Kakashi, before leaving, decided to check on Sasuke and went to the Uchiha compound. Pushing open the door of Sasuke's house, he saw Sasuke practicing shuriken in the courtyard. Sasuke spotted him immediately and said with some surprise, "Kakashi? What are you doing here?" Kakashi smiled lightly. "I'm going to leave the village for a few days, so I came to let you know."
Sasuke was a little stunned. "Aren't you our Team 7's teacher? It's rare to see a sensei who still takes solo missions."
Kakashi scratched the back of his head, his eye curving into a crescent as he smiled. "That's because I'm capable. While I'm gone, make sure you don't overuse your chakra."
Sasuke nodded, knowing it was because of the curse mark. Kakashi turned to leave, then suddenly thought of something. His left eye revealed the Sharingan as he looked at Sasuke's neck. "As I thought, Orochimaru embedded his own chakra into the curse mark. And the power of this curse mark doesn't seem to belong to him. He merely attached his chakra to it. If it weren't for Zabuza, I might not have noticed."
Sasuke frowned. "Orochimaru left his chakra inside me? That doesn't sound possible."
Kakashi explained, "It seems he even left behind a fragment of his own consciousness. That consciousness can refine chakra by itself. But since it's your body, the chakra amount is small. Still, it's enough to persist inside you indefinitely."
He thought back to how Zabuza had been poisoned and left with Orochimaru's chakra to make things easier for him later. That prompted him to check Sasuke's neck—and sure enough, the same mark was there.
Sasuke then asked, "Kakashi, didn't you just say this curse mark's power doesn't belong to Orochimaru? What do you mean?"
Kakashi said, "This curse mark actually conflicts with his chakra. That proves Orochimaru can't really wield this power. He just found a way to steal it. That's the issue you'll have to overcome—adapting your body to this immense power. I'll explain more when I return. For now, that's it."
He bid Sasuke farewell, removing the attached trace of Orochimaru's chakra from the mark, then headed out of the village.
Just then, a tall, burly man with long white hair, around fifty years old, walked up to him.
Kakashi said, "Yo, Jiraiya, has the new Icha Icha book come out?"
It was none other than Jiraiya of the Sannin, also the author of Kakashi's favorite books. Jiraiya sighed. "That's all you care about? I came to discuss something important."
Kakashi already knew what he meant—he had lived through this once before. Jiraiya spoke about Akatsuki and suggested training Naruto. Kakashi only nodded in agreement, then left the village.
After traveling for a full day, Kakashi reached a small town near the border of the Land of Fire. It was past ten at night, but the streets were still crowded. He knew Tsunade, like the First Hokage, loved gambling, and always lost. This town, near the border, was a hub of entertainment. He guessed Tsunade might be here.
Not long after, he overheard two men talking loudly. "Recently, our town's got a real money-bag lady."
The other asked curiously, "What do you mean? Don't keep me guessing."
The man laughed. "Two young beauties showed up not long ago. One of them is crazy about gambling—and she's never won once. Since then, if anyone's short on money, they just gamble with her."
The second asked, "And she hasn't noticed their scheme?"
The first chuckled. "Don't know why, but as long as you want to gamble, she'll play. More than that—she's got a figure men dream of. Who wouldn't like her? Plus, there's money to be made. Come on, I'll show you."
Kakashi thought, Money-bag lady? That must be Tsunade. If he didn't know what she looked like, he'd never connect her with their description. When she left the village, she was plain and already in her fifties—how could she look like a young beauty now?
He shook his head and followed them into a tavern.
Inside was loud and rowdy. A group of men surrounded two young women. One was tall, in black traditional clothes, with short black hair and a quiet air, holding a pet pig—Shizune, Tsunade's attendant. The other, focused on the gambling table, wore a green robe over a short striped top, long blonde hair tied into twin ponytails, her face cold yet striking, a diamond-shaped mark on her forehead, and—most noticeable of all—her ample chest. This was none other than Senju Tsunade.
Kakashi stared at her chest and sighed inwardly. "Truly the god of medical ninjutsu… even knowing she's well past fifty, I can't help but look twice."
Lost in thought, he didn't notice Tsunade glance toward the entrance. She frowned at the man wearing a Konoha forehead protector over one eye. "He's from Konoha? Why does he look familiar?"
Shizune said, "Tsunade-sama, when you left Konoha I was just a kid. I don't remember much."
Tsunade nodded, pausing her game, resting her chin on her hands, and studied the familiar face. She ignored the man's gaze—it was something she was used to. The group of men also turned toward Kakashi, annoyed that their "cash cow" had stopped. One suddenly gasped, "Isn't that the Copy Ninja of Konoha?"
At once, both Kakashi and Tsunade snapped out of their thoughts. Their eyes met. Kakashi scratched his head and grinned. "Tsunade-sama, it's been years. You've changed a lot."
Tsunade said flatly, "So it's you, brat. What are you doing here? On a mission?"
The crowd, not knowing who she was, was stunned that the famed Konoha technician addressed this woman so casually. They quickly scattered, afraid they'd pay for mocking her.
Kakashi said, "The Third asked me to find you. I'm sure you've heard about the village. He's old now and wanted me to bring you back."
Tsunade replied, "I know what that old man wants, but I'm not interested. He's not dead yet, is he?"
Kakashi was speechless. No one else in the Land of Fire would dare say such a thing in public—but she was the Third's student. He pressed, "Tsunade-sama, this time you must come back. Do it for your sensei. He's given his all for the village for years. Surely you don't want to see him still risking his life at his age. As one of the Sannin, you can't just ignore Konoha."
Tsunade froze, then grew angry. "Are you lecturing me, Hatake Kakashi?"
"I only want you to return and steady the village," Kakashi replied.
Tsunade sighed. She considered suggesting Jiraiya, but knew his temperament made him unsuitable. Yet she still struggled with her grief over her lover and brother's deaths. Still, Konoha's current state left her no choice. What she didn't know was that this man before her could have become Hokage himself but refused.
She was ready to agree—but his stern words had annoyed her. Her eyes gleamed mischievously. "If you can defeat me, I'll go back with you."
Kakashi was stunned, about to speak, but one glare from her shut him up. "Fine," he said.
Shizune chuckled, holding the pig as Tsunade beckoned. "Come on, kid."
They moved to an open space. Tsunade faced him. "Let's see how much of Minato's skill his student has."
Kakashi darted forward in a blur, a flying kick aimed at her. Tsunade smiled lightly, caught his leg, and with a flick of her arm sent him flying so far he vanished from sight. Shizune shook her head.
Suddenly Kakashi reappeared, his right hand crackling with lightning. "Chidori!" He lunged from behind. Tsunade sidestepped, and with a boom the ground erupted, leaving a massive crater.
She frowned. "You'd really use such a powerful jutsu on me? What if I hadn't dodged? Though honestly, unless someone just stands still, you'll never hit them with that."
But then—thin steel wires snaked around her, tightening. The Kakashi using Chidori vanished in smoke—just a shadow clone.
"Shadow Clone!" Shizune gasped.
The real Kakashi emerged behind her, pulling the wires. "It wasn't a miss, it was a feint. I knew I had to beat you without harming you. This was the only way. Still, you really are a monster of strength, Tsunade-sama."
She glared. "You think this will hold me?" She tensed, but lightning surged through the wires into her body.
"Ah!" Tsunade cried out as her legs weakened and she lost her strength.
Kakashi released the wires. "Tsunade-sama, now will you return with me?"
She gritted her teeth but had no choice and nodded. She'd only wanted to teach him a lesson before returning, but things hadn't gone her way. "Don't just stand there! Help me!" she barked at Shizune, who was frozen in shock.
Kakashi said nothing, simply following in silence.
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