Spring passed and autumn came, and it was spring once more.
In a valley where the ice and snow had melted, tender shoots poked out from the white snow. A chilly stream trickled softly, while a gigantic boulder trembled and rose from the ground. With the faint clatter of shaking chains, it looked like a hibernating bear opening the door of its cave and walking out.
Yes, opening the door.
A massive stone gate nearly five meters tall, requiring dozens of people to encircle it with their arms.
Wearing a tattered cloak, strands of golden hair spilling from beneath her hood, the girl tilted her head up and gazed at the sun on the horizon.
It was a fine day.
She stretched, and the bones throughout her body cracked. When she lightly hopped and threw a punch, the air exploded with a thunderous boom, like a clap of spring thunder across a clear plain.
She was in good shape.
After spending a long time slowly grinding away at it, she had finally dispelled the seal on her body. She was now in peak condition.
It was time to start preparing.
Barefoot on the snow, the girl crouched beside the stream and washed her face clean with the clear spring water.
First, she had to feed the Slug Sage.
A foreign object bulged beneath her clothes. The little lump wriggled and crawled along until a tiny head poked out from her collar.
The moment it opened its mouth, it began to sob.
"Lady Tsunade~"
"Waaah, I thought I was done for!"
"It scared me to death! The Insect Princess is terrifying!"
It still looked as though it had yet to recover from its fright of a year ago.
The Slug Sage had indeed died. Only a tiny fragment remained with Mimi,