The Titan Curse: A Shinobi’s Reign

Chapter 25 – The First Step Into Darkness

The scent of blood still lingered in the air long after the battle had ended. Tsunade stood amidst the fallen, breathing heavily, her fists still clenched. The rogue shinobi were dead. All of them.

She had killed before—many times. As a Sannin, as a warrior, as a woman who had lost too much to ever hesitate when battle came.

But this time was different.

This time, she wasn't fighting for Konoha.

She was fighting for something else.

The watching soldiers had started murmuring among themselves, no longer looking at her with doubt. They saw her as one of them now.

Kurozan's approval was evident in the slight smirk playing on his lips as he approached. "I knew you wouldn't disappoint."

Tsunade wiped the blood from her knuckles, her golden eyes sharp as she met his gaze. "You sent me out here as a test."

"And you passed." He gestured toward the battlefield. "Your strength speaks for itself, but now they've seen it firsthand. They trust power, Tsunade. Now, they trust you."

She exhaled. She hadn't agreed to any of this yet, but the deeper she went, the harder it was to walk away.

"Was this necessary?" she asked, scanning the bodies.

Kurozan's smirk faded. "They were spies for Konoha."

Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "You're sure?"

Kurozan's expression darkened. "Do you doubt me?"

She didn't answer. Not immediately.

Because deep down, she knew the truth.

Konoha would never stop watching.

---

Later that night, Tsunade sat by the fire, silent, deep in thought.

The camp was quieter than usual, warriors watching her from the shadows but keeping their distance.

She wasn't one of them yet.

But she was no longer an outsider either.

She heard the familiar sound of footsteps behind her. She didn't need to turn to know it was Kurozan.

"You're thinking too much," he said.

Tsunade scoffed. "And you don't think at all?"

Kurozan chuckled. "I think plenty. I just don't hesitate."

Tsunade looked at him then, studying the man who had pulled her into this world. His expression was calm, but there was something deeper behind it.

Something she still couldn't fully read.

"You say you want to reshape the world," she murmured. "But what if the world refuses to change?"

Kurozan met her gaze, unshaken. "Then I will break it."

Silence settled between them.

And for the first time, Tsunade wondered—was she willing to help him do it?

Because the more time she spent by his side…

The more the answer started to feel like 'yes.'

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