"Lord Hokage, please make sure you keep this a secret from little Tsunade," he said softly, a hint of mischief in his voice. "When she wakes up, just tell her I went ahead to look for the Rōran Ruins!"
The future Tsunade leaned against the doorframe with her arms folded, her amber eyes slightly narrowed as she regarded the man before her with amusement.
"You've certainly got it all worked out." She chuckled, a meaningful gleam in her eyes.
Shinichi gave a small shrug, looking perfectly innocent. "What else can I do? You know little Tsunade's temper better than I do. If she finds out I acted on my own, she'll probably punch me straight into the ground and demand an explanation."
The future Tsunade snorted softly, her lips curving into a half smile. "So you want me to take the blame for you?"
Shinichi smiled faintly, his tone easy. "Lord Hokage, this isn't 'taking the blame.' It's 'teamwork.'"
The future Tsunade narrowed her eyes and stared at him a moment longer. At last, she sighed and shook her head. "Fine. Go if you want to. But... don't go dying out there."
At her words, Shinichi's lips curled slightly, and an inscrutable gleam flickered in his blue eyes beneath the morning light.
"Don't worry. I won't die that easily. After all, I haven't turned this shinobi world upside down yet."
He turned and walked away, his figure gradually disappearing into the sunlit courtyard as a gentle breeze carried away his presence.
The future Tsunade remained where she stood, watching his retreating back with a deep gaze. Her lips curved slightly as she murmured:
"That man... I doubt he's just going to look for the Rōran Ruins..."
She shook her head, pushed open the door, and returned to the room. And