'He changed again…'
Tsunade watched Li Shang's blue eyes intently — the silver glow subtly spun within them, as if an entire sky was trapped there. For an instant, she forgot the reason for the meeting. The energy emanating from him was not just calm — it was imposing, as if that young man carried centuries of experience disguised in an adolescent body.
"Hokage-sama?"
Li Shang's firm voice brought her back to reality. Tsunade coughed, trying to hide her slight embarrassment. "Cough… cough… Right, back to the matter at hand. What's your explanation?"
"What do you mean?" Li Shang replied naturally, his face serene. "I already said everything in the report."
"Don't play smart with me, boy." Tsunade slammed the table, the sound echoing through the room. The wood cracked slightly under the force of the impact. "You disappeared in the middle of a diplomatic mission, separated from the team, and came back with an energy that even the sensors couldn't identify. Don't tell me you were just strolling around."
Li Shang's gaze changed. Serenity gave way to something deeper, enigmatic. "You want to know the truth?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. His tone was different — more mature, almost dangerous. "So you admit you omitted information in your report?"
Li Shang looked around the room, slowly, his eyes glinting. For a brief moment, the isolation seals engraved on the walls trembled, reacting to his presence. "Even with all these seals, there are still many eyes and ears here."
The air grew heavy. "Leave." Tsunade ordered.
The four ANBU of the Hokage's personal guard materialized from the shadows, their presences sharp as blades. One of them stepped forward. "Hokage-sama, I don't think this is appropriate. He is—"
"Is what?" Tsunade's voice cut through the air like ice. "Are you saying that I, Tsunade Senju, am in danger before a boy?"
The tension that settled was almost palpable. The ANBU hesitated. None of them dared to answer. Tsunade stood up completely, her golden eyes flashing. "I said leave."
"But Hokage-sama—"
"Leave."
Her chakra briefly exploded, a wave of power that made the four instinctively retreat. "Sorry, Hokage-sama."
In sync, the ANBU bowed and disappeared amidst a swirl of leaves.
Silence returned. Tsunade crossed her arms, her gaze returning to Li Shang. "Done. It's just us two. Now speak."
Li Shang took a deep breath, as if weighing his words before opening his mouth.
"I just needed privacy for an advancement."
Li Shang replied with a calm, unhurried voice, leaving no room for doubt — but also offering no details. He clasped his hands behind his back and added, in a light tone: "Nothing that harms the village. In fact, quite the opposite. Since I live here… and I like this place, I intend to keep it safe."
Tsunade stared at him in silence for a moment, her eyes narrowed. "That doesn't say anything…"
The Hokage took a step forward. The air around her changed — the pressure of chakra emanating was almost physical, heavy, like a rising wall. "You young people think you're special. You think you can do whatever you want. You don't obey hierarchy, you don't know limits."
With each word, the floor beneath Li Shang's feet seemed to vibrate. The wood creaked. The windows trembled. She didn't yell, but the firm tone, laden with power, was enough to intimidate any ordinary ninja.
Li Shang, however, didn't move. He just watched her with a small smile at the corner of his lips — not of defiance, but of genuine amusement. 'Does she really think she can pressure me with this?'
He took a step forward. Tsunade's chakra tried to envelop him like an invisible current, but it was repelled. The energy around Li Shang naturally adjusted, flowing in soft waves of blue-silver color.
"Tsunade…" His tone changed — soft, but with a weight that made her hesitate for an instant.
Li Shang leaned slightly forward, reducing the distance between them. His intense blue eyes fixed on hers with disconcerting clarity. The smile that was once just amused now had a touch of provocation.
"I told you once…" He murmured, his voice low, almost intimate. "Having a beautiful woman like you so close is difficult for a young man like me."
Tsunade blinked, surprised. The air between them grew dense — but this time, for a different reason. The anger pulsing in her chakra wavered for an instant, as if it had been cut by the audacity of those words.
She took half a step back, her face flushing slightly before she could compose herself. "Insolent boy…" she murmured, averting her gaze.
Li Shang straightened his posture, the discreet smile returning to his lips. "I just told the truth, Hokage-sama."
Tsunade took a deep breath, trying to compose herself, but her heart was still racing. 'Why can this brat disarm me with so little?'
"Really, I needed privacy, and since I knew the mission was already concluded, I chose to step away and take the opportunity."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes, disbelieving. "What do you mean by advancement? Are you talking about completing some jutsu? I see something in you has changed… does it have to do with your dōjutsu?"
Li Shang thought for a moment before answering. His gaze remained calm, but there was a subtle glint in his blue eyes — a flash of something she couldn't decipher. "Let's say it could be that… a jutsu. And, after the advancement in this technique, my dōjutsu also improved. Satisfied?"
Tsunade crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. "How can I be satisfied if you explain nothing?" She moved closer, her expression carrying both irritation and genuine curiosity. "Your answers only increase my questions. If you can improve your dōjutsu alone, does that mean the Hyūga clan discovered some powerful technique? Is that why they protect you so much?"
Li Shang let out a light laugh, but his sharp gaze didn't lose focus. 'She's worried about the balance of power in the village… about the possibility of a new revolt like the Uchiha's.'
"You can rest assured." He spoke in a serene, almost reassuring tone. "Only I know how to evolve my dōjutsu. The simple fact that it changed has already caused a commotion within the clan. That's why they protect me so much."
His words carried a weight that made Tsunade clench her fists. She studied him intently, but couldn't read any lies in his expression. "What kind of miraculous technique is this? And where did you get it?"
Tsunade leaned slightly over the table, her voice oscillating between authority and fascination. It was rare to see her so curious, almost enthusiastic.
Li Shang held her gaze for a long moment before smiling — an enigmatic, almost provocative smile. "I remember saying once…"
He took a step forward, approaching until the distance between them became uncomfortably short. "…that I could tell all my secrets to a person with whom I had a deep relationship."
Tsunade froze for an instant. The words echoed in the room like a calculated provocation. Her heart beat faster, and for a brief moment the air seemed thin.
"Are you provoking me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, trying to maintain her composure.
Li Shang tilted his head, the smile still present, but now more subtle. "Depends… are you interested?"
The silence that followed was too charged to be casual. Tsunade averted her gaze, trying to hide the slight blush that rose on her cheeks. "You really know how to test the limits of my patience…"
Li Shang just chuckled softly, returning to his relaxed posture. "And you, Hokage-sama, know how to test the limits of my resistance."
For an instant, the two just stared at each other — power against mystery, authority against confidence. And when Li Shang finally turned to leave, Tsunade realized that, even without having extracted answers, he had won once again.
"Insolent boy…" she murmured softly, with a slight smile, as the sound of his footsteps faded down the corridor.