"The surgery is still underway. No one can interrupt it."
"Once she's finished saving her patient, she can walk out on her own two feet. No one can stop her if she wants to leave."
Jiraiya breathed a sigh of relief, then said solemnly, "Kirigakure owes Konoha a favor for this."
He looked at Gekkō Raito, his gaze sharpening.
"Kid, I have a personal request."
"Go ahead."
"If you become the Mizukage someday, help me kill someone."
Gekkō Raito raised an eyebrow. "Would I have to agree even if you asked me to kill the Land of Water's daimyo?"
"No." Jiraiya's voice was low. "Someone from Konoha. And I guarantee you'll want to kill him too."
Gekkō Raito's eyes flickered. He already understood.
Shimura Danzō.
"Deal."
While waiting for the surgery to finish, Gekkō Raito stood at the end of the corridor, deep in thought.
Taking the Daytime Tiger head-on earlier had looked impressive, but it had also exposed a weakness.
He lacked a super-S-rank finishing move that could settle a battle in a single strike.
Both developing his Storm Release and honing his Ninja Blade combat techniques had to go on the agenda.
Storm Release in particular, a kekkei genkai combining speed and destructive power, was a true weapon for slaughter.
There was also Ameyuri's illness. Once she recovered, he would have to get her to inherit Kiba as soon as possible.
Samehada, the Blunt Sword, the Explosive Sword... he also had to recover those lost Ninja Blades one by one.
Rebuilding the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and reviving Kirigakure-there was still a long road ahead.
"Ding."
The operating room light went out.
Tsunade removed her mask and walked out. Though tired, she looked radiant.
"The surgery was a success."
Those few simple words made everyone