As the saying goes: "One guards against petty men, not gentlemen." And Danzō was the very definition of a petty man.
"Alright, then I'll follow big sister!" Hyūga Shigeo said. As long as he could survive, it didn't matter if he became a wandering ninja or a rogue shinobi—it was still better than falling into the hands of Orochimaru or Danzō.
"Good, it's a deal! I'll go tell the Third…" Tsunade exclaimed happily before rushing out of the room.
Moments later, she hurried back in, scooped up Shigeo—still wrapped in a bath towel—and carried him straight out the door.
Inside the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage frowned slightly at the sight of Shigeo swaddled in a towel.
"You truly wish to go with Tsunade? I need your answer directly."
"I do," Shigeo replied firmly.
The Third looked at him with some reluctance. This child was a rare talent. To let him leave like this felt like such a waste—after all, how many children at his age could already mold chakra?
"Tsunade, I'll allow the boy to follow you for now. But when the Academy starts next year, you must bring him back to enroll, understand? And don't forget your own mission."
The Third trusted Tsunade's strength, and he knew that even with a child in tow, she would never neglect the bigger picture.
After refusing Danzō's request to take the boy, the Hokage had thought carefully. If this child were truly ordinary, would Orochimaru and Danzō be so desperate to get their hands on him? Clearly, there was something extraordinary about him.
Still, sending him away for now wasn't a bad choice. He believed Tsunade would eventually return him. By then, matters could be reassessed.
Right now, less than three days after the Fourth Hokage's death, the village was already in chaos. That girl who used Shōton — Crystal Release was still missing. Orochimaru had defected. Other shinobi villages posed threats. The Hokage felt utterly exhausted. Letting this child lie low for a while seemed best.
So, the Third agreed to Tsunade's request. Overjoyed, she leapt into the air. That very night, fearing Danzō might attempt a secret abduction, she hurriedly packed her belongings and left the village with Shizune and Shigeo in tow.
Shigeo, too, felt a pang of helplessness. He hadn't even gotten the chance to say goodbye to Uzuki Yugao, Ayame, or the others before being whisked away.
Once they departed Konoha, Tsunade led Shizune and Shigeo northward toward the Land of Iron. Their route would take them through the Land of Iron to the port of Qitian. There were rumors that Kumogakure ANBU operatives had been sighted there, meeting with unknown individuals. It was their mission to investigate.
But the task wasn't urgent. Along the way, they traveled in a relaxed manner—stopping here and there, gathering information on the Cloud Village's movements while heading northeast. During the day, they walked. At night, whenever they reached a town, Tsunade's gambling itch struck, and she would drag Shigeo into the casinos.
Fortunately, she still understood that children needed rest. After winning enough money, she would always take him back.
It was in these quiet stretches that Shigeo found time to train. With each passing day, he sharpened his skills. Through his Mirror System replication, he had already mastered the ninjutsu of Namikaze Minato, Uchiha Obito, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and later even the Shōton — Crystal Release techniques of Guren.
During the day, Shigeo also trained his body. And as his cloned fragment of the Nine-Tails grew to two percent, his chakra reserves began to transform in sheer quantity.
Tsunade and Shizune treated him kindly. At this time, Tsunade was still just a notorious gambler in the making—not yet the "Legendary Sucker." Though she loved her vices, she never let them interfere with what truly mattered.
(End of Chapter)
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