The sun dipped below the horizon.
After a long day of training, Team 10 lay sprawled on the ground, soaked in sweat and completely drained.
Seeing their condition, Heiyan acknowledged his students for giving their all during cultivation and smiled, offering to treat them to dinner.
"Eat whatever you like. I'll take care of everything. You're all still growing — you need a lot of nutrition."
"Awesome!"
Kushina was the first to leap up, punching the air with glee.
"That woman's definitely a monster. How can she recover so quickly like nothing even happened?"
Seeing how quickly Kushina had regained her strength, the other boys looked at each other in disbelief. Then, motivated by the temptation of delicious food, they helped each other back to their feet.
Bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, the group made their way toward Hot Springs Street.
Arriving at Ichiraku Ramen, five boys lined up side by side, each devouring bowl after bowl of steaming ramen.
Among them, the chubby Akimichi Choza had already devoured seven bowls, though Kushina wasn't far behind with six. Their competitive spirits flared, turning into a contest over who would be crowned the ultimate big eater of Team 10.
Namikaze Minato, Nara Shikaku, and the others watched with stunned expressions.
"The Red-Hot Habanero really is terrifying in every sense. She doesn't act feminine at all. There's no way any guy would ever want to date her in the future."
Shikaku muttered softly.
But unfortunately for him, Kushina's sharp ears caught every word.
"What did you just say?"
Kushina turned an angry glare on Nara Shikaku, unyielding as she snapped back, "Worry about yourself before talking about others, pineapple head! With your lazy dog attitude all the time, what girl would ever like you?"
"I'm not interested in little girls anyway."
Shikaku casually dug into his ear, ignoring her and muttering to himself, "The kind of woman I truly admire is someone like Tsunade-sama — strong-willed and stunningly beautiful."
"Don't even dream about it."
Hearing this, Kushina immediately retorted with merciless mockery, smirking proudly as she added, "Let me tell you a secret — Tsunade-sama is actually Heiyan's girlfriend, and I was the one who brought them together! You don't stand a chance, so just go cool off somewhere else."
Meanwhile, just outside the shop, Heiyan listened to their bickering and felt a wave of exasperation.
Heiyan couldn't help but sigh at their conversation. These kids really are growing up too fast — barely ten years old and already talking about love.
Looks like I've been going easy on them with the training assignments.
Though now that the topic of romance has come up—
During their time together, he and Tsunade had indeed gradually realized their feelings for each other. There was just that last thin barrier preventing them from openly expressing it.
For Heiyan, he didn't want to come off as careless or rushed, so he'd been waiting for the right moment to sincerely express his feelings to Tsunade.
Originally, after returning from Loulan, he had planned to make his move. However, upon hearing that the Daimyo's Mansion was plotting to sabotage Konoha's reforms, he had no choice but to rush back to the village urgently.
After resolving the crisis that the village faced, he had to start teaching his students again, while Tsunade needed to return to deal with matters in the Medical Department.
It could only be said that both of them were too busy and temporarily lacked time for romantic matters.
Several days passed like this.
In the office, Heiyan flipped through stacks of mission records on the desk, looking for one to give to Team 10 to handle.
Time to properly train these brats.
Because of the tension between the Daimyo's Mansion and Konoha, missions within the Land of Fire had dried up completely. Occasionally, Konoha still received a few tasks from neighboring small countries or minor ninja villages.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Heiyan's gaze stopped, drawn by a particular mission.
This was a task issued by Hoshigakure from Kumogakure, stating that there had been an uprising in their village—the "Star" meteorite had been stolen. The Third Star Shadow requested help from Konoha to retrieve the "Star" and eliminate the rogue ninja.
This was essentially an S-ranked mission, something Minato and others couldn't accomplish, yet Heiyan found it intriguing.
His Sage Transformation had evolved into its later stages; to make further progress, besides persistent cultivation, he also needed to harness vast amounts of external energy.
Hero Water, Dragon Vein, Gruel Stone, and the meteorite "Star"—these four treasures were what Heiyan believed might benefit his Sage Transformation.
Currently, he already obtained the first two, had no clue where the Gruel Stone lay hidden—only able to search opportunistically—and as for the last, the "Star," it resided inside Hoshigakure.
Frowning deeply, Heiyan tapped rhythmically on the table as he rummaged through his memories for all he knew about the "Star."
Two centuries ago, a meteor streaked down from the heavens, crashing into Hoshigakure.
The First Star Shadow discovered that the meteor had the power to enhance chakra and could be used for training. Thus, he devoted effort researching and developed a cultivation method called Kujaku.
However, later during the era of the Third Star Shadow, this practice was suddenly banned.
Because although the "Star" enhanced ninja's chakra, it caused tremendous side effects to the body. Many ninja in Hoshigakure suffered serious physical harm due to inability to control the boosted power, some even dying as a result.
Based on this, Heiyan speculated that the meteor known as the "Star" actually originated from the moon above.
More accurately, it should be part of the Ten-Tails, which explained why it contained such immense power.
But the strength of the Ten-Tails was definitely not something ordinary people could endure, so many who trained Kujaku ended up dying.
Yet Sage Transformation could withstand it.
Previously, the Hero Water Heiyan consumed originated from the God Tree, which fused with Kaguya Otsutsuki and transformed into the Ten-Tails. The energies of the Hero Water and the "Star" essentially came from the same source.
Moreover, according to Heiyan's estimation, the energy contained in the "Star" must far surpass that of Hero Water. Once successfully absorbed, it would definitely allow him to shatter the fifth tomoe within his body, advancing his Sage Transformation to the next stage.
That is, reaching the level of Hashirama Senju at his peak.
That was the true pinnacle of the ninja world, just a single step away from the Six Paths Tier.
Heiyan realized that in order to fight against Madara Uchiha, who had awakened the Rinnegan, he had to get his hands on the "Star."
After careful thought and planning,
Heiyan selected a B-rank escort mission for a caravan, assigning Minato and Team 10 to complete it. He felt fairly confident about their abilities.
As for himself, he left the office and went directly to the Medical Department to find Tsunade.
Heiyan led Tsunade into a small room, closing the door behind them. He then quietly explained everything to her and invited her to accompany him to Hoshigakure.
"The meteorite in Hoshigakure can enhance the power of the Sage Transformation?"
Tsunade looked surprised but quickly accepted Heiyan's invitation without hesitation.
One reason Heiyan specifically brought Tsunade along was because, like him, she also possessed the Sage Transformation—the meteorite could help both of them advance their cultivation.
Another reason was because Heiyan knew many ninja in Hoshigakure—especially children—who practiced Kujaku's techniques and suffered great physical harm as a result. Perhaps only Tsunade's exceptional medical ninjutsu could heal them.
There was no time to waste.
After discussing their plan thoroughly, the two immediately set off, quietly leaving Konoha and heading straight for Kumogakure in the southeast.
They did not officially accept this S-rank mission from Hoshigakure. Instead, they planned to act covertly under assumed identities.
This was because, based on Heiyan's knowledge of Hoshigakure from the original storyline, the Third Star Shadow would never willingly hand over the "Star" to outsiders. So he decided he'd play the role of a thief this time.
His plan was simple: help Hoshigakure eliminate the rebellion and cure the ninja suffering from practicing Kujaku's technique, and in return, Heiyan and Tsunade would take the meteorite.
Two days later,
"After passing through this valley, we'll be close to Hoshigakure," Tsunade pointed toward the valley ahead, frowning slightly.
The reason was the yellow toxic gas blanketing the entire area, making it impossible to pass through. Tsunade personally witnessed a pigeon flying overhead, only to inhale the fumes and plummet straight into the depths of the valley.
At the bottom of the valley, numerous animal skeletons were clearly visible—an undeniable sign that this place was a deadly zone.
In fact, over the past two hundred years, other ninja villages had repeatedly targeted Hoshigakure due to the existence of the meteorite known as the "Star."
However, the valley filled with toxic gas had formed a natural barrier that protected Hoshigakure from invasion.
For a long period of time, the leader of Hoshigakure arrogantly called himself by the title of Kage, proudly claiming Hoshigakure as the Sixth Great Ninja Village and constantly provoking nearby nations.
Despite this, thanks to this deadly valley, Hoshigakure had remained safe until today.
"I could use Wood Release to build a bridge across, but that might create a lot of noise and leave traces of Wood Release chakra," Tsunade said with a frown. Since they were infiltrating secretly, her Wood Release techniques were too conspicuous—they should avoid using them if possible.
Likewise, Heiyan's Heavenly Release (Qian) thunderclouds could fly them straight over, but that would easily expose their presence.
I've got a plan.
"This is Seven-Tails Chomei's living armor?"
Heiyan gestured for Tsunade not to worry. Smiling slightly, he retrieved Seven-Tails Chomei's living armor from a Storage Scroll.
After putting on this armor, Heiyan's entire body became encased in a grayish shell. At the same time, a pair of large wings grew from his back.
So this is armor forged from Tailed Beast chakra?
Tsunade circled around Heiyan, marveling at it. From those wings, this armor clearly possessed flight capabilities.
Heiyan suddenly had an idea. Walking toward Tsunade before she could react, he scooped her up in a princess-style carry.
"You..."
Tsunade looked like a startled rabbit, eyes wide and face burning red.
She hadn't expected Heiyan to be so forward all of a sudden.
"Hold on tight."
He whispered in her ear, then beat his wings and soared straight into the sky.
Whoosh!
The two rose into the air, escaping the height range where poison gas was spreading, directly flying toward the opposite side of the valley.
For those brief ten seconds, Tsunade held tightly onto Heiyan's neck, her body pressed close to his. Her heart raced and emotions surged.
Swoosh.
After landing on the opposite bank, Heiyan set Tsunade down.
Immediately afterward, he took out another Storage Scroll and retrieved Saiken's living armor, handing it to Tsunade.
Following Heiyan's indication, Tsunade put on this armor.
Soon her body was covered in a milky-white outer layer. Her skin, just like Saiken's, started secreting a slick, moist mucus, making her look as if she were coated in translucent lubricant.
Tsunade vaguely felt that her current appearance looked somewhat strange...
When Heiyan saw her new look, he hesitated for a moment too, but quickly regained his composure, subtly shifting his gaze elsewhere.
Half an hour later.
Heiyan and Tsunade arrived at the edge of a massive crater.
This crater measured over three hundred meters in diameter and reached a depth of one hundred meters. At its bottom stood a reddish earthen building—the place where Hoshigakure enshrined the Star.
"Let's go check it out first."
Heiyan and Tsunade exchanged glances before simultaneously leaping from the crater's edge, descending into it. Though they already knew the Star had been taken by Rogue Ninjas, they still chose to investigate, hoping to find some clues.
Indeed.
After entering the building, they discovered the location where the meteorite should have been enshrined was now completely empty.
"There's someone next door."
At this moment, Heiyan detected several faint chakra signatures using his sensor ability, then entered the adjacent room together with Tsunade, immediately encountering a shocking scene.
Inside the room, seven or eight boys aged about ten years old lay scattered about. But instead of showing any youthful vitality, they all lay on sickbeds looking pained, coughing incessantly, with some already having fallen into unconsciousness.
[Byakugan, activate!]
Heiyan opened his palm, carefully examining these boys' conditions through the symbiotic Byakugan on his palm.
Heiyan quickly realized that their chakra systems had gone into chaos, their chakra over-activated to the breaking point, making their bodies unable to endure the strain.
At this rate, these kids wouldn't survive — their own chakra would end them. That's the price of taking power from the [Ten-Tails].
Just then—
Whoosh!
Several Shuriken suddenly flew out from a nearby corner, hurtling toward Heiyan and Tsunade.
But—
Clang!
The two stood perfectly still. The projectiles struck their bodies without causing any harm before clattering to the ground.
"How could that be?"
A startled voice came from the corner. They turned and immediately spotted a pretty, red-haired little girl staring at them in obvious tension.
It seemed she had been here all along, taking care of the children lying ill in the beds.
Whoosh!
Heiyan shot out the [Celestial Binding Chain]. Before the girl could react, she was wrapped up tight and dragged over to stand before them.
"Who are you? Why did you sneak into our Hoshigakure?"
Her eyes wide with fear, the girl struggled against the chains—but it was useless.
Heiyan didn't answer right away. Instead, he glanced at Tsunade, who nodded and walked over to the nearest bed, pulling back the blanket.
"Stop! What are you going to do to my companions?"
Even trapped, the girl cried out defiantly, fighting to protect those she'd been with every moment.
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