In the end, the Sand Village signed the ceasefire—primarily due to sheer military disadvantage. The loss of several jinchūriki and over a dozen jonin, coupled with the defection of Yagura's elite team, only compounded the hardships of an already struggling village.
Yet for Tsunade, Orochimaru, Uchiha Some, and the other Konoha ninjas who had participated on the Sand Village front, their return was met with extraordinary honor and recognition.
The mission had taken remarkably little time. Within days, the trio had resolved the conflict with the Sand Village, leaving them with enough energy and resources to address tensions with the other two nations.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, confident that Jiraiya and Fourth Mizukage Minato could hold the two fronts temporarily, granted them a two-day reprieve—though strategically, it was more about reallocating supplies than leisure.
No sooner had Uchiha Some returned to the village than Akabane Kurenai—Red—invited him out for a private excursion.
What Red didn't anticipate, however, was that Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin, would barge into their long-awaited outing without asking, inserting herself into what was meant to be a quiet, intimate moment.
"Tsunade-sama!!!" Red pouted, her little indignation both adorable and surprisingly soft in tone, unlike her usual voice.
"Hahaha, Red, don't make that grumpy fish face! I know you like Some very much," Tsunade said, her laughter warm and teasing. "I'm not here to ruin your time together—just to join you!"
Red blinked, utterly confused.
"T-Tsunade-sama… what do you mean, 'join us'?"
Her mind seemed to short-circuit. Tsunade, one of the Sannin, nearly twenty years older than them, was saying… things that sounded utterly outrageous!
"Haha, Red, you're still too young to understand. Someday, maybe three or four years from now, you'll realize that a single person's strength is limited. That's why we need teamwork, cooperation!" Tsunade said, wrapping Red gently in an arm around her shoulder.
Honestly, Tsunade secretly hoped Uchiha Some would eventually gather a few more little sisters to care for—she simply couldn't keep up alone. Every time she stoked the flames of desire, the inferno seemed impossible to tame. She understood now that for the sake of survival, this was no longer a battle she could fight alone.
To Tsunade, the promise of eternal life and unending youth was undeniably alluring. And Some's unique personality made it possible for her to tolerate him developing bonds with others.
What she didn't realize was that this was largely thanks to the influence of the Kinjutsu Orb. Every evolution Some underwent amplified his natural charisma and allure. The more he grew through the orb, the harder it became for others—especially women—to resist him.
It was like a cultivator reaching across worlds: he existed in a realm entirely different from theirs, yet one's brief lifetime could never escape his gravity. And Red was no exception. She could feel the difference in Tsunade's emotions toward Some, but as his childhood friend, she stood tall and spoke with courage:
"This is the one thing I won't lose to you, Tsunade-sama. Even with you here, Some-kun is still my favorite!"
Red immediately buried herself in Some's arms. "Some-kun… you love me the most, right?"
"Is this the power of the Kinjutsu Orb?" Some mused silently. Previously, Red had been fond of him, yes, but nothing like this intensity. Perhaps the orb was now manifesting Some's desires.
Holding Red gently, Some glanced at Tsunade with a helpless smile. Seeing the same playful expression on her face, he reassured Red with tender firmness:
"That's right. No matter what, no matter how I change or what I become, my favorite will always be you."
Some's words were unwavering, his devotion absolute. Unlike the past, when he had only adored Red, now he extended that affection equally to all his little sisters—cherishing each without neglect or preference.
Red noticed the subtle shift in Tsunade, a recognition that she had taken the lead in some matters, and teased:
"Tsunade-sama, you're shameless! Running ahead just because of your age—how embarrassing!"
Then, turning shyly to Some, she whispered, "Some-kun, when will it be my turn? I want to be with you the most. Auntie next door says that if we sleep in the same bed, I'll become your wife~"
Red, though now a young woman, remained innocent, believing the concept of marriage simply meant sleeping together, completely unaware of the deeper bond Some already shared with Tsunade.
Some and Tsunade, in turn, had experienced moments too addictive, too captivating to abandon. For reasons neither could fully explain, Tsunade often recalled even the smallest moments with Some—his youthful energy, his presence, his vitality.
"Alright, alright, Red. You are absolutely the one Some loves the most. No one else could ever replace you," Tsunade said, joining them and embracing both Some and Red.
Red, intoxicated by the warmth and closeness, thought to herself: So this must be what a mother's embrace feels like…
The evening breeze of Konoha was alive with youth and vitality as the three enjoyed their outing, the sun slipping into night.
After escorting Red safely home, the trio lingered, reluctant to part. Red's eyes glimmered, reminiscent of the day she had tearfully watched her father depart for the Kumo battlefield.
"Tsunade-sama, you'll make sure Some-kun comes back safely, right?"
"You silly girl. Some-kun has activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and mastered space-time. No one can harm him. And if you miss him, he'll visit often!" Tsunade reassured, smiling gently.
"No!" Red's tone was resolute. She looked at Some and continued: "Some-kun and Tsunade-sama must stay focused at the front lines. Don't let me distract you. I'll train hard here and wait for my father, Some-kun, and Tsunade-sama to return!"
Red's maturity and thoughtfulness impressed both Some and Tsunade, prompting them to ruffle her hair repeatedly. A strong, determined girl—or perhaps that's simply the way of a ninja.
Once Red was safely home, Tsunade took Some to Miki-Tei for drinks. The choice of venue was deliberate: excellent sake, fine tea, and impeccable service.