"I still can't believe that just a few years ago, this place was the most feared, most terrifying village in the entire shinobi world."
After a full week of observation, Tsunade slumped into a sofa with a sigh, then brought a cup of sake to her mouth and drained it in one go.
A faint flush of intoxication colored her cheeks. The proud princess of the Senju clan now sat in a bar in Kirigakure, casting a wry smile toward Shizune.
"Whether it's their systems, their potential, or just the overall happiness of the villagers… this place isn't just functioning well—it's basically flawless. It's not just on par with Konoha... it's surpassed it by a long shot."
"Honestly, if not for how damp the air is all the time, there'd be almost nothing to complain about."
"…They actually fire a 'clear-sky cannon' every week to disperse the mist," Shizune muttered. "Tropical beaches, low cost of living—honestly, I think this place is better than Konoha. Except for those limited-edition beauty pills."
"Yeah…" Tsunade gave a bitter smile.
Seven days, and she hadn't uncovered a single problem. Sure, she knew this village had things like human experimentation, soul experimentation, Shinigami, and even the Soul Society—but all of that seemed completely detached from the public life of the village.
Kirigakure was just… Kirigakure. A nearly perfect city. A place where even ninja served the people, supporting infrastructure and society. Who wouldn't want to live here?
No wonder Uchiha Shisui had defected from Konoha and come here.
Compared to living under constant suppression by other clans in Konoha, being blocked by political factions, and getting caught up in endless schemes... building a new Uchiha legacy here, in a village filled with hope and a future—that was undeniably the better path.
"That bastard Mizukage really is doing a damn good job..."
"Yo—coming from the legendary Tsunade-hime herself, that's some high praise. Looks like I really am a pretty good Mizukage, huh~?"
A voice suddenly rang out from beside her. Tsunade and Shizune looked up in surprise and saw Mizukage Yuki Yoru, dressed casually, pulling up a seat at the neighboring table with Yuki Kiri beside him. He flashed a cheerful smile and waved to the bar owner.
" Yuki Yoru?!" Tsunade stared in disbelief. "What are you doing here?!"
"Getting food, obviously. I've been working all day, I'm allowed to have dinner after hours, aren't I?"
He waved it off casually and turned to the owner. "Hey boss, got anything fresh tonight?"
"Of course, Mizukage-sama! Got some fresh scallop, blue lobster, giant conch—whatever you like!"
"Kiri, anything you feel like eating?"
"I'm fine with anything," Kiri replied softly, calm and elegant.
"Hmm, then boss, just customize today's dishes for two people, and another flask of sake."
"Coming right up!"
The owner beamed, bowing deeply before hurrying off to the kitchen himself. A waiter came over with some appetizers and poured their sake, asking whether they preferred a private room.
"No need. It's more fun out here," Yoru replied with a laugh.
Kiri quietly picked up the sake bottle and poured him a full cup. He drank it in one shot, savoring the taste with a pleased smile.
"If Mei finds out I came without her, I'm probably in trouble again."
"She'll probably say you only brought me and forgot about her."
"There was a problem with the Earth Grudge cultivation on her side… But hey, we'll just pack some food and bring it back for her~"
"I think that'll only make her feel worse…"
Yoru and Kiri chatted like no one else was around. Yet Tsunade, picking up on the name that slipped from Yoru's mouth, narrowed her eyes slightly.
Earth Grudge…?
If she remembered right, that was a secret treasure of Takigakure. When had it become Kirigakure's property?
Then again… if Yoru could even acquire the Uchiha clan's bloodline, seizing the Earth Grudge technique hardly seemed surprising.
"Hey, Yuki Yoru… and you, miss," Tsunade suddenly called out, raising her voice. "Mind if we share a table?"
"Oh?"
Yoru raised an eyebrow, his gaze briefly resting on Tsunade's flushed cheeks and ample chest before he gave a casual shrug. "A beautiful woman wants to drink with me? Of course I don't mind. Though… that depends on whether my companion objects."
"…It's more lively with more people at the table," Kiri said softly.
"Then it's settled!"
With a swift motion, Tsunade shoved one side of the table with her hand. Thud! The two tables slammed together.
She didn't hesitate to grab Yoru's freshly served sake and pour herself a cup. Her gaze shimmered faintly as she stared at him.
"Listen, Yoru. I'm seriously impressed by how far Kirigakure has come. But I've been dying to ask you—why is it that no matter where I looked, I couldn't find a trace of the so-called Shinigami or Soul Society?"
"Don't tell me they don't exist. You already admitted they did back in Akakyu City. So where are they hiding? Where did you stash them?"
"Stash?" Yoru chuckled. "I never hid anything, Tsunade. You just didn't notice."
"What do you mean?"
"You've got it all wrong. Like Shisui that day, the members of the Soul Society… they live right here in Kirigakure. Just like any other villager."
Tsunade's brow furrowed.
What was he saying? That they were some kind of secret society hiding behind a barrier? A hidden fortress beneath the city?
"No, it's not that complicated," Yoru said. "Shinigami can't be sensed through chakra, so of course they seem invisible to most ninja. But the truth is, they're not lurking in the shadows. They're people I brought back—souls that should have passed on, but now live again."
He poured himself another drink, his tone still light, but carrying unexpected weight.
"They returned to the world. To the village. To the people they once loved. You understand that feeling, don't you? Losing someone close, someone irreplaceable… and then, one day, they're suddenly standing beside you again. What would you do?"
"Announce it to the world? Shout that the dead live again?"
"Of course not. Resurrection is a taboo—something society can't accept. But to the individual… it's salvation."
"For them, it's the return of love. The mending of family. A complete circle. Everyone in Kirigakure knows about the Soul Society. They're in every street and every home. But no one speaks of it."
"That's why the Soul Society seems so mysterious."
Tsunade stared silently at the cup in her hand.
So… the entire village had simply accepted it? Silently, without speaking, without questioning?
They allowed the Soul Society to grow quietly—until now, when the organization had become powerful enough to strike fear across the entire shinobi world.
But it wasn't some secret army. No… it was a homecoming.
Not an upstart faction. A resurrection of the past.
And his voice hadn't been low. Plenty of other shinobi in the bar had heard him.
But they only paused briefly, then continued chatting and drinking as if nothing had been said.
Tsunade understood then: Yoru wasn't lying.
When someone you love returns from the dead… who would willingly lose them again?
She fell into silence.
She could completely imagine that moment—because when the two men she loved most were taken from her, one after the other, the pain… the suffocating grief… had nearly crushed her. That memory was still sharp, still raw.
"Princess Tsunade," Kira said softly, turning to face her. "Now that you understand so much about our Soul Society in Kirigakure… may I ask why?"
"Is it just curiosity—seeking the truth behind the unknown? Or… is it because you want to see your departed loved ones again?"
Tsunade flinched.
Yoru's lips curled faintly.
She didn't answer. Instead, she downed cup after cup of sake in silence. Only after several long moments did she set the cup down hard, eyes locked onto Yoru's.
"What's the price?"
Kiri looked surprised, but Yoru only smiled and gently swirled his drink. "Alright, Kiri—stop teasing her. Bringing back her loved ones? That's not something I can actually do."
"There is no price, because that's not even possible."
He raised his glass toward her.
"First of all, even if I wanted to bring back two people from a rival village, it's not so simple. And second… resurrection has never been something you can achieve for free. It requires many conditions."
"If I remember right, the two you want to see again… have been gone for more than ten years, haven't they?"
Tsunade's body trembled.
"After all that time, bringing them back wouldn't be easy. And besides… would they even want that?"
"To be pulled back from the Pure Land, forced into enemy hands, and maybe even serve your cause—do you think they'd accept that?"
"Let them rest. They've been asleep for a long time. Let them stay in peace."
Yoru smiled as he picked up a piece of conch meat—his favorite. Sweet and crisp.
Tsunade silently clenched her fists. Her lowered head concealed her expression.
In truth… she really did want to see them again. Even just once.
Even if it were only a single touch of their bodies…
Even if she could only see their faces one more time…
But…
Just like Yoru said.
Would they even want that?
"I'm sorry."
Tsunade drew in a deep breath, stood up, and walked away from the table.
"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune immediately jumped up, bowed to Yoru and Kiri, then hurried after her.
Yoru remained seated, savoring his food and drink as if nothing had happened—until Kiri chuckled softly, breaking the silence.
"Oh, come on. She left already and you're still acting like this? You clearly want someone like Tsunade on your side, but you're still playing games. Aren't you worried you'll scare off a Sannin who basically came to you on her own?"
"Tch. What do you know?"
Yoru gave a small snort and casually rested an arm on Kiri's slender shoulder. "Treatment depends on the patient. Tsunade's a twisted, complicated woman. You have to handle her this way."
"Besides, it's not like we have any flesh samples from Nawaki or Dan. I couldn't summon their souls even if I wanted to. What do you expect me to do—go dig up Konoha's graves myself?"
"…Wait—you're not actually considering that, are you?!"
Yoru gave a slight twitch at the expression on Kiri's face… but then paused.
Actually… not a bad idea.
Back in the Fourth Great Ninja War, Kabuto did exactly that—became the ninja world's grave-robbing champion, unearthing bodies from all five great nations and summoning an army of powerful souls with Edo Tensei.
And now that the major wars had quieted down and the smaller nations had also stabilized, soul collection had slowed to a crawl. Maybe it really was time to go after some physical remains directly.
Even if those people couldn't be loyal to Kirigakure—Edo Tensei didn't guarantee allegiance, after all—they could still be useful. As raw spiritual fuel, as test subjects in Hueco Mundo, or as components in further experiments.
Yes… that was a workable plan.
Satisfied, Yoru finished his meal and left the tavern, content.
Yoru had just stepped out of the tavern with Kiri when a familiar figure blocked his path.
Tsunade stood there waiting, her golden hair catching the lamplight, her fists clenched tight.
"Something else, Tsunade-hime?"
"I've made up my mind," she said, her voice steady, but her eyes just slightly red. It looked like she'd been crying—but behind those eyes burned a will that wouldn't bend.
"I want to join you, Yoru. I want to become a part of the Soul Society."
"Nawaki and Dan both dreamed of becoming Hokage. But I know now... what they truly wanted wasn't the title. It was to be the umbrella—the one that shields others, protects their smiles."
"But the Konoha of today... and the Hokage of today... they're no longer that umbrella. They can't even protect their own people—let alone guard against the crisis you warned me about. The one that could endanger the entire shinobi world."
Her voice didn't waver, but her sadness was palpable.
"Shisui was right. Konoha is rotten. I've known it deep down for a long time… and maybe that's why this hurts so much."
"Because no matter what... that village was founded by my grandfather."
Tsunade stepped forward, firm and resolute.
"I want to become that umbrella. The one Nawaki and Dan couldn't be. I want to inherit their will—and protect the smiles of everyone."
Yoru smiled.
"Such a grand and noble conviction," he murmured.
Without another word, he and Kiri stepped past her, walking toward the corner of the street.
Tsunade froze. She turned quickly to look back at their departing backs.
"Wait—what's that supposed to mean?! Are you rejecting me?!"
Yoru glanced over his shoulder. "Not at all. I accept."
"But it's off-hours right now. We'll talk more tomorrow."
He added, eyes casually sweeping over her:
"…Of course, if you insist on joining tonight, I wouldn't mind that either."
Tsunade blinked. Then her gaze bounced between him and Kiri.
In an instant, she realized exactly what that phrasing meant.
Her already flushed face—thanks to the sake—turned even redder. Whether from embarrassment or anger, even she couldn't tell.
"W-Who said anything about joining like that?!"
"Eh? But weren't you just begging to join us a moment ago?" Yoru grinned.
"Go to hell! That's not what I meant!!"
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin