Chapter 69: From Today, I No Longer Have Weaknesses!

The technique was cast again. Tsunade saw the same scenes, her emotions still stirred and filled with sorrow, but it seemed better than before. She no longer lost control to the point of breaking the genjutsu. This time, it will definitely work! That was what she initially thought, but when the familiar faces died one after another before her eyes... Tsunade still found it hard to suppress her emotions. Fortunately, she didn’t lose control. "Now’s the time." Kurenai quickly formed hand seals. The reverse Hell Viewing Technique, revealing the beauty within... She gathered chakra, formed the seals, and raised her hand high, pressing it firmly against Tsunade’s forehead. This technique required physical contact, preferably on the forehead. Because this was the closest point to the brain and emotions. She carefully controlled her chakra, disrupting Tsunade’s mental state and chakra flow from the surface, guiding it in the desired direction and pattern. At the same time, Tsunade noticed that the illusions before her suddenly froze, splitting into two completely different scenes. On one side was the scene of Dan’s death. On the other was Nawaki. What’s happening? Tsunade was stunned, and then the two figures struggled to their feet. They seemed to come back to life. "Tsunade." "Sister!" One voice was gentle, the other waving energetically, just as lively as she remembered. Even in the illusion, Tsunade’s vision blurred. "You..." She never thought she would see them again one day. "Dan, Nawaki!" Although she knew very well that this was an illusion, a hallucination derived from her memories, her heart was still filled with overwhelming emotion. "Hahaha, aiming to become Hokage? That’s great." "Sister, become Hokage and carry on our dreams!" Their figures overlapped, their voices growing distant, gradually fading into shadows until they disappeared. They were gone again. Tsunade stood still. Genjutsu. It was still just an illusion. But her heart was now at peace. Yes! What’s gone... Is gone forever! But I can carry their dreams and make Konoha a better place! Tsunade smiled. "It’s all in the past." She waved reluctantly at the empty, illusory surroundings, as if bidding farewell to those who had already vanished, saying goodbye to the past. Finally, she dispelled the genjutsu herself. Kurenai panted, a hint of guilt on her face. "I’m sorry, Tsunade-sama. This was my first attempt at this technique, and it’s still very unstable." She lowered her head. As the guide of the genjutsu, she knew the technique had lost its effect when Tsunade’s chakra returned to normal. Tsunade wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes. "I should be thanking you." "Huh?" Kurenai looked up, surprised. Tsunade smiled. "I saw them again. They told me to carry their dreams and govern the village well, to become a great Hokage." After saying this, she draped her green robe over her shoulders. What the genjutsu showed was actually what she wanted to see, but Tsunade chose to believe that her loved ones on the other side felt the same way. She looked outside. At this moment, the moon had already risen, and the stars flickered in the not-yet-completely-dark night sky. "Do you think I have any reason to retreat now?" "Tsunade-sama..." Kurenai whispered. At this moment, Tsunade was incredibly captivating, even to another woman like herself. Tsunade was filled with determination. "From today, I no longer have weaknesses!" Then, she looked at Kurenai and smiled. "Kurenai, you actually came up with such a technique. It must be based on a reverse principle similar to the Hell Viewing Technique, right?" "Yes, Kyohiko reminded me that since the Hell Viewing Technique reveals inner fears, there must be a way to develop a technique that reveals the beauty within. So, I went to consult my father." Kurenai didn’t take credit for it. As a jonin skilled in genjutsu, her father, Yuhi Shinku, was undoubtedly more advanced than her. Creating such a technique wasn’t difficult. After all, the Hell Viewing Technique was only C-rank in difficulty. The reason no one had created it before was simply because it seemed useless. What good is revealing inner beauty against an enemy? It would probably make the enemy laugh to death! However. Looking at things from a different angle can yield completely different results. Tsunade sighed. "It’s a very good technique, but it must be used with caution. It can’t be abused!" "You mean..." Kurenai understood Tsunade’s point. A genjutsu that reveals beauty can alleviate psychological negativity, but it can also make people indulge in illusory happiness. "Yes! If I could see them every day, even I..." Tsunade lamented. Then, she couldn’t help but smile. "Fortunately, your genjutsu isn’t that advanced yet. If it were someone from the Kurama clan with their kekkei genkai, even I might not be able to resist." The Kurama clan could control all five senses. In that case, it would be truly impossible to distinguish reality from illusion. "What about this technique..." "Are you willing to continue researching it? Perhaps it’s a great starting point." Tsunade said. Genjutsu was indeed something both she and Kyohiko had overlooked before. What could be more effective on emotions than genjutsu? She smiled. "The future of psychological treatment might just lie with you, Kurenai. Would you like to become my disciple?" "What?!!!" Kurenai’s eyes widened involuntarily. Her face showed shock and disbelief. "Me? Really?" "Although, like Shizune, you might not be able to fully master my techniques, you can still learn most of them. And with your talent in genjutsu, you might carve out a unique path." Tsunade’s expression was serious. Kurenai nodded vigorously. "I will, Tsunade-sama!" "Hmm?" "Yes, sensei!" "Hahaha, very good! Since your team won’t be assigned missions until Kyohiko’s appointment is finalized, you’ll work with me at the hospital during this time. I’ll personally guide you." "Yes!" ... At the ANBU headquarters in Konoha. Danzo sat in his seat, holding a scroll in his hand. It was Aburame Tatsuma’s report. After reading it, he looked down. "Interesting!" At just eight years old, he already possessed strength comparable to a jonin, and his judgment and responses in battle were nearly flawless. A genius even stronger than Kakashi! If he continued to grow, he would undoubtedly become a sharp blade, comparable to the White Fang of the past. "Hiruzen, heh, how could I let you get your hands on such a talent? He will be mine!" Danzo sneered. After a moment of thought, he had already made up his mind. "I understand. You don’t need to track this matter anymore. I’ll arrange for someone else to handle it." "Yes!" Aburame Tatsuma breathed a sigh of relief. Good. No punishment! He hesitated for a moment, then added, "Also, I’ve received new information. It seems Jiraiya has taken Kyohiko and Kakashi out of the village." "Oh?" Danzo narrowed his eyes, then nodded. "Don’t worry, there won’t be any issues." "Yes, I’ll take my leave." Aburame Tatsuma bowed respectfully and then retreated. "Hmm." Danzo nodded, destroyed the scroll in his hand, and then headed toward the laboratory inside the base. Jiraiya’s disciple? Perfect for Orochimaru to handle. That guy would definitely be interested in a child with Senju blood. As for Jiraiya’s whereabouts, Danzo was confident there would be no evidence! ... At night, Kyohiko, Kakashi, and Jiraiya were sprinting through the forest. Earlier in the day, Kyohiko had gone to find Jiraiya to report the ANBU’s attack on him, but he couldn’t find him for a long time. By evening, Jiraiya had come to him instead, bringing a temporary mission scroll. "Kurenai is too slow, and as you said, she’s busy helping Tsunade. She’s not suitable for this mission." Jiraiya explained. "Sensei, what exactly is the mission? It’s so sudden!" Kyohiko quickly caught up. Jiraiya was running at an incredible speed. "Do you remember the Uzumaki clansmen from Kusagakure?" "Yes." Kyohiko nodded. How could he forget? He had been waiting for news from Minato, but so far, there had been no updates. He was starting to worry that Minato might have run into trouble on the way, or that the Uzumaki girl might have refused to come to Konoha. Judging by Jiraiya’s expression, there seemed to be another reason. Kakashi remained silent. He was always like this— Follow orders, complete the mission! Although he had changed slightly, his core personality was hard to alter. At most, he had become a bit more considerate of his teammates. "They’ve been pursued." Jiraiya gave a brief answer and then quickly outlined the situation. Uzumaki Yuki wasn’t very willing to come to Konoha, but Minato hadn’t planned to follow her wishes. Instead, he intended to bring her back to Konoha first and settle her there before discussing further. The Uzumaki clan wandering outside was far too dangerous. But halfway through, they were attacked. "Even Minato-senpai couldn’t handle it?" "If it were just Minato alone, he wouldn’t be afraid. But they’re a team, and they’re also escorting a girl who isn’t skilled in combat and isn’t even fully cooperative. That makes it different." Jiraiya’s expression was grim. "But how could foreign ninja suddenly enter the Land of Fire?!" "Sensei, I was actually looking for you earlier to talk about this." Kyohiko spoke while running, briefly explaining what had happened earlier in the day. Jiraiya was furious. "Danzo is asking for death!" When he first heard the news, he had suspected that Danzo was behind the attack on Minato’s team, but there was no evidence. And now. This old man... Jiraiya was seething, his eyes filled with a predatory glint. He hadn’t expected so many things to happen recently, all targeting his students. Jiraiya’s gaze turned icy. Shimura Danzo! "Sensei, you..." Kakashi hesitated. Although he didn’t like Danzo’s methods either, Danzo was currently the head of the ANBU. Did he really have a reason to attack his own people? Jiraiya turned to him. He sighed softly. "Kakashi, you don’t understand. Danzo... he never stops until he achieves his goals." "I don’t really understand." Kakashi fell silent after his reply, focusing on keeping up with the pace. He couldn’t imagine someone from Konoha resorting to such measures against their own village for personal gain. This... It’s terrifying! Kyohiko also wore a look of "deep shock." Jiraiya’s tone softened slightly. "You two don’t need to worry about this. Once this matter is resolved, I’ll speak to the Third Hokage." "Yes!" Kyohiko and Kakashi were still inexperienced and had no say when it came to someone like Danzo. Jiraiya, however, was different. If it were just him, it might be difficult to achieve anything, but with Tsunade’s support, he felt more confident. Additionally, Tsunade was seeking treatment for her psychological issues. Once she recovered, she would no longer have any weaknesses that enemies could exploit. As Jiraiya pondered and strategized, Kyohiko was also thinking about how to counterattack. Taking hits wasn’t his style. Danzo had plenty of dark secrets. Was there anything he could use? Human experiments? If he calculated the timeline correctly, they should have already conducted experiments involving Hashirama’s cells and had at least one successful subject. But. This secret was likely something even the Third Hokage didn’t fully know about. If Kyohiko revealed it without explanation, it would raise too many questions. Currently, Danzo enjoyed the Third Hokage’s trust, making him seemingly untouchable. Kyohiko frowned. "Sensei, even if Danzo is behind this, he won’t leave any evidence. The Third Hokage might not remove him from his position over something like this." "I’m well aware, but there’s no better option." Jiraiya sighed. So, he was also thinking about what to do. Kyohiko said, "Then maybe we shouldn’t go to the Third Hokage." "Huh?" Jiraiya was stunned. Not go to the Third? Then who... He suddenly understood what Kyohiko meant and was momentarily speechless. If they didn’t go to the Third Hokage, they would have to handle things their own way! "Public opinion is also a weapon." Kyohiko said in a low voice. Jiraiya fell silent. Doing this would undoubtedly escalate the situation. Besides damaging Danzo and the Third Hokage’s authority, it wouldn’t do much to resolve the issue itself. Was it really the right move? He hesitated, unable to make a quick decision. Kakashi couldn’t help but think of his father. Yes! Back then, it was a group of people who knew the truth who kept accusing his father, leading to his eventual suicide. Public opinion is like a blade. Used well, it’s more terrifying than direct killing! He followed Kyohiko and Jiraiya, remaining silent but listening and thinking the whole time, feeling like he had gained a lot. "I can’t make a decision yet. Let’s deal with Minato’s situation first. Once they’re safe, we can discuss the rest." Jiraiya was still hesitant. Then, he had a small toad guide them as they sprinted forward. "Alright." Kyohiko didn’t push further. Konoha wasn’t ruled by the Senju, but it was governed by the "Will of Fire" and the bonds of mentorship. Jiraiya and the Third Hokage had a master-student relationship, and the Third had even considered making Jiraiya the Hokage at one point. Asking Jiraiya to do something like this was indeed a difficult decision. By midnight. They had traveled from Konoha to a valley in the Land of Fire. "They fled here. I can sense Gamahikari’s presence!" "Good, lead the way." Jiraiya breathed a sigh of relief. At least, for now, Minato and the others should still be safe. However, this location was very close to the borders of the Land of Iron and the Land of Rice. Enemy ninja could appear at any moment. What if... Jiraiya frowned. "We need to speed up!" "Yes!" Both Kyohiko and Kakashi were known for their speed. Now that they had removed their weighted seals, their speed was unrestricted. Even as Jiraiya went all out, they could barely keep up. Soon, Kyohiko heard the faint clashing of weapons. Jiraiya heard it too. He immediately looked toward the base of the mountain. "Over there!" The three of them swallowed soldier pills. Whoosh! With the Body Flicker Technique, their speeds skyrocketed, but Jiraiya was clearly faster, pulling ahead and leaving behind a shadow clone. Then... His main body vanished in an instant. So fast! Kyohiko marveled inwardly. "The gap in physical ability can’t be made up with just skill, kids. You still have a long way to go!" Jiraiya’s shadow clone chuckled. Kakashi was speechless. This shadow clone’s personality is a bit different! But Kyohiko knew. This was Jiraiya’s true nature. He quickly caught up. Soon, several figures emerged from the forest, all dressed in black and fully covered, making it impossible to see their faces. "Kill!" Kakashi’s eyes narrowed, and his figure disappeared in an instant. The next moment, he descended from above one of the enemies, drawing his blade. The enemy raised a kunai to block. Clang! A crisp sound rang out. The kunai was severed, and the White Fang’s short sword sliced across the enemy’s throat. On the other side. Boom! Kyohiko punched one enemy away, then drew his blade to block an attack from the side. The enemy wielded a sword with both hands, slashing again. But at that moment, Kyohiko formed a single-handed seal, and a shadow clone appeared. The enemy immediately knew something was wrong and retreated, forming hand seals to escape underground. But then—Crack! The ground split open. A pair of hands grabbed his feet and pulled him down. Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu! Kyohiko seized the opportunity, using the Body Flicker Technique to close the distance. He crouched low, forming hand seals. Then, he pressed his palm against the enemy’s forehead, channeling chakra into their body with the Mystical Palm Technique. Soon, the enemy fell unconscious. "Nice teamwork!" Jiraiya’s voice came from underground as he dragged the enemy down. Kyohiko panted slightly. Running all night and using chakra-intensive techniques had taken a toll on him. Fortunately, the enemies seemed to have retreated in another direction, likely because Jiraiya had arrived. Just as he relaxed— From the side, an eagle swooped down from above. Kakashi immediately moved to protect him. But before Kakashi could reach him, Kyohiko had already slashed the enemy down. From above? He looked up and saw a large bird flying past. "Someone’s sending messages from the sky." Kakashi also saw it. "No wonder they were able to track Minato-senpai all the way here." "No, I think it might also be herding." Kyohiko replied. Then, he followed the sounds deeper into the forest. Soon, he found Jiraiya and the others. Minato was leaning against the entrance of a cave, clearly unconscious. Kyohiko landed with the Body Flicker Technique. "Teacher, what’s the situation?" "His injuries aren’t too severe, mostly exhaustion. But one of the ninken is injured. Can you heal it?" Jiraiya turned around. He had heard about Kyohiko and knew the kid had even taught himself medical ninjutsu. Kyohiko entered the cave. What a mess! Out of the four, two were unconscious. Only Inuzuka Tsume, who was protecting Uzumaki Yuki, and one other were unharmed. The other... Kyohiko searched for a while before noticing Aburame Shibi in the shadows behind Jiraiya. So stealthy! "Please, help Shiba!" Inuzuka Tsume was anxious and nervous, her tone pleading. For them, ninken weren’t just animals—they were irreplaceable partners and comrades. "I’ll do my best." Kyohiko quickly moved to Shiba’s side, first infusing his chakra into its bloodstream to examine its entire body through the wound. Then, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Muscle injuries and fractures. No poison or internal organ damage. The coma might be due to excessive chakra consumption. I can save it." If internal organs were involved, there might be internal bleeding, and Kyohiko would have had to prioritize saving its life. No other choice. Although his Mystical Palm Technique had reached the "proficient" level, Kyohiko was still a half-baked medical ninja, only capable of emergency treatment, not full-scale healing. "Thank you, thank you!" Inuzuka Tsume was overjoyed. Then, Kyohiko formed hand seals, extracted chakra, and pressed it against the ninken’s left foreleg. Shiba’s injuries began to heal rapidly. Kyohiko checked its condition. Vital signs are stable! "Give me a soldier pill. You help open its mouth." "Got it." Inuzuka Tsume immediately handed one over. Soon, Kyohiko used chakra to create water and guided the soldier pill into Shiba’s stomach. Before long. "Whimper!" A low whine. Inuzuka Tsume was both surprised and grateful, quickly expressing her thanks. Meanwhile, Jiraiya’s shadow clone dragged out the unconscious attacker. More information could be extracted from a live captive. After Aburame Shibi examined him... "Jiraiya-sama, there’s a curse mark on his tongue."