About 15 kilometers east of Tanzaku Town, at the Shizukawa docks, a medium-sized oceangoing merchant ship was preparing to set sail.
The hull was painted deep blue, the mast towering high, the sail half-raised and snapping in the evening river wind.
The destination was Unraikō in the Land of Lightning, with stops at the Land of Iron and the Land of Hot Water.
The voyage was expected to last around several months.
Tsunade and Shizune sat on the deck planks outside the upper cabin, watching the dockworkers moving cargo like ants.
The setting sun had turned the river water into molten gold.
In the distance, the silhouette of Mount Tanzaku blurred in the twilight haze.
“A year, huh,” Shizune mused, feeding Tonton a rice cracker.
“Mm.” Tsunade took a sip of the sake provided by the ship.
It was nothing special, but it’d do.
“What do you think of that kid?” “Souji-kun?” Shizune thought for a moment.
“Very smart.
Very patient.
His willpower far exceeds that of most people.” “Sometimes I feel his mind runs too deep for someone his age.
But when it comes to treatment and training, he’s exceptionally focused and appreciative.
He’s a complicated person.” “Complicated is what makes him trouble.” Tsunade swirled her sake cup.
“His disease is cured, but what’s underneath hasn’t changed.” “The Kaguya clan’s love for battle, mixed with that cold chakra of his, plus his premature maturity and scheming…
tch.
I have a feeling he’s going to cause some big trouble someday.” “But his gratitude toward you is genuine.” “Gratitude doesn’t mean anything.” Tsunade snorted.
“In the shinobi world, gratitude is the cheapest thing there is.
Though I’ll give him credit, he paid what he promised without hesitation.” The 2,000,000 ryo had already arrived.
Every additional symptom-relief bonus had been paid in full.
When it came to money, that kid’s reputation for honoring his word was impeccable.
“He said it’s about integrity.” Shizune smiled.
“He also said that if we ever need help anywhere, we can contact any branch of the Yamada Trading Company.” “Empty promises.” Tsunade pursed her lips, but said nothing more.
Suddenly, the ship shuddered slightly.
The mooring ropes on the shore were released, and the gangplank was quickly pulled up.
Wooo ~ Wooo~ The ship let out a low horn, slowly pulling away from the dock and heading toward the middle of the river.
Lights flickered on along both banks.
The brilliant glow of Tanzaku Town’s gambling halls gradually shrank into a blurry halo behind them.
“Next stop, the Land of Iron.” Tsunade stretched lazily.
“I heard two new gambling halls opened next to the swordsmiths’ district there, with a different style of games…” She was still speaking when footsteps sounded from the stairway leading to the cargo hold, accompanied by a familiar, gentle voice.
“The cargo manifest for this shipment of tamahagane bound for the Land of Iron and the hot spring care products headed to the Land of Hot Water has been fully checked.
You can rest easy, Captain.” “As for the medicinal herbs bound for the Land of Lightning, I recommend storing them in the middle hold, where they’ll be protected from light and moisture…” Both Tsunade and Shizune turned their heads at the same time.
A silver-haired boy was coming up the stairs, still dressed in plain dark blue traveler’s attire, his eyes still covered by black cloth.
He held a cargo manifest in his hand and was speaking with the ship’s logistics manager behind him.
The evening wind lifted the stray strands of hair across his forehead, his expression focused and earnest.
Then, as if only just noticing the two on the deck, he paused.
A deliberately surprised smile spread across his face.
“Tsunade-sama, Shizune-san, Tonton.” Yamada Souji gave a slight nod in their direction, his tone as casual as if he’d bumped into a neighbor while buying groceries.
“Fancy meeting you here.” He stepped forward, his smile unchanged.
“I’m handling both the escort and inventory for this shipment.” “The Yamada Trading Company has just taken over the shipping agency for this route.
I’ll be staying onboard for the entire journey, all the way to the Land of Lightning.” The river wind suddenly picked up, making the sails flap loudly.
The sun had fully sunk behind the distant mountains, leaving only a dark red streak along the horizon.
The merchant ship cut through the golden waters, heading downstream, toward the sea, toward wider routes.
On the deck, Tsunade’s hand holding the sake cup froze midair.
Her pupils contracted slightly as she stared at the warm-smiling boy before her.
Shizune hugged Tonton, opening her mouth but unable to make a sound.
Souji stood in the deepening dusk, the black cloth over his eyes gently fluttering in the wind.
“It seems…” He spoke lightly, his voice carrying clearly through the wind and waves.
“Looks like we’ll be on the same route a little longer than expected.” … The air at the port of the Land of Hot Water was thick with the unique scent of sulfur and sea salt.
Wooden piers stretched into the azure bay.
Beyond them, rolling hills released wisps of white steam.
The hills were dotted with countless hot spring inns of every size.
“The hot spring culture of the Land of Hot Water is famous throughout the shinobi world,” Yamada Souji said, walking half a step behind Tsunade and Shizune, his voice carrying just the right touch of a tour guide.
“They say the milk hot springs even have skin-whitening benefits.
Shizune-san might enjoy them.” Shizune looked around curiously, her arms around Tonton relaxing slightly.
The little pig twitched his nose excitedly, sniffing the aroma of food in the air.
“Hmph.” Tsunade didn’t even look back.
Her blonde hair drifted in the damp sea breeze as she merely let out an annoyed snort through her nose.
They would be docked for two days.
Most of the passengers couldn’t wait to go ashore and unwind.
Tsunade and the others followed the crowd onto the cobblestone streets of the port town.
The streets were narrow and crowded, lined with shops selling hot spring buns, sulfur soap, wood carvings, and yukata.
Steam seeped through cracks in the foundations of some buildings, making the entire town seem as though it were soaked in warm mist.
They strolled around for a while, enjoying the local hot spring eggs and tofu dishes.
After lunch, Tsunade wiped her mouth, her gaze drifting involuntarily toward an alley deeper in town, hung with rows of red lanterns.
“Uh…
I’ve got something to take care of.” Tsunade rose as if nothing were out of the ordinary, picked up her money box, and casually tossed a few bills onto the table.
“You two have fun.” “Tsunade-sama, you’re not going to…” Shizune hurriedly tried to stop her.
“Adults are talking.
Stay out of it.” Tsunade simply waved her hand.
Her figure quickly disappeared into the crowd, vanishing completely after only a few turns.
Watching her leave, Shizune sighed, her shoulders drooping.
She gave Souji a helpless smile.
“There she goes again.
Every time we arrive somewhere with gambling halls.” Souji nodded in understanding before casually asking, “Should we go find her?” “Of course!” Shizune immediately nodded.
She placed Tonton on the ground, then expertly pulled out a corner of one of Tsunade’s usual shawls from her small travel bag and let the little pig sniff it.
“Tonton, I’m counting on you.
Same as always.
Find Tsunade-sama, and you’ll get an extra meal tonight.” “Puyo!” Tonton squealed excitedly.
His little black eyes sparkled as he kept his nose close to the ground, circling a few times before locking onto a direction.
Then his short little legs carried him off with a rapid *tap-tap-tap*.
Shizune immediately followed, her steps swift.
The gentle aura of a healer vanished in an instant, replaced by razor-sharp determination.
Her gaze was fixed ahead like a drawn blade as she muttered under her breath, “I have to stop her before she loses everything…” “Otherwise, we’ll be sleeping in a stable again…” Souji followed behind, watching Shizune instantly switch into full debt-collector mode, and couldn’t help feeling slightly amazed.
This seemingly gentle assistant displayed astonishing determination and persistence whenever Tsunade’s gambling and financial disasters were involved.
The two of them followed Tonton through the bustling marketplace before turning onto a relatively quiet uphill street.
Just as Souji was about to quicken his pace to catch up with Shizune, the Six Eyes beneath the black cloth suddenly detected something unusual.
Malicious gazes.
Several of them.
One from the shadows atop the rooftop to his right.
Another behind the half-open window on the second floor of the bathhouse ahead.
Yet another from a passerby at the intersection behind them, pretending to browse the souvenir stalls…
At least six people.
The killing intent they unconsciously revealed clung to his back like icy spider silk.
There was no curiosity in those gazes.
No ordinary assessment of a passerby that a shinobi might make.
Only cold scrutiny…
And killing intent.
The feel of their chakra was familiar as well.
Cold and heavy.
Carrying the bloody scent of Hidden Mist ANBU steeped in years of killing.
So they’d come after all.