[Konoha2] Chapter 12: Tsunade!

When Sarutobi Toku and the others arrived and saw that Hayami Mari had been subdued, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

Still, they couldn’t help but feel that this mission had been a little too easy. This was already their third mission in a row where they hadn’t played a critical role.

Seeing the wooden spikes embedded in Hayami Mari’s limbs didn’t arouse any suspicion either—after all, the area was filled with splinters and broken wood. None of them considered the possibility of Mokuton.

Even Hayami Mari herself hadn’t realized that Hajime Hoshita had used Wood Release in that brief and sudden exchange.

The secret techniques of Wood Release had become something of a legend ever since Hashirama Senju's era. Very few people had ever witnessed it firsthand.

Pulling the spikes from her body, Hajime ordered, “Bandage her up—don’t let her die.”

“Aburame, use your insects to make sure she doesn’t try anything stupid on the way back.”

Sarutobi Toku and the others nodded and got to work right away.

Before long, they had stabilized Hayami Mari.

Hajime didn’t say much more. With a wave, he signaled to move out.

They had barely made any progress when he suddenly stopped. The three behind him halted instantly, drawing their weapons and preparing for battle.

A moment later, a figure came into view.

“Jiraiya-senpai…”

Sarutobi Toku immediately recognized him.

Behind his mask, Hajime Hoshita was also slightly surprised—then it clicked.

Of course. That signal flare earlier must have drawn Jiraiya here.

Jiraiya stopped in front of them, eyeing the group. “Anbu…”

“Looks like you didn’t need my help after all.”

At the time, Root and the Hokage's direct Anbu weren’t all that different, so Jiraiya had no way of telling which faction they belonged to.

Hajime replied calmly, “No, we didn’t.”

Jiraiya nodded and stepped aside.

With a subtle nod in return, Hajime leapt forward, the others following close behind.

Jiraiya’s gaze swept briefly over Hayami Mari’s curvaceous figure, and he muttered under his breath, “What a shame… such a beautiful woman. So ruthless…”

Still, despite his words, he had absolutely no intention of intervening.

As he watched Hajime and the others vanish into the forest, Jiraiya scratched his head. “Guess I’d better go meet up with Tsunade and the others before I get smacked around again.”

Thinking of Tsunade’s fists sent a chill down his spine.

Yes, he’d only separated from the team because he’d heard about the nearby scenery on the way back from a mission. And it had definitely lived up to the hype.

…

An hour later, Hajime and his team stopped by a river to rest and replenish their energy.

They’d only been resting for about ten minutes when three more figures appeared by the riverside.

“Captain, it’s Jiraiya-senpai, and Lady Tsunade, and Orochimaru-senpai!”

Sarutobi Toku was the first to notice and quickly called it out.

Hajime, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them to see the three approaching figures.

The next instant, his gaze locked onto the most dazzling one of them all—

Tsunade!

She was only twenty-two.

Not yet so mature, not yet so fearsome—but already quite impressive!

Jiraiya hadn’t expected to run into Hajime’s team again here. He quietly said to Tsunade and Orochimaru, “They’re from Anbu. I saw them earlier.”

Orochimaru remained expressionless, Tsunade gave a faint nod, though her brows furrowed slightly.

She could feel Hajime’s gaze on her.

It was… too intense.

Hajime eventually withdrew his eyes without saying a word or making any move to greet them.

Likewise, the trio on the other side didn’t approach. They simply found a nearby spot by the river to rest.

Unlike Hajime and his squad, who were chewing on rations, Jiraiya and the others went into the river to catch fish, then roasted them and made fish soup.

Soon, the delicious aroma wafted through the air, making Sarutobi Toku and the others swallow their saliva involuntarily.

They wanted somebadly.

But Hajime remained unmoved.

He was a Root shinobi personally trained by Danzo. Temptation like this? It meant nothing to him.

Twenty minutes later—

Hajime Hoshita led his team and set off.

Watching the four of them disappear into the distance, Jiraiya couldn't help but speak up. “Hey, what do you guys think that woman is?”

Orochimaru responded flatly, “It has nothing to do with us.”

Jiraiya frowned, annoyed. “Orochimaru, you’re so dull.”

Orochimaru shot back with a question, “You’ve seen them twice now—what do you think?”

Jiraiya rubbed his chin and speculated, “Probably a spy, right?”

“She’s really pretty—maybe she seduced one of the village's shinobi into switching sides?”

Tsunade scoffed. “Only you men would fall for something like that!”

Jiraiya quickly shot back, “Tsunade, that’s going a bit far, don’t you think?”

“I, Jiraiya, am a very serious and proper shinobi. I wouldn’t be fooled by a cheap trick like that.”

Tsunade nearly rolled her eyes.

Serious, maybe, if she stretched the definition.

But proper? Ha!

Jiraiya knew full well his words didn’t carry much weight, so he quickly changed the subject. “That guy leading them doesn’t seem ordinary. I checked out the battlefield they left behind—the fight ended really fast, one-on-one.”

Tsunade wasn’t surprised. “Everyone in Anbu is elite.”

“But… I didn’t like the way he looked at me.”

Orochimaru’s eyes flickered. “That’s the gaze of someone with ambition.”

Tsunade stretched lazily. “I don’t care whether he’s ambitious or not. Let’s just hurry back to the village. I can’t wait to soak in a hot bath.”

Jiraiya immediately grinned. “We could do that here too, y’know!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on Orochimaru.”

Orochimaru stared at him silently.

Tsunade scoffed coldly. “You’re the last person I’d trust, you lecher!”

With that, she stood up. “Let’s go!”

…

The journey back was uneventful. Hajime’s team returned to Konoha smoothly without incident. They handed Hayami Mari over to the Interrogation Department before heading to Root’s base to report in to Danzo.

“Well done.”

Danzo was clearly pleased with Hajime’s performance.

Several missions completed swiftly and flawlessly—definitely a worthy investment of those Hashirama cells.

“Go rest,” he added, then reminded sternly, “You must prioritize your Wood Release training.”

Mokuton was a crucial piece in his plan to control the Tailed Beast Jinchuriki—it had to succeed.

Hajime replied immediately, “Yes, Lord Danzo.”

…

Back at his quarters, Hajime couldn’t help but recall Danzo’s final words of emphasis: “Wood Release—especially incomplete Wood Release—isn’t primarily about combat power. For the village, its true value lies in suppressing the Nine-Tails.”

“I should’ve realized it sooner… Danzo already has plans for the Nine-Tails’ Jinchuriki.”

“But right now, Mito Uzumaki is still alive—though she doesn’t have long left.”

As he mulled over this, a sudden idea struck him—one that could allow him to walk both in darkness and in light.

“Can’t rush it.”

Hajime kept a cool head. “Danzo must never catch wind of my hidden intentions. I need him to believe that everything I do is for Root, for him—Lord Danzo.”

He washed up, went to bed, and quickly fell asleep—sleeping straight through until 7 PM.

After another quick wash, he was feeling refreshed and ready to train. But just as he stepped outside, Shimura Daichi came looking for him.

Another mission.

Hajime accepted the order aloud, but inwardly, he couldn’t help but scoff:

“They really don’t treat us like people, huh?”

“We’re expected to carry out non-stop missions and also master the secrets of Wood Release…”

“In the end, no matter where you go—bosses are all the same kind of monster.”

(End of Chapter)