Chapter 130: Let You Witness an Old Lady’s Speed!
Clink.
Inside the yakiniku shop, the sound of sake cups meeting felt unexpectedly harmonious. After Tsunade agreed to return to the village, Hakken held Kurama up and had it clink cups with her. Neither side could really say who owed whom. The matters of their ancestors could wait.
Kurama had thought it over. Picking on someone's descendants wasn't exactly something to brag about. With one last clink, both downed their drinks. That settled things.
From here on, they were all Konoha people. They could talk things out. They were still friends. As for giving face, it had already given that to Hakken Yoru.
How Kurama and Tsunade got along from now on would depend on sincerity and fate.
Once everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, the yakiniku shop owner finally breathed a sigh of relief and announced closing time.
They stepped out into the street. The town wasn’t especially beautiful at night, but its quiet countryside charm was pleasant in its own way.
“Lady Tsunade, are you really planning to return to Konoha?”
Walking toward the inn, Shizune—following behind the group—asked in a hushed voice.
“Well, I’ve been away long enough. I’ll go back and take a look.”
Tsunade stretched lazily, her impressive figure outshining the weak glow of the nearby streetlamp.
“I thought you actually wanted to use him to revive the Senju clan.”
Shizune muttered carefully, a flicker of eager anticipation crossing her face.
Some people are just naturally repressed in that way. Shizune seemed to be one of them. She’d heard that line about an old cow eating tender grass loud and clear. Her mind had even conjured up a strange image—an indescribable scene that somehow included herself as well. Quite bloody and violent.
Believing a joke like that? Did that brat really think he was that capable?
Tsunade rolled her eyes, too lazy to explain.
Going back to Konoha was simply to confirm what that kid had claimed. Had the village really changed? Danzō was dead. There were things called the Wall of Honor and the Wall of Shame. She didn’t know anything about them.
So she wanted to see for herself whether the village had changed the way that brat described, then decide whether she’d stay in Konoha. She wasn’t about to believe everything he said. She wasn’t going to change her beliefs so easily.
There was only one thing pushing her to return: she was a Konoha shinobi. Konoha needed her—needed a banner of the Senju clan. That was a responsibility she wouldn’t run from. Nothing more.
See Hakken’s skill and think he could just take advantage of her? She wasn’t some clueless airheaded fangirl. She was the last pure-blooded heir of the Senju clan.
One of the Three Sannin of Konoha—Princess Tsunade.
“Kid.”
“You just said split up? You and Jiraiya aren’t going back to Konoha?” Tsunade quickened her pace to walk beside Hakken and suddenly asked.
“Yeah, we still have a mission.”
Hakken didn’t respond, but Jiraiya answered for him.
“What mission?”
So they hadn’t come out just to look for her?
Tsunade felt puzzled.
“Cutting people.”
Hakken casually shook his Zanpakutō. “Since you’ve decided to return, whether you rest in town or head straight back is up to you. Mr. Porn and I are moving on.”
What kind of name was that?
Tsunade’s mouth twitched. And hearing a little brat like him say “cutting people” was almost comical.
“Are you sure you’re cutting people and not the one getting cut?”
My code name really sucks. I need something cooler. Otherwise, when my name ends up carved on the Wall of Honor someday, having a code name like “Mr. Porn” is going to cause a huge misunderstanding.
Jiraiya rolled his eyes and pulled Tsunade aside.
“Don’t underestimate him.”
His expression grew strange, but pride flickered in his eyes. Jiraiya took a deep breath and looked straight at Tsunade. “Do you know how long it took him to make Kirigakure—one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages— into a subordinate village of Konoha?”
He held up one finger.
Under Tsunade’s stunned gaze, he said two words.
“One night.”
Was he kidding?
Tsunade’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
That was Kirigakure.
One of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, on equal footing with Konoha—turned into a subordinate village?
And it only took one night?
How was that possible?
“No need to doubt it. I wouldn’t lie to you. I watched the whole thing myself.”
“Kirigakure is now a subordinate village of Konoha.”
Even now, when Jiraiya thought back on that moment, it still felt unreal. But it was the undeniable truth.
After the Fifth Mizukage took power, everything unfolded naturally. And under the pressure Hakken put on Terumi, she had no intention of resisting.
As for why Terumi cooperated so obediently, even Jiraiya didn’t know.
According to Hakken, once the Land of Earth mission was complete, Kirigakure would understand the price of defiance.
He was going to cut people down.
How many?
To what extent?
None of it was clear. To prevent anything unexpected, Jiraiya was definitely going to follow and observe.
“…Can I come?”
Curiosity burned in Tsunade’s eyes as she voiced her thoughts.
What was the point of going back to the village? If she really got drafted as that damn Head of the Medical Corps, she might not even have time to drink.
She might as well have some fun first.
“You can.”
After giving her a once-over, Hakken finally nodded.
It wasn’t about valuing Tsunade’s strength, but about her identity—and the person in his mind.
He needed Tsunade to do something.
That idiot’s body…
He was still young. If the cause could be found now, it might still be treatable.
And in this world, Tsunade had the highest medical expertise.
Don’t forget—even when Lee had his left arm and leg crushed by Gaara’s sand, she managed to save him and restore him completely.
But even if she couldn’t diagnose it, Hakken could still find a solution from the System Store’s items.
To him, so-called terminal illnesses weren’t really a problem.
The only thing certain was that Itachi’s illness wasn’t caused by the Sharingan.
The Mangekyō’s only side effect was blindness.
Having Tsunade examine Itachi’s body was a good idea.
Besides Itachi, Hakken would be staying in the Land of Earth for a while. The elite ANBU members would face brutal battles.
Having a Medical-nin on hand would dramatically reduce casualties.
It was a good thing, so Hakken naturally didn’t refuse.
“If you’re coming, don’t expect much time to mess around on the road.” Gripping his Zanpakutō and tugging on the Nine-Tails’ ear, Hakken spoke seriously.
“This is a mission, not a pleasure trip. Don’t fall behind.”
Underestimated, huh?
Tsunade let out a cold snort.
“Kid, I was running missions before you were even born!”
“Let’s go!”
“Watch how fast this old woman can move!”