"Huh? Why did you withdraw the natural energy?"
"Is the Genjutsu over?"
"Did she fail? Did she run out of chakra?"
Kazuyama watched as Tagitsuhime slowly withdrew the energy that belonged to her. Meanwhile, Tsunade had already fallen asleep, tears still in her eyes.
Tagitsuhime glanced at Tsunade with a hint of appreciation before speaking in a flat tone.
"No, she passed the test. Just one second before her chakra was about to run out, she overcame the Genjutsu I created for her."
"Someone like her is qualified to learn Senjutsu in Ryūchi Cave." She paused, her gaze sharpening. "But I sense another heritage's contract within her."
Kazuyama Gekkō nodded, his eyes also drifting toward the sleeping Tsunade.
"Yes, Lady Tsunade is the contract holder of Shikkotsu Forest, and her animal companion is a slug."
"Otherwise, she wouldn't be one of the Sannin, alongside my teacher, Orochimaru."
He shifted his attention back to Tagitsuhime. "What kind of Genjutsu did you use on her? Just a simulation of Dan Katō and Nawaki?"
Tagitsuhime shook her head, her expression turning cold.
"I made her relive the most devastating scene she has ever faced." Her voice was steady, almost indifferent.
"The same trauma, the same bloody wounds. But this time, she managed to heal them and stop the bleeding with her own Medical Ninjutsu."
"Ninja Way… Haha." She let out a soft, almost mocking laugh. "I have to admit, you ninjas are extraordinary."
Ninja Way?
Where did that even come from?
Kazuyama looked at Tagitsuhime, slightly surprised.
"Kazuyama, what about you? As a ninja, what is your Ninja Way?"
His Ninja Way?
He had never thought about it. Not even once.
He had always lived freely, loving money because he needed to take care of Ebisu, Ebisami, and Hayate. He looted Pakura thoroughly—because he liked her. Ugh. Poor girl.
He was a Transmigrator. Why would he need a Ninja Way? It was useless—an unnecessary burden.
He wasn't Naruto nor some successor to the Will of Fire.
"My Ninja Way? Enjoy life."
"I'm a pragmatic person."
Tagitsuhime gave him a deep, unreadable look but said nothing more.
"Once I'm done here, if there's nothing else, I'll be heading back to Ryūchi Cave."
"God knows if those two idiots have eaten all the snakeberries. Hmph, if they have, you, Kazuyama, owe me a basket—no, three baskets of snakeberries!"
Kazuyama nodded helplessly. "Yes, yes, great Lady Tagitsuhime, I will definitely satisfy your appetite!"
"But I still have to ask—do you think Tsunade's fear of blood has been cured?"
Tagitsuhime shook her head with great regret. "Although she broke through the Genjutsu, I don't think she has completely overcome her fear of blood. However, its effect on her has weakened."
"I can see everything happening inside her. Despite all she has been through, she hasn't broken down, which speaks to the strength of her will."
"But for someone with such strong willpower, overcoming a deep-seated fear is even more difficult."
"Alright, I'm heading back. Next time you need me, just use the connection of the Coiling Serpent Technique."
"Use the natural energy within you to notify me."
Kazuyama nodded, unsurprised. After all, when Jiraiya activated Sage Mode, he also condensed his energy to summon the two Toad Sages.
The Coiling Serpent Technique and the Amphibian Technique both fell under Senjutsu, working in similar ways—one tied to snakes, the other to toads.
"Boom..."
With a burst of white smoke, Tagitsuhime vanished.
Kazuyama also exited Sage Mode, and the red snake that had been coiled around him disappeared.
However, a new snake slowly emerged on his right arm, coiling around his shoulder like an intricate tattoo.
"Tsk, tsk... is this the mark left by the Coiling Serpent Technique? Not bad."
With the activation of the Flying Thunder God Technique, Kazuyama disappeared, heading straight home to sleep.
The next morning, Tsunade slowly opened her eyes in the tavern.
Feeling the complete absence of chakra in her body, she was slightly startled... Then, noticing the discomfort in her eyes, memories of her dream flooded back.
"Dan... Nawaki... have you really been by my side all this time...?"
"I'm not alone... am I...?"
"No... no... Genjutsu... but why did it feel so real? If it was Genjutsu... damn it..."
"Even if it was... Dan... Nawaki... I just want to see you again..."
…
Kazuyama didn't go looking for trouble with Tsunade again and instead continued leading his squad on D-rank missions.
Before long, however, they received a visit from the ANBU.
"Yo, Rokudenashi..."
Kazuyama, who was watching his subordinates weed the garden, heard a familiar voice call out to him. Without even turning his head, he smirked.
"What? Rinkaku? Got nothing better to do than hang around?"
The ANBU who had suddenly appeared was none other than Rinkaku, someone Kazuyama had previously worked with.
"Forget it, no way. Lord Hokage is looking for you and your team."
"Report to the Hokage Building as soon as possible."
Kazuyama frowned slightly. It was one thing for the Hokage to summon him, but why did he want the three kids to come along too?
Although he had his doubts, he still nodded. Seeing his agreement, Rinkaku vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.
"Kakashi, Obito, Rin—hurry up and finish this mission, there's a new one!"
At the mention of a new mission, Obito and Kakashi exchanged glances, and their efficiency shot up. They tore through the weeds at a speed comparable to a weed whacker. Rin covered her mouth and laughed.
—
At the Hokage Building, Kazuyama arrived with the three young shinobi to report for duty.
Hiruzen continued smoking as usual before placing a mission report on the table.
"Kazuyama, battlefield intelligence from the Land of Hot Water reports that Jiraiya's frontline troops have clashed with Iwagakure multiple times."
"We need to resupply the front quickly."
"Your team has only carried out D-rank missions so far, but now I want you to lead a team to... deliver supplies to Jiraiya."
Kazuyama took the mission report and glanced at it.
Huh, a B-rank mission?
That made sense—transporting strategic supplies was never a low-level task, especially with the risk of war looming.
But the three kids were still fresh Genin. Even though Kakashi was already a Chūnin, was it really a good idea to throw them straight into a B-rank mission?
Seeing Kazuyama's hesitation, Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke.
"Kazuyama, you understand how critical it is during wartime to ensure supplies reach the front line on schedule."
"Two other shipments have already been sent to the border between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Hot Water."
"Only the batch for the Land of Grass remains. I know you're concerned about your team's safety, but as their captain, isn't it your duty to protect them?"
Damn, you old bastard, not playing by the rules, huh?
Fine, since we're starting from our own territory, there shouldn't be any major issues.
"Alright, where are the supplies now?"
"They're being loaded onto the truck, and you'll depart in the morning. This is the escort officer, Saburō Honda."
"Understood. We'll leave first thing tomorrow."
Behind Kazuyama, the three young shinobi were buzzing with excitement at the mention of a B-rank mission. Even Kakashi seemed eager, while Obito and Rin, experiencing their first B-rank assignment, could hardly contain their enthusiasm.
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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