"Big brother! How can that guy treat you like that? That's way out of line!"
Walking beside Lin Cheng through the forest, Kimimaro grumbled indignantly.
"He loved his master deeply, but mistakenly thought she was going to kill him, so he ended up killing her by accident. He's a pitiful man.
He's on his guard now and trusts no one!
It's only natural!"
"Oh~ Where are we going now, Big brother?"
"To find someone who can treat your Kekkei Genkai Disease."
"Uh~ I'm sick? Don't scare me, Big brother!"
Hearing Lin Cheng say that, Kimimaro's handsome little face crumpled in dismay.
"Hmph! You're always exposing your bones. Every time your skin splits open, bacteria get into your body.
Those little things add up. Do you really think your body can take it?"
"...Is that why you won't let me use my bloodline power, Big brother?"
A flicker of emotion passed through his eyes. Kimimaro pouted and muttered.
"Yeah. Until we deal with this hidden danger, I can't stop worrying about your health!
Besides, with the strength we have now, we can handle anything even if you don't use Shikotsumyaku!"
"Big brother still doesn't want Little Kimimaro to protect you!"
Kimimaro pouted and threw a little tantrum.
"How could that be? When Big brother gets hurt, that'll be your time to shine, Little Kimimaro!"
Seeing Kimimaro pretend to be unhappy, Lin Cheng immediately smiled and placated him.
"Hmph! You're obviously just trying to fob Little Kimimaro off!"
Kimimaro turned his head away in a huff.
"Hahaha! Hahaha!"
Amid their laughter, the two set off once more to find Tsunade.
This time, Lin Cheng swore he would find her!
More than half a year passed in a flash, and Lin Cheng and Kimimaro had just turned nine.
Based on the information the brothers had gathered, Lin Cheng and Kimimaro finally found Tsunade in a bustling gambling district, where the gamblers called her the "fat sheep."
The noisy shouts of "high" and "low" completely drowned out Lin Cheng's attempts to watch Tsunade.
Watching Tsunade lose herself in gambling, Lin Cheng shook his head and bet against her.
And the nickname "fat sheep" proved well deserved.
In no time at all, Tsunade had gambled away the few million she'd started with!
Lin Cheng, meanwhile, had made a little over a hundred thousand!
Seeing Tsunade leave the casino looking dejected, Lin Cheng followed her out.
"Kid! I'm warning you! Keep following me and I'll cripple you!"
After leaving the gambling district, they reached a secluded spot where no one else was around.
Tsunade, who had been walking ahead, suddenly turned around, raised her right hand, and clenched her fist in warning.
"Hey! Don't be like that, miss! Everyone knows you're a 'fat sheep'!
But they don't know this 'fat sheep' is about to leave town.
I just want to follow you and make a little money. Is that really so unreasonable?"
Lin Cheng, disguised as a middle-aged gambler, shrugged and waved his hand with an unapologetic grin.
"Kid! You think that lousy disguise can fool me? You're asking for it!"
In an instant, Tsunade flew into a rage and used the Body Flicker Technique to appear right in front of Lin Cheng, her Strength of a Hundred Fist aimed straight at his head!
Feeling the pressure of her fist cutting through the air, even Lin Cheng, who had been acting so carefree, couldn't help breaking into a cold sweat!
He dodged Tsunade's Strength of a Hundred Fist and hurriedly retreated.
But Lin Cheng had still underestimated Tsunade, one of the Sannin!
Now that she was already up close, how could she let Lin Cheng put any distance between them?
"Heavenly Foot of Pain!!"
With a mighty shout, the ground near where they were fighting shattered beneath her foot!
Caught off guard, Lin Cheng lost his balance!
"Die!"
As if she'd expected this all along, Tsunade, already prepared, punched the off-balance Lin Cheng and sent him flying!
In an instant, Lin Cheng—who Kimimaro had never seen get hurt before—spat blood for the first time as he was sent soaring through the air!
The disguise technique also vanished as soon as Lin Cheng was injured.
Before you continue