The casino district of Tanzaku Street was forever steeped in the smell of smoke, liquor, and copper coins.
The setting sun slanted across the street, stretching the shadows of the wooden buildings long. Hyuga Xiao appeared without warning deep within a narrow alley. Ripples like water spread through space, then quickly settled. His Main House white robe had been replaced with an ordinary dark-gray combat outfit, and his forehead protector had been deliberately pulled low to hide the traces of the Caged Bird Seal.
The Tenseigan's perception spread like a tide.
--Found them.
Three kilometers away, on the second floor of a hot spring inn bearing the Senju Clan signboard, Kurenai Yuhi's and Samui's presences were clearly visible. There was also a massive, violent chakra presence carrying the scent of alcohol... Tsunade.
Xiao moved lightly through the bustling streets. Gamblers' shouts, the crisp clatter of dice striking bowl walls, winners' wild laughter, and losers' curses wove together into Tanzaku Street's distinctive background noise. He blended into the crowd like a drop of water flowing into a river, utterly inconspicuous.
Until he pushed open the inn's carved wooden door.
"Welcome—" Before the proprietress behind the counter could finish speaking, Xiao had already stepped onto the stairs.
The sliding door to the innermost Japanese-style room on the second floor stood slightly ajar.
"...So that kid is a lunatic." Tsunade's voice was tinged with drunkenness, yet unusually clear. "Three chakra natures were forcibly fused inside your body—water, lightning, and earth. Do you know what that means? It's like pouring oil, gunpowder, and acid into the same container. The only reason it hasn't exploded yet is because someone used sealing techniques to force the lid shut."
"I understand." Samui's voice was calm, even somewhat detached.
"You understand? You don't understand shit!" Tsunade seemed to