Secret Technique: Barrier Jutsu

Takizawa Dan glanced around. Although the two Anbu ninjas were already dead, having become fertilizer for the forest covering the ground, the Secret Technique: Barrier Jutsu they had previously cast was still in effect, emitting a faint, shimmering glow in the surrounding area.

Takizawa Dan was a bit puzzled at first, even wondering if the ninja who had released the technique was perhaps not dead yet.

However, he quickly realized the cause and effect, and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

The reason was simple: this barrier was maintained through chakra, and chakra release is naturally a one-time burst rather than a continuous, perpetual flow.

After all, ninjas still needed to fight; they couldn't possibly keep releasing chakra throughout an entire battle.

That would not only be distracting but also highly inefficient.

Therefore, the Anbu ninja must have set up a barrier meant to last for ten or twenty minutes in one go before committing to the fight.

After all, the "Secret Technique: Barrier Jutsu" he had acquired also had a time limit—thirty minutes per use, with a one-hour cooldown required before it could be cast again.

As if to confirm Takizawa Dan's deduction, the surrounding barrier began to fade rapidly, as if time were running out.

Takizawa Dan focused his mind and shouted, "Go!"

Instantly, the barrier technique he had just learned filled the gap.

The surrounding barrier, which had been on the verge of dissipating, was replenished and immediately returned to its previous, resilient state, capable of holding for another half hour.

"Phew... that was close. Finally got it sorted!"

Seeing this, Takizawa Dan let out a sigh of relief.

One had to remember that this wasn't just anywhere; this was Tsunade's residence!

Although Tsunade was currently obsessed with the village's gambling dens and hadn't returned yet, her assistant and that pig named Tonton were no slackers.

If the barrier were to vanish and they saw the scene inside, it would be a total catastrophe!

Thinking of this, Takizawa Dan quickened his pace.

As he dispelled the "Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence," those massive trees withered rapidly as if they had lost their source of nutrients, shrinking back beneath the ground in just a few seconds.

To the naked eye, there wasn't a single trace left! This caught Takizawa Dan by surprise.

Compared to other late-game ninjutsu that often left behind scenes resembling a nuclear blast site, this "Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence" was truly an environmentally friendly choice among ultimate moves.

Senju Hashirama was truly worthy of his reputation; even the techniques he developed were so peaceful and unobtrusive.

Of course, this put his mind at ease.

The corpses of the two Anbu ninjas had been completely decomposed and buried deep underground, leaving no trace behind.

Unless the Konoha Village higher-ups were willing to dig up the entire village three feet deep just to find these two, it was impossible for there to be any clues.

Silently offering a prayer for the two ninjas who had died so inexplicably, Takizawa Dan returned to his usual calm demeanor and dispelled the barrier.

From this side, no one could tell that a fierce battle had just taken place.

"Takizawa Dan!"

At that moment, a voice called out from nearby.

Takizawa Dan looked toward the sound and saw Tsunade walking toward him, waving her hand incessantly.

Takizawa Dan couldn't help but smile slightly; it seemed Tsunade had finished her gambling.

Without overthinking it, he walked over to meet her.

"Lady Tsunade, are you done gambling?"

Based on experience, Takizawa Dan already knew the outcome perfectly well, but he asked the question deliberately.

"Ugh... don't even mention it." As expected, just as Takizawa Dan had predicted, Tsunade let out a heavy sigh, her face full of defeat. "I lost all my money. My salary that I just got..."

There had always been a magical curse on Tsunade: she lost every time she gambled. It had practically become a hex.

The key was that if an ordinary person lost at gambling so consistently, they would have repented long ago, quit, and never touched the stuff again.

But Tsunade was different. She seemed to genuinely love gambling; as long as she had even a little bit of money, she would go everywhere to gamble, even if she lost every cent every single time. For this, she didn't even hesitate to take out high-interest loans, just to... keep losing money at the casino!

Because of Tsunade, Shizune and Tonton's lives were quite difficult as well.

It was precisely because of this trait that Tsunade became the only person in the entire ninja village to receive her salary on a daily basis.

Otherwise, she would likely rush into the casino the very day she got paid and lose it all, making even her daily meals a problem.

Giving her a small portion of her salary every day helped keep her gambling at a recreational level while ensuring she could afford three meals a day, preventing things from getting too out of hand.

"Ahem... Lady Tsunade, why don't you try to restrain yourself a little? Gambling isn't exactly a good thing. Not to mention it's not good for you, Shizune, or Tonton, but as the Hokage, you really should set a good example for the children of Konoha Village."

Takizawa Dan advised with a bitter smile. He dared to poke the tiger in the backside only because he knew Tsunade had a favorable impression of him.

Although he knew that even with such advice, the results would likely be minimal, in his heart, Lady Tsunade had always been a near-perfect idol, save for this one gambling habit.

So, if she could just quit gambling, that would be for the best.

"Ugh... I have to deal with the higher-ups nagging me about this all day, and now I have to listen to you lecture me after I get off work? How annoying!" Tsunade couldn't help but hold her head, looking incredibly distressed. "Ahhhhh! Anyway, I'm the Hokage! Even if my salary is split into daily payments, the amount is still significant! What's wrong with gambling a little every day!"

That was true. In the ninja world, as the name implies, ninjas were the dominant force, and naturally, their income was the highest.

In his previous life, Takizawa Dan had seen online investigations and research by experts, and the result was that in this world, even the lowest-ranked Genin earned an income that could rank in the upper-middle tier!

As long as one could pass the Chunin Exams and become an official Chunin, they could enter the elite class and enjoy a high-level income.

If a mere Chunin had such a high income, there was no need to mention the Jonin or even the Hokage!

It could be said that if Tsunade weren't a gambler, the salary she received as Hokage alone would have been enough to make her a standard wealthy woman!

Thinking that he could have had the chance to be supported by a wealthy woman, only for all that money to be wasted by Tsunade at the casino, Takizawa Dan felt a wave of indigestion.