Chapter 124

Chapter 124

# Chapter 124: Tsunade Is Actually Reading the Secret Scrolls!

**By the Lake.**

"Nagato, Konan, the war may be over, but the turmoil in the Land of Rain continues. Would you like to join me? Together, we can establish peace in the Land of Rain..."

Yahiko’s sunny smile radiated his charisma as he extended an invitation to his two fellow war orphans from the Land of Rain.

However, Konan responded with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Yahiko, but I need to follow Master Yosuke back."

Her words left Yahiko stunned, his smile stiffening slightly. But Konan only gave him a regretful look before shifting her gaze past him toward the white-clad figure leaning against a distant tree. To her, that figure was everything.

Seeing her expression, Yahiko seemed to understand something. A bitter smile appeared on his face as the budding emotions he had not yet dared to acknowledge were buried in the dust.

When Yahiko turned to Nagato, he was met with another apologetic smile.

"I plan to stay in the village and train under Master Uchiha Yosuke. Right now, I'm still too weak."

Although Uchiha Yosuke was leaving, he had appointed Uchiha Hachidai to oversee the village. Naturally, Nagato had been included in the arrangements.

Two rejections in a row left Yahiko scratching his head, feeling awkward and confused. He could understand Konan’s decision—she had shown signs of this inclination before—but Nagato? Why wouldn’t he return either?

Faced with Yahiko's puzzled gaze, Nagato feigned a smile. "Because the Land of Rain is my home."

Nagato’s explanation seemed to make sense to Yahiko, but deep down, Nagato remained on guard.

'Big Brother Yosuke said it himself: my eyes must not be revealed to anyone!'

Under Uchiha Yosuke’s influence, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato had each embarked on different paths. The bonds between Konan and Nagato with Yahiko were not as deep as they might have been otherwise. Nagato, in particular, became more cautious after learning about his Rinnegan.

What mattered most was that Nagato had gained preliminary power. He was no longer the weakling who could be won over by something as simple as a piece of bread.

“Haha, it’s okay. We’re all in the Land of Rain, and Konan will visit when she has time.”

Yahiko’s confident smile once again brightened the mood, effectively easing the earlier tension. His charisma worked, even in awkward moments.

Despite appearances, however, the trio’s lives had been irrevocably altered by Uchiha Yosuke’s presence. At their weakest moments, they were vulnerable to external influences. But once strength was attained, even Nagato's personality instinctively weighed Yahiko's companionship in terms of mutual benefit.

*Such is human nature.*

As they looked toward the rare sunrise in the Land of Rain, all three wore smiles filled with hope for the future.

Yahiko believed that studying under Jiraiya would make him a great ninja. Konan felt a twinge of sadness at their parting, but the prospect of returning to the village with her chosen master far outweighed her sorrow.

As for Nagato, his smile carried a warmth he hadn’t known before. Although he didn’t fully understand the situation, Uchiha Yosuke had not scolded him for killing the Leaf ninja earlier. Instead, he protected him because of his legendary eyes, arranging for him to stay in the Land of Rain and providing him with guidance.

This familial care gave Nagato a sense of longing for the future.

---

**Beneath the Tree.**

Jiraiya grinned mischievously at Uchiha Yosuke before tossing him a scroll. Laughing, he said, "No need to thank this toad sage; this is one of my secret techniques."

Uchiha Yosuke’s eyes widened as he looked at the scroll. It contained the technique *Ninja Art: Needle Jizo*.

A defensive ninjutsu, this technique hardened one’s hair into needle-like spikes, which spread and wrapped around the user’s body like armor. It was a B-rank jutsu, and it even had an offensive counterpart.

“Haha, I’ve noticed your fighting style. You’re a bit too reckless, so you’re lacking in defensive techniques.”

Jiraiya’s hearty laughter carried a hint of awkwardness, which didn’t escape Yosuke. He understood that Jiraiya, despite his good nature, would never hand over his secret techniques lightly—especially not a personal one like this.

“Jiraiya-senpai, is this because of the ‘Three Legendary Sannin’ title making the rounds recently?”

Uchiha Yosuke’s meaningful smile made Jiraiya scratch his head awkwardly. The title of "Three Legendary Sannin" had been circulated within the village and beyond as a move by the Third Hokage’s administration to diminish the prestige of Sakumo Hatake.

The focus on Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya’s exploits on the Rain battlefield drew attention away from the efforts of Uchiha Yosuke, Kushina Uzumaki, and Mikoto Uchiha, who were overshadowed.

---

**At the Uchiha Compound.**

Meanwhile, Uchiha Fugaku stood in his father’s room, his frustration boiling over.

“Father! Why are you doing this? You’re trampling on the Uchiha clan’s honor!”

The elderly Uchiha clan head sighed but spoke firmly. “Fugaku, you are steady and reliable. I trust you to lead the clan in the future. Yosuke is undeniably talented, but he is also more stubborn and dangerous than Elder Setsuna. If he fails, it will bring disaster to the entire Uchiha clan.”

---

**In the Senju Compound.**

In a secluded chamber, Tsunade was poring over the Senju clan’s secret scrolls, her brows furrowed. She had been deeply absorbed in these texts ever since her return, much to the surprise of her grandmother, Mito Uzumaki.

“Tsunade, the Medical Corps has been officially established. It’s time for you to take on your responsibilities,” Mito said.

Tsunade barely glanced up. “Those old fogeys think they’ve outmaneuvered me, don’t they? Turning my efforts into an excuse to pigeonhole me as a medical ninja. But fine, let them think they’ve won. The truth is, I’ve already started preparing something bigger.”

Excitement flickered in her eyes as she delved into her research. Ideas for the *Creation Rebirth Technique* were already taking form.

---

With new alliances forged and new challenges looming, the ninja world quietly braced for its next upheaval.