Just as Gekko Chizan was about to retreat, a sudden notification sound made him reconsider.
[Ding! Detected host peeking at one of the Konoha Sannin, Tsunade. Special reward: +1% progress in second Kekkei Genkai!]
Oh? Just from peeking at Tsunade, you get a reward this good?
No wonder Jiraiya used to peep on Tsunade while she was bathing. Even if he got beaten half to death, it was still worth it!
Gotta keep watching!
For more rewards, Gekko Chizan continued clinging to the wall, carefully observing the large and small figures in the hot spring.
The small one he ignored entirely—looked like a bean sprout. The main focus was Tsunade.
Tsk tsk, worthy of the title "most beautiful woman in the shinobi world." That figure... indescribable... just indescribable...
"Tsunade-sama, are you really not planning to help on the battlefield in the Land of Rivers?"
"Isn't the situation over there not looking good?"
Suddenly, Shizune's words made Gekko Chizan furrow his brow slightly.
The situation in the Land of Rivers isn't good?
That means something new has come up...
"I'm not going. Why should I?"
"Orochimaru's there, isn't that enough? Hmph!"
"It's just Chiyo coming up with some new poison again. A huge village like Konoha isn't going to miss me."
"Not going!"
Tsunade took another swig of sake.
A trace of displeasure appeared on her face, then she leaned back against the stone behind her, gazing up at the sky.
No one knew what she was thinking about.
Seeing Tsunade unhappy, Shizune didn't say anything further.
Gekko Chizan, meanwhile, sighed quietly.
Tsunade became like this partly because of her hemophobia, but more importantly due to years of war. It was the loss of people dear to her that made her want to escape the cruel reality, which is why she chose to leave the village. Everyone has moments when they want to let go; instead of struggling in a cruel reality, why not numb oneself with indulgence and escapism?
"Who's there!"
Suddenly, Tsunade hurled the bottle in her hand toward the wall.
Gekko Chizan was shocked. Damn it, he had just sighed out loud!
Crap! A split second before the bottle hit, Gekko Chizan quickly activated Flying Thunder God Technique and disappeared from the spot, reappearing in his own room.
With the sound of glass shattering on the ground—
Shizune immediately looked over, but saw nothing.
"Tsunade-sama, did you drink too much? Were you hearing things?"
"There's no one there..."
But Tsunade shook her head with a serious expression.
"Shizune, are you doubting me now!"
"I really heard something!"
Shizune just gave her a face that said, "You're right, you're totally right."
Which drove Tsunade nearly insane!
Meanwhile, back in his room, Gekko Chizan let out a breath of relief.
If Tsunade had caught him, he would've been beaten senseless for sure. Even Jiraiya turns into a toad when Tsunade punches him.
His scrawny body wouldn't survive a single punch from her.
To save his own life, he didn't dare linger. He immediately checked out of the inn and rushed toward Konoha overnight.
...
The next day, Gekko Chizan arrived directly at the Hokage Building.
He had spent the whole night rushing back.
"Hokage-sama, the identity of the Jinchuriki from Kumogakure has been confirmed."
"His name is Killer Bee, part of the A and Bee duo from Kumogakure."
"He's very strong. I personally witnessed him in the Land of Fields using Tailed Beast power to defeat Iwagakure's Demolition Squad member Gari."
"Also, the fighting in the Land of Fields is intensifying. Kitsuchi, son of the Third Tsuchikage, and A, son of the Third Raikage, are both in the Land of Fields."
Listening to Gekko Chizan's report and seeing his exhausted state, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt very pleased. A disciple like this was hard to come by these days.
Orochimaru had done well.
But soon, Hiruzen's expression grew serious.
"You did well."
"Let Kumogakure and Iwagakure fight it out. As long as they don't turn their attention to us, we're fine."
"But the situation at the Land of Rivers battlefield is extremely troublesome."
"All the top-tier fighters are there."
Gekko Chizan didn't react much, since he had already heard part of this from Tsunade.
Looks like Sunagakure is feeling very confident.
"Perfect timing. There's a meeting about to start. Come with me."
"This meeting is to discuss how we'll handle the main battlefield in the Land of Rivers."
"Let's go."
Hiruzen didn't give Gekko Chizan any chance to decline and headed straight out.
Gekko Chizan didn't want to go, but when your own Hokage speaks, what else can you do? Just follow.
The meeting room had more people than Gekko Chizan expected.
Heads of various clans and Konoha's top brass were all present.
"Hiruzen, you're late!"
"For such an important meeting, you dare be late? What kind of example is that?"
As Hiruzen's number one adversary, Shimura Danzo never missed a chance to attack him.
Hearing this, Mitokado Homura and Koharu Utatane looked at Hiruzen with slight curiosity, waiting for his explanation.
"Hmph, Danzo, can't you just keep quiet for once?"
"Gekko Chizan just returned from the Land of Fields with intel on the conflict between Kumogakure and Iwagakure."
"That's why I'm a little late. But I think everyone here would be more interested in the situation there, wouldn't you say?"
Hiruzen pulled out the chair at the head of the table and sat down. Gekko Chizan stood behind him.
"Oh? Conflict between Kumogakure and Iwagakure?"
"Now that's good news. Gekko Chizan, please share the intel you gathered with everyone."
As Hokage's advisor, Mitokado Homura understood just how critical the current situation was.
Gaining such valuable intelligence at this time was indeed a good thing.
The heads of the major clans all nodded in agreement.
Under Hiruzen's instruction, Gekko Chizan once again described the conflict between Kumogakure and Iwagakure in the Land of Fields.
After hearing the full report, everyone's expressions varied.
Most looked relieved, but a few high-level officials and the Nara Clan head had serious expressions.
"Although they're fighting, neither side has committed their full strength."
"For example, Iwagakure still has both of their Jinchuriki in the Land of Grass. It's clear they're still watching us closely."
"And Kumogakure is stationed in the Land of Hot Springs."
"Whether it's Iwagakure or Kumogakure, we must remain on high alert."
As expected of the Nara Clan—the first to speak.
Hiruzen nodded.
"However, the greater threat right now is the battlefield in the Land of Rivers. Orochimaru is under immense pressure there."
"We must dispatch significant reinforcements."
"According to the war reports, top-tier Sunagakure fighters like Chiyo, Rasa, and Kemaki have all appeared in the Land of Rivers battlefield."
"Furthermore, Sunagakure has released an entirely new kind of poison, posing a serious threat to our forces."
"If not for Orochimaru countering it with summoning techniques, our casualties would have been far worse."
Hiruzen's words once again brought silence to the room.
"Hmph, is Sunagakure planning to throw the entire village into this war?"
"Do they think Konoha has no one?"
"I suggest the Uchiha, Hyuga, and other major clans send a set number of jōnin to reinforce the Land of Rivers battlefield."
"If Sunagakure wants to fight, we'll fight them."
Mitokado Homura snorted coldly.
His words made the clan heads frown slightly.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo