The commercial street in Konoha was bustling with life. It was the annual Aoi Festival.
Crowds filled the streets, children laughed and chased each other between booths, and vendors lined both sides hawking their goods under glowing paper lanterns.
The emergency meeting at the Hokage Tower had ended over ten minutes ago. Despite prolonged discussion, no solid solution had been reached. Left with no choice, Hiruzen Sarutobi had dismissed the meeting for the evening.
The moon was high now, bathing the Hidden Leaf Village in silver light as festival lights sparkled all around.
Tsunade strolled alone through the crowd. Alone, if one discounted the obnoxious bug trailing behind her.
"Hey, baby," Ren called out.
"Go away."
"Honey~"
"Absolutely not."
"Why are you like this? We're not even married yet, and you're already this mean. Can't I at least call you my wife?"
"You..."
Tsunade spun on her heel, fists clenched and teeth grinding. Ren looked at her with a wide-eyed innocence that she knew all too well was fake. She took a deep breath and forced her fury back down. No matter what Ren said, she resolved to ignore him.
Hit him? Absolutely not.
It wasn't just the crowd. The two Root Jōnin following Ren at a discreet distance were clearly ready to intervene. Fighting would cause more trouble than it was worth.
"Alright, alright. Don't be mad. As the saying goes, a happy day and a miserable day are both just one day—why not spend it being happy with me?"
Ren quickly closed the distance and, catching Tsunade off guard, grabbed her hand. She was about to pull it away when a voice called out from ahead.
"Yo, Tsunade! Long time no see!"
A man with light blue hair and a warm smile approached. He wore a standard green flak jacket. His demeanor was friendly, familiar.
"Out shopping with your nephew?"
"Nephew... nephew???" Ren blinked, stunned. His face turned crimson with rage.
Before he could explode, a floral scent filled his nostrils. Tsunade clamped a hand tightly over his mouth.
"Mmmph! Let me go! I'm challenging him to a duel! I'm clearly your man, and he dares insult me—I'll beat him into a pulp!"
He thrashed and yelled into her palm, but the only sound that escaped was a muffled string of grumbles. Tsunade smiled apologetically.
"Sorry, Kato Jōnin. My 'nephew' here has a rather mature mental age. He doesn't like being treated like a child. Please forgive him."
"Ah, no problem. My bad for being presumptuous." Kato Dan laughed and scratched the back of his head. "I heard there's a new yakiniku place not far from here. If you and your nephew are free, would you care to join me for a meal?"
Dan's tone was sincere, his simplicity genuine. A classic good guy.
Though not particularly close, Tsunade and Kato Dan had crossed paths a few times. She nodded reflexively, about to agree—
Then pain shot through her hand.
"Ow!" She yanked her hand back, revealing a row of tiny tooth marks.
"Little brat! Did you just bite me?!"
"Hmph! Serves you right for accepting a meal with some random guy!"
"What are you talking about?! Kato Jōnin is a colleague, nothing more!"
Something made her explain herself without thinking. Realizing this, her cheeks flushed. Ren's stunned look only made it worse.
"You stinking brat! Mind your own damn business! Even if I was involved with Kato, what right do you have to complain?!"
"Well, I just..."
Ren paused, then his eyes lit up mischievously. In a mock-childish voice, he pointed to Dan.
"Big Sis Tsunade, look at this guy! Oily hair, dumb grin, and he looks like he moisturizes more than you do. He's totally not your type, right?"
He didn't wait for her to answer—he nodded confidently as if she'd already agreed.
Dan's expression faltered, a flicker of anger flashing through his eyes. Ren, of course, had been watching for it.
"Big Sis Tsunade, see that? He's mad. And over what? A kid's teasing. Someone this touchy? No way someone like you would fall for a man like that, right?"
Dan gritted his teeth behind a forced smile, the strain showing in his jaw.
"Tsunade, looks like your nephew doesn't want to dine with me. Maybe next time. I'll be going."
He turned with a nod, face transforming into a mask of barely concealed fury as he disappeared into the crowd.
"Hmph, turning on the fake smile like a pro. I've seen shinobi like that before," Ren muttered. Tsunade and Dan heard every word. The murderous intent radiating from Dan as he vanished didn't go unnoticed.
Ren wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead and looked away, avoiding Tsunade's gaze.
"Little pervert," she said with a chuckle. "You had all that fire a minute ago, and now you can't even look at me?"
She held up her finger—still marked by his teeth.
"You insulted my colleague and bit me. So, how're you going to make it up to me?"
"Wait! I didn't insult your colleague! You didn't see the way he looked at you—like he wanted to devour you whole! I'm your man—I was protecting what's mine!"
Thud!
Ren yelped and clutched his head as Tsunade thumped him with a knuckle.
"Hmph! Idiot. I'm not your woman!"
Yet, despite her words, when she saw Ren sulking on the ground, her heart softened.
"Forget it. I barely know Kato Jōnin anyway. This is the Aoi Festival. If we don't eat something good, our stomachs will riot. So, what do you want, you little pervert?"
Ren sprang up, eyes sparkling.
"Hmm… eel sushi, tonkotsu ramen, takoyaki, and…"
Konoha's streets stayed bright and festive. Lantern light stretched the shadows of Tsunade and Ren far behind them. Somewhere amidst the clamor, their hands brushed—then naturally intertwined. It felt like they'd always walked like this.
Warm. Easy. Natural.
The Aoi Festival was in full bloom.