The Land of Bears was a quiet, forest-covered country, its dense canopy filtering the sunlight into shifting, golden patterns across the forest floor. A breeze whispered through the leaves, carrying the scent of moss and damp soil. Somewhere deep within this woodland, Uchiha Izumi moved at a leisurely pace, her footsteps silent on the soft earth.
A shuriken spun lazily around her index finger. It wasn't an ordinary weapon—its steel edges shimmered faintly, wreathed in an invisible but deadly aura. This was a shuriken enhanced with Wind Release Ninjutsu, its cutting edge extended by a razor-thin blade of air.
It was a technique she had picked up from observation—Danzo had once used something similar, imbuing kunai and shuriken with wind to lengthen their range and cutting power. Izumi had given it her own name: Vacuum Blade.
She let the weapon spin one more time before stopping it with a flick of her finger. Her Sharingan eyes scanned the underbrush ahead.
"Come out," she called, her tone deceptively casual but carrying a dangerous edge. "If I have to come find you, I'm not going to be responsible for what happens."
The forest answered only with the rustle of leaves and the distant call of a bird. But further ahead, hidden behind thick trunks and brambles, several figures were crouched low, watching her with wary eyes.
They were members of the Jashin cult—wild-eyed, gaunt, and dressed in black and gray, their bodies adorned with crude, blood-smeared symbols.
"Damn it," one of them hissed under his breath. "Why is this Konoha brat so strong?"
Another bared his teeth in frustration. "We were just spreading the Lord's teachings in the Land of Bears… and we run into a Leaf ninja. Those worthless villagers abandoned by Lord Jashin—I was going to make them scream until they died!"
A third cultist tightened his grip on his scythe.
Before they could plan their move, a new voice cut in—soft, almost musical, yet dripping with mockery.
"Oh? That exciting? Can I join in?"
Their eyes went wide. They whipped their heads toward the sound, only to realize the spot where Izumi had been standing seconds earlier was empty.
"Wh–"
Too late. She was standing right in front of them, so close they could see the reflection of their own startled faces in her red Sharingan.
"Ahhh!" one of them screamed and bolted, crashing through the undergrowth in blind panic.
The other two reacted faster, raising their oversized scythes and swinging them down at her in unison.
Izumi didn't flinch. She didn't even move to dodge.
Instead, she casually flicked her wrist and sent the spinning shuriken flying—not toward the attackers, but toward the cultist who had tried to escape. The weapon sang through the air, its wind-forged edge cutting clean through his torso. He fell in two halves before he even knew he'd been struck.
The remaining two froze mid-swing, momentarily shocked.
"What—? Is she crazy? She's just standing there, and she even threw away her only weapon!"
A grin spread across their faces.
"Hah! Serves you right! Die!"
Their scythes whistled toward her, slicing through the air at terrifying speed.
But Izumi only smiled.
In that instant, the black talismans on her wristguards flared to life. The paper charms slid off the metal as if alive, drifting into her open palms.
In a blink, the seals released their stored weapons—two gleaming blades materialized in her hands.
Steel clashed with steel as she caught both scythes mid-swing, her muscles barely straining. The cultists' eyes went wide with disbelief.
"Wha—?!"
They didn't get a chance to finish. With a fluid twist, Izumi brought both blades upward in two swift arcs. The edges bit deep into their necks.
Their heads flew, tumbling through the air before landing with a dull thud on the mossy ground.
The forest was silent again, save for the distant buzz of insects.
Izumi exhaled slowly, letting her blades lower to her sides. Then she frowned, one hand going to her temple.
"Ugh. I overdid it again," she muttered in frustration. "How did I forget? Now I have to deal with the bodies. So gross."
Still grimacing, she sheathed her blades and dragged the corpses together, preparing to transport them back.
---
Back in the nearby settlement, the rest of her team had also returned with captured or slain cultists. The villagers gathered in the square, their faces lighting up when they saw the threat eliminated.
"They're dead! We're safe!"
Cheer after cheer erupted, people embracing each other in relief.
Mission complete.
The team regrouped and began heading toward the village gates.
Sarutobi Muraki, their squad leader, shook his head. "Strange. The Jashin cult is just a minor sect in the Land of Hot Water. They haven't even fully established themselves there, so why come all the way to the Land of Bears? They were practically asking to die."
Yamamoto Kawa yawned. "Yeah, and they weren't even strong. Not fun at all."
Akido Jiro, rubbing his plump stomach, turned to Muraki. "Teacher, shall we go eat?"
At once, Yamamoto Kawa and Izumi perked up, their eyes glinting with anticipation.
Muraki sighed at their expectant stares. "Alright, alright. We'll get something to eat in town."
"Yay!"
The three younger ninja cheered, already chanting, "Food! Food! Teacher's buying!" as they walked.
---
The town's main street was lively, lined with shops, stalls, and the occasional gambler's den. The smell of roasted meat and fresh bread wafted through the air.
They had barely chosen a restaurant when Muraki froze mid-step, his gaze locked across the street.
"What's up, Teacher?" Izumi asked.
Muraki didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on a gambling house where a crowd had gathered around two women—one tall, blonde, and voluptuous with the kanji for "gamble" boldly painted on her back; the other, a short-haired woman holding a small, squealing pig.
The crowd was rowdy, voices overlapping.
"Cow! Pay up, or we'll sell you!"
"You think you can just run from your debts? Pay up!"
Izumi's eyes widened. "Tsunade?"
Sure enough, the legendary medic-nin herself was standing there, looking only mildly annoyed despite being surrounded by debt collectors.
Muraki reacted instantly. "Lady Tsunade!" he called.
Both Tsunade and her companion Shizune turned toward the voice. Tsunade's face lit up as if she'd spotted a savior. She strode forward and clapped Muraki on the shoulder.
"Well, if it isn't Muraki. You've grown, kid."
Muraki smiled faintly. "Not really. In front of you, I'm still a child."
Tsunade leaned in, lowering her voice. "Hey, got any money? Just a small favor. It's an emergency."
Muraki hesitated for only a second before nodding. "How much?"
That was all she needed.
"Perfect! You heard him!" Tsunade called to the collectors with a bright smile. "He's paying for me! Bye!"
Before anyone could stop her, she grabbed Shizune and dashed off down the street.
The debt collectors turned toward Muraki's group, their expressions darkening.
"Ahhh! Teacher, my money!" Yamamoto Kawa groaned, clutching his head.
Izumi and Jiro both stared at Muraki in silent accusation.
Muraki rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. "I didn't realize she owed that much. I'm sorry. I'll get Hokage-sama to reimburse you."
Kawa gave Izumi a sidelong look. "I didn't know you were this rich. Maybe in the future—"
"No."
"What? You don't even know what I was going to say!"
"I know. And the answer's still no."
"Tch, stingy."
Akido Jiro asked, "Teacher, who was that? You just paid her debt like that."
Kawa smirked knowingly. "Could it be…?"
Muraki shook his head. "No. That was Lady Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin. She watched me grow up. I haven't seen her in years."
Kawa's jaw dropped. "That was Tsunade? She's so young-looking! Is that really true?"
Muraki spread his hands. "Why else would I pay her debt?"
---
Later, in a small tavern, Tsunade sat with a flushed face, slamming down her sake cup.
"Ha! Now this is living!" she declared, refilling it.
Shizune, ever the responsible one, tried to intervene. "Lady Tsunade, please, drink less. You'll regret it."
Tsunade waved her off. "Regret? What's there to regret? Pour me another!"
From across the table, Shizune offered Muraki a polite smile. "Thank you for earlier, Muraki-senpai. We owe you."
Muraki shook his head. "It was nothing." He looked at Tsunade, his expression softening. "Lady Tsunade, please… come back to the village. Hokage-sama misses you. That's your home."
Tsunade's smile faded. She stared into her drink for a long moment before replying quietly, "Home? I don't have a home anymore."
Muraki opened his mouth to speak again, but she cut him off with a small shake of her head..
"I'm not going back. Not now. What could I even do there?"
Her voice carried the weight of years of loss.
Muraki could only sit back, knowing further persuasion would get nowhere tonight.
The sound of laughter and clinking cups filled the air, but beneath it lingered the unspoken truth—Tsunade was still running from more than just debt.
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