Some debts chase faster than fate. Others come flying in with a clenched fist.
[Ding!]
[Behavior consistent with Zhongli detected. Proficiency +0.1%]
[Current Synchronization: 5.7%]
Ayato glanced at the system prompt, a trace of quiet satisfaction flashing through his eyes.
A socially dysfunctional Zhongli never carried money when going out.
Naturally, he wouldn't pay the bill either.
Five point seven percent.
Seeing the number tick upward, Ayato smiled faintly. He lifted the birdcage in one hand and began strolling back toward the Odd Jobs Shop at an unhurried pace.
He wasn't worried.
If his judgment was correct, Tsunade would be storming after him very soon. If that happened, he might even squeeze out a little more synchronization.
Yet when Ayato reached the shop entrance, the street remained strangely quiet.
No furious blonde Sannin.
No murderous aura.
"…That's odd."
Ayato frowned slightly.
With Tsunade's temperament, there was no way she would let this slide.
—
Meanwhile — back at the theater.
Tsunade sat rigidly in the seat Ayato had vacated, fury simmering beneath her calm expression.
Four attendants stood in a loose circle around her, watching closely, clearly afraid she might bolt without paying.
Unfortunately, Tsunade had already gambled away every last coin earlier that day.
Not a single bill remained in her pockets.
The only thing she could do now was wait for Shizune to arrive with money and rescue her.
So no matter how leisurely Ayato strolled home, Tsunade physically couldn't chase him yet.
That didn't mean the debt would be forgotten.
It was merely postponed.
—
Eight in the evening.
Ayato closed up the shop, prepared a simple dinner, and tidied the counters before locking the doors for the night.
Around ten o'clock — just as he finished washing up and prepared to sleep —
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Heavy pounding slammed against the door, violent and impatient.
Ayato opened it.
Standing outside was Tsunade.
Her golden hair flared wildly, almost like Jiraiya activating Wild Lion's Mane. The moment their eyes met, her fist shot forward without a single word.
Not good.
Feeling the terrifying momentum behind the punch, Ayato instantly opened the system interface.
[Roleplay Activated!]
[Host: Ayato]
[Active Role: Zhongli]
[Synchronization: 5.7%]
[Remaining Time Today: 1 / 30 minutes]
[Project Zhongli's Appearance?]
[Yes / No]
Ayato selected [No] without hesitation.
Zhongli's divine appearance was still far too memorable. If he manifested that image again, the consequences would be immediate.
Hiruzen's ANBU might be manageable.
Danzo's Root would absolutely swarm him.
Buzz.
A subtle surge of power flooded through Ayato's body as the role activated. His vision sharpened, muscles tightening with unfamiliar density.
Though he possessed only 5.7% of Zhongli's power — and no skills yet — the raw physical enhancement and elemental affinity were still enough to matter.
Barely enough.
Ayato twisted sideways, narrowly avoiding the punch, then spun and sprinted away from the shop.
He had no intention of letting an enraged Tsunade demolish his precious business.
"Trying to run?!" Tsunade roared.
Veins bulged on her forehead as she activated Body Flicker. In a blink, both of them vanished from the street and reappeared within a nearby grove.
—
The forest fell silent.
Moonlight filtered through swaying branches.
Ayato suddenly stopped.
Running endlessly wouldn't solve anything. He had approached Tsunade deliberately — retreating now would only waste the opportunity.
The instant he halted —
Tsunade's fist was already descending.
Golden light flared.
Geo energy surged around Ayato's body, condensing into a dense, translucent barrier.
It wasn't enough to form a true Jade Shield.
But it was enough to block.
Bang!
Her punch crashed into the geo barrier with a metallic shockwave. The impact rippled violently through the air, forcing Ayato back several steps before he stabilized himself.
"…So this is the monstrous strength of a Legendary Sannin," Ayato muttered, genuine admiration flickering through his eyes.
Steam curled faintly from Tsunade's clenched knuckles.
"This power…" Tsunade narrowed her eyes, sensing something strange about the invisible force protecting him. It resembled Earth Release — but not quite.
"This is geo element," Ayato explained calmly, dispersing the energy around his body. "Slightly different from earth chakra, Lady Tsunade."
"Geo element, huh?" Tsunade scoffed, raising her fist again. "And you're not afraid I'll keep hitting you?"
The way he dismissed his defenses so casually only fueled her curiosity.
"I'm a businessman," Ayato replied evenly, clasping his hands behind his back. "Fighting and killing aren't my interests."
"Perfect," Tsunade sneered. "Then tell me — how exactly are you going to cure my condition?"
"That condition is psychological," Ayato said calmly. "A wound of the heart must be healed by the heart. You need to walk out of that shadow yourself."
He spoke with steady certainty.
"Your fear of blood isn't weakness. It's a cage you built around your own pain."
Tsunade's brow furrowed slightly.
"…A cage?"
"You've locked yourself inside chains you refuse to release," Ayato continued. "This isn't about how I cure you. It's about how you redeem yourself."
He stepped closer, watching the conflict ripple across her expression.
Good.
She was listening.
Ayato quietly exhaled in relief. At least she hadn't thrown another punch. That meant the gamble was paying off.
He had chosen Tsunade deliberately.
Among the three Sannin, the one he least wanted to deal with wasn't Orochimaru or Tsunade — it was Jiraiya.
Jiraiya was deeply tied to Hiruzen's faction. Any prolonged contact risked unnecessary complications and unwanted attention.
Orochimaru and Tsunade were different.
Orochimaru's relationship with Konoha was already fractured.
And Tsunade — after the Third Shinobi War and the collapse of the Senju line — had long since severed her emotional ties to the village.
She was the best opening.
Which was exactly why Ayato had chosen her as his next move.
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