Naruto: Marrying Tsunade

Chapter 10 - Dinner Party

Tsunade narrowed her eyes at the shameless figure trailing behind her, her expression filled with disdain.

"Why are you following me?" she asked, crossing her arms.

Jiraiya huffed indignantly. "That's a hell of a thing to say. I was here first. You're the latecomer."

He was, of course, referring to Aokiji, their mutual acquaintance.

Tsunade scoffed. "You really are insufferable, aren't you?"

Jiraiya flinched at her sharp glare and quickly ducked behind Aokiji, using him as a shield. His attempt to act casual was betrayed by the nervous twitch of his shoulders, clearly still wary of another beating from her.

Aokiji sighed, shaking his head at Jiraiya's antics. It was obvious that if he just stopped provoking Tsunade, she wouldn't bother with him. But Jiraiya was too stubborn—or perhaps too stupid—to take the easy way out. No wonder, in the original timeline, he could never win her over.

"Wait here," Aokiji said, stepping toward the kitchen. "I'll go make dinner."

With that, he left Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru sitting together in the living room. An awkward silence settled over them.

Although they were in the same class, they rarely spent time together outside of training. Their only connection in this situation was Aokiji, the one bringing them together. Without him, none of them would have voluntarily chosen to gather like this.

Tsunade tapped her fingers against the table impatiently. Jiraiya leaned back in his chair, stealing glances at Orochimaru, who, as usual, remained composed and indifferent.

Luckily, Aokiji returned before the awkwardness became unbearable.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "You're done already?"

"Of course not," Aokiji replied, rolling his shoulders. "The dish needs to cook on high heat for about fifteen minutes. I just came back to take a break."

Tsunade tilted her head slightly. "You usually cook for yourself?"

Aokiji shrugged. "Who else would do it? I'm on my own. Eating out is expensive."

His words were casual, but there was an undeniable weight behind them. After his grandmother passed away, she had left him a significant inheritance. Rather than squandering it, Aokiji planned to use the money to start a business after graduation. He knew better than to rely on the unpredictable nature of a ninja's life.

Becoming a ninja was like joining an underworld syndicate. Once you stepped in, getting out was nearly impossible.

The village required total obedience from its shinobi. If a ninja refused a mission or attempted to retire early, they risked being labeled a deserter. At worst, they could even be branded a traitor.

This wasn't paranoia on Aokiji's part. He understood how the system worked. Once a ninja became strong enough, they inevitably gained access to village secrets. And Konoha, like any powerful organization, would never allow valuable assets to walk away freely.

That was why Aokiji had a plan. He intended to lay low, blend in, and avoid attracting attention until he turned sixteen. That was the ideal age—when the body reached its physical peak and could no longer be held back by age-related disadvantages.

He had even analyzed the chakra progression of notable figures in the original timeline, comparing them across different stages:

Naruto: 8/8/10

Sasuke: 4/6/7

Sakura: 2/3/5

From this, he concluded that chakra development followed a pattern similar to height—initial rapid growth, followed by slower gains. Beyond a certain age, without external intervention, improvement would plateau.

With this knowledge, Aokiji decided to wait until he was fully developed before stepping into the ninja world. There was no point in rushing into danger unprepared.

Fifteen minutes passed in the blink of an eye.

Aokiji emerged from the kitchen carrying a large, steaming bowl of pickled fish. The aroma filled the room instantly, making everyone's stomachs growl in anticipation. He set the dish on the table, its vibrant colors glistening under the light.

Jiraiya wasted no time. "I'm digging in!"

He grabbed a piece of fish, popped it into his mouth, and let out a blissful sigh as he chewed. "Damn, this is amazing!"

Tsunade and Orochimaru followed suit. The moment the fish touched their tongues, their expressions softened in appreciation. The flavor was perfectly balanced—rich, slightly spicy, and full of depth.

Before long, the dish was devoured, leaving only bones and satisfied sighs in its wake.

Tsunade, despite being the only girl, had eaten the most. She wasn't ashamed of her appetite. After all, it was no mystery how she had transformed from a scrawny eleven-year-old into a woman who could make heads turn in just a few years.

Jiraiya leaned back, rubbing his stomach contentedly. He let out a loud burp before grinning at Aokiji. "Man, you're wasted as a ninja. With skills like this, you should open a restaurant!"

Aokiji chuckled. "Funny you say that. That's actually my plan. Once I graduate, I want to open my own place."

Tsunade, who had been reaching for another piece of fish, froze mid-motion.

"You're not serious, are you?"

Tsunade put down her chopsticks, her amber eyes narrowing as she studied the boy across from her.

Aokiji, sitting lazily with one hand supporting his cheek, looked entirely unbothered by her reaction. He was calm, detached, and utterly indifferent.

Tsunade, on the other hand, was baffled.

Becoming a ninja was an honor—one of the highest callings in the village. It was a profession of prestige, of duty, of purpose. Even children too young to wield a kunai dreamed of becoming one, yet not all were given the opportunity.

The admission requirements for the Ninja Academy were strict, and every year, countless hopefuls were turned away.

And yet, Aokiji, who hailed from the Uchiha clan—the most esteemed family in Konoha, gifted with talent and an enviable lineage—was telling her he had no interest in being a ninja.

To Tsunade, it was unthinkable. A waste of potential.

"You don't actually believe what you're saying," she said, her voice firm despite her young age. "You're just messing with me, right?"

Aokiji, as if reading her thoughts, exhaled lightly and leaned back. He took a moment to organize his words before replying.

"I have no interest in becoming a ninja," he stated plainly. "If my family hadn't forced me into it, I wouldn't have even stepped foot in the Academy."

Tsunade frowned. "Then what is it you want to do?"

Aokiji didn't answer immediately. Instead, he rubbed his fingers together in a familiar motion, mimicking the act of counting money.

Tsunade blinked. "Money?"

"That's right. Money is the only thing I truly care about."

Tsunade scoffed, unable to hide her disdain. "That's shallow."

Aokiji remained unaffected.

"The honor of a ninja can't be measured in money," Tsunade continued, crossing her arms.

At that, Aokiji let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "You've been brainwashed."

Tsunade scowled. "Excuse me?"

"Then tell me, how do you measure a ninja's honor?"

Tsunade didn't hesitate. "A ninja's honor is priceless."

Aokiji smirked. "A treasure that can't be valued is a treasure without value."

His tone wasn't mocking, but rather filled with an odd sense of certainty, as if he had thought about this deeply. He met Tsunade's eyes and, for the first time in their conversation, spoke with complete seriousness.

"Do you know what the most tragic thing in this world is?"

Tsunade frowned. "What?"

"I make money, but I lose my wife. Then my wife takes my money and runs away with another man."

Tsunade was dumbfounded. "What—?"

Aokiji continued before she could fully process what he'd just said.

"My goal in life is to have two wives and live comfortably surrounded by beautiful women." He spoke as if this was the most natural ambition in the world. "The income of a ninja is good, sure. It's enough to support two wives and still have plenty left over to enjoy life."

Tsunade's jaw clenched.

"But," Aokiji raised a finger, emphasizing his next words, "I have to be alive to spend it. And ninja? It's a high-risk job. Any day could be my last. And when I die, my wife—who I worked so hard to support—will take my money and shack up with some other man."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone deadly serious. "If that happens, I'll die full of regret."

A sudden passion ignited in Aokiji's voice as he clenched his fist and declared, "So screw that. If someone else wants to throw their life away, fine. But me? I refuse to be beaten to death for this so-called honor."

Tsunade stared at him, utterly speechless.

She had met all kinds of people in the Academy—overconfident ones, battle-hungry ones, even the ones who whined about training. But Aokiji?

Aokiji was something else.

The logic, the reasoning, the sheer conviction behind his words… It was ridiculous. Completely and utterly ridiculous.

Yet, it was clear he wasn't joking.

"…You're a pervert."

Aokiji arched an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?"

Tsunade pointed an accusing finger at him. "You've been planning to have two wives since you were a kid?! That just makes you a big pervert!"

Aokiji chuckled. "Well, at least you're getting to know me better."

In truth, he didn't mind being seen as a hopeless scoundrel. Sometimes, leaning into a bad reputation was easier than trying to fight it. Besides, in a way, this image worked to his advantage—it let him get closer to Tsunade without her putting up too many walls.

At that moment, Jiraiya, who had been silently observing the exchange, suddenly nodded in agreement.

"A man marrying two wives? That's just wrong."

For a brief moment, Tsunade felt a flicker of respect toward him.

Despite his usual antics, Jiraiya still had some standards. Perhaps she had misjudged him all this time.

Then, in the next breath, Jiraiya added, "A real man should have at least seven wives—one for every day of the week!"

The flicker of respect vanished in an instant.

A dark aura surrounded Tsunade as she clenched her fists. Without a second thought, she swung her hand forward, sending Jiraiya flying across the room.

Jiraiya groaned, clutching his face. "Why me?! Aokiji's the one who said it first!"

"Shut up," Tsunade seethed, glaring at him like a predator eyeing its next meal.

Jiraiya opened his mouth to protest but was immediately cut off.

"Men are all pigs," Tsunade muttered, groaning in frustration as she stormed out of the house.

Aokiji watched her go, then casually leaned back, unfazed by the chaos.

"The way I see it, being a ninja is just a job—a means to make money. And honestly?" He shrugged. "I think I can make just as much, if not more, running a business. So why risk my life?"

Orochimaru, who had been listening quietly, suddenly chuckled.

"Aokiji-kun, your way of thinking is… quite interesting."

Aokiji glanced at him.

Unlike Tsunade, Orochimaru didn't seem offended by his words. In fact, there was a glint of understanding in his golden eyes.

Losing one's life for something as intangible as honor? Orochimaru had little patience for such things. His parents had died as ninja, and their honor hadn't saved them. In the end, being a shinobi was just a way to make a living. Once you were dead, what did it matter?

"Hello."

A voice suddenly interrupted their conversation.

Aokiji turned his head, only to find Tsunade standing at the doorway.

He blinked. "You're back?"

Tsunade crossed her arms. "I owe you a meal. I'm paying you back."

Before Aokiji could respond, she was already gone.

Later that evening, he arrived at her house, expecting a decent meal.

What he did not expect was the ominous, dark mass sitting in front of him, exuding an otherworldly aura.

Tsunade, dressed in an apron, stood proudly with her hands on her hips, looking like a smug little rooster.

"Be grateful. I made this especially for you."

Aokiji stared at the so-called "black mater" in silence. His mouth twitched.

"What did I do to make you want to kill me…?"