The Battle with Tsunade, Continued

Uzumaki Hane looked at Tsunade and thought, This can't go on. How can I get the bell?

Tsunade flashed forward, appearing in front of Uzumaki Hane, and sent him flying with a heavy kick.

Then Tsunade came over to Uzumaki Hane and looked down at him. "Kid, what are you thinking about? You're distracted. If you can't do it, just admit defeat."

Uzumaki Hane lay on the ground, feeling deeply frustrated. There's no time to think. I'll just attack first. He sprang to his feet and charged at Tsunade, only for her to send him flying again with a punch.

Uzumaki Hane roared as he got up again. "Canine Red Lotus!" His right hand turned into dog-shaped lava and surged toward Tsunade. She shifted her body to the left, and the lava grazed past her. Tsunade clenched her right hand and smashed it into the lava, shattering the dog-shaped mass. She threw another punch, sending Uzumaki Hane flying.

Again and again, Uzumaki Hane was sent flying, but every time, he managed to get back up and charge at her. He was sent flying again, and before he knew it, his body was covered in wounds.

Once more, Uzumaki Hane forced himself to stand, looking at Tsunade with determination.

Tsunade was slightly moved, but she knew Uzumaki Hane was at the end of his strength. She reached out and flicked his forehead. Uzumaki Hane fell helplessly to the ground and couldn't get back up.

Tsunade shook her head. Although Uzumaki Hane was strong, his methods were still too unrefined. She had used almost all her strength just now. If Uzumaki Hane hadn't possessed a Kekkei Genkai, anyone else in his place would have died long ago.

Just then, Might Guy appeared beside Uzumaki Hane and respectfully addressed Tsunade. "Lord Hokage."

Tsunade turned around and said, "Take him back." But Might Guy didn't answer. She noticed him looking somewhat shocked as he stared behind her.

Tsunade turned back and saw that Uzumaki Hane had somehow gotten back up and was reaching for the bell at her waist.

Tsunade didn't dodge and let him grab the bell. Unfortunately, after grabbing it, Uzumaki Hane had no strength left to pull it free. He collapsed to the ground and passed out.

"What a shame..." Tsunade said. Her figure flashed, and she vanished.

Might Guy walked over to Uzumaki Hane and lifted him onto his back. If anyone had seen Might Guy, they would have noticed that tears were streaming down his face as he murmured, "This is youth..."

When Uzumaki Hane woke up again, he found himself lying in his own bed.

Recalling his crushing defeat, Uzumaki Hane clenched his fists so tightly that his palms bled, though he didn't notice. "I lost," he said, unwilling to accept it.

"That's right, you lost," Might Guy's voice rang out.

Uzumaki Hane looked toward the voice and saw Might Guy standing on his hands in the middle of the room. "Teacher Kaido, why are you here?"

Might Guy supported himself with one hand and gave him a thumbs-up with the other, flashing two rows of straight, white teeth. "I was there watching your fight with Lady Tsunade the whole time today. Hane, you were so fired up today that my blood was boiling just watching you. I'm going to run a few laps around the village. This is youth!" Without waiting for Uzumaki Hane to speak, he ran out on his hands and disappeared from sight.

Uzumaki Hane's mouth twitched, but after Might Guy's antics, he felt much better.

Lying in bed, Uzumaki Hane thought about why he had failed today. He murmured, "Looks like I underestimated the strength of Kage Level ninja. It's not just their strength, but their experience too. Tsunade grew up in real wars. Compared to her, my methods are too unrefined. It's a shame I can't become Tsunade's disciple. I'll have to be more careful from now on. Root could attack again at any time."

Uzumaki Hane got out of bed, and a bell fell from his clothes. Puzzled, he picked it up and murmured, "Isn't this the bell from the match just now? How did it get here?" Suddenly, he remembered that this was the bell he was supposed to give Yamano Koromo at noon, and he hurried out.

It was already dark outside. Uzumaki Hane walked briskly down the street, picking up speed until he soon arrived at Yamano Koromo's house.

When Yamano Koromo saw Uzumaki Hane, she gave him a radiant smile. "Hane, what brings you here?"

When Uzumaki Hane saw Yamano Koromo's smile, the gloom in his heart seemed to vanish all at once. Uzumaki Hane inwardly denied it. This must be the previous owner's influence.

Uzumaki Hane took the bell from his clothes. "Here, this is the bell you wanted." He handed it to Yamano Koromo.

Yamano Koromo gently accepted the bell and happily pulled Uzumaki Hane into the house. Her parents were preparing dinner, and when they saw Uzumaki Hane, they warmly urged him to stay and eat with them. The house was filled with laughter and warmth.

Uzumaki Hane left Yamano Koromo's house and headed home.

Suddenly, Uzumaki Hane noticed someone following him. Could it be one of Danzo's people? Without betraying anything, he walked to a corner, then flashed into an alley.

Seeing this, the person following him rushed in after him.

Uzumaki Hane had been ready. When his pursuer entered, he sent several Kunai flying at them.

Two Kunai appeared in the pursuer's hands, and they quickly knocked the incoming Kunai aside.

Uzumaki Hane was about to attack again when he realized the newcomer was Shizune. He held back.

After knocking the Kunai aside, Shizune put her own Kunai away. "I mean no harm."

"I remember you. You're the person who stays by Lord Hokage's side. What is it?" Uzumaki Hane asked.

"Lord Hokage wants to see you tomorrow morning. I went to your house just now, but you weren't there. I happened to run into you on the road, so I came after you." As Shizune spoke, she walked toward Uzumaki Hane.

"Got it," Uzumaki Hane said.

Suddenly, two Kunai appeared in Shizune's hands. Quick as lightning, she plunged them into Uzumaki Hane's chest.

Bang! Uzumaki Hane turned into a mass of magma and fell to the ground.

Shizune's eyes narrowed. "A clone?" She was about to move when a lava arm pierced through her chest.

Shizune managed to turn her head. Uzumaki Hane was standing behind her, smiling at her. "That's right. This is my Lava Clone."

With a bang, Shizune's entire body turned to smoke. A ninja emerged from the shadows and looked at Uzumaki Hane. "How did you know I wasn't the real Shizune?"

Uzumaki Hane's expression was grave. "Your eyes. They weren't gentle enough."

The mysterious ninja was about to speak when he suddenly sensed something. He flashed onto a rooftop and said, "I'll come back for you." Leaping between the houses, he quickly disappeared from Uzumaki Hane's sight.

Uzumaki Hane didn't pursue him. After all, Tsunade had beaten him so badly today that he still hadn't recovered to his peak condition.

A figure landed in front of Uzumaki Hane. It was Might Guy. He looked in the direction the mysterious ninja had disappeared, seemingly recognizing him. "Hane, are you all right?"

Uzumaki Hane shook his head. "I'm fine."

Might Guy didn't pursue the matter, and the two of them went home.

Uzumaki Hane returned home and sat cross-legged on his bed. He murmured, "I've successfully opened the first gate. Next, I need to devour Fire Style and strengthen my Magma-Magma Fruit to prepare for opening the second gate. But who should I look for?" Uzumaki Hane suddenly thought of someone skilled in Fire Style and decided to seek him out tomorrow.