HOKAGE'S OFFICE
"Leave." Tsunade spoke without raising her tone, but with enough authority to end any hesitation, keeping her gaze fixed on Riser while completely ignoring the tension that still dominated the room.
The ANBU members remained still for a brief moment, evaluating the order in front of the still unstable situation, but retreated soon after, disappearing from the room with the same precision they had appeared, accepting the decision without question.
"You too, Shizune." Tsunade added, without diverting her attention, making it clear that this conversation would have no more witnesses.
Shizune looked at Riser for one more second, still affected by what had happened, but nodded right after and left the room without resistance, closing the door behind her carefully, leaving the environment completely isolated.
The silence didn't last.
"You need to stay calmer." Riser spoke first, already standing, closing the door with his own hand before turning his gaze back to her. "Look at your desk."
The destroyed wood remained scattered across the floor, direct evidence of the previous reaction, and the room now carried a different kind of tension, less explosive, but more controlled.
"Stop messing around." Tsunade replied impatiently, resting her arm on what remained of the desk while maintaining a firm posture. "You've already crossed the line since you walked in here."
Riser didn't change his expression.
"Then let's get straight to the point." He kept a steady tone as he took a short step forward, once again taking the center of the conversation. "Will you accept me into the village… yes or no?"
The question lingered in the air for a moment, simple, direct and without room for interpretation. There was no elaborate proposal, nor any attempt to soften the weight of what was being asked.
Tsunade didn't answer immediately.
She kept her gaze fixed on him, analyzing not only the question, but everything that had already happened up to that point. The absence of chakra, the Sharingan, the impossible movement, the unshakable confidence.
Everything pointed to a variable out of control.
"You're far too dangerous for me to trust." Tsunade finally answered, her tone lower, but firm, making it clear that this wasn't an impulsive refusal, but a conclusion based on what she had already seen.
Riser didn't look away.
"Then don't trust me."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Why should I accept you here?"
"Because either I'm your ally… or your enemy." Riser kept a steady tone, without raising his voice. "And I believe that, after what you saw, you won't want the second option."
The logic was direct and without exaggerated threat.
Riser was right, his movement of escaping a blade at his neck without being detected by ANBU or Tsunade herself, and still appearing behind Shizune, had completely changed the weight of the situation.
"Becoming a jōnin depends on your strength… and you have that." Tsunade kept her gaze firm, without backing down. "But entering the village depends on my trust."
The environment remained tense, but now with a clear direction.
"So, while you're here, you'll be watched." Tsunade didn't change her tone, making it clear that this decision was not negotiable.
"I don't think ANBU is qualified for that." Riser answered without hesitation, holding her gaze without changing his posture.
The answer wasn't provocation, it was a direct assessment.
"It's not ANBU." Tsunade cut in immediately. "It's me."
The difference was immediate.
'That's great… this way I stay closer to her.' The thought came cleanly, without affecting his expression.
"Well… then we have a deal." Riser spoke directly, already extending his hand toward her without hesitation.
The gesture slightly broke the pattern of the conversation.
"What is that?" Tsunade slightly frowned, looking at the extended hand without moving.
She didn't recognize the gesture as something natural in that context.
"Where I come from, shaking hands means closing a deal." Riser explained in the same tone, without forcing the gesture. "It's a way to formalize the decision."
"My word is enough." Tsunade replied without extending her hand. "And if you're going to live here, you'd better get used to that."
Riser lowered his hand slowly.
"If that's how it is… fine." Riser answered without insisting, accepting the rules of the game.
"Now I think I'll go check out the rest of the village." He kept a natural tone, as if the decision had already been made.
He slightly turned his body toward the exit.
"You're not going anywhere." Tsunade replied immediately, keeping her gaze fixed on him. "I'm going to watch you, and I can't do that right now."
She didn't move from her spot, making it clear that control was still the priority.
"Your desk is broken, your papers are scattered on the floor." Riser said without changing his tone. "Now is the perfect time."
He lightly gestured with his gaze toward the environment around.
The destroyed desk and scattered documents created a scenario Tsunade couldn't ignore, even if it was her fault.
"That's exactly why." Tsunade crossed her arms slightly before uncrossing them, annoyed with the situation. "Look at how much work I have to do."
She kept her tone firm, but the irritation was evident.
"Excuses like that don't work." Riser replied directly. "You're a Legendary Sannin, make some clones to take care of it."
He kept his gaze on her, without backing down.
"Clones aren't for that." Tsunade replied immediately, without hesitation.
The answer came automatically, but didn't end the discussion.
"They aren't?" Riser tilted his head slightly. "Don't you send clones first to gather information and, when they're destroyed, the information comes back to you?"
He gave no room for retreat.
"Yes, but—"
"No more." Riser interrupted immediately. "I'm going out."
He took a short step toward the door.
"You can transform and come with me… or stay here with these papers and this broken desk."
The decision was presented directly.
The silence lasted a second.
Tsunade kept her gaze on him, evaluating the situation without answering immediately.
POOF.
Three copies appeared around her, taking different positions in the office and starting to organize the scattered papers without needing further instruction.
The decision was made.
POOF.
Her body changed shape, adjusting features, reducing the most recognizable visual impact of the Hokage and creating the appearance of a different woman, discreet enough to move around without drawing immediate attention. The change didn't hide what she was, but it was enough for practical purposes.
"Where are we going?"
"I'm the visitor, remember?" Riser replied without changing his tone. "You show the way."
'Now you're going to pay…' Tsunade's thought came cold, organized, without affecting her expression.
She smiled slightly.
"You're right." The tone came out controlled, almost light. "I have a perfect place to take you."
"Great, then let's go." Riser answered without hesitation, already assuming the decision had been made and that nothing else was holding them back.
He didn't change his posture, but his body was already ready to move, making it clear he saw no reason for delay.
"Wait." Tsunade raised her hand slightly, stopping him before he took the first step.
The movement was simple, but enough to halt the action at the exact point.
"What?" Riser answered immediately, without patience for detours.
He kept his gaze on her, waiting for an explanation that justified the pause.
"Do you have money?" Tsunade asked with a slight laugh, as if the answer was already important for the next step.
The tone changed, and the intention behind the question became clear.
'With System 3.0, I can get any currency in this world… including ryō.' Riser organized the thought without changing his expression. 'That won't be a problem.'
"Yes, I have plenty." He kept a direct tone, without giving it more importance than necessary.
The confirmation was all she needed.
"Great." Tsunade replied immediately, now visibly more excited. "Out there, remember not to call me Tsunade."
She took a step forward, already adjusting the role she would assume outside.
"Call me Onee-sama."
Riser watched for a second before responding.
"You got very excited."
The statement came simple, but carried a clear reading of her change.
"I can enjoy life a little." Tsunade replied without denying it, her smile remaining light as she already headed for the exit.
The answer was honest, and that made it even clearer what the true objective of that outing was.
Riser already had some possibilities in mind, but the knowledge he carried of that world pointed to a specific place. A gambling house, where Tsunade used to spend time and money, and where her nickname gained strength for a very simple reason.
She lost.
A lot.
"Let's go." Tsunade said, already leading the way without waiting for a response.
The destination was decided.
And this time, she was the one leading the game.
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