The next day.
Rarely free from training, Aokiji slept until broad daylight. After a simple breakfast, he took a stroll through the village and happened to spot an acquaintance walking toward him.
She wore a deeply worried expression, her face filled with gloom. One look was enough to tell that she was in a bad mood.
Aokiji stepped forward and greeted her with a teasing smile. "Isn't this Tsunade? Why do you look so unhappy so early in the morning? If something's bothering you, why not tell me and make me happy?"
Tsunade gave him a long look, her dim eyes seeming to have lost their sparkle.
Aokiji's expression turned solemn as he became serious. "What happened?"
Tsunade sighed. "Do you remember that Sarutobi Makio from a week ago?"
Who was Sarutobi Makio?
Aokiji had no impression of him.
After staring blankly for a while, he finally remembered. He seemed to be that guy who looked like he was about to raise a death flag.
"What happened to him?"
"He died..."
Oh, I thought it was something serious. He just died...
With one less rival in love, that was good news.
Wait.
Aokiji sensed that something was wrong and hurriedly asked, "He died? How?"
There was a trace of sorrow in Tsunade's voice. "It seems he accidentally stepped on an Explosive Tag while carrying out a mission and died. Sigh, human life really is fragile. One moment it's there, and the next it's gone."
Aokiji sucked in a cold breath. "Hiss~~~"
As she spoke, Tsunade suddenly noticed that Aokiji looked utterly terrified, drenched in sweat. Anyone who saw him would think he had heard something horrifying. She could not help but stare at him in bewilderment. "Uh... what's wrong with you?"
"N-Nothing." Aokiji took a tactical step back, deliberately putting