Tsunade! Don't Run!

More and more people arrived at the scene. Several squads from the Police Force had shown up and sealed off both ends of the street. Some members of the Konoha Garrison Force had also come to keep order.

The collapsed shops had all been cleared, and quite a few people had been carried out. Some had broken bones or lost hands and feet; others had head wounds or cuts on their hands. But only one person was critically injured and near death: Ichiro Nagasaki.

There was also an inn nearby. The outside wall on the fifth floor had been attacked, leaving a huge hole in one side. The inside was a complete mess.

Quite a few ninja had already rushed upstairs to check for casualties.

Tsunade and the other two hurried across the street and reached the ruins.

More than ten ninja had gathered around Ichiro Nagasaki, loosely forming a circle. They stood perfectly still and watched in silence.

Buzz—

Tsunade heard a familiar sound: the chakra vibrations produced when the Mystical Palm Technique was used. She breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed an elite medical ninja from the Medical Department, capable of using the Mystical Palm Technique, had arrived first.

"The aura of the Mystical Palm Technique," said the pale, cold-faced young man at Tsunade's right.

"It's all right now," said the tall, fair-haired young man on her other side with a smile. He casually lifted his hands behind his head and looked around. The damage to the street wasn't too severe, and there were plenty of people helping with the rescue. It seemed they weren't needed after all.

"Good. There aren't any major casualties," Tsunade said, also relieved. Judging by the damage to the street, any injured person could be healed as long as a ninja capable of using the Mystical Palm Technique reached the scene. Of course, that didn't include anyone who was already dead.

Besides, more than ten medical ninja had arrived. It looked like they could handle the workload.

"It's getting dark." The fair-haired young man glanced at the setting sun, then smiled at Tsunade. "Want to train together?"

"No!" Tsunade put her hands on her hips, wearing a mischievous smile. "I have to find that damned guy and check whether he's learned the Mystical Palm Technique."

"That's impossible. Aren't you just messing with him?"

"Of course I know it's impossible, but it was his idea. I didn't force him! He was the one bragging to me. Hmph!"

"You're so bored. Why are you wasting your time on some ghost? How stupid."

Smack!

Tsunade jumped up and smacked the fair-haired young man on the back of the head. He staggered, then crouched down and clutched his head.

She resorted to violence at the slightest disagreement!

"Jiraiya, who are you calling bored? Who are you calling stupid?" Tsunade kicked him again and snapped angrily. She hadn't told the others about Hypnosis Technique or the Gambling Technique. She wanted to learn the former herself first, while the latter was simply something she couldn't share—otherwise, no one would gamble with her.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I was wrong!" Jiraiya hunched over like a bullied child, clutching his head and too scared to stand up.

"I'm heading back to train," the cold-faced young man said.

"Sure, Orochimaru. Let's go together!" Jiraiya sprang up and enthusiastically slung an arm around the cold-faced young man's neck, then cautiously glanced at Tsunade.

"Go ahead. I have to find that damned guy," Tsunade said, waving a hand.

"See you tomorrow afternoon."

"Sure!"

The three turned at the same time. Tsunade headed west, while Jiraiya and Orochimaru went east.

"Let's grab a drink first. I know a good place. Hehe..." Jiraiya said in a low voice, grinning strangely as he draped an arm around Orochimaru's neck.

"No," Orochimaru replied coldly, then glanced at Jiraiya. "You should exercise some restraint, too."

Jiraiya's habit of going out for drinks with women was well known in Konoha.

"Huh? Huh, what?" Tsunade's voice suddenly rang out behind them, full of surprise. She looked as if she'd seen something unbelievable.

They both turned around and saw Tsunade staring at the crowd gathered in front of the ruins.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

They both dashed forward, turning into fleeting shadows. A moment later, they were beside Tsunade, following her gaze.

Most of the people gathered there were ninja. Some were from Anbu, others from the Police Force. They stood in a loose circle, and through the gaps between them, the two could see a bloodied patient lying on the ground. Crouched beside him was a ninja around eleven or twelve years old.

A deep blue glow shone in the ninja's hands as they pressed them against the patient's wound.

The Mystical Palm Technique!

That ninja was the one using it!

"No, impossible. This can't be!" Tsunade murmured, then rushed forward. Jiraiya and Orochimaru immediately followed.

They reached the edge of the crowd and pushed their way through. People were shoved aside by an irresistible force, but none of them even looked to see who was pushing past. Their eyes remained fixed on the ninja treating the patient.

Everyone was stunned!

A strange light flickered in Chen He's eyes. He had to report this to Anbu Captain White Fang—no, he should report directly to Lord Hokage. Someone learning the Mystical Palm Technique in one day... He needed to watch the entire treatment before he could make an accurate report.

Mikoto Uchiha stood there, stunned. She felt as though the whole world had gone mad. Otherwise, something like this shouldn't have happened.

She'd heard the rumor that Li Tong had learned the Mystical Palm Technique in one day.

"I'm going back to report to Father. You stay here," Fugaku Uchiha ordered in a low, hurried voice after recovering his wits. "Li Tong could become someone we'll have to work hard to win over. Be nice to him."

Mikoto Uchiha stared blankly at him and turned her head. Before she could speak, Fugaku Uchiha formed Hand Seals and disappeared.

On the other side of the crowd, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru stood with wooden, bemused, and—as always—cold expressions.

"To master the Mystical Palm Technique at such a young age... What a genius. His talent for medical ninjutsu probably isn't much worse than yours," Jiraiya said quietly with a laugh, glancing at Tsunade. Noticing that something was very wrong with her, he frowned and thought for a moment. Then his eyes widened.

He'd figured it out!

Tsunade's extreme reaction had to be related to this young medical ninja. But mastering the Mystical Palm Technique at eleven or twelve was something Tsunade could admire; it shouldn't have left her looking like this. After all, an eleven- or twelve-year-old medical ninja would have trained for at least six or seven years. With enough talent, anything was possible.

But Tsunade clearly didn't believe that was the case.

So...

It was the young Dual-Colored Eyes from the Land of Rain who had defected to Konoha!

Jiraiya had never met Li Tong, and Li Tong was wearing sunglasses, so he couldn't see the color of his eyes. But he could guess!

Learn the Mystical Palm Technique in one day?

"No, it couldn't be him..." Jiraiya asked, sounding very uncertain.

Tsunade didn't answer. She clenched her fists in secret.

She was already wondering whether she should punch Li Tong to death so she wouldn't have to honor their bet. The stakes were too high!

Li Tong could make her do anything, and she would have to agree!

The whole village of Konoha had already heard about it. Everyone knew.

"Ahem! Cough, cough, cough!" Ichiro Nagasaki suddenly began coughing violently. He was waking up. The wound in his abdomen had mostly healed. Although it was a penetrating wound, it hadn't damaged the bones or involved any elemental or poison-based injuries. It was only damage to the flesh, which the Mystical Palm Technique could heal completely.

"Phew..." Li Tong let out a long breath. The glow in his hands faded, and he stood up, drenched in sweat. He took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his temples. "All done!"

Even though he'd only used the basic Mystical Palm Technique for a few minutes, Li Tong had still spent nearly eight percent of his chakra. He felt a little tired.

The atmosphere around them was very strange.

Tsunade stood not far behind Li Tong. Her eyes flickered as she began backing away, moving cautiously. She was worried that if Li Tong saw her, he'd make some outrageous demand in front of everyone.

Some people who noticed Tsunade was there gave her strange looks.

"Tsunade, where are you going?" Jiraiya asked.

Tsunade really wanted to slap him to death!

Li Tong heard him and spun around.

Tsunade turned and bolted!

"Tsunade! Don't run! Tsunade, stop right there! You damned woman, don't run!" Li Tong immediately caught on. "You bastard, are you trying to welch on the bet? Stop right there! You shameless woman!"

"Stop him for me!" Tsunade's voice rapidly faded into the distance. She left behind a few afterimages, then disappeared down the street.

Li Tong had just charged out of the crowd when someone suddenly grabbed him, hooked an arm around his neck, and clapped him on the shoulder like they were old friends. In a low voice, the man said with a laugh, "Kid! You won. How about transferring that prize you won to me? I'll give you a hundred thousand ryo!"

Li Tong glanced sideways. The man was powerfully built, with white hair and red markings beneath his eyes.

Jiraiya!

"Is a hundred thousand ryo not enough?" Jiraiya saw Li Tong wasn't responding and immediately offered, "Then two hundred thousand! Two hundred thousand ryo, take it or leave it!"