Chapter 219: Tsunade Learns Truth
Chapter 219: Tsunade Learns Truth
Whenever Tsunade went out, she was usually accompanied by the Hokage Guards. Only when she went to see Arima would she dismiss them all, bringing along only Shizune.
This time, however, more than a dozen shinobi had surrounded the place, and over half of them were Jonin.
Tsunade rose to her feet, folded her arms across her chest, and looked down at the people above. Her voice was calm as she asked, "Were you all sent by Danzo?"
The man at the front spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Fifth Hokage, we're here to request that Arima accompany us for questioning. Please don't interfere. If you wish to punish us afterward, we will present ourselves to receive it."
Tsunade sneered. "You've planned this quite thoroughly. Don't bring Danzo's little tricks out here to embarrass yourselves.
Afterward, are you planning to slap another charge on Arima, something like being a spy?"
The man didn't respond. He merely raised a hand and issued the order to act.
At once, the others hurled shuriken, extinguishing every light in the courtyard. Like ghosts in the night, they melted into the darkness and rushed toward Arima.
Tsunade hadn't expected them to be this brazen. She roared in fury, "I dare you to try!"
As she spoke, chakra surged into her fist. Under the dim moonlight, she lunged at the shadow closest to Arima.
"Shave!"
In an instant, Arima intercepted her. He had no intention of letting this group wreck the small shop he had worked so hard to build.
Tsunade felt her right hand grabbed. She immediately changed tactics, snapping her left leg up toward her opponent's head, only for that leg to be seized as well.
With a smooth motion, the other party lifted her and pulled her straight into his arms.
Breathing in that familiar presence, Tsunade finally realized that the person she had been exchanging blows with all along was Arima himself.
Her heart was thrown into turmoil. She had never imagined that his combat prowess was on par with her own.
Before she could recover from the shock, she heard Arima speak in a low voice to the intruders.
"Picking on an honest man like this, don't you think that's a bit much?"
The Root shinobi at the front raised his hand, signaling his subordinates to stop.
He said sternly, "Arima, you'd better know your place. You can't defy Lord Danzo's orders."
Hearing the threat, Arima's expression didn't change in the slightest.
He replied calmly, "Is that so?"
Bathed in moonlight, his face was utterly composed, and in that moment, Tsunade caught a glimpse of his domineering, unyielding side.
Suddenly, the sky and earth seemed to fall silent. Not a single sound remained.
In the next instant, the Root shinobi all collapsed unconscious, tumbling from the rooftops one after another.
Tsunade had no idea what had just happened, but she clearly felt the fine hairs on her skin stand on end at that instant.
Arima glanced down at Tsunade in his arms and said helplessly, "They forced my hand."
Unable to stop herself, Tsunade reached up to touch his face.
"Arima… why did you hide your strength? And how did you make all of them lose consciousness at the same time?"
Arima chuckled. "I never hid my strength from you. You saw it that day in the hospital, didn't you?
As for making them pass out, that's something you really haven't heard of. It's called Conqueror's Haki."
Tsunade frowned slightly. "Conqueror's Haki? Is it a form of chakra? But I didn't sense any chakra fluctuations in your body at all."
Smiling, Arima replied, "The world doesn't run on chakra alone."
Then, lowering his voice mysteriously, he added, "Let me tell you something, beyond our world, there are countless greater worlds.
The shinobi world is nothing more than a single drop in the ocean."
Tsunade grasped the deeper meaning in his words. She looked straight into his eyes and asked, "Arima… you don't belong to this world, do you?"
Arima shook his head, then nodded. That only left Tsunade more confused.
He began slowly, "There was once a man who looked into a mirror every day. The person in the mirror was exactly the same as the one in reality.
But one day, the reflection came to life. It gained its own thoughts and walked a completely different path.
Eventually, the world inside the mirror became a new reality, another world altogether."
Tsunade's heart trembled as she listened. She clutched Arima tightly and whispered, "So… you're the one who escaped from the mirror? You'll return to it someday, won't you?"
Arima smiled. "Why can't you be the one from the mirror?"
Tsunade didn't dwell on that question. Instead, she asked softly, "In that world, there's another Tsunade, isn't there? Are you close to her? Is she… happier than I am?"
Arima gently stroked her golden hair.
"Silly girl… I don't know how to answer that. The moment you insisted on calling me I knew you were different from her.
I love her, and I… also love you. But there's always a line in my heart telling me this is a betrayal of emotion. And yet, I can so clearly feel your joy, your pain, your sorrow…"
Before he could finish, Tsunade wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. The kiss was intense, overflowing with emotion.
…
When the sun was already high in the sky, Tsunade finally awoke from her slumber.
Turning to her side, she found her lover gone, and the parable of the mirror world from the night before resurfaced in her mind.
Ignoring the discomfort in her body, Tsunade hurried out of bed and staggered toward the door.
Just then, Arima entered, carrying a breakfast meant to replenish energy.
Tsunade rushed forward and held him tightly, unwilling to let go even for a moment.
After everything that had happened the night before, she found herself plagued by anxiety, terrified that Arima would vanish like a bubble, pop, disappearing under the sunlight, never to be found again.
Arima indulged her completely, soothing her emotions and gently feeding her breakfast.
His voice, the fresh scent about him, and the steady heartbeat against his chest all told Tsunade that what she was holding was reality, not a dream.
In a soft voice, Tsunade asked, "Arima… in your heart, am I that Tsunade?"
Arima shook his head gently. "No. You're both unique."
Looking into her lover's eyes, Tsunade asked, "Can you tell me your story with her?"
Arima only shook his head. "Our story has just begun. When you're no longer afraid, no longer lost, I'll tell you then."
At first, seeing him refuse made Tsunade feel a twinge of disappointment, but his explanation immediately put her at ease.
Leaning close to his ear, she whispered, "Do you… have children?"
Arima smiled.
"How should I put it? You could consider them your children too. The older brother is named Senju Arata, calm and steady. The younger sister is Senju Yuna, clever and full of mischief."
Tsunade asked again, "In that world… Are my family members still alive?"
Arima replied, "Your grandpa passed away when I was still a child. Everyone else is still alive, even your younger brother, Nawaki. He's living well."
Tears streamed down Tsunade's face as she pleaded, "Arima, if… if it's possible, could you take me to your world? To see them, even if it's just a secret glance, that would be enough…"
Arima gently wiped away her tears, his heart aching for her. He solemnly promised that he would one day reunite the siblings.
Tsunade's mood immediately brightened, and her appetite improved as well. From this day forward, she would no longer live just for herself.
The two spent the entire day wrapped up in each other, until Homura and Koharu came calling together.
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