"Who says Land of Fire means going back to Konoha? Can't we just travel around the Land of Fire for a bit first?"
Tsunade's threatening gaze swept over him, Naoki Senju immediately understood: Tsunade was going to take over assets—no, she was going to take over gambling debts.
Imagine a gambler who has never won before suddenly acquiring several casinos as part of their assets. How would this gambler's mindset change?
The answer is quite obvious; Tsunade, who became rich overnight, is the best example.
Tsunade, who always loved to sleep in, dragged everyone out of bed before dawn and went to the port early to wait for the passenger ship bound for the Land of Fire.
Perhaps because the most dangerous place is also the safest place, Kirigakure didn't station any ninjas to guard this port, the only one leading to the Land of Fire...
Or did Mei Terumi believe that after obtaining the Three-Tails, they had rushed back to Konoha without stopping, day and night?
Kirigakure - Mizukage Building
" Lord Mizukage, please order the port sealed off! The thieves from Konoha must still be in the Land of Water. We still have a chance to retrieve the Three-Tails!"
Almost completely absorbed in the documents Mei Terumi wearily raised her head, a faint dark circle around her eyes. She glanced at the impassioned Ao and said calmly:
"That makes sense. In that case, let Ao, the most skilled tracking ninja from Kirigakure, be in full charge of this Three-Tails recapture mission. If the mission fails, he shall commit suicide to atone for his sins."
green. "..."
Sending a support-type character like him to fight against a top-tier Shinobi World who single-handedly sealed the Three-Tails would only lead to him ending up in Kirigakure's luxurious single-person graveyard in the shortest possible time...
" Lord Mizukage, I know I was wrong."
"Oh? What did you do wrong?"
"The mistake was... questioning the Lord Mizukage's decision, and also..."
"Alright, now that you know you're wrong, are you prepared to accept punishment?"
Mei Terumi looked up from the mountain of documents again, her eyes fixed intently on Ao. Her sharp gaze made Ao unconsciously straighten his back.
"I should be... ready," Qing replied, sounding unsure of himself.
"Very good!" Mei Terumi stood up, supporting herself on her desk piled high with documents. However, the more excited Mei Terumi appeared, the more frightened Ao became...
"As punishment, you need to finish processing all these documents before I return. If I find you slacking off... well, the Kirigakure's health department just happens to be short of an excellent ninja to take on this important task..."
Mei Terumi's cold laugh sent a chill down Ao's spine. The sanitation department... it's just cleaning toilets, right?
"Please rest assured, Lord Mizukage, I will definitely complete the mission." Ao's words were unusually earnest.
"Okay, do your best and don't let me down." Mei Terumi casually patted Ao's shoulder, like a seasoned capitalist, using cheap praise and expectations to earn the hard work of the worker.
Refusing Chōjūrō's protection, Mei Terumi used the Body Flicker Technique to return home alone. Mei Terumi soon as she entered her room, without even changing her clothes, she lay down on the soft bed.
Even with faint dark circles under her eyes, her beautiful eyes blinked almost imperceptibly a few times before closing completely. Mei Terumi, who hadn't slept for two days and two nights, finally felt at ease and could rest after receiving news that Naoki Senju, Tsunade, and the others had left the Land of Water.
Inside the Mizukage Building, Qing looked at the mountain of documents and felt a sense of despair: When would it ever be enough to process all of this...?
But a flash of light appeared in Qing Ling's mind, and she thought of the young junior standing beside her, the one chosen as the Mizukage Guardian, who seemed to...
"Ahem, Chōjūrō, how have you been feeling lately, protecting the Lord Mizukage?"
"Ah, senpai." Chōjūrō was a little distracted and responded somewhat flusteredly after being called on by Ao:
"It feels great to protect Lord Mizukage. Lord Mizukage is truly a very responsible Mizukage. It's just that Lord Mizukage has been working too hard lately, without even having time to rest. I haven't slept for days either..."
Ao pretended not to hear what came after, and patted Chōjūrō on the shoulder like a mature senior, instructing him:
" Chōjūrō, you are the most outstanding young ninja in Kirigakure, and also the Lord Mizukage's most trusted ninja, so you have an obligation to help the Lord Mizukage, right?"
"Uh... Senior is right." Exhausted and somewhat dazed, Chōjūrō replied.
Ao earnestly instructed, " The Lord Mizukage shouldn't waste all her time on political affairs; she has more important matters to attend to. Therefore, as her Lord Mizukage, these are also your duties."
Ao pushed Chōjūrō's short body, pressing him against the mountain of documents on the desk, whispering like a demon:
"Come, I'll teach you how to handle these simple administrative tasks, so that you can help Lord Mizukage solve his problems in the future."
"Uh... thank you, senior..."
"Oh, you're welcome. Helping a junior is the right thing to do. From now on, you'll learn a lot from me..."
Five days later, at the port of the Land of Fire.
The passenger ship, which had been sailing at sea for five days, finally docked at the port of the Land of Fire.
Thirteen years later, Tsunade and Shizune once again set foot on the land of the Land of Fire. Tsunade stood quietly in place, feeling as if she had been through another world.
Even before reaching Konoha, there was a sense of trepidation, like being close to home, and the memories of leaving Konoha weren't exactly pleasant...
As if sensing Tsunade's change in mood, Naoki Senju grasped Tsunade delicate hand from his side. Hmm... the feel was quite different from Shizune's. Shizune's fingers were more slender and long, while the one in his palm now was softer and felt better.
" Sister Tsunade, have you decided where to go first?"
Even with Shizune standing right behind her, and even with the generous 'outsider' Guren, Tsunade didn't decisively shake off Naoki's hand.
"Let's start our journey with the capital of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire."
Naoki Senju grasped Tsunade's delicate right hand, unconsciously tightening his grip. Tsunade did not resist, instead gripping Naoki's hand back and returning the grip with even greater force.
Tsunade only eased her grip when Naoki Senju grimaced in pain. Her small hands, which had been filled with terrifying Superhuman Strength, seemed to have lost all power, allowing the man to torment them. Before long, their hands were intertwined.
Shizune following behind, covering Tonton's eyes—this is a scene that underage pigs shouldn't see!
Guren had no time to deal with these things for the time being. Although the mission to contact Orochimaru was made up by Naoki Senju, Guren believed it to be true. At this moment, she was busy searching for information on nearby strongholds. Orochimaru's strongholds could exist anywhere in the Shinobi World.
Only occasionally would Guren look around, taking in the unique customs and clothing of the Land of Fire, and the lush green mountains and fields rarely seen in other small countries...
But this peace and tranquility was short-lived. Both Naoki Senju and Tsunade clearly remembered that they had come for revenge.