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"Heheh, the Vortex of War?" Wujie chuckled softly. "Sounds quite interesting. At least much better than Kakashi's 'Konoha's Technician' or whatever."
Tsunade took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down slightly. "I don't care what you're planning to do. Just stop bothering me! Whether you want to start a Shinobi World War or destroy Konoha, none of it has anything to do with me anymore!"
"If it truly has nothing to do with you... then where does the killing intent in your eyes come from?" Wujie asked with a smile on his face. Karin sensed the danger and took a step forward, shielding him.
Hearing this, Tsunade's eyes narrowed slightly. The low pressure emanating from her caused the small animals nearby to scatter and flee. "It seems you really wish to die here."
"
Hostility test complete.
It appears this woman, who claims she wants nothing to do with anything, doesn't truly feel as indifferent as she says.
In that case, no matter what is said now, she probably won't listen.
Fortunately, there's still enough time. Let's eliminate her hostility first.
So, just as the tense atmosphere was about to reach its peak, Wujie suddenly raised both hands with a smile. "Please forgive me. You should understand how annoying little brats like us in our rebellious phase can be. No matter what adults say, we want to retort just to show how different we are. We didn't come here to cause trouble for you. Please consider this a request from the last descendant of the Uzumaki clan. No matter what, please allow me to finish speaking."
"The last descendant of Uzumaki"—these words slightly quelled the fire in Tsunade's heart. She frowned, speaking with noticeable impatience, "Then state your purpose, and get out of my sight immediately!"
She just wanted to get rid of Wujie and Karin quickly now.
Tsunade, like Jiraiya and Orochimaru, was one of Konoha's legendary Sannin. However, because both her most important younger brother and her lover died in battle for the village, she developed an extremely strong aversion to war and Konoha itself.
This feeling, coupled with painful memories, drove her to abandon her identity as a shinobi, flee Konoha, escape her responsibilities, and then bury her head in the sand like an ostrich, pretending nothing had happened.
And Wujie and Karin appearing before her now undoubtedly dragged her forcefully out of that sand.
Tsunade's lover and brother both died for Konoha. By rejecting Konoha, she rejected the meaning of their deaths.
But now, if she admitted that she still loved Konoha, it would be tantamount to admitting that her lover and brother were truly dead—meaning she had moved on from her past sorrow.
But she was unwilling to move out.
Just like Wujie and Karin perhaps.
A flicker of struggle crossed Tsunade's eyes. Seeing her current state, Wujie suddenly recalled Shukaku's theory about willpower determining strength.
Tsunade fled Konoha because of pain, and because of pain, she became lost. Therefore, Tsunade, currently lost in confusion, had drastically weakened spiritual power, her actual strength fundamentally incomparable to her prime.
No wonder she was later overwhelmed by Kabuto Yakushi, an elite Jonin.
Only after being inspired by Naruto and regaining her convictions did she transform back into that legendary shinobi who commanded the winds and clouds.
However, since she's weakened now... instead of persuading her, should I try to deal with her right here...?
Wujie pondered briefly, then shook his head, dismissing the reckless thought.
Just as Shukaku had said, spiritual power could fluctuate dramatically in a short time. If Tsunade suddenly started shouting things like 'village' or 'bonds' and recovered her peak state, then it would be uncertain who would be dealing with whom.
Thinking this, Wujie spoke with a faint smile, "I heard that your grandmother, Mito Uzumaki, always doted on you and taught you many secret jutsu of the Uzumaki clan. Well... although saying this might be somewhat brazen, I hope you can offer those as payment for agreeing to our three requests. Please rest assured, they absolutely won't involve anything that would make you uncomfortable. If you feel unsatisfied, I can offer other forms of compensation. Please believe me, my credibility has always been excellent."
Perhaps because Wujie mentioned her grandmother, Mito Uzumaki, Tsunade exhaled and said succinctly, "Speak."
"First, I hope you can teach us the 'Monstrous Strength' technique. Please rest assured, we merely wish to gain some power to protect ourselves."
Tsunade sneered, "Protect yourselves? Or murder others?"
Wujie replied calmly, "That depends on whether we can be the ones left standing at the end. After all, those who fall have no right to speak."
Tsunade frowned in thought. The Monstrous Strength technique was actually a low-level ninjutsu. Its effect wasn't complex; it merely involved concentrating chakra throughout the body to increase physical strength.
But the exact degree of strength increase depended entirely on the user's chakra volume and the finesse of their chakra control.
Shinobi being able to scale walls and shatter rocks with bare fists was essentially utilizing this kind of skill, but their upper limits were just that.
As for why Wujie wanted this technique, it was because throughout the history of the shinobi world, pure physical power was almost unstoppable by anything. Whether it was a small boss, mid-boss, or final boss, once hit by a 'Friendship Punch', they would all invariably roll on the ground a few times.
After pondering for a moment, Tsunade nodded and urged, "Just say whatever else you have, then I'll have nothing more to do with you!"
"Second, I hope you can return the Uzumaki clan's Yin Seal to us. Oh, apologies, I forgot you are also considered part of the Uzumaki clan..." Saying this, Wujie gave Tsunade an exaggerated hat-tip gesture. "My sincerest apologies, we couldn't pay our respects earlier. After all... it took us over ten years just to crawl out of hell."
Tsunade's breath caught suddenly, then her expression turned vacant. Why was the village's attitude towards the Uzumaki clan so strange? Even the second Jinchuriki, Kushina Uzumaki, was only found when Mito Uzumaki was on the verge of death, then secretly brought to Konoha.
And by that time, the Land of Whirlpools had long since been destroyed, yet Konoha had never accepted a single Uzumaki survivor before then!
Also, thinking carefully, the Uzumaki clan, what exactly were they...?
A sudden, inexplicable sharp pain shot through Tsunade's mind. Immediately after, she shook her head with a smile. The Uzumaki... what's the point in pursuing these things now?
Then she rested her chin on her hand and began to ponder...
The Yin Seal, put simply, was just a ninjutsu that allowed continuous accumulation of chakra, like a bank savings account. Chakra could be stored during normal times and withdrawn when needed to enhance ninjutsu or sustain oneself.
Was it strong? Well, it required at least several years of accumulation to have a noticeable effect.
Was it weak? Yet, it was one of the extremely few ninjutsu capable of increasing chakra volume without side effects.
And chakra... was everything to a shinobi.
But ultimately, this sealing jutsu itself belonged to the Uzumaki clan. In the end, Tsunade nodded in agreement again.
"Then, the third..." Wujie's voice softened. He took Karin's hand and, amidst her slight struggle, rolled up her sleeve. He spoke solemnly, "I hope you can heal these scars. For this, I am willing to pay a price far beyond your imagination!"
The countdown to Kusagakure's destruction has begun. It's time to erase all traces of their existence.
Tsunade frowned as she looked. Karin's arm was covered in bite marks of various sizes, some deep, some shallow, clearly not formed overnight.
What have these two kids been through...?
Uzumaki... vortex... are these the last of the Uzumaki...?
Tsunade sighed silently, her hostility diminishing further. In the end, they were just children, barely over ten years old.
Tsunade turned and gestured for them to follow. "Come with me. This isn't the place to talk."
Wujie smiled. It seemed that for someone as maternal as Tsunade, the identity of being children did indeed lessen her hostility.
However, Wujie wasn't using Karin to gain sympathy. He would absolutely never do such a thing. He genuinely hoped Karin could forget her life in Kusagakure, be able to reveal her arms with a smile, instead of hiding them out of shame.
Wujie and Karin followed Tsunade to the inn where they were staying. There was still half a pot of sake on the table; Tsunade picked it up and gulped it down (glug glug glug).
Shizune turned, intending to prepare some food, only to remember that their food budget had long been gambled away by Tsunade!
Seeing this, Wujie kindly handed over a suitcase, smiling as he said, "During the time Lady Tsunade teaches us ninjutsu, please allow us to cover all expenses here."
This money was ill-gotten anyway.
"Oh my, how could we..." Shizune immediately felt embarrassed, then suddenly remembered that the two facing her were S-rank wanted criminals who had caused great harm to Konoha. Her expression immediately hardened again, and she firmly waved her hand in refusal, "We don't need this! Lady Tsunade will find a way to borrow from a loan shark!"
Tsunade's mouth twitched. You'd rather I borrow from loan sharks? "Accept it, Shizune. Just consider it their tuition fee."
"But Lady Tsunade..."
"No 'buts'. Hurry up and get some food and drinks."
"Alright." Shizune accepted the heavy suitcase with both hands. She remembered carrying something similar when entering the gambling den, only to predictably emerge empty-handed later.
Before leaving, Shizune warned Wujie and Karin again, "I'll be watching you! If you dare do anything bad to Lady Tsunade, I absolutely won't let you off!"
With that, Shizune walked out.
She was the niece of Tsunade's deceased lover and also Tsunade's apprentice. Ever since Tsunade left Konoha over a decade ago, Shizune had always been by her side, holding immense respect for her.
Wujie nodded to Karin, then gently pushed her towards Tsunade.
Karin hesitated shyly at first, then looked towards Tsunade with anticipation.