stepped forward, voice cold and emotionless.

"Tsunade. Guts. You don't need to proceed any further. We're returning from a confidential mission. You are not permitted to follow."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes, her brows furrowing.

Guts, on the other hand, smiled casually.

"Confidential mission? That arrogant tone... You're not Anbu. You're Root—Danzo's lapdogs."

"What did you say?!"

The ninja's voice cracked for a second, too human for someone meant to be emotionless.

Guts tilted his head, mockingly.

"Did I stutter? Or do you want me to repeat it?"

The air suddenly thickened.

A terrifying pressure erupted from Guts's body.

Conqueror's Haki.

It didn't even fully manifest, just the intent was enough to send waves through the trees.

The five Root agents gasped, staggering as if the oxygen had been sucked from the air.

"Ghhh…!!"

Seconds later, all five collapsed from the branches.

The drop seven or eight meters was not survivable in their unprotected state. Bones snapped on impact.

"Ahhh!!"

Screams echoed through the clearing as the five writhed in pain.

Guts landed softly in front of them, towering over the broken figures. Tsunade landed beside him, arms crossed, gaze cold.

"No mercy for running dogs,"

Guts said, crouching down.

"So, tell me what kind of 'secret mission' does your dear Danzo have you on this time?"

One of them clenched his jaw, blood leaking from his mouth.

"You… attacked leaf shinobi without cause… You'll regret—"

Crack!

Guts's fist crushed the mask, teeth scattering like pebbles. A fist mark imprinted cleanly on the man's cheek.

Turning to the next, Guts asked calmly,

"You want to be smarter than him?"

The second Root ninja spat blood.

"You'll have to kill me. I'll never betray Lord Danzo!"

Smash!

Another mask shattered. The man dropped unconscious, nose bent sideways.

Tsunade clicked her tongue.

"It's useless. They're either brainwashed or have seals on them. We're not getting anything out of them."

"Yeah. That old snake's good at covering his tracks."

Guts stood up and sighed.

Without hesitation, he stomped down, once for each throat. Quick. Clean. Cold.

[Achievement Unlocked: "Removal of Roots." Template character: Monkey D. Garp – Completion Rate: 76.72%]

"Huh?" Guts blinked.

"Didn't think clearing out a few of these scrubs would count for anything."

He shrugged.

"Not much progress, but progress all the same."

Tsunade suddenly grabbed his neck from behind, pressing her body against him without a care in the world.

Her generous assets squished shamelessly against his back as she grinned.

"Forget them. Come gamble with me."

She turned him around, dragging him toward Short Book Street without letting go.

Short Book Street - The Gambling District

Unlike seven years ago, Tsunade no longer worried about Guts being targeted by Danzo or other vultures.

Strength was everything now...and Guts had plenty of it. Danzo was a roach in comparison.

As the pair entered the bustling streets of Konoha's famous gambling den, people parted instinctively. Tsunade's reputation preceded her but Guts's presence made everyone nervous.

Especially the casinos.

"Shopkeeper! Give me a million in chips!"

Tsunade barked with a devilish grin.

"Yes! Right away, Lady Tsunade!" the short manager ran out, beads of sweat on his forehead.

Ever since Guts cleared her debts in full, no gambling house in the Land of Fire dared take her lightly. Most of them simply prayed that she wouldn't bring Guts along.

They weren't so lucky today.

Tsunade was back in full gambler mode within fifteen minutes, she had lost the entire million.

Again.

With a side-eye glare full of suspicion and malice, she turned to Guts.

"Oi… Help me out here."

Guts sighed then smirked.

When no one was watching, he casually patted her rear. Her eyes widened as her cheeks turned red, but she didn't say anything.

Three minutes later, the one million she lost was earned back by Guts with ease.

And so the pattern repeated.

Lose. Win. Lose. Win.

Over and over until the sun dipped below the horizon, the staff practically begged them to leave.

Eventually, they walked out with five million ryo.

Tsunade still pouted, even with the money in hand.

"Tch. Not satisfying…"

She didn't gamble to win. She gambled for the thrill. The feeling. The rush.

But that was hard to find when your partner won every time.

Back at the Village Gates

As they reached the village entrance, Guts lifted a hand to greet the two great gate guardian duo stationed at the gate but before he could speak, two Anbus in gray vests landed silently in front of them.

Unlike before, their tone was respectful.

"Lady Tsunade. Lord Guts. The Hokage has requested your presence."

Guts waved dismissively.

They bowed and vanished.

"Probably about those five Root freaks,"

Tsunade muttered.

Guts shrugged.

"Let him wait. Come on let's go home."

Tsunade blinked.

"You're ignoring the Hokage's summons?"

Guts tilted his head toward her.

"You care?"

That made her laugh.

"Not in the slightest."

They walked together, sharing a quiet smile.

At Home

When they arrived, Guts noticed something odd.

The house was too quiet.

After a moment, Anko emerged, Samehada casually strapped to her back, looking massive compared to her.

"Oi Guts you are back! By the way Kurenai's out on a mission with her father," she said.

"Won't be back for a while."

"Ah," Guts nodded.

Anko walked up and grabbed his arm, her usual energy back in full force.

"Hey! Guts! There's a new ramen place in the village. Come try it with me!"

Guts raised an eyebrow.

"Wait… Don't tell me…"

Ichiraku Ramen?

His heart skipped.

Finally!!!

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