After his solitary training session, Ragnar made his way to a nearby stream. In the Land of Rain, at least water and food were plentiful. It was a stark contrast to what a war in the Land of Wind or Earth would be like—fighting over scraps in a desert or eating dirt. The Rain Country's tragic role as a buffer zone and battleground was, in a grim way, a testant to its own relative fertility.
He returned to the cave to find both Tsunade and Mikoto deep in the final stages of chakra restoration and healing. Three days had passed in this hidden sanctuary. With Tsunade's peerless dical ninjutsu at their disposal, both won were nearly back to full strength.
Ragnar entered without a word, not wanting to disturb their focus. He simply retrieved Yama, and in a now-familiar ritual, began using the demon blade as a skewer to grill the fish he'd caught over a small, controlled fla.
Soon, the rich, savory aroma of roasting fish filled the cave. It was an irresistible lure. Tsunade and Mikoto's eyes snapped open almost in unison, their stomachs giving traitorous growls.
"Eat," Ragnar said flatly, holding Yama out like a macabre serving platter.
The sight was absurd. Grilling fish on a legendary, sentient sword. Tsunade, by now, was utterly desensitized to Ragnar's peculiarities. Uchiha Mikoto, however, watched with wide, fascinated eyes.
"So good!" Tsunade declared, plucking a fish from the blade. She took a hearty bite, then grinned mischievously at Ragnar. "Any girl would be lucky to have you as a boyfriend, you know. A real catch."
"Heh." Ragnar's response was a non-committal grunt.
Such a cold face… who could stand it? Mikoto thought privately, glancing at his impassive mask. In her estimation, he was a boring, obsessive training fanatic with a towering ego. Then again, at his age and with his power, he'd earned the right to that ego.
"Mikoto," Tsunade continued, her tone deceptively casual as she snatched another fish. "You're not bad yourself. A few years older, but they say 'an older wife is a treasure,' right?"
"Pfft—!" Mikoto choked, a brilliant blush spreading across her cheeks. "L-Lady Tsunade, please don't joke like that!"
"Who's joking? I'm dead serious!" Tsunade leaned in, her expression turning mock-sagely. "Think about it. The relationship between Ragnar and the Uchiha is… tense. But if you two got together? Could be a bridge! A diplomatic marriage! Everyone's happy!"
Hearing this, Mikoto couldn't help but sneak another glance at Ragnar. Despite her ntal complaints, a treacherous, tiny spark of curiosity—and sothing else—flared in her chest for a mont.
But one look at him extinguished it. Ragnar's expression was utterly blank, as if their entire conversation was background noise, irrelevant static. He simply didn't engage.
Forget it. He's cold as a stone and married to his training. Probably destined to be alone, Mikoto concluded with an internal huff.
Unaware of her thoughts, Ragnar focused on Tsunade. "Your strength has mostly recovered."
"About eighty percent. Why? Big sister is trying to find you a wife here," Tsunade shot back, grinning.
"Tch. I'm too young for a wife," Ragnar stated dismissively. "When I'm standing at the top of the ninja world, any woman I want will co at my call. Right now, won are just a distraction. Trouble."
"..." Tsunade.
"..." Mikoto.
Both won felt a simultaneous, sharp stab to their pride. Could he be any more blunt? The implication that they, as won, were rely 'trouble' or 'distractions' to his goals was brutally frank.
"Fine, have it your way," Tsunade sighed, conceding. "Why ask about my recovery?"
"During your convalescence, I've been training. Made so progress. I need a sparring partner. Ideally, soone at the Kage level. I want to asure the gap."
"Kage level?!" Tsunade sputtered. "Do you think they grow on trees? You can't just go out and find one for a playdate!"
Uchiha Mikoto was stunned into deeper silence. While her peers were striving to beco chunin, Ragnar's benchmark was already the absolute pinnacle of shinobi power—the leaders of nations, the final arbiters of war. Beings like the Uchiha Clan Head, the Third Hokage, or Commander Hatake Sakumo. These were figures who had honed their power over decades, reaching their peak in middle age. Ragnar was just beginning his life, yet he was already operating on their level. The comparison was frankly disheartening.
"I don't have a Kage on hand," Tsunade admitted, crossing her arms. "But your big sister is one of Konoha's top jonin. I can handle anyone below Kage-level. You could call … quasi-Kage. I suppose I could humor you with a spar." Her tone was light, but a competitive fire burned in her eyes. She was a genius in her own right, and being so thoroughly outpaced by her 'little brother' stung her pride. She wanted to see the full extent of his power, to understand just how far he'd leaped ahead.
"Then I'll ask for Sister Tsunade's guidance," Ragnar said, accepting the offer.
"Lady Tsunade is going to spar with him?!" Mikoto's heart raced. This was a showdown she couldn't miss.
In a cleared area of the forest, two figures faced each other across twenty ters of rain-dampened earth.
"Tsunade, shall we begin?" Ragnar called out.
"Bring it on!" Tsunade's deanor shifted instantly. All teasing vanished, replaced by the focused intensity of a veteran combatant. She exploded forward, her speed belying her usual brawler style, closing the distance in a heartbeat.
Her fist, wrapped not in the green glow of the Strength of a Hundred but in pure, dense chakra enhancent, shot toward him.
Ragnar t it head-on. He didn't use Armant Haki, relying only on his own physical power and basic chakra reinforcent.
BANG!
A shockwave of air rippled out from the collision. Ragnar, holding back his true defenses, was forced back a step, his arm vibrating from the impact.
"Truly strong," he comnted, shaking out his wrist. The innate physical power of the Senju lineage, combined with Tsunade's perfected technique, was formidable.
"Ragnar!" Tsunade's voice was stern, her expression serious. "Use the power you used to kill those Iwa-nin. None of this holding back. Otherwise, I'll get angry."
The Tsunade in battle mode was a different person—commanding, intimidating, a force of nature.
"Alright. As you wish."
His posture shifted subtly. An aura, thick and palpable, began to emanate from him. The very atmosphere in the clearing grew heavy, stagnant. The grey sky seed to darken further, as if acknowledging the coming clash.
A light drizzle began to fall.
In the distance, under the cover of the trees, Uchiha Mikoto watched, barely daring to breathe, her Sharingan unconsciously activating to capture every detail of the impending duel.
(End of Chapter)
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