Chương 96: Chapter 96: Obito’s Intent

Extra Chapter~

Morning.

Inside Kiyoshi's room.

On the tatami mat, a beautiful figure was lying atop Kiyoshi, sleeping soundly.

Even in her slumber, she murmured softly, perhaps lost in a pleasant dream, a glint of drool sparkling at her lips.

When Kiyoshi woke up, he found Tsunade on top of him, using him as a pillow.

Amused and slightly exasperated, he thought, 'Wasn't she supposed to be my pillow?' His heart raced a bit in response.

"Mm?" The subtle movement disturbed Tsunade, who opened her eyes.

She looked up at Kiyoshi's face, which was smiling mischievously at her. Her cheeks instantly flushed red.

"You brat, wipe that smug look off your face," she scolded him, blushing furiously.

"Now, get out! Shizune and Karin will be here soon." She tried to sit up, not wanting the others to catch them like this. But inside, she felt an odd sense of emptiness.

There's something about Kiyoshi's warm embrace… Tsunade thought to herself. It's comforting in a way I've never felt before.

"Tsunade-nee." Kiyoshi murmured, wrapping his arms around her. He buried his face contentedly, unwilling to let her go.

"You promised to be my pillow, why'd you switch it up?"

"Get lost already," she huffed, her beautiful face flushed with annoyance.

"I told you, this is the last time." Yet her heart skipped a beat at his words. This brat really knows how to get under my skin, she admitted to herself.

But she was resolute. No more giving in to his silly demands.

"Lady Tsunade," came a voice from outside.

Kiyoshi and Tsunade's eyes met, realizing who was calling. Tsunade's heart skipped a beat as she hurriedly whispered, "Get out, you little pervert."

"See you, Tsunade-nee." Kiyoshi said with a mischievous grin. He nestled close one last time, vanishing in a blur just as Tsunade nearly jumped up.

"Shizune, stop calling," Tsunade muttered, noticing the marks left by his hands.

Embarrassed and annoyed, she thought, I could just strangle him! "I'll freshen up. You and Karin go ahead downstairs."

---

Meanwhile…

Inside a dimly lit cavern.

"What is it?"

Obito, who had just woken up, was met by Black and White Zetsu, freshly returned from their mission in the Land of Hot Water.

With half his face scarred and sinister, Obito's expression was masked by his swirling mask. "Have you found anything?" he asked.

"Obito, there was indeed a twist." White Zetsu replied. "Not only was Tsunade there with her disciples, but Jiraiya, another of the Sannin, also appeared."

"The Sannin, huh? Then they must know a lot." A spiral-patterned humanoid next to Obito remarked, eager. "I wonder… what does pain feel like to them?"

Obito ignored Zetsu's odd thoughts, already used to the strange train of thought his partner would follow. "So, the follower of the Jashin Cult… he was taken care of?"

"Most likely," Black Zetsu responded calmly. "However, what's intriguing is the presence of Wood Release traces on the battlefield."

"Wood Release?" Obito's eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Yes, a forest was created by Wood Release. Though not at the scale of the First Hokage, it's still fairly powerful," Black Zetsu explained.

"Could it be Tsunade?" Obito muttered, his Sharingan narrowing with suspicion behind his mask.

"Given the strength, it's likely her." Black Zetsu replied.

"As the granddaughter of the First Hokage, she possesses Senju blood. Whether she awakened Wood Release on her own or transplanted the First's cells, it's not surprising."

Though there were rumors about Kiyoshi Ishikawa, Tsunade's young student, also a member of the Senju clan with enormous chakra reserves and prodigious talent, he was only around ten years old.

No one, not even Black Zetsu, thought to suspect him.

"I see."

Obito nodded, clearly satisfied with Black Zetsu's analysis.

"Obito, should we… take her out?" asked White Zetsu from the side.

"No need for that." Obito waved it off, his gaze cold.

"She resents Konoha's higher-ups so much that she'd rather travel than return home. She won't interfere with our plans."

"Besides, just because she has Wood Release, it doesn't make her the First Hokage. If she truly had that power, she would've returned to Konoha and wiped out those corrupt elders long ago."

Obito mocked, unbothered. After all, he himself had the First Hokage's cells and could wield Wood Release. Yet even he fell short of the legendary Hashirama.

Black Zetsu, silent, observed him carefully. As far as Obito knew, he was merely Madara's creation, tasked with helping and monitoring him to fulfill the "Eye of the Moon" plan.

But the truth was far deeper. Black Zetsu had been created by Kaguya Otsutsuki, the "Mother of All Chakra."

Before being sealed by her sons, Hagoromo and Hamura, she used her remaining power to create Black Zetsu, setting in motion a plan to reunite the nine tailed beasts, resurrect the Ten-Tails, and perform the Infinite Tsukuyomi to return her to life.

Obito wasn't wrong—no ordinary person could fully wield Wood Release on par with the First Hokage.

But, crucially, Obito himself was no true Madara, and fell short of his power by quite a margin. Underestimating Tsunade might come back to bite him.

Yet, to Black Zetsu, all of this was simply theater.

As long as Nagato still had Madara's Rinnegan, his thousand-year plan was on track. Once Madara was resurrected, even the First Hokage would be no match.

Then, with Madara's strength and the Gedo Statue, he would gather all nine tailed beasts to become the new Ten-Tails Jinchuriki and cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi, realizing Kaguya's revival.

"Right now, the Akatsuki are still too weak. If we attract attention from the Sannin, it could ruin everything," Obito said, disappearing in a vortex.

Any probing of Tsunade and Jiraiya would have to wait until they separated, lest they stir unnecessary trouble.

Akatsuki needed to grow in power and numbers. The plan to gather the tailed beasts had yet to begin, and it was crucial to avoid drawing too much attention from the hidden villages.

"For now, we'll just keep watch."

---------------

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Chương 97: Chapter 97: High Stakes

In a quiet inn in the Land of Hot Water.

Kiyoshi glanced at Jiraiya, who looked utterly miserable as the ever-attentive older lady attended to his every need.

Meanwhile, Kiyoshi, Tsunade, Shizune, and the rest finished their breakfast.

"Shizune, have you really mastered the Yin Seal and Strength of a Hundred Technique?"

Tsunade's gaze fixed on the diamond-shaped mark on Shizune's forehead. She was genuinely surprised, marveling at the skill involved in reaching such a level.

She hadn't expected that a soul-based jutsu could be used in such a way, a feat likely achievable only by someone as remarkably talented as Kiyoshi.

Tsunade was no stranger to the Spirit Transformation Jutsu.

Her granduncle developed this S-rank soul jutsu, which allowed one to project their spirit into another's body to control it, albeit clumsily.

It could not remotely be used with the effortless precision that Kiyoshi demonstrated, let alone aid someone else in mastering high-level forbidden techniques like the Yin Seal or the Strength of a Hundred.

Handling advanced ninjutsu in another's body was normally unthinkable, even risky, which is why the Spirit Transformation Jutsu had been classified as forbidden.

Not only did it leave the user's own body unprotected, but if the target's mental strength proved too strong, it could even lead to catastrophic harm or death.

Shizune touched the mark on her forehead, smiling gently. "Not entirely yet, Lady Tsunade… but give me a little more time, and I'm sure I'll get there."

She was sure of it. After Kiyoshi's assistance yesterday, her chakra control had improved drastically, far beyond what she'd thought possible.

Though not on par with her teacher, Tsunade, she had reached a new level altogether. She had honed her previously shaky strength technique, which now felt natural and effortless.

With Kiyoshi's help, she had also fully formed the Yin Seal on her forehead and stabilized the substantial chakra reserves needed to maintain the Strength of a Hundred, typically an exhausting process that took years to perfect.

In essence, Kiyoshi had helped her bypass the toughest obstacles.

And, though she felt a bit embarrassed remembering her own wish yesterday—wanting a figure like Tsunade's—she'd somehow let herself fall for Kiyoshi's sly encouragement.

A glance at him, smiling with a mischievous glint, made her heart skip, and she quickly looked away.

Tsunade, beaming, nodded with approval.

Despite Shizune's shyness and her tendency to view herself as merely a tagalong, Tsunade genuinely valued her as an apprentice.

Mastering the Yin Seal and Strength of a Hundred would elevate Shizune's skill level to new heights.

"Really? That's amazing." Karin, who had been listening in, gasped with joy. She was truly happy for Shizune.

Though young and still in the basics of her training, Tsunade had told her she'd be ready for the Yin Seal and Strength of a Hundred in a couple of years.

Confident as she was, knowing Shizune's success gave Karin more reassurance for her own future.

"Keep working hard, kid," Kiyoshi said, ruffling Karin's hair with a smile.

"Once Shizune masters these two jutsus, you'll be next."

He teased, "Besides Chakra Enhanced Strength, the Yin Seal and Strength of a Hundred are the signature jutsus of our line. Don't let us down."

"Hmph! I won't." Karin, scrunching her nose, charged at Kiyoshi after he messed up her hair.

"Kiyoshi, you messed up my hair again."

Unfazed, Kiyoshi used a wooden vine to suspend her in mid-air, swaying her back and forth.

Furious, the girl nearly exploded with rage, muttering something about "Adamantine Sealing Chains."

After some playful chatter, Shizune began coaching Karin, while Tsunade discreetly signaled Kiyoshi to follow her.

In a hidden corner, they both left behind wood and shadow clones before slipping out of the inn.

In under half an hour, they arrived in a neighboring town, where Kiyoshi immediately marked the area with the Flying Thunder God Jutsu.

"Big or small?" a voice yelled.

"Less talk, bet it all."

"Screw it, bet small."

"Big! Big."

In a lively casino, a mix of rough and shady characters cheered and jeered as they gambled.

Fulfilling his promise to accompany Tsunade, Kiyoshi could only sigh as he handed over the money he'd prepared in advance, much to the glee of the casino owner.

"Let's start with the slots." Tsunade took the chips and promptly seated herself at a slot machine.

"Tsunade-nee, isn't that a little too basic? How about a wager?" Kiyoshi suggested with a mischievous grin.

He was planning to use Tsunade's uncanny luck—or lack thereof—to his advantage.

"A bet?" Tsunade arched her brow, recalling their last bet, which almost had her completely embarrassed.

Shaking her head firmly, she refused, "No way. I'm not falling for your tricks again."

"Just hear me out before deciding." Kiyoshi smiled confidently.

"Fine, let's hear it." Tsunade braced herself, determined to turn him down regardless of what he said.

"Let's each play the slots ten times. If you win even once, I lose," Kiyoshi grinned, his eyes glinting with cunning.

"But if I fail to hit the triple-lucky-sevens jackpot in any of my ten tries, you win."

"All ten… with lucky sevens?" Tsunade squinted at him suspiciously. "You're not planning to cheat, are you?"

"Do you know the casino's rules? No jutsus are allowed," Kiyoshi said.

Tsunade, who had spent her childhood watching her grandfather dominate casinos, had developed her own passion for the thrill of winning and losing.

Winning fairly was the essence of gambling to her.

"And why would I cheat?" Kiyoshi laughed, meeting her gaze. "If I win, same stakes as yesterday."

"No way! Yesterday was the last time." Tsunade protested firmly.

"But remember, you only need to win once, whereas I have to get lucky sevens all ten times." Kiyoshi continued, tempting her. "Are you really going to pass this up?"

It was impossible for Tsunade not to be tempted.

Even with good luck, hitting lucky sevens once was a stroke of fortune, but hitting it ten times in a row?

Outrageous! Tsunade's unique "bad luck" in gambling was practically legendary, and Kiyoshi was confident she'd lose.

"This!" Tsunade paused, considering. Hitting lucky sevens even once was considered lucky, let alone ten times in a row. She couldn't possibly lose.

"Alright, let's bet." She nodded, finally giving in to the temptation. With ten chances at a jackpot against Kiyoshi's single chance, there was no way she'd lose.

This time, she had the advantage.

---------------

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