Ryuu and the others were near the town where they were supposed to meet Kurai.
"Shikaku, this guy Kurai, he probably has people protecting him, right?"
He nodded.
"Yeah, he's most likely paid another rogue ninja to protect him."
He said.
"So we should be prepared for a fight."
I said.
The rest of the way there was silent. We didn't really have anything to talk about.
We soon reached there, there were so many casinos there, it was packed with many people looking to test their luck.
"Shikaku, it's probably tempting, but don't go too far with the alcohol."
Shikaku looked away and murmured.
"Man, this is such a drag."
He said.
Ryuu and Kenji just chuckled.
"Ok so do we have a plan?" I asked.
"We have to get more Intel first before we continue with this."
He said.
We found a hotel where we would stay the night.
"Alright Ryuu, stay close to Kenji and don't wander off."
I nodded.
The ino-shika-cho trio spread out and went to look for more info on our target. We'd meet at night in the hotel. It was the best time to make our move.
Ryuu placed his finger on the ground, looking for someone.
"Ryuu, what are you doing?" Kenji asked.
"I'm looking for someone."
He rolled his eyes.
"You're looking for Tsunade, aren't you?"
Ryuu had a small blush as he nodded his head.
"I think I found her! There are only two people with large chakra levels. Let's go!"
He said excitedly.
"Wait! Weren't we supposed to stay here?"
Kenji asked.
"He said don't wander off. You can't wander off if you know where you're going, right?"
Sigh, Kenji just agreed and went with the plan.
The two of them left and went to one of the chakra signatures Ryuu got. He expected she would be here…
"Of course, she's at the biggest casino here. Let's go!"
He said Ryuu started marching forward, but Kenji stopped him by pulling his shirt back.
"Calm down. It's obvious we won't be allowed to get in here. We're too young to go unsupervised."
Damn, he's right…
Ryuu started thinking of a plan…
"Wait, she's coming this way with someone else. She must be Shizune."
They hid above them.
Ryuu and Kenji were shocked by who they saw. Both of their eyes widened.
"Ryuu, please don't tell me that's her?" Kenji said as he was holding his laughter.
"Hold on, keep quiet. If that's who I think it is, this mission could be harder than I expected." Ryuus said in an unusually serious tone.
Out of the darkness, a giant man who stood 8 feet tall with long orange hair nearly reaching his feet he had sharp jagged fishlike teeth but what was most distinctive feature was what he was carrying.
He was holding something wrapped in bandages…
"There's no doubt that's him." Ryuu said.
"Who's that?"
"There's no time to explain. We have to go back to the hotel and inform Shikaku, if he's here, it changes this mission in favour of our enemy."
I said as I teleported back to our room.
"Shikaku and the others shouldn't be far. I can highlight their chakra."
Kenji had a worried expression on his face.
"Whoever that is must be really powerful, if he can scare Ryuu like this."
Kenji thought to himself.
"Ryuu, who the hell was that?"
He asked. Now that Ryuu had calmed down a bit, he could give him an answer.
"Oh sorry about that, the person I saw is a powerful ninja from the hidden mist village. He's a dangerous mercenary, and part of the current seven ninja swordsmen of the mist. His name is Fuguki Suikazan."
"Why are they called the seven ninja swordsmen of the mist?" He asked.
I guess it makes sense he doesn't know them.
"They each have special swords passed down to a new generation. These swords have existed since before waring times. No one knows where they came from or how they were made. The only one remembered for using it was the first mizukage.
The one he has is called samehada. It has many abilities, and it's considered as the most lethal of the swords."
Kenji had a drop of sweat on his forehead.
"But don't worry about that. I have some tricks to beat someone who uses that sword." I said to comfort him.
but honestly, I don't think I could defeat him without the knowledge I have of him.
"Of course you do, you're amazing as usual," Kenji said.
Ryuu just smiled.
"Well, at least now we know which one isn't Tsunade. Let's go!"
Kenji slapped his forehead but didn't oppose. He knew Ryuu would go either way.
They both travelled and found Tsunade near a tavern.
"Transformation jutsu!" Ryuu transformed into an older man with red hair and a sharp jawline.
"Ryuu you! You look the same, but just older."
Ryuu nodded.
"Yeah, I just transformed into what I think an older me would look like. Pretty cool, right?"
He nodded.
"Anyway, before we go in, I'll need some money."
"What do you need my money for, Ryuu?"
He asked.
"Well, she tends to have a problem with gambling and drinking, so I wouldn't be surprised if she's broke now, but luckily, I have my good friend here."
Sigh
"Fine, I'll help you out this time." A smile appeared on my face without knowing, man I'm lucky I have a rich friend.
They let me through with no problems. I told them that Kenji was my adopted child, and he's just going to be here for a few minutes.
As soon as we entered, we found an angry Tsunade arguing with the bartender because she couldn't pay the bills. This is my chance!
"Here, I'll help you out. How many drinks do you want?" I said, as I paid for her bills.
She looked back and said.
"Not that I don't appreciate the help, but why would you be helping me? And what's with the Brat?"
I chuckled nervously, and cold sweat dropped from my head.
"I'm sorry I didn't even introduce myself how foolish, hi I'm Ryuu Uchiha, I'm from Konoha, as for why I'm helping you out, well it's a simple reason, it's because I felt the need to do so,
And lastly, this is my kid. I adopted him. What's with her?"
I asked as I pointed at a young girl sitting beside Tsunade.
She must be shizune.
She chugged down a bottle and said.
"This is Shizune. I take care of her aren't you going to drink?"
Ryuu shook his head.
"I don't drink at all. I can't be caught being drunk. This world has to have true peace before I die. "I said.
"Interesting…" she said as she grabbed another bottle.
"And what could be so interesting about me?"
She lifted her eyebrow.
"Well, no disrespect, but your clan rarely produces a shinobi who seeks peace. They also don't make shinobis with red hair. What's up with that?"
Ryuu looked down. Tsunade's words were like a dagger, but she was mostly true.
"you're not entirely right. My clan seeks peace, but we just show it differently. If the Uchiha only sought violence and vengeance, we would've never joined forces with the Senju clan to create Konoha, but I plan to change all that."
Ryuu had a determined look on his face.
"You said you're only half uchiha. What's the other half?"
She asked as she finished another bottle.
"My mother was from the Uzumaki clan."
She raised her eyebrow. Sometimes I forget that I'm the first hybrid between two powerful clans.
"You're Yuri's son, aren't you?"
GULP Ryuu choked.
I didn't think she would know my mother, well this makes things difficult.
I nodded.
"What gave it away?"
I asked.
"Well, I wasn't sure about it at first, but when I saw your red hair, I realised you were from the Uzumaki clan that and the fact that you introduced yourself as Ryuu Uchiha.
Throughout history, I've only ever seen one couple with half Uchiha and Half Uzumaki. Yuri always had Sarutobi-sensei's attention.
I wanted to know why, after a couple of weeks of spying on her, I also ended up being her friend. But anyway, that's not the point. What are you doing here, and why have you transformed into a grown man?"
Damn it, I wish our little date could go further. Ryuu thought to himself.
"Well, the way Jiraiya-sensei described you, I just wanted to meet you."
She rolled her eyes.
"Sensei? That pervert somehow became a sensei, huh?" I nodded.
"Well, now that you've discovered my secret, I guess it's time to go. I still have a mission to do."
Tsunade remained silent, drinking her sake.
"Mission? exactly how old are you?"
"Aren't you too young to be doing missions?" She asked.
"I suppose I am. Both Kenji and I are the same age." I said as I pointed at him. He was playing with Shizune.
She laughed. Ryuu just stood there, looking at her. She realised Ryuu wasn't joking and became serious once again.
"What's the old man doing sending kids on missions? Has he gone senile!?" she asked.
"Don't worry about my age. I'm far more talented and skilled than people my age. In fact, I'm more talented than some older people as well. Besides, I don't plan on dying before I achieve my goal!"
I said. Tsunade frowned.
"For some reason, he reminds me of you two." She said to herself as she started thinking of Dan and Nawaki.
"Tell me, what is your dream?"
Ryuu smiled and said,
"To be the most powerful ninja of all time, even surpassing Lord Third and the Hokages before or after him, that's the only way I'll save everyone I love and create peace in this world."
Tsunade almost choked on her drink.
"I was wrong earlier. I thought he reminded me of both Nawaki and Dan, but he's more like Dan than I realised."
She said to herself.
"Don't be a fool, dreams like that, being Hokage and protecting everyone seeking peace will only get you killed, it's naïve and impractical."
Ryuu frowned.
"Hmph, don't tell me I hurt your feelings? Why would you be insulted by my feeling about the role of the Hokage?"
She mockingly asked.
"Because I want to protect them, the whole village, the person that protects everyone to be..."
Ryuu was cut off because Tsunade dropped her bottle and started shivering.
"No, not again, those words…
They're just like his, like Dan's."
Tears started flowing from her eyes as she remembered her lover, the man she once wanted to marry.