Cultivation

Jimo forced himself to attend the Third Hokage's funeral, where everyone's face was filled with grief.

After the funeral, Anko insisted that Jimo return to the hospital and continue recuperating.

"You fought that person, didn't you..."

Anko peeled an apple beside him and casually asked.

"Yeah... I fought him..."

Jimo knew, of course, that the person Anko meant was Orochimaru.

"He's strong... Even his clone was strong..."

Jimo recalled his clash with Orochimaru. It was the first time since arriving in this world that he had felt the pressure of death.

"So from now on, use your head when you do things, you idiot!" Anko suddenly rapped him on the head.

Ever since the Forest of Death, she had been showing up at his place every few days, claiming she couldn't cook proper meals for herself.

At first, Jimo had genuinely thought she was just there for the food. Then the gifts she brought became increasingly outrageous: drinks, sake, and finally, strong white liquor.

Sima Zhao's intentions were plain for all to see...

"Got it! But things were urgent at the time..."

"That's not something a Chunin should be worrying about! He's one of the Three Ninja... What if you'd died? I finally found someone I liked, someone who didn't care about my past!"

Anko's tears slid down her cheeks and fell onto Jimo's bedsheet.

"So... that's what you meant..."

Jimo smiled and gently smoothed Anko's hair.

"But you'll have to wait until I'm an adult!"

Xiao Jue hadn't forgotten that he was only sixteen. Back where he came from, getting married at that age would be seriously illegal...

"I'll wait..."

Anko's cheeks flushed pink as she said it shyly. It was hard to imagine a woman as outspoken as her making such a face.

After a few days of rest, Jimo had recovered to a bull-like state, thanks to the Senzu Bean and his astonishing physique.

The pressure of death Orochimaru had brought upon him had, by some stroke of luck, greatly increased the Ki inside Jimo.

"Jimo... Ohoho, am I interrupting you two...?"

Jiraiya pushed open the door to the infirmary and happened to catch Anko cutting fruit for Jimo.

"Y-you two talk..."

Anko ran out, her face bright red.

"Not bad taste! I didn't know you were into that sort of thing!"

Jiraiya said with a grin.

"Lord Jiraiya, don't tease me... Just tell me what you came for..." Jimo had already guessed what he wanted.

It was probably the two advisers chasing him around every day, urging him to hurry up and take office as the Fifth Hokage...

"Actually, there's something I need to ask you..." Jiraiya's tone suddenly turned serious.

"What's with that Great Ape form of yours?"

The air in the room suddenly grew still as their eyes met.

After staring at each other for a few seconds, Jiraiya sighed.

"If you don't want to tell me, forget it... I thought you'd be scared shitless..."

"It's a kind of... transformation," Jimo said calmly. "It makes me ten times stronger for a short time... but it has some pretty serious side effects."

"Gamabunta and Naruto said you can keep your wits about you after transforming... Maybe it's something like a Jinchuriki..."

"If that's how you want to think of it... then sure. I'm that Great Ape, and that Great Ape is me... I just need certain conditions to transform."

Jimo had prepared an airtight explanation for this.

"Anyway, enough chatting. I called you here because we're going to look for Tsunade," Jiraiya said. "I know myself best. I'm carefree by nature and can't help it... I'm not suited to being Hokage."

"Naruto said you're good at finding people, so I figured I'd bring you along... It'll be good training for that kid, too."

Jimo froze for two seconds...

He could sense the presence of Ki, but he had never even met Tsunade. He had no idea what her Ki felt like...

"Then I'll gladly accept."

Jimo told Anko why Jiraiya had come, then went with him to look for Naruto.

"Don't bother guessing where Naruto is. If he's not home around mealtime, he's definitely at Ichiraku Ramen!"

Jimo said.

"Go ahead and look for him first. I have something to take care of..."

Jimo sensed two powerful presences in the village, and their owners seemed to be fighting.

On the river, Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai had already crossed paths with Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki.

Kakashi had thought that since he also possessed the Sharingan, dealing with Itachi wouldn't be difficult. But Itachi had dragged him into the mental world of Tsukuyomi...

"You haven't suffered a mental breakdown... Impressive, Kakashi..." Itachi said with admiration.

"Are you here... to take Sasuke away?" Kakashi knelt weakly on the water.

"I'm here for the Fourth Hokage's legacy..."

Kakashi suddenly remembered the mysterious organization Jiraiya had told him about... It seemed to be collecting Tailed Beasts.

"The Akatsuki..."

Kakashi murmured to himself, a trace of wariness and concern showing in his eyes.

Itachi, who didn't want to reveal his identity too soon, thought to himself: I can't let this information get out!

He immediately ordered Kisame beside him, "Take Kakashi away. And kill those two as well—Kurenai and Asuma!"

At the order, Kisame eagerly swung the enormous Samehada in his hands, bringing it down hard at Kurenai and Asuma.

It was about to cleave them in two when, at the critical moment, a shadow appeared before them like a flash of lightning. The figure leaped up and kicked Kisame hard.

The sudden blow carried tremendous force, sending Kisame flying dozens of meters away. He only just managed to steady himself.

"Konoha Strong Whirlwind!"

The immense force sent waves surging across the river.

Kisame had barely regained his balance when he saw a man with a watermelon-shaped head, dressed in a green jumpsuit.

"Who are you?!"

"The proud Blue Wild Beast of Konoha! Might Guy!"

Before Guy could finish introducing himself, a blue Shockwave came hurtling toward him, trailing a long tail.

"That's Jimo..." Kakashi recognized the familiar technique and looked into the distance.

A black speck grew larger and larger. Jimo swung the Nyoi-Bo at Kisame.

"Now that's some strength..."

That was Kisame's assessment...

"Damn... This is getting out of hand..." Itachi frowned.

"Let's go. We didn't come here to kill them..."

The two figures turned into clouds of smoke and vanished from the river.

"They sure ran fast..." Jimo muttered with a pout...

"You really don't care if you die, do you, kid..." Asuma and Kurenai said with bitter smiles. They hadn't lasted even a single round against the two of them, yet this newly promoted Chunin brat had actually gone and picked a fight with someone like that...

"Forget it. Let's get Kakashi-sensei to the Medical Corps first..."