Shizune's brow furrowed, not convinced. She knew Tsunade too well to believe that nothing was wrong. "What happened?" she asked softly, glancing around as if expecting an ambush.
Tsunade shook her head, dismissing the question. "Nothing I can't handle. It's... under control now."
Shizune remained silent for a moment, sensing that Tsunade didn't want to talk about whatever had just occurred.
"Okay," she finally said, offering a gentle smile. "But let me help you back to the inn. You look like you need some rest."
Tsunade opened her mouth to refuse, pride kicking in, but her body was still betraying her.
Her legs wobbled slightly, and she knew Shizune would never let it go if she didn't at least let her help. With a sigh, Tsunade nodded.
Shizune stepped forward, offering her arm, which Tsunade reluctantly took. The two of them began walking slowly, with Ton-Ton waddling beside them, looking up at Tsunade with concerned little eyes.
The night was quiet again, the sounds of the village settling down as they moved through the streets.
her body still trembling from the shock of her phobia. The moonlight glinted off the sweat on her forehead as her chest heaved with labored breaths.
She felt a burning sensation in her throat, not just from the fear, but from the humiliation. This wasn't how things were supposed to go.
She was supposed to be in control, always. And now, this stranger—this nobody—had waltzed in, made a fool of her, and walked away like he owned the night.
"Damn it!" she hissed through gritted teeth, the frustration eating away at her.
It wasn't just the blood. It was the fact that Hiro had seen it—her weakness, her vulnerability. No one was supposed to see that.
Slowly, she regained her composure, steadying her breath. She closed her eyes, forcing the trembling in her hands to stop.
The night air was cool against her skin, but it did little to calm the storm inside her mind. Who the hell was he? And how did he know about her phobia?
Tsunade couldn't let this go. She wouldn't.
She stared down the empty street where that man had vanished, her expression hardening. "You think you've won, don't you?" she muttered to herself. "But you've only made this worse for yourself."
...
Hiro moved swiftly through the quiet streets, his footsteps barely making a sound as he put more distance between himself and Tsunade.
The cool night air brushed against his face, and he allowed himself a small smirk. It had been smooth—maybe even too smooth.
He had expected more resistance from the legendary Sannin, but then again, he knew her weakness, and that had made all the difference.
"Blood," he muttered to himself, wiping the last remnants of it from his hands. a single drop was enough to paralyze her with fear.
He couldn't help but feel a thrill of satisfaction at how easy it was. But he knew better than to let his guard down completely.
Tsunade wasn't the type to let something like this go. She'd be coming after him, and next time, she'd be ready.
"Gotta stay one step ahead," Hiro murmured as he moved deeper into the night, his eyes scanning the empty streets for any sign of pursuit.
He wasn't afraid, but he was cautious. Someone like Tsunade was dangerous, even more so when her pride had been wounded.
His mind wandered back to the look on her face—fear mixed with rage, her body trembling as she fought to keep her composure.
It was rare to see someone like her unravel so completely. That was the power he had over people. With the right leverage, even the strongest could be brought to their knees.
But this wasn't the end of it. this was just the beginning.
He had left a lasting impression on Tsunade, but he had a feeling she would be looking for him. The thought didn't bother him.
In fact, it excited him. A part of him was curious to see just how far she'd go to reclaim her pride.
As Hiro rounded a corner, the village lights faded behind him. He slipped into the shadows, his presence disappearing into the night.
Back in the village, Shizune helped Tsunade into the inn, her expression a mixture of concern and confusion. Ton-Ton trotted behind them, his little legs struggling to keep up.
Tsunade had remained silent since their encounter in the street, and Shizune knew better than to push her. But something about that man—bothered her deeply.
"Lady Tsunade," Shizune began softly, once they were inside and away from prying eyes. "Who was that man? What did he do to you?"
Earlier, Tsunade had mentioned she was going to track down a man who had been winning suspiciously often at gambling.
Tsunade sank into a chair, rubbing her temples. "He... he knew," she said, her voice low and laced with frustration.
"Knew?" Shizune echoed, confused. "Knew what?"
Tsunade clenched her jaw, her hand balling into a fist. "About the blood. About my weakness."
Shizune's eyes widened in shock. "But how...? No one knows about that. No one but—"
"I don't know how he knew," Tsunade cut her off, her tone sharper than she intended. "But he used it against me. He didn't need to fight. He just... he toyed with me."
Shizune bit her lip, worry etched into her features. "What are we going to do?"
Tsunade's eyes burned with determination, her earlier fear giving way to anger. "We're going to find him. And when we do, I'll make sure he regrets everything."
Shizune nodded, though the knot of worry in her chest didn't ease. Whoever that guy was, he wasn't just some ordinary enemy. This was something different—something more dangerous.
Tsunade closed her eyes for a brief moment, taking a deep breath. The humiliation still lingered, but so did her resolve. She wouldn't rest until Hiro paid for what he'd done.
And when that time came, she would make sure it was on her terms.