36-40

*Chapter 36: Mirror*

After a brief moment of shock, the Dog-Head Anbu quickly regained his composure.

"The Kaguya clan was supposed to have been wiped out in that battle. How is there a survivor? Who exactly are you?"

The Dog-Head Anbu stared at Kimimaro, trying to confirm his identity.

"Does it matter?"

Kimimaro extended his right hand, pointing his index finger forward. A white bone slowly protruded from his fingertip, but not a drop of blood appeared.

The sight was truly bone-chilling.

The Dog-Head Anbu felt a shiver down his spine. Not caring about Kimimaro's identity anymore, he immediately started forming hand seals to cast a ninjutsu in defense.

"Earth Style! Ear—"

"Binding Spell Number One: Stop!"

Before the Dog-Head Anbu could complete his seals, Kimimaro uttered a low command, and the Anbu's hands, which had been forming seals, immediately clasped together.

The jutsu failed!

"What?!"

The Dog-Head Anbu's eyes widened in disbelief.

It felt as if an invisible force had bound his arms and legs.

At that very moment, the white bone from Kimimaro’s right index finger shot forward!

"Finger Bullet!"

Whoosh!

The bone shot out!

The Dog-Head Anbu’s face was filled with terror, and his chakra exploded in a desperate attempt to break free!

Boom!

In the next instant, he forcibly broke through the binding spell.

But it was too late.

The white bone pierced straight through his chest, causing a spray of blood to erupt.

It was too fast!

He stared in disbelief at the hole in his chest before collapsing silently.

Given the Dog-Head Anbu's strength, in a normal fight, there was no way he would have been taken down by Kimimaro so quickly.

However, Kimimaro’s methods were too strange. The Anbu hadn’t even had time to react before it was all over.

The Binding Spell was practically a hand-seal killer.

Any ninja who needed to form hand seals would have their jutsu interrupted unless they could instantly overcome the spell's power.

Kimimaro retracted his index finger and walked towards Guren, who was still in shock.

Guren immediately showed signs of caution, pulling out a kunai and holding it in front of her.

"What do you want?"

"Don't worry. I only intervened to save you, Guren."

"You know my name?"

"As someone from the Sound Village, it's not surprising that I know your name."

Guren frowned. She hadn’t expected Kimimaro to reveal her identity so easily.

And from what he was saying, he was from the Sound Village too?

"Who are you, really?"

"Kaguya Kimimaro."

"Kaguya Kimimaro? That name sounds familiar…"

Guren murmured to herself, still keeping her guard up.

Then it hit her.

"You’re the Kaguya Kimimaro that Lord Orochimaru favors so much!"

Guren’s eyes widened as she carefully examined Kimimaro.

"I’m surprised you’ve heard of me."

Of course Guren had.

Although the base she was stationed at was far from the Sound Village, ninjas from the Sound often visited to check in, and it was through them that she had learned of Kimimaro's existence.

Guren had always aspired to become Orochimaru's vessel, so she paid close attention to those around him.

When she learned about Kimimaro, she became deeply curious about him—though mostly, she was jealous.

Why did she have to be stationed at some remote base while he could stay close to Orochimaru and receive such important attention?

That was the treatment she wanted the most, yet Kimimaro got to enjoy it every day.

In Guren's eyes, Kimimaro was an obstacle between her and her goal of becoming Orochimaru’s vessel.

So, from the moment she heard about Kimimaro, she had harbored a strong dislike for him.

"I’ve heard of you. But shouldn’t you be in the Sound Village? What are you doing here?"

"I’m on a mission."

Kimimaro said as he slowly walked up to Guren and extended both hands, which began to glow with a faint blue chakra.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm healing your wounds."

The blue chakra touched Guren's injuries, and they immediately began to heal.

Guren felt a tingling sensation as the pain vanished.

She even felt her strength gradually returning.

"He can perform medical ninjutsu?"

Guren was astonished, but she still managed to mutter, "Tha... thank you."

Although she was still displeased with Kimimaro, he had saved her life and was now healing her, so basic courtesy was necessary.

"No need. By the way, why were you being chased by the Mist's Anbu?"

Kimimaro asked as he continued healing her.

"It’s Lord Orochimaru's mission; I can’t reveal any details."

"Oh?"

Kimimaro hadn’t expected her to be so tight-lipped.

Since Guren didn’t want to talk, he didn’t press the issue.

He didn’t have much time to waste here anyway.

Soon enough, all of Guren’s wounds had closed, though she would still need a couple of days to fully recover.

Even medical ninjutsu couldn’t restore someone to full health instantly.

"Your wounds are mostly healed, but you should avoid fighting for the next couple of days. Otherwise, they could reopen. Any missions can wait until you're fully recovered."

Kimimaro stood up and glanced at the three corpses of the Mist ninjas nearby.

"I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t stay here any longer. I’ve read your file. Your Crystal Release is quite effective for destroying evidence. I’ll leave these three to you."

"No problem, leave it to me."

"Good. Then until next time."

Kimimaro said before leaving gracefully.

Guren watched him go, uncertain of what to think.

"I never expected him to save me... Whatever. It’s not important right now. The pursuers are dealt with, and now I need to fetch Yukimaru. This is Lord Orochimaru’s mission, and I cannot fail. I just hope Yukimaru is safe."

With that, Guren used her Crystal Release to dispose of the three bodies and then departed.

Meanwhile, Kimimaro continued heading toward the town.

"The Mist Anbu mentioned Yukimaru. It seems Guren is looking for him. Interesting. If I didn’t have news of Tsunade, I’d consider investigating further."

Kimimaro muttered to himself, and a translucent panel appeared in front of his eyes.

A new card had appeared in his portrait collection.

While healing Guren's wounds, he had taken the opportunity to complete a portrait with her.

"Congratulations, traveler! You’ve successfully collected a portrait of Guren and obtained the Mirror Clow Card. By infusing chakra, you can use it to copy people or objects. The duration of the copies depends on the amount of chakra used."

"A Clow Card with the ability to copy?"

Kimimaro pondered this for a moment before accelerating his pace, his appearance shifting into that of Doctor Jun.

In the town, Shizune found Tsunade already drunk.

"Tsunade-sama, you’re drunk again."

Shizune sighed, covering her face.

"Ah, Shizune, you're back? Have a drink with me."

"Tsunade-sama, you're already drunk."

"I'm not drunk, I can still..."

Tsunade raised her cup, but before she could finish her sentence, she slumped over the table, completely passed out.

Shizune shook her head and, picking up Tonton, carried Tsunade back to the inn.

She was quite used to this kind of situation by now.

(End of the chapter)

*Chapter 37: A Strange Conversation*

Late at night, the street was pitch black.

Only a few scattered street lamps were still working.

Kimimaro walked down the street, and the surrounding shops were already closed.

“Looks like I’ll have to find a place to stay for now and gather information tomorrow,” he thought.

Kimimaro headed to a nearby inn and booked a room.

In the room, he found it hard to sleep.

“I wonder if I’ll be able to find Tsunade tomorrow. I wonder if she can cure my Kekkei Genkai illness.”

He sighed, his thoughts inevitably messy.

At this point, Tsunade seemed like his only hope.

If even she couldn’t help, he might have to resort to forbidden techniques.

But turning into something like Orochimaru was something he really didn’t want.

“Forget it, I shouldn’t think too much,” Kimimaro muttered, walking to the balcony to calm his emotions.

However, when he opened the balcony door, he saw a small pink-skinned pig holding a pillow, lying on the balcony and looking rather content.

“What is this…”

Kimimaro was stunned, and the little pig, hearing the noise, looked at him.

Man and pig locked eyes, and the scene was rather amusing.

“Tonton?”

Kimimaro immediately recognized the little pink pig.

There was only one pink-skinned pig in the entire ninja world who wore red clothes, and that was the one with Shizune.

Since the pig was here, did that mean Tsunade was nearby too?

Realizing this, Kimimaro felt a surge of joy.

It seemed he had finally found the right place.

“This balcony is mine, you know. Isn’t it a bit rude to just occupy it like that?”

His tone was slightly amused, but the pink pig looked a bit embarrassed when it heard this.

Tonton squealed twice, and Kimimaro used his mind-talk ability to translate the pig’s squeals into words he could understand.

The marvel of his mind-talk power became clear.

It was like telepathy, allowing him to communicate directly with any creature.

“Um… Is it not okay?”

Seeing how cute Tonton looked, Kimimaro smiled and said, “Just now, it wasn’t okay, but now it is.”

“You can understand me? How?”

Tonton was shocked.

All these years, only Shizune and Tsunade had understood it.

Who would’ve thought this young man could as well?

“You can think of it as a type of ninjutsu,” Kimimaro replied.

“That’s a pretty amazing ninjutsu.”

Tonton suddenly felt a sense of closeness to Kimimaro, as if they were the same kind.

Of course, if Kimimaro knew the pig was thinking this, he wouldn’t be too pleased.

“By the look of you, you’re a pet, right? Why aren’t you staying at home?”

“My owner lives next door. The balcony over there isn’t as nice. This one lets me bask in the moonlight.”

“Bask in the moonlight?”

Kimimaro was stunned—this was a pig with taste.

“Yeah, look, the moon is so round tonight,” Tonton squealed.

“It is quite round,” Kimimaro agreed.

And so, a strange scene unfolded: man and pig enjoying the moonlight together.

Kimimaro opened the curtains, letting the moonlight flood the room.

The feeling was rather magical.

“How does it feel? Do you feel calmer now?”

“I do. It’s not bad.”

Kimimaro smiled, finding this little pink pig to be quite thoughtful.

It’s no wonder Tsunade kept it; it was definitely unique.

“Are you a ninja?”

“I guess so. But I prefer being called a traveling doctor.”

“A traveling doctor? Could it be that you’re the famous Doctor Kim I’ve been hearing about?”

“You’ve heard of me? Seems like I’m getting quite well-known.”

Kimimaro smiled.

“Very well-known. I’ve heard quite a bit about you recently.”

“Cough, cough…”

Just then, Kimimaro coughed twice, a bit of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

He wiped it away casually, showing no concern.

“Young man, your body doesn’t seem to be in great shape,” Tonton remarked, having spent enough time with Tsunade and Shizune to have a sharp eye.

Seeing Kimimaro like this, the pig knew he was ill—and not lightly.

“It’s an old illness,” Kimimaro said calmly.

“You’re a doctor, yet you can’t cure yourself?”

“I can’t. It’s a Kekkei Genkai disease.”

Kimimaro didn’t hide the truth.

“A Kekkei Genkai disease? That’s tough.”

As Tsunade’s pig, it was no ordinary animal and knew about such illnesses.

“I didn’t expect a pig to know so much,” Kimimaro commented.

“I’m no ordinary pig. My owner is the best medical ninja in the world.”

“Oh? Could your owner be Lady Tsunade?” Kimimaro teased.

“Exactly! The medical genius, Lady Tsunade!”

“Hmm?”

Kimimaro looked surprised.

Tonton looked proud.

Playing along with a pig, Kimimaro felt like his acting skills were improving.

“Surprised?”

“Indeed. So, Lady Tsunade is next door?”

Kimimaro grew excited.

“Yes, right next door. But she’s already asleep. If you want to see her, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow is fine. I can’t believe my luck, just randomly choosing an inn and finding Lady Tsunade.”

Kimimaro’s face lit up with excitement.

“Even if you didn’t run into her today, Lady Tsunade would come to find you tomorrow. Haven’t you been treating people in a nearby village recently?”

“Yeah, how did you know?”

“Your name has been spreading. Lady Tsunade is interested in you and wants to meet.”

“Lady Tsunade wants to meet me? What an honor!”

Kimimaro appeared even more “excited.”

“Don’t get too happy just yet. Kekkei Genkai diseases are incurable. Even Lady Tsunade might not be able to help.”

Tonton’s words poured cold water on Kimimaro’s excitement.

But he was already prepared for this, so he wasn’t too disappointed.

“I know. But even if there’s a sliver of hope, I won’t give up. As a doctor, I never give up on any patient. And in this case, that patient is me,” Kimimaro said with a wry smile.

In the moonlight, he looked particularly serene.

“Young man, don’t dwell on it too much. With such beautiful moonlight, thinking about life and death is a bit dull. Why not just enjoy the moment instead of worrying about tomorrow?

Tomorrow’s troubles can wait for tomorrow’s you. Relax.

After the full moon, the sun will rise again. New hope will always come.”

Tonton spoke as it lay back on its pillow, gazing at the bright moonlight outside the balcony.

Kimimaro looked at the content pink pig and smiled faintly.

It seemed he wasn’t as good at enjoying life as a pig.

How amusing.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 38: Tsunade's Iron Fist*

No matter how beautiful the moonlight is, it will eventually fade.

The morning sun will arrive as promised.

When the sunlight touched Kimimaro, he groggily opened his eyes.

On the balcony, the little pink-skinned pig rolled over contentedly, letting the sun warm its belly. It looked quite adorable.

Kimimaro smiled softly and stretched lazily.

“Ton-Ton? Ton-Ton? Where are you?”

Outside, Shizune’s worried voice suddenly echoed.

The pig had disappeared early in the morning.

How could she not be anxious?

If she didn’t find it soon, it might end up as someone’s braised pork!

Ton-Ton had no combat skills—just a smart, cute pig with an extraordinary sense of smell.

Hearing the commotion, Ton-Ton didn’t feel like getting up. It simply rolled over again and continued to sleep soundly.

With a creak, Kimimaro opened the door and saw Shizune in the hallway, searching for the pig.

“Excuse me, are you looking for a little pink-skinned pig?”

“Yes! Did you see it?”

“It’s over there.”

Kimimaro pointed to the balcony in his room, and Shizune rushed over.

She saw Ton-Ton basking in the sun, sleeping comfortably.

Shizune smiled helplessly.

This little pig sure knows how to enjoy life.

“Sorry for the trouble,” Shizune said, a bit embarrassed.

“No worries. It’s a pig with character. We had a pleasant chat last night.”

“Huh?”

Shizune was surprised.

“You can understand Ton-Ton?”

Kimimaro nodded.

Just as Shizune was about to say something, Tsunade’s voice called out.

“Shizune, what are you dawdling for? Have you found Ton-Ton yet?”

Suddenly, Tsunade froze.

She had caught sight of Kimimaro’s face.

“Dan…? No, Nawaki?”

For a moment, Tsunade saw the shadows of two people in Kimimaro’s face.

“You must be Lady Tsunade, right? Last night, I chatted with Ton-Ton, and it told me you were its owner. I was surprised for a long time. Lady Tsunade is like a goddess to us medical ninjas.

Oh, right. I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Kaguya Kimimaro, a wandering healer.”

“A wandering healer? Kaguya Kimimaro? Are you the famous wandering healer?”

Before Tsunade could respond, Shizune spoke in surprise.

“That’s me.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a gust of wind came toward him!

Kimimaro was startled and instinctively dodged.

Boom!

A punch missed and struck the wall, leaving a large hole.

“L-Lady Tsunade? What are you doing?” Shizune was shocked by Tsunade’s sudden attack.

Kimimaro was also confused.

What had gone wrong?

Why was her first move a punch?

Tsunade’s face darkened, her gaze fierce as she stared at Kimimaro.

“Who are you? Showing up in front of me with that face—what’s your purpose?”

Kimimaro had used Gaia’s foundation technique to blend the features of Dan and Nawaki, intending to make Tsunade feel more at ease.

But it had the opposite effect, raising her suspicions instead.

He hadn’t anticipated this.

He had been careless.

Now, there was no choice but to continue with the act.

Otherwise, this trip would be for nothing.

“Lady Tsunade, I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t understand? Let me make you understand!”

Tsunade’s face was icy, clearly not buying Kimimaro’s words.

In the next moment, she attacked again!

Tsunade gathered chakra in her feet and accelerated instantly!

This punch was even more powerful. Kimimaro didn’t dare be careless. With a quick step, he darted into his room and leapt off the balcony!

Tsunade followed close behind.

Ton-Ton, who had been sleeping, was startled by the sudden rush of shadows, feeling a chill in the air.

“Ton-Ton, stop sleeping. A fight’s broken out.”

Although Shizune had no idea what was going on, she quickly scooped up Ton-Ton and followed.

The two of them landed one after the other on the street in front of the inn.

“Lady Tsunade…”

Kimimaro still wanted to explain, but Tsunade didn’t give him the chance.

Her fists flew, and all Kimimaro could do was keep dodging.

But Tsunade’s taijutsu was among the best in the ninja world. With her full power unleashed, her punches were lightning fast.

Kimimaro could feel the wind whipping past his ears, the punches roaring like speeding cars.

“So fast,” Kimimaro thought in awe. As Tsunade’s punch retracted, she transitioned into a palm strike aimed at his neck.

He couldn’t dodge it in time.

Left with no choice, Kimimaro raised his right arm to shield his neck.

Thud!

The heavy blow sent a sharp pain through his arm, and his whole body was thrown backward.

In midair, he flipped and landed steadily.

But his right arm throbbed with pain, bruised and nearly broken.

Tsunade frowned.

“Your bones are tough. Most people would have had their bones shattered by that hit.”

Kimimaro took a deep breath. His left hand glowed with blue chakra as he gently brushed over the bruise on his right arm.

The bruise vanished instantly.

And the pain dissipated.

Tsunade’s pupils contracted in surprise. Such an impressive healing technique—without even forming hand signs.

In the ninja world, there were fewer than five people capable of such high-level medical ninjutsu.

“Lady Tsunade, I think there’s been a misunderstanding between us.”

“Hmph!”

Tsunade snorted coldly, showing no intention of stopping.

Seeing this, Kimimaro had no choice but to fight back.

If this kept up, there’d be no end to it.

“My apologies, Lady Tsunade.”

Kimimaro’s hands formed seals, and blue chakra gathered in his palms, forming blades.

An A-rank jutsu!

Chakra Scalpel!

A high-level medical ninjutsu even more difficult than regular healing.

It could cut open a body without causing injury and be extended.

Facing Tsunade’s charge, Kimimaro waved his hand, extending the chakra scalpel to twenty centimeters.

The chakra scalpel could both save lives and take them.

Shizune, watching, was surprised.

“I haven’t even mastered that technique yet. He looks younger than me, and he’s already learned it? No wonder he’s gained so much fame recently. Such talent—only Lady Tsunade can compare.”

Ton-Ton, watching the battle, sweated nervously for Kimimaro.

A friend he’d just made yesterday—hopefully he wouldn’t meet his end today.

As Kimimaro slashed out with the blade, Tsunade’s expression shifted. She abandoned her attack and swiftly dodged, bending backward to avoid the chakra scalpel’s sharp edge.

“You’ve got some skill. No wonder you dared to play tricks in front of me. But it’s still not enough! Let’s see who you really are!”

Tsunade spun, bent her legs, and suddenly accelerated!

After dodging the chakra scalpel, she aimed a punch straight at Kimimaro’s face!

As the fist grew closer, Kimimaro’s pupils shrank.

Crap!

No way to dodge!

Bang!

The punch landed squarely on his right cheek!

Kimimaro was sent flying, crashing into a nearby wall.

The wall trembled, cracks spreading out like a spiderweb.

The people on the street had long since fled from the fight.

In this world, ordinary people naturally had the sense and awareness to avoid getting caught up in a ninja’s quarrel.

Otherwise, their lives could be lost at any moment.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 39: Nen Threads Stitching*

Kimimaro wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and shook his head to ease the impact of the punch. He thought to himself, "As expected of Tsunade, without using Kaguya Fluid Arts or Kirito Swordsmanship, I can’t take more than a few moves from her."

Both techniques were signature moves of Kimimaro, but he didn’t want to expose them in front of Tsunade, so he held back.

However, Tsunade had also gone easy with that punch.

She hadn’t used her full strength; otherwise, Kimimaro wouldn’t have taken it head-on.

Even though he didn’t have time to dodge, he could still use his Shikotsumyaku to instantly produce bones to block the impact.

It was precisely because he sensed something strange about the punch that he chose to take it directly.

This punch wasn’t meant to kill.

It was a punch meant to break through a disguise.

Although the force was concentrated in one point, it spread across the face after hitting.

At this moment, any kind of disguise would be exposed by the punch’s force.

In the ninja world, there are plenty of techniques that can change one’s appearance.

The simplest is the Transformation Jutsu.

A bit more advanced is the Facial Duplication Jutsu, which allows one to remove someone else’s face and attach it to their own, making it almost flawless.

A non-jutsu method would be cosmetic surgery, for which the ninja world also has techniques.

But no matter which of these methods were used, Tsunade’s punch would expose any flaws.

After realizing this, Kimimaro chose to take the punch.

To win Tsunade’s trust, this was a necessary step.

What Tsunade couldn’t have guessed was that the disguise she faced came from the power of an Imperial Arm, not a technique from the ninja world.

Her punch couldn’t break through the flawless coverage of Gaia Foundation, which he had mastered completely.

So after the punch landed, Tsunade looked at Kimimaro with a puzzled expression.

No disguise?

That face is real?

Did I guess wrong?

“Tsunade-sama, even if you want to kill me, at least tell me the reason,” Kimimaro said, his voice filled with sadness and frustration.

Kimimaro knew that now was the time.

The time to turn the tables.

So, at this moment, he put on an expression of sorrow.

“Um... sorry, I think I might’ve made a mistake.”

The coldness on Tsunade’s face disappeared, replaced by awkwardness.

It seemed she had been too hasty.

People having similar appearances wasn’t that strange, after all.

“What?”

Kimimaro feigned confusion.

“Apologies, you look a lot like someone I once knew,” Tsunade explained.

Kimimaro showed a "helpless" smile.

“Looks like I’m really unlucky. After finally meeting Tsunade-sama, I get misunderstood.”

Shizune quickly stepped forward and said, “Tsunade-sama, you were too sudden. You really startled me.”

At that moment, the innkeeper, having heard the commotion, came over.

He stood on the balcony of Kimimaro’s room and shouted, “Hey! What are you all doing? Why’d you smash a hole in my wall?”

The innkeeper was dumbfounded at the sight of the large hole in the wall.

“What happened here?”

“Sir, let me explain…” Shizune quickly leaped up and started negotiating with the innkeeper.

Judging by her skill, this wasn’t the first time she had handled such situations.

Having followed Tsunade since she was twelve, Shizune was not only her disciple but also her caretaker.

It really wasn’t easy for her.

“Since this was a misunderstanding, let me introduce myself again. My name is Kaguya Kim, and I’m a traveling doctor,” Kimimaro said, extending his right hand with a gentle smile.

For a moment, Tsunade was lost in thought.

That expression… was so much like Dan’s.

Tsunade instinctively shook Kimimaro’s hand.

“Congratulations, traveler. You have successfully taken a photo and earned the reward: Nen Threads Stitching.”

Nen Threads Stitching is the ability of Machi from Hunter x Hunter.

It allows the user to create nen threads that can quickly stitch together blood vessels, nerves, bones, and muscles, enabling immediate use after the stitching is done.

It’s an extremely powerful medical technique.

From the Naruto perspective, its effect is similar to Kakuzu’s Earth Grudge Fear.

This technique could even help Hidan reattach his head.

After a brief moment of daze, Tsunade let go of Kimimaro’s hand.

“Kaguya? Are you a survivor of the Kaguya Clan?”

Tsunade suddenly realized the significance of the surname Kaguya.

The destruction of the Kaguya Clan wasn’t a secret in the ninja world.

The news had spread widely over the past two years.

Just like when the Uchiha Clan was wiped out.

Kimimaro nodded, without denying it.

Being abandoned by the village wasn’t exactly something to take pride in, and he didn’t want to discuss it any further.

Tsunade noticed this and quickly changed the subject.

“I’ve heard of you recently. The illness in Sugi Village was quite troublesome, but I didn’t expect you to cure them. That’s quite impressive.

And your use of the chakra scalpel earlier shows that your medical skills are already quite advanced.”

“Tsunade-senpai, you flatter me. I still have much to learn. I wonder if I could have the opportunity to follow you for a while and exchange medical knowledge?”

Kimimaro’s face showed eagerness.

Looking at his face, so reminiscent of Dan and Nawaki, Tsunade found herself unable to refuse.

Exchanges between medical ninjas were open and not restricted by village borders.

It was through such exchanges that medical knowledge advanced.

His request wasn’t unreasonable.

“You don’t look very healthy. You’re not asking to follow me just to exchange medical techniques, are you?” Tsunade immediately noticed that Kimimaro wasn’t in the best of health.

“As expected of Tsunade-senpai, you saw through me at a glance. In truth, I suffer from a kekkei genkai disease. For years, I’ve been studying medical techniques, hoping to cure myself.

However, all I’ve been able to do is suppress it and extend my life by a few years. I have no clear solution to fully cure it yet. One of my reasons for wanting to exchange medical knowledge with you is to seek a cure.”

“Kekkei genkai disease?”

Looking at the boy in front of her, who bore such a striking resemblance to people from her past, Tsunade sighed inwardly.

Was this person going to die too?

Kekkei genkai diseases were unique to those with bloodline limits.

Each kekkei genkai disease was different, but they all had one thing in common.

They were incredibly difficult to cure.

Even for Tsunade, the chances of success weren’t high.

What’s more, she had no research materials on the Kaguya Clan’s bodies. With only this single case to study, her efficiency would be low.

The most important factor, however, was that her hemophobia hadn’t been fully cured yet, meaning she couldn’t conduct the necessary research.

But…

Looking at the face in front of her, she found it impossible to say the words “I won’t help.”

Tsunade was torn with indecision.

At that moment, two people approached.

One was tall and dark-skinned.

The other appeared smaller in comparison.

But it was clear that they were ninjas from the Hidden Cloud Village.

“Tsunade, we finally found you,” the taller person called out, drawing both Tsunade’s and Kimimaro’s attention.

“The Fourth Raikage!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 40: The Raikage's Request*

The sudden appearance of two people surprised both Tsunade and Kimimaro.

"Tsunade, I have a request. I want you to save someone," the Raikage said bluntly, getting straight to the point.

"Hah, Raikage, you really dare to ask me for a favor, huh? Have you forgotten what you did a few years ago? You tried to steal the Byakugan from Konoha and caused the death of Hiashi Hyuga from the branch family. And now you have the nerve to ask for my help?" Tsunade sneered.

"Tsunade-sama, there were misunderstandings on both sides regarding that matter, but it was resolved satisfactorily," said Amayi, the Cloud ninja standing nearby, quickly trying to defuse the situation.

"Misunderstanding? That didn’t seem like any misunderstanding to me."

"Enough, Tsunade. If you refuse, I’ll have to use force. Whether you want to treat him or not, you will treat him!" The Raikage’s tone was unyielding.

Seeing this, Kimimaro couldn’t help but sigh. The Raikage was certainly living up to his reputation as a brute.

"Fine! I was just thinking about getting some exercise anyway. Let’s see just how strong you really are, Raikage."

Tensions skyrocketed as the two locked eyes, sparks practically flying between them. Kimimaro, however, was worried for Tsunade. If a fight broke out, Tsunade wouldn’t stand a chance against the Raikage right now. If she got injured, her hemophobia would kick in, and the Raikage would utterly crush her.

"Tsunade-senpai, don’t be rash. If you two start a serious fight, it could easily lead to war," Kimimaro said, attempting to calm her down.

His words made Tsunade pause and regain some composure. Both of them had immense influence in their respective villages. If high-level forces like them fought, regardless of who won or lost, it would destabilize their villages. And right now, Konoha couldn’t afford a war with the Cloud.

Tsunade was also painfully aware of her current condition. She could still handle opponents below Kage level, but against a Kage-level fighter, she wouldn’t stand a chance. After thinking quickly, she came up with a plan.

"Raikage, you want to resort to force? Fine. If you can beat me in an arm-wrestling match, I’ll help you. If not, then get lost!" Tsunade extended her right arm.

"Deal!" The Raikage, a massive man, wasn’t about to turn down an arm-wrestling match against a woman.

They sat across from each other at a stone table. Tsunade’s slender hand looked tiny compared to the Raikage’s huge, dark-skinned hand, making the outcome seem obvious.

Tsunade smiled and glanced at Kimimaro. "Kid, come over and count us off."

"Alright."

Kimimaro stepped forward, placing his hands over theirs. The contrast between the two was striking.

"One, two, three! Go!"

Boom!

Both of them unleashed their chakra simultaneously! The Raikage’s body surged with blue lightning, while Tsunade glowed with golden light. The air around them seemed to heat up.

"As expected of Kage-level ninjas—what powerful chakra, and such precise control," Kimimaro marveled internally.

Tsunade’s chakra control needed no introduction; as the greatest medical ninja, her control was arguably the best in the entire shinobi world. What surprised him was that the Raikage, known for his brute strength, also had excellent chakra control. Kage-level fighters really were on another level.

Just as Kimimaro was processing this, Shizune returned after finishing her tasks.

Seeing the scene before her, she froze. "What’s going on?"

Kimimaro chuckled. "Nothing major, just an arm-wrestling match."

"Arm-wrestling? Why are they arm-wrestling all of a sudden?"

Shizune was full of questions, but this wasn’t the time to explain.

The match grew even more intense. The stone table was shaking as though it might shatter under the pressure of their strength at any moment. Tsunade’s pale hand gradually began to push down the Raikage’s large, dark hand.

"This woman… is stronger than me?" The Raikage’s eyes widened in disbelief. He had never met anyone who could match his strength, let alone surpass it. And now, a small woman was overpowering him? If someone had told him this earlier, he would’ve laughed it off as a joke. But now, he was about to lose.

A confident smile appeared on Tsunade’s face. When it came to raw strength, no one in the shinobi world could rival her. Her famed superhuman strength was no joke.

"No, I can’t lose here!" A fierce look flashed in the Raikage’s eyes.

Suddenly, he released the tension in his right hand. Tsunade’s advantage instantly increased, but his unexpected move caused her to hesitate for a split second.

Now’s my chance!

The Raikage surged with chakra again, using the small gap to accelerate. His speed and power doubled!

Boom!

Before anyone could react, the stone table shattered, sending dust flying everywhere.

"Did Tsunade-sama win?" someone asked.

"No… the Raikage won," came the reply.

As the dust settled, they saw the Raikage holding Tsunade’s hand down firmly on the remnants of the table. Tsunade still looked shocked, clearly not expecting the Raikage to pull off such a trick.

"I won, Tsunade. Don’t say I was underhanded."

Tsunade laughed it off. "It’s fine. A loss is a loss. I’m not one to go back on my word. Shizune, let’s go with the Raikage and see what we can do."

"Yes, Tsunade-sama."

Tsunade then looked at Kimimaro. "Kid, you’re coming too. Let’s see if you’ve got what it takes to study medicine with me."

"Thank you, Tsunade-senpai!" Kimimaro was overjoyed. He knew Tsunade was giving him an opportunity. If he could prove his worth during this treatment, he’d have a chance to study under her.

The Raikage gave Kimimaro a serious look. Who was this boy? To get Tsunade to say something like that? His curiosity was piqued, but for now, he was more concerned with saving his subordinate’s life.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at a run-down cabin. Inside, a Cloud ninja lay on a bed, his face twisted in pain, with a large, swollen lump on his stomach where a giant insect was lodged beneath his skin. The creature was ready to burst out at any moment.

"Karai, the Raikage has brought Tsunade-sama. You’re going to be okay," Amayi said, walking over to the bed.

"Thank you, Raikage-sama," Karai said weakly.

"Enough of that. Tsunade, it’s your turn now."

Tsunade, however, wasn’t in a rush. She looked at Kimimaro. "Kid, help me with the examination."

"Yes, Tsunade-senpai."

The Raikage was annoyed. "Tsunade! I brought you here to save him, not to conduct medical research! What are you doing?"

"I’m doing this to treat him more effectively. Don’t underestimate this boy. He’s well-known in the ninja world."

"Well-known? This kid?" The Raikage looked skeptically at Kimimaro.

Amayi seemed to recognize him and quickly spoke up. "Could this young man be the traveling doctor known as Dr. Kim?"

Kimimaro nodded with a smile. "Just a minor reputation."

Seeing him confirm it, Amayi became even more excited. "It really is you! We’ve been talking about you a lot in the medical unit recently."

"Amayi, you know this guy?" the Raikage asked, still confused.

"Yes, Raikage-sama. Dr. Kim’s medical skills are extraordinary. Not long ago, a strange disease broke out in Sugi Village, and no one could cure it. After Dr. Kim arrived, it didn’t take long before he cured everyone."

"We’ve been studying that disease in the medical unit, but we haven’t made any progress. If the rumors are true, Dr. Kim’s skills are definitely above mine."

(End of chapter)