Chapter 16:
– Blake –
There was a tense standoff for a moment, explosive tags hanging dangerously in the air around Jiraiya. His eyes shifted nervously from Konan to Raven, and then at me. He clearly hadn't expected things to escalate like this.
Honestly, neither had I. All I was doing was trying to stop a pervert from peeping…
"What the hell are you doing, Jiraiya-sensei?" Konan demanded sharply, her amber eyes narrowed angrily. She hovered protectively near me, keeping herself between us and Jiraiya. "Why are you attacking Blake-sama?"
"'Sama?'" Jiraiya repeated in disbelief, raising an eyebrow at Konan's unexpected tone of respect. "Who is this guy, really?"
Raven tensed visibly beside me at Jiraiya's suspicious tone, her fingers hovering near another set of talismans. I gently placed a hand on her shoulder, silently urging her to hold off. The last thing we needed now was even more fighting.
Konan ignored Raven's defensive stance, narrowing her eyes at Jiraiya coldly. Her voice remained calm but laced with a sharp, icy edge. "Blake-sama is someone extremely important to me." She paused deliberately, clearly emphasizing her next words. "He's also in a committed relationship with your old teammate Lady Tsunade and her apprentice, Shizune."
Jiraiya's jaw tightened at her words, but his expression gradually shifted from confusion to shock. "You're serious?" He shot me another incredulous look, like he was struggling to believe someone like me could actually pull that off. "Tsunade's actually dating this guy!?"
I smirked at him despite the pain in my leg.
"Yes, she is," Konan replied sharply, her tone frosty. "I've personally witnessed them together."
He hesitated again, clearly torn between pride and doubt. His shoulders slumped, and with a frustrated sigh. "Well, fuck…"
Konan quickly flicked her wrist, causing the hovering paper bombs to zip smoothly back toward her. They slid neatly up her long sleeves, vanishing completely. Under any other circumstances, I might've been curious about exactly where all those explosives had just gone, but right now my thigh was throbbing relentlessly, and blood was still dripping onto the wet stones.
Raven slipped my arm over her shoulder and helped me leap across the village towards the hospital. I don't remember what happened after that because I passed out from blood loss.
– Tsunade –
Tsunade was beyond pissed!
She had practically had a heart attack when Anbu Raven delivered Blake to the hospital, his thigh badly wounded and blood loss nearly critical. She and Shizune had just spent the past hour fixing him up and making sure his blood was replaced and his leg would be fine. Shizune agreed to stay at the hospital and watch Blake.
As for Tsunade, it was obvious where she was headed!
Her footsteps echoed loudly through the hallways as she reached the Hokage Tower. She didn't even bother knocking, simply kicking open the doors with enough force to slam them into the walls.
Inside, both Hiruzen and Jiraiya turned sharply toward her, startled. The Hokage sighed wearily, puffing on his pipe as if already bracing himself for the headache.
"Tsunade," he said, voice exhausted. "I trust you have a good reason for—"
"What the hell were you thinking?" Tsunade shouted, ignoring Hiruzen completely as she stomped up to Jiraiya, eyes blazing with fury. "You put Blake in the hospital, you reckless idiot!"
Jiraiya raised his hands defensively, his face a mix of guilt and irritation. "Look, Tsunade, I thought he was a spy! The kid sprouted four black wings out of nowhere—exactly the kind of twisted experiment Orochimaru would pull off! What was I supposed to think?"
"You're supposed to use your damn brain, Jiraiya!" Tsunade snapped. "Maybe ask questions before hurling fireballs and kunai around in a public bath!"
Jiraiya winced, clearly embarrassed at the reminder. He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, shifting his eyes. "Alright, alright, I made a mistake. The brat did mention something about you, but how was I supposed to believe—"
"He told you the truth," Tsunade said flatly, crossing her arms. "Blake Himejima isn't just some random civilian. He's my lover—and Shizune's as well."
Jiraiya's mouth dropped open, his face going blank with shock. "Wait—seriously? Tsunade, you're dating that guy?"
"Yes," Tsunade said sharply. "And I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself. Blake is a better man than you'll ever be."
Jiraiya blinked a few times, still visibly shaken by the revelation. He stammered, "Look, Tsunade, I figured the kid was just trying to piss me off earlier. But Konan even backed up his story—I didn't know what to think."
"That's exactly your problem," Tsunade retorted, her voice icy. "You never think. Konan's been a nervous wreck all morning, worried sick about how you'd react to seeing her again. Instead of meeting her like you promised in your letter, you prioritized spying on women in the bathhouse!"
That was just like him!
Jiraiya winced again, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Yeah, alright, that looks pretty bad—"
"You owe Blake and Konan an apology," Tsunade continued, her eyes blazing. "Both of them deserved better from you."
He hesitated, looking to Hiruzen for support, but the old Hokage merely shrugged, clearly unwilling to intervene.
"Tsunade…" Jiraiya began cautiously, changing his tone slightly. "I'll apologize to your boy-toy later, I promise. But you and Shizune? Really? Come on—after all we've been through?"
Tsunade's expression darkened dangerously. "Don't even start, Jiraiya. There was never any chance for us—especially with your habit of chasing every pretty girl who crosses your path. You really think I'd be interested in someone who's probably slept with half the continent?"
Jiraiya winced, scratching the back of his neck. "Okay, that's… a bit harsh."
"It's true," she snapped back flatly. "Just because I can cure most diseases doesn't mean I'd risk dealing with whatever exotic infections you're carrying around."
Hiruzen coughed awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable with where the conversation had gone. "Can we perhaps return to the main issue?"
Jiraiya ignored him, holding up his hands defensively. "Alright, alright, I get it. I screwed up. But seriously, Tsunade—this Blake guy—he's not even a ninja. What do you even see in him?"
Tsunade let out an irritated breath, her expression softening only slightly. "Not that it's any of your business, but Blake makes me genuinely happy. He's the reason I finally overcame my fear of blood, and I've even been cutting back on drinking. Hell, I'm debt-free because of him!"
There was an awkward cough from the Hokage, who quickly looked away as if hoping no one would address that particular topic further.
Jiraiya frowned, clearly at a loss for words. He finally sighed heavily, shaking his head. "Alright, fine… I get the picture."
Tsunade watched as Hiruzen took another slow puff from his pipe, his gaze thoughtful and tired. After a long moment, he glanced back up at her.
"Since I've got you here, Tsunade," Hiruzen began, his voice weary but hopeful, "have you reconsidered my offer from yesterday? Any thoughts on taking the position?"
Jiraiya's head snapped toward Tsunade, eyes wide with surprise. "Offer? What offer?"
Hiruzen gave a casual shrug, ignoring Jiraiya's confusion. "I asked her to become the Fifth Hokage. Considering Tsunade will be remaining in Konoha for the foreseeable future, I thought it was a suitable arrangement for everyone."
Jiraiya stared openly at Tsunade, his jaw slackening slightly. "Hold on a second—you actually agreed to stay? What'd you do this time that you're stuck here?"
Tsunade glanced away, slightly annoyed by the question. She hadn't intended to share the details openly yet, but she doubted Hiruzen would keep quiet now.
"She assassinated the richest man in the world," Hiruzen stated bluntly, waving his pipe casually as if discussing the weather. "Gato, specifically."
Jiraiya's mouth fell fully open, his eyes bulging slightly. For a moment he just stared at Tsunade, stunned. Then he suddenly burst into loud laughter, slapping his thigh. "You took down that piece of shit? Damn, Tsunade, what'd he do—cheat you out of a gambling debt?"
Tsunade glared at him. "Actually, I cleared all my debts, asshole. Gato was just a convenient bonus."
Hiruzen cleared his throat, clearly wishing to avoid further uncomfortable details. "So, Tsunade," he said gently, refocusing on the original topic. "Have you reconsidered my offer from yesterday?"
Tsunade sighed deeply, folding her arms over her large chest and staring hard at the old man.
She really didn't want to become Hokage, didn't want the endless paperwork, politics, or responsibility. But she couldn't ignore the obvious benefits either. Staying in the village meant Blake and Shizune would be safer.
Being Hokage meant even fewer idiots like Jiraiya would dare pick fights with them.
"I still don't particularly want the job," she admitted reluctantly, meeting Hiruzen's eyes. "But considering recent events, maybe it wouldn't hurt to take the position. It could keep the people I care about safer—especially if idiots like Jiraiya are running around attacking civilians."
Jiraiya scowled. "Hey, come on. I already said sorry—"
"Not yet, you didn't," Tsunade snapped sharply, glaring at him again.
Jiraiya wisely shut his mouth.
Hiruzen practically beamed, a rare smile spreading across his weathered face. The old man suddenly looked like someone had shaved a decade off his age. He stood straighter, eyes sparkling as he gave Tsunade an enthusiastic nod. "Wonderful! You've made an old man very happy today."
Jiraiya, however, stared at Tsunade suspiciously. "Wait, wait—hold on a second! Tsunade, Hokage? Really? Since when do you actually care enough about this place to take that job?"
Tsunade glared at him sharply. "Since I started having something worth protecting, Jiraiya. Unlike you, I actually value the people around me."
He flinched slightly, looking away with a bitter mutter. "Ouch, you're really going hard on me today, aren't you?"
"You put my lover in the hospital," Tsunade growled. "You deserve every bit of it."
Hiruzen coughed again, interrupting the brewing argument. "We'll announce the appointment to the village tomorrow, right before the Chunin Exams begin," he declared brightly. "It'll be a perfect show of strength for Konoha—changing Hokage at such an important moment will send a powerful message to our allies and enemies alike."
"Tomorrow?" Tsunade asked, slightly alarmed at the sudden rush. "Already?"
Hiruzen merely smiled, looking incredibly pleased with himself. "No reason to wait. It's the perfect way to kick off the Chunin Exams. Besides, this sort of bold move will remind everyone how strong the Leaf truly is."
– Blake –
I knew I was unconscious—blood loss will do that—but somehow my mind was fully awake. It was one of those dreams that felt way too clear to just be a dream.
If anything, it felt like some weird glimpse into the future, or maybe an alternate reality?
In this dream, I saw myself, but older, more powerful. I had no idea exactly how old I was, because fallen angel genetics made age pretty hard to judge. I could've been twenty or a thousand, who knew? But what really caught my attention was that this older version of me had twelve wings! That meant I'd reached the level of an Archangel!
But that wasn't even the craziest part. In front of this older me was a swirling blue portal, a tear in the fabric of reality. He casually stepped through it, and suddenly he was somewhere entirely different.
Worlds flashed by quickly, but vividly enough for me to take in every detail.
One moment, I was watching my older self glide peacefully over the Leaf Village, the people below waving and pointing in awe. In another, he soared above a futuristic city filled with towering skyscrapers, flying cars zooming past, and people walking around with metallic limbs and robotic enhancements. Seconds later, he emerged from another portal into a lush planet completely overtaken by dense jungle, inhabited by gigantic, alien-looking dinosaurs!
Each place was fascinating, unique, and completely real. I found myself desperately wanting to experience it all firsthand. If I could actually gain control of that blue portal power, I'd be unstoppable!
I could freely stay in Konoha with Tsunade, Shizune, and even Konan, and at the same time I could finally reunite with my best friend Peter from back home—and maybe even track down my sister, Akeno.
She had to be out there somewhere...
Was this strange portal ability the reason I ended up here in the first place? Was that kind of power hidden somewhere inside me, waiting to awaken?
I didn't know exactly where this dream or vision came from, or why it chose now of all times to appear, but I was thankful it did. If this was a glimpse of my own potential, I'd do whatever it took to reach it…
– Shizune –
Shizune stood quietly by Blake's bedside, carefully checking his vital signs again. She let out a soft breath of relief, grateful to see that the man she was quickly falling for was now stable. The bleeding had stopped, the color was returning to his face, and his breathing was steady and strong.
Glancing toward the other side of the bed, Shizune noticed Konan standing vigilantly beside Blake, her posture rigid and her expression fiercely protective. Anbu Raven stood silently a few feet away, her masked face unreadable.
Both had remained in the hospital room ever since they brought Blake and he passed out.
"Thank you both again," Shizune finally said softly, breaking the tense silence in the room. "I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't stepped in."
Konan's amber eyes softened slightly as she turned toward Shizune. "Of course. I'll do anything necessary to protect Blake-sama."
Shizune still wasn't entirely used to Konan's unwavering devotion to Blake. The foreign kunoichi's loyalty was reassuring, but sometimes it bordered on obsessive. Still, at least Konan clearly had Blake's best interests at heart.
She turned her attention to Raven, offering the Anbu operative a polite nod. "You can leave now, Raven-san. I appreciate what you've done, but it's no longer necessary for you to stay."
Raven hesitated slightly, seeming almost reluctant. "Actually, I'd prefer to stay a bit longer, if that's alright."
Shizune raised an eyebrow, confused and somewhat annoyed. "No offense, but Blake barely even knows you. There's really no reason for you to remain here."
Behind her mask, Raven seemed to tense slightly. "On the contrary," Raven replied softly, voice filled with quiet confidence. "Blake knows me far better than he knows either of you."
Shizune blinked, startled by Raven's bold claim.
A spike of irritation rose in her chest, and she narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the masked woman. Shizune knew Blake's true origins—that he'd arrived from another world entirely—so Raven's statement made no sense. Was this female Anbu operative really trying to make a move on their handsome boyfriend just after saving his life!?
"This sneaky bitch…" Shizune muttered under her breath, eyes narrowing sharply.
Konan immediately stepped closer to Shizune, visibly annoyed as well. The blue-haired kunoichi's expression darkened as she leveled a warning glare at Raven. "Explain yourself," Konan demanded icily. "Blake-sama has never mentioned knowing anyone from Konoha before arriving here."
Rather than backing down, Raven straightened her posture defiantly. She reached up and removed her Anbu mask—something she clearly wasn't supposed to do while on duty, but at this point, Raven didn't seem to care about regulations.
Shizune's eyes widened in shock, a startled gasp escaping her lips. The woman's face looked strikingly familiar. Raven had silky black hair and strikingly similar eyes, features that strongly resembled Blake himself. She looked like she could be his younger sister or something.
Did his sister end up in this world too?
But Blake had told them his sister was older. So that couldn't be it!
"Wait," Shizune stammered. "Who…who exactly are you? Why do you look so much like Blake."
Raven stared at her calmly, an undeniable sadness briefly flashing through those eyes. "My name is Shuri," she said softly. She glanced lovingly toward the unconscious Blake lying in the hospital bed. "And I'm Blake's mother."
That was not what Shizune was expecting to hear! "…Eh?"
XXX
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Here is the list of Current Advanced Chapters on there:
The Fallen Gamer ch 326-330
Thunder and Black Wings 18
The Fox Hole 76
A Systematic Tale: The Hero 4
The Fox Hole 75
The Fox Hole 74
The Blood Queen 42
A Systematic Tale: The Hero 3
The Fox Hole 74
A Systematic Tale: The Hero 2
A Systematic Tale: The Hero 1
Thunder and Black Wings 17
The Fox Hole 73
The Fox Hole 72
The Blood Queen 41
The Fox Hole 71