One week later, Tanzaku Town
As a major gambling town, this place is unusually lively.
"Ding ding ding"
Shizune: "Wow! Tsunade- sama, 777, the grand prize!!!"
In the arcade, the slot machine in front of Tsunade kept spitting out coins, but Tsunade was serious. "I actually won the jackpot. Shizune, let's go."
Shizune, clutching a large pile of prizes, exclaimed, " Lady Tsunade! Winning so many prizes at once is nothing short of a miracle for us!"
Tsunade's expression turned serious. "Ah, Shizune. Let's just wander around for a bit and then leave."
Shizune: " Lady Tsunade, what's wrong? Why are you so gloomy? And such a famous place, shouldn't you stay a few more days?"
Tsunade: "Every time I win a bet, bad luck follows."
" Gentle Fist - Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists!"
" Spicy Sage Root!"
After a week of intensive training, Hinata has mastered the Fire Rasengan and is beginning to grasp the threshold of evolving Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists into Gentle Step Twin Dragon Fists. If she is at her peak, she can perform Gentle Step Twin Dragon Fists once.
Naruto also demonstrated the talent of the Namikaze Clan, fully mastering the Rasengan and becoming increasingly proficient in Chakra conversion techniques. Under the guidance of Hongshi, he began to incorporate a small amount of Wind Release Chakra.
Hongshi: "Hmm, this way the timeline can be pushed forward a little."
"╮(ω)╭ This way it'll be finished faster."
The Lord God: "Hey! Don't say it out loud!"
Hinata: "Red... Hongshi-kun, I..."
Hongshi: "Zzzz.."
Hinata: "(_), Why can you sleep anytime, anywhere?"
Naruto: "He's a genius!"
Hongshi was still holding a piece of roasted meat in his hand, while he himself was fast asleep.
Jiraiya: " Hinata-chan, your talent is quite remarkable. You've mastered the Hyuga Clan's advanced Gentle Fist: Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists, in such a short time, and you've also mastered Chakra conversion techniques... Hmm?"
"Bah!"
A Ninja Hawk was circling in the air, clearly heading towards Jiraiya.
"Oh? The Ninja Hawk from Konoha?"
"Chirp chirp!"
The Ninja Hawk landed on the Hongshi's head, nearly breaking its leg, Jiraiya, who took the information scroll from its back and released the Sealing Jutsu.
Hongshi: "Hmm? I think something just landed on my head."
Ninja Hawk: "(へ)."
Hongshi: "Hmm, this Ninja Hawk doesn't seem very friendly towards me! What are you looking at me for?"
Ninja Hawk: "(へ)!"
Hongshi: "Look at another one that looks similar!"
Naruto: "Why are you getting so worked up?"
Hinata: " Hongshi-kun, your head is so slippery, it almost fell and died."
Jiraiya reading the contents of the scroll, Jiraiya's expression turned grave. "This is not a good situation."
Hongshi, still confronting Ninja Hawk, asked, " Lord Jiraiya, what did they say from Konoha?"
Jiraiya: " Orochimaru invaded Konoha, causing the loss of Jonin Konoha. In recent days, traces of numerous ninja activities have been discovered in the border area with Grass Ninja, but their identities are unknown."
Hongshi: "Hmm? Is this the Kusagakure? Trying to take advantage of our misfortune?"
Jiraiya shook his head. "It's too early to draw conclusions, but I don't think Kusagakure has the courage or strength for that. So Konoha has given us two tasks: Naruto and I will find Tsunade as soon as possible so she can take over as the Fifth Hokage and stabilize the situation in the village, while you and Hinata-chan will go to the border to take a look."
In fact, the second generation clearly stated that Hongshi should go with Hinata...
Hongshi: "(°ー°) Why are we being asked to go? Can't you go yourself?"
Jiraiya: "The village is short-handed right now, and we're quite close to Kusagakure, only a two-day journey. Besides, you're just going to scout, so Hinata's Byakugan will come in handy. And Tsunade is someone only I can persuade... so..."
Naruto: "But I want to go too! Looking for people is the most boring thing ever!"
Jiraiya: "Shut up!"
Hongshi: "Is there any money for this quest?"
Jiraiya: " Lord Tobirama designated this mission as an A-rank, so of course there's a reward! Furthermore, Konoha has already dispatched a Genin squad; they should be able to meet up with you at the border."
Hinata: "Okay... I'll set off now."
Jiraiya: "Furthermore, a four-man patrol team that was supposed to be on the border is now missing. You'd better find them too."
Hongshi: "Alright, Hinata, let's go."
Hinata: Naruto-kun, you should also be careful!
Naruto: "This is so boring."
Tanzaku Town outside the dense forest
Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi traveled together.
Kabuto: " Lord Orochimaru, I know a little about Lady Tsunade's affairs, after all, I was in the medical corps too."
Orochimaru seemed somewhat disdainful. "Hmph, just medical-nin."
Kabuto: "She seems to be the first person to propose that a medical-nin must be included in the already widely used four-person team."
Orochimaru: "It was indeed her. I was there too."
Kabuto seemed to admire Tsunade somewhat. "This is absolutely necessary, because we all know what kind of danger a team without healing and self-rescue abilities would face in dangerous situations, and what their fate would be."
Orochimaru: "Hmph, this proposal can't be said to have come up with by Tsunade alone."
Kabuto: "Oh? Orochimaru, being one of the Sannin, should know why."
Orochimaru chuckled, "It was the extensive experience gained from war that spurred this proposal. If it weren't for the sheer number of deaths, she wouldn't have wanted to forcefully implement it. People only truly understand the value and essence of things after they've lost them."
Kabuto: "Did Lady Tsunade lose something important?"
Orochimaru: "Hehehe, she became a legendary medical-nin, even making it necessary for every squad to have medical-nin, all because of her sacrifice. Kabuto..."
Kabuto: " Lord Orochimaru, what's wrong?"
Orochimaru stopped, his cold eyes fixed intently on Kabuto Yakushi: "All these years, have you ever truly seen yourself?"
pocket. "..."
Orochimaru seemed to have found his answer, "Hehehe, Kabuto, I kept you by my side not only because of information, but also because of your talent. Your talent is no less than mine, and you may even surpass me in the future. It's just that your confusion is hindering your progress. A person who cannot face himself cannot see the road ahead clearly."
Kabuto, who was walking in front of Orochimaru, stopped when he heard Orochimaru's words. Without turning around, he remained silent for a moment and then asked, "To face yourself?"
Orochimaru just stared coldly at Kabuto.
Kabuto looked up and saw the butterfly caught in the spider web. "A butterfly caught in a spider web has no power to choose its own destiny, Lord Orochimaru."
"I see. Hehehe."
Orochimaru seemed to know Kabuto's answer and continued walking forward, leaving Kabuto alone. "I have spent my whole life pursuing the truth of Ninjutsu. This is who I am."
At this moment, the butterfly on the spider web struggled fiercely, finally breaking free and flying deep into the dense forest...
The Lord God: "() got slapped in the face, didn't he?"