"Caw—!!"
High above the Land of Hot Springs, a massive black bird cut through the night sky at incredible speed.
Yatagarasu's wings beat powerfully, tearing through the air and leaving faint ripples in its wake. The clouds parted before it, unable to withstand the sheer force of its flight.
On its back—
Aoki Yoru lay unconscious.
His breathing was faint.
Barely there.
Beside him, Nao knelt, clutching his hand tightly, her face pale with worry.
Jiraiya stood nearby, his expression serious as he glanced between the two.
"Who told you to look for Tsunade?" he asked.
Nao raised her head slightly.
"…Brother Yoru," she replied softly.
Then—
Without holding anything back—
She recounted everything.
From the moment Yoru handed her the scroll…
To the clone's instructions…
To the desperate attempt to save him.
Jiraiya listened in silence.
"…A chakra clone with independent consciousness…"
He looked at Aoki Yoru, eyes filled with astonishment.
"This guy…"
"…is a genius."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"He reminds me of someone I used to know."
A former teammate.
Someone equally brilliant.
Someone capable of creating countless techniques.
But that smile quickly faded.
Jiraiya looked up at the night sky.
"…Tsunade was in the Land of Hot Springs a few days ago."
Nao's eyes lit up slightly.
"But…" Jiraiya continued, sighing, "…she caused some trouble."
"She offended the local gangs after winning a huge sum."
Nao blinked.
"…Then where is she now?"
Jiraiya chuckled helplessly.
"With her personality?"
"If she has money…"
"She's gambling somewhere."
"Most likely—Tanzaku Town… or the capital of the Land of Fire."
He turned to Yatagarasu.
"Let's go to Tanzaku Town first."
With a sharp cry—
Yatagarasu surged forward.
The wind screamed past them.
Its speed—
Was terrifying.
The air shattered into layers of white waves.
Sonic booms echoed faintly behind them.
To the naked eye—
It was nothing more than a fleeting shadow.
Before long—
They arrived above Tanzaku Town.
Despite the late hour—
The town was alive.
Bright lights filled the streets.
Crowds flowed endlessly.
The sounds of laughter, gambling, and music echoed into the night.
Jiraiya frowned.
"…This will take time."
"If she's not in a casino…"
"…we'll have a hard time finding her."
At that moment—
Nao spoke hesitantly.
"Lord Jiraiya…"
He glanced at her.
"…Is Lady Tsunade's chakra as strong as yours… and Brother Yoru's?"
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow.
"…Yes."
Nao closed her eyes.
Her expression turned focused.
She reached out—
Not physically—
But with her senses.
The entire town—
Unfolded before her.
Chakra signatures.
Countless.
But—
None matched.
After a few moments—
She opened her eyes.
"…She's not here."
"The strongest chakra in this town…"
"…is far weaker than yours."
Jiraiya froze.
Then—
His expression shifted.
"…Kagura Shingan."
The Uzumaki Clan's sensory ability.
He had suspected it before—
Her red hair.
Her presence.
But now—
There was no doubt.
"…You're amazing, Nao."
To sense an entire town at such a young age…
Even he—
Was impressed.
"Good," he said with a nod. "We won't waste time here."
Without delay—
They changed direction.
Toward—
The capital of the Land of Fire.
Yatagarasu accelerated once more.
Faster.
Stronger.
The air trembled violently.
It shot forward like a streak of light—
Disappearing into the night.
Time passed.
By the time they arrived—
It was deep into the night.
The capital, however—
Was still awake.
Lights illuminated the streets.
Voices echoed faintly.
Life continued.
Jiraiya turned to Nao.
She nodded.
Closing her eyes again—
She extended her senses.
This time—
There were more people.
More chakra.
More noise.
But—
Only one stood out.
After a moment—
She opened her eyes.
"…I found her."
Jiraiya leaned in slightly.
"There are many strong chakra signatures here…"
"…but only one is close to yours."
"And beside her…"
"…there's another person."
"Much weaker."
Jiraiya smiled faintly.
"…That's them."
"Tsunade… and Shizune."
He immediately signaled Yatagarasu to descend.
They landed outside the city.
Without hesitation—
Jiraiya lifted Aoki Yoru onto his back.
Grabbed Nao with one arm—
And dashed forward.
Guided by Nao's senses—
They rushed through the city.
Until—
They arrived.
Zuiyun Inn.
Inside—
Tsunade sat at a table.
A glass of sake in her hand.
Her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders.
Her expression—
Relaxed.
Slightly intoxicated.
"Lady Tsunade… please stop drinking…"
Shizune stood nearby, panicking.
"We don't have enough money left!"
Tsunade waved her hand dismissively.
"Stop nagging."
"I'm just unlucky today."
"When I win big next time…"
"I'll earn enough for a lifetime."
Shizune's face paled.
We're doomed…
Then—
Bang—!!
The door burst open.
Both women turned.
Jiraiya rushed in.
Carrying Aoki Yoru.
Holding Nao.
Panting heavily.
"Tsunade!"
She froze.
"…Jiraiya?"
He didn't waste time.
Cleared the table in one sweep—
Sending everything crashing to the floor—
And laid Aoki Yoru down.
"Quick!"
"He's dying!"
For a moment—
Tsunade thought he was joking.
But then—
She saw Yoru.
And her expression changed instantly.
Serious.
Focused.
She stepped forward.
Checked him.
"…This is bad."
His life—
Was hanging by a thread.
Fortunately—
No visible injuries.
Jiraiya had cleaned him beforehand.
Otherwise—
If her hemophobia triggered—
Even she wouldn't be able to help.
"This isn't the place," she said immediately.
"Bring him."
"Follow me."
Without delay—
They moved.
Through the tavern.
Into the inn.
A room.
The moment Yoru was laid on the bed—
Tsunade acted.
Her fingers—
Glowed with chakra.
She pressed them to his forehead.
"…There's something inside him."
"Something… eating away at him."
Jiraiya explained everything quickly.
Then—
His voice turned grave.
"…Chakra doesn't work well on it."
"I used Sage Mode."
"Three sealing techniques."
"…And even those are breaking."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed.
Yoru's breathing—
Was weakening again.
No more hesitation.
She pressed her fingers against her forehead.
"Yin Seal—Release!"
Light exploded.
Golden.
Brilliant.
A massive surge of life chakra erupted from her body—
Flooding every cell.
"This child's life force is nearly gone…"
"I need to restore his body first."
"Otherwise…"
"He won't survive the treatment."
Her chakra flowed into Yoru.
Slowly—
His body responded.
Color returned to his face.
His breathing deepened.
His chest rose steadily.
Nao watched.
Tears in her eyes.
But this time—
They were filled with hope.
Tsunade's expression hardened.
"…Now."
"The real battle begins."
Her hands moved.
Chakra—
Condensed.
Into countless microscopic blades.
They entered his body.
Following his meridians.
Deeper.
Toward his soul.
There—
They struck.
The black energy.
"Ugh—!!"
Aoki Yoru's body convulsed violently.
Veins bulged.
Muscles tensed.
The evil power—
Fought back.
Wild.
Violent.
But—
Jiraiya and Shizune—
Held him down.
"Stay still!"
Tsunade's voice rang out.
Her focus—
Absolute.
This—
Was a battle.
Not of strength.
But of precision.
Of life—
And death.
And at its center—
Aoki Yoru's soul trembled—
On the brink of destruction.
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