"You're talking about the First Hokage, who founded our Hidden Leaf Village?"
Sasuke, Sakura, and Shion all widened their eyes.
To them, the First Hokage was a legendary figure, his deeds woven into tales that had been passed down in the Hidden Leaf Village to this day.
"That's right!"
Tsunade nodded, a trace of nostalgia in her eyes.
After the initial shock, Sasuke frowned. "Is it really only the First Hokage and Jiraiya-sama who can harness natural energy in the entire shinobi world?"
"As far as I know, yes," Tsunade replied honestly.
She had heard from Jiraiya that the Fourth Hokage had attempted to train in senjutsu at Mount Myoboku, but she didn't know if he succeeded. Since the Fourth had died young, she didn't mention him to Sasuke and the others.
In her view, the only one who truly mastered "senjutsu" was the First Hokage.
Jiraiya's reliance on external aids to barely activate "Sage Mode" didn't strictly count as mastering "senjutsu" in her eyes.
Sakura couldn't help but sigh. "So harnessing natural energy is that difficult!"
Shion asked, "If controlling natural energy is so hard, how did the mysterious person who attacked Sasuke manage to infuse it into the 'Cursed Seal'?"
Tsunade looked at Sasuke. "Now you understand why we need to find that mysterious person to remove your 'Cursed Seal.' We need to figure out how they did it before we can find a solution!"
Sasuke grasped why Tsunade was telling him this and fell silent.
"You need to rest now!"
After finishing her examination, Tsunade left Sasuke's room.
Once Tsunade and the others were gone, Sasuke suddenly said, "Sakura, I need your help!"
Sakura's heart skipped a beat. "W-What do you want to do?"
Sasuke declared, "I'm leaving the hospital!"
"Are you crazy?" Sakura's expression changed, and she exclaimed, "Didn't you hear Lady Tsunade? You need to rest!"
Sasuke shook his head lightly. "I don't have time left!"
Shion chimed in, "Sasuke, you're still young. Even if you want revenge, there's no need to rush! Look at me—I'm staying safe in the Hidden Leaf."
The fact that Shion was being hunted by the demon Moryo was known to her closer academy peers.
Sasuke grew irritated. "You don't understand. My dojutsu won't hold out much longer! Right now, that bastard is being hunted by the Hidden Stone—this is my best shot at revenge. If I miss this chance, I might never get another one this good!"
Sakura said, "But your 'Cursed Seal'…"
"It's eroding my body, but it's also greatly boosting my strength. I need to use it to complete my revenge before it destroys me!"
Sasuke had clearly thought this through.
Seeing the determination in his eyes, Sakura found herself at a loss for words.
Shion spoke up, "Sasuke, we'll help you, but you have to agree to one condition!"
Sasuke asked, "What condition?"
Shion replied, "You have to take me with you!"
Sakura quickly added, "And me!"
Sasuke frowned.
His instinct was to refuse. After all, a confrontation with Itachi was uncertain, and he might not survive. Bringing Shion and Sakura could put them in danger.
But on second thought, missing this opportunity meant an indefinite wait for the next. With the increasing pain in his eyes and his vision growing blurry, he felt his dojutsu was nearing its limit. After weighing his options, he agreed to their condition.
Nightfall.
Three shadowy figures moved stealthily through the forest outside the Hidden Leaf Village.
One of them asked, "Got all your gear?"
"Yep!"
The other two nodded in unison.
Undoubtedly, these three were none other than Sasuke, Shion, and Sakura.
Thanks to Sakura's training under Shizune in medical ninjutsu, she was now an apprentice medical ninja. With her help, Sasuke—already formidable—easily deceived the hospital's medical ninja and the two Anbu monitoring him, slipping out of the village unnoticed.
Sasuke glanced at Shion and Sakura.
Both were geared up, backpacks slung over their shoulders and bulging pouches of ninja tools strapped to their waists, ready for battle.
Shion's face was full of excitement, while Sakura's showed some unease.
Sasuke said, "Maybe…you should go back."
Shion immediately protested, "Hey, we had a deal! You can't back out now!"
Sakura added, "We're not going back!"
Sasuke sighed helplessly. "We're facing the Akatsuki. It's dangerous for you to come with me!"
"If you don't take me, I'll report you to the village!" Shion paused, then muttered, "Besides, with Shinji there, what's there to fear?"
That comment struck a nerve. Sasuke immediately declared, "I'll protect you both. Let's go!"
The three glanced back at the village, then resolutely headed toward the Land of Earth.
Shinji's side.
Since the Hidden Leaf's reinforcements were all elites, they moved at breakneck speed, reaching the border in just a day and a half. Without stopping, they passed through the border into the Land of Grass.
After another half-day, they crossed the narrowest part of the Land of Grass, arriving in the Land of Earth in a total of two and a half days.
Upon entering the Land of Earth, the team quickly linked up with Hidden Stone ninja.
"Kakashi-senpai, on behalf of the Hidden Stone, I thank the Hidden Leaf for your support!"
Kurotsuchi bowed to Kakashi.
To show their commitment, the Hidden Stone had sent Kurotsuchi, the Third Tsuchikage Onoki's daughter, to coordinate with the Leaf's reinforcements.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Kakashi asked, "What's the situation now?"
Kurotsuchi's face darkened as she shook her head. "It's bad. The Akatsuki team that attacked Roshi evaded our encirclement and escaped into the Land of Birds to the south. Only the team that attacked Han is still trapped in the Land of Earth."
Kakashi's eyes flickered. "What's Tsuchikage-sama's plan?"
Kurotsuchi replied, "My grandfather plans to first focus on eliminating the Akatsuki team trapped in the Land of Earth to rescue Han, then pursue the team that took Roshi."
Kakashi nodded and asked, "Have you identified the Akatsuki members who attacked your Five-Tails Jinchuriki?"
"Yes, one is the demon called 'Moryo' from the Demon Country, and the other is Shinno, an international spy posing as a traveling physician. Our forces engaged them, but their strength was overwhelming, and we couldn't defeat them."