Chapter 302: Sakura Is Entangled, Why Is Riku And Tsunade Together

Riku didn’t want to take action himself unless absolutely necessary.

After Jiraiya and Sakura discovered the relationship between Riku and Tsunade, they didn’t make it public.

Since they had chosen to keep it hidden, they naturally had no intention of exposing it now.

Still, Jiraiya was deeply disappointed. He had always believed that, in the end, he might end up with Tsunade.

Even if he couldn’t be with her romantically, at the very least, he thought he could protect her for the rest of his life. But now, with Riku in the picture…

He felt that whether it was being with her or protecting her, he was no longer needed.

What’s more, those two would eventually have children.

Their future was already decided.

Jiraiya understood clearly—Tsunade didn’t need him to protect her anymore.

Sakura remembered that time when she had asked Riku if there was a girl he liked.

He had answered, “Sometimes.”

That person… was actually Tsunade. And judging by how he had acted, it was obvious the two had been together for quite some time already.

Looking back, the intimacy between them far surpassed what one would expect—even between teacher and student.

At the time, she had assumed it was because of their master-apprentice relationship, and that Tsunade paid such special attention to Riku due to his extraordinary talent in medical ninjutsu.

But now it was clear—back then, they had already been in a relationship.

No wonder Tsunade had taught Riku her most advanced medical ninjutsu, even though he had never formally become her disciple. She had even opened the Senju clan’s scroll archives to him… and even granted him access to the Hokage’s database.

Even she, Tsunade’s personal disciple, hadn’t been given that kind of access.

Back then, she had simply believed it was because Riku’s talent was unmatched, and that Tsunade was investing in a valuable subordinate.

Who could’ve imagined that the two were romantically involved?

Still, Sakura couldn’t understand it. Even though Tsunade’s body remained youthful thanks to the Strength of a Hundred Seal, the age gap between them was enormous.

She could understand how Tsunade might fall for Riku, given his strength and poise—but how had Riku fallen for Tsunade?

That’s what puzzled her the most.

Although Sakura had to admit that, in terms of figure and beauty, she couldn’t compare to Tsunade.

After all, Tsunade was widely considered the most beautiful woman in the ninja world. That reputation wasn’t for nothing.

But… she was older.

That alone made the whole relationship hard to understand.

Of course, it made sense that Sakura wouldn’t understand—Riku had used his Rinnegan to completely halt Tsunade’s physical aging, locking her body in her twenties. No one else knew that.

As a result, every time Sakura was sent out on a mission lately, she felt awkward whenever she saw Riku and Tsunade together in the Hokage’s office.

One was her teammate—someone she viewed like an older brother.

The other was her teacher.

Now, Tsunade was the Hokage, and Riku was her personal guard. Both held high positions in the village.

Every time she saw them together, Sakura felt uncomfortable.

After all, she had once confessed her feelings to Riku.

And every time she saw Ino so passionately chasing after him, Sakura couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.

Ino had no idea that Riku already had someone he cared about.

And that person… was the Hokage herself.

Still, both Riku and Tsunade remained calm.

They behaved the same as always.

Aside from Sakura and Jiraiya, no one else seemed to notice anything unusual.

Or rather—whenever they were alone in the Hokage’s office, the two rarely did anything that betrayed their relationship.

That kind of behavior was reserved for after hours.

Few people in Konoha knew about Ōtsutsuki Urashiki.

The village leaders understood that news of a true Ōtsutsuki could cause widespread panic.