Chapter 180

The modesty and politeness shown by Ryosuke made the defenses in Tsunade's heart relax slightly.

If it were not sincere, given Ryosuke Mizunuki's status and identity, there would be absolutely no need to flatter Hashirama Senju.

It could be seen that Ryosuke Mizunuki truly held awe for the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju.

That everything the predecessors did could be recognized by the Shadow of a hostile ninja village also made a hint of pride appear faintly in Tsunade's heart, and her gaze toward Ryosuke became softer.

But some things could not be avoided after all; there had to be a reasonable explanation.

Regarding this, Ryosuke did not intend to hide anything, but slowly began to speak.

"You may not be aware, but two years ago, the Hidden Mist experienced a violent internal upheaval, and it was also at that time that I succeeded as the Water Shadow."

"During that upheaval, the Mist Anbu Commander rebelled, the Third Water Shadow was killed in action, and the Hidden Mist's high-level combat power was more than half depleted; the Hidden Mist was almost unable to recover."

Ryosuke Mizunuki said slowly, his expression very calm, as if he did not realize at all that what he was saying was absolutely a secret in the ninja world.

In fact, due to the desperate concealment by the high-level officials of the Hidden Mist, other ninja villages in the ninja world only generally knew that the upheaval had occurred, and did not know what price the Hidden Mist had paid in the process.

Perhaps only the high-level officials of the five great ninja villages could learn of this through unique intelligence channels.

And at this moment, Ryosuke revealed the inside story of the Hidden Mist's upheaval without any concealment, which made Tsunade's expression slightly startled.

Tsunade was somewhat surprised, not knowing why Ryosuke Mizunuki wanted to talk about this, and at the same time was somewhat at a loss that Ryosuke had suddenly leaked the secrets of the Hidden Mist's high-level officials.

But little did she know, what Ryosuke Mizunuki was about to say next was the real "secret."

"About a month ago, an extremely dangerous existence was unearthed within the Hidden Mist."

"This person had been hiding within the Hidden Mist for years, causing destruction to the Hidden Mist from the shadows."

"After investigation, I discovered that whether it was the death of the Third Water Shadow or the rebellion of the Mist Anbu Commander, both were the result of this person manipulating things from behind the scenes."

"And I suspect that the rebellion of the previous Mist Anbu Commander was also the work of this person behind the scenes."

Once Ryosuke said this, Tsunade's face was full of bewilderment.

Such top-secret intelligence was absolutely the deepest secret within a village; how could Ryosuke Mizunuki just reveal it to her like this?

Was Ryosuke not afraid that she would leak this intelligence?

The value of this intelligence was enough for Konoha to launch an S-rank mission alone to obtain it.

"But this person was much more cunning than I imagined; when I set out to capture him,"

"he had already escaped a step ahead."

"According to my intelligence, this person is now hiding within the Land of Rain."

Ryosuke Mizunuki said again, his expression very serious.

At this point, Tsunade already understood that the reason Ryosuke Mizunuki told her these things was to explain why he appeared in the Hidden Rain Village.

In this way, Tsunade suddenly saw the light.

"No wonder he, as the Water Shadow, would appear in an underground intelligence agency; so that's it..."

"I suppose it must be to obtain intelligence on that 'rogue ninja'."

Tsunade said to herself in her heart, recalling everything that happened between the two at the casino; through Ryosuke Mizunuki's description, she had automatically cast the character Ryosuke was chasing as a "rogue ninja" of the Hidden Mist.

Little did she know, the "rogue ninja" Ryosuke spoke of had a background so large it was unimaginable.

In fact, Ryosuke was not lying, just "embellishing" some key parts; he had never admitted that he was chasing a rogue ninja of the Hidden Mist; everything was Tsunade's own preconceived notion.

The direct cause of Taki Mizunuki's death was Yagura Karatachi's rebellion, while the indirect cause was Yagura Karatachi being secretly controlled by Madara Uchiha using genjutsu.

And Black Zetsu itself had the identity of Madara Uchiha's "conscious incarnation," which corresponded exactly to Ryosuke's words, didn't it?

One of the reasons he personally rushed to the Land of Water was indeed to track down Black Zetsu.

"You tell me these, aren't you afraid..."

Tsunade was somewhat hesitant, because the price paid for Ryosuke Mizunuki's explanation was somewhat too heavy.

These intelligence reports involved absolute secrets of the Hidden Mist, which could not be considered unimportant.

"Not afraid."

"Because you wouldn't."

Ryosuke Mizunuki looked at Tsunade opposite him with burning eyes; at this moment, in Ryosuke's eyes, she only saw trust and gentleness.

"I also trust you."

Although this was just a lighthearted sentence, Tsunade could never bring herself to say it.

"I..."

At this instant, Tsunade's heart was almost overwhelmed by guilt; she opened her mouth, but in the end, she still could not say the words in her throat.

Regarding this, Ryosuke did not pay too much attention, just smiled nonchalantly.

"I think you have guessed the rest; in order to obtain intelligence on this person, I went to the underground intelligence agency of the Hidden Rain Village."

"After failing to obtain intelligence at the underground intelligence agency, I used my technique, 'Demonic Mirror Illusion'."

"I infiltrated Hanzo of the Salamander's residence again, intending to obtain the intelligence I wanted at Hanzo's residence."

"As a result, I encountered your battle with the Hidden Rain ninjas."

Ryosuke Mizunuki finished telling the whole story in one breath; the content inside was all real and existed, and there was not the slightest lie.

It was just that on some matters, Ryosuke had hidden a little, glossing over them with a brush of spring and autumn.

For example, the cooperation he reached with Hanzo, and for example, the existence of Nagato and the Rinnegan...

Of course, everything Ryosuke Mizunuki said on the surface was true facts, and there was not the slightest fabrication.

"Then why..."

"would you save me?"

Going around in circles, everything returned to the starting point; Tsunade asked again with a complex and uneasy mood.

"Because you are the princess of the Senju clan and the disciple of the Third Hokage."

"Once you die in the Hidden Rain Village, it will inevitably set off a new round of war in the ninja world."

"As the Fourth Water Shadow, I cannot sit idly by and watch such a result occur."

"Most importantly, because you are..."

"Tsunade Senju! Princess Tsunade with brilliant charm!"

"Even if I strip away your identity, I would never sit idly by and watch you die before my eyes."

Ryosuke Mizunuki said righteously, and the information contained in his words made Tsunade completely at a loss.

"I... I... I..."

Ryosuke Mizunuki's words suddenly turned Tsunade into a little stutterer, and she couldn't say a word for a long time.

This man's words were tantamount to telling Tsunade directly: I saved you because it was you.

At the same time, the deep meaning hidden in these words made the pure-hearted Tsunade in her youth unable to cope.

Her originally tense face became soft again, and an imperceptible shyness had already climbed onto her brows, and her fair cheeks were once again faintly radiating blood color.

"If you want to ask me why."

"I can only answer, perhaps it was just because I took one more look at you in the casino at that time."

Finally, Ryosuke added a finishing blow.

The gentle tone, combined with Ryosuke Mizunuki's handsome face and charming smile, made the power of this "finishing blow" reach the "MAX" level directly.

"Ugh..."

Tsunade's cheeks turned red instantly, and she followed the choice that humans instinctively make when facing such events—avoidance.

"I'm going to pick mushrooms outside!"

After leaving an inexplicable sentence, Tsunade suddenly stood up and ran toward the outside of the tree fortress; her somewhat embarrassed figure looked like a frightened little white rabbit.

Looking at Tsunade, who had turned into a "mushroom-picking girl," Ryosuke did not choose to "press the attack," but chose to sit in place and watch Tsunade leave.