Chapter Eighty-Eight: The Intelligence Search of Nono (Bonus chapter four of five, in appreciation of From Heaven to Hell, I Passed Through the Human World)

Tsunade was probably the sort of person who heard too much gossip and, with feeling outweighing reason, could not make sense of it all at once, so she came to ask Karn in such a flustered state.

From Tsunade alone, Karn could already tell that someone in the Hidden Leaf had taken a dislike to him again. This time, though, the tactic was more refined: sowing discord was far better than recklessly sending the Anbu to assassinate him, and in terms of status, being from the same village naturally gave one side an advantage.

Tsunade had obtained a batch of medicinal supplies from Karn in her personal capacity, and at a price lower than any previous time, which left her feeling somewhat ashamed.

When she returned, she was still a little embarrassed before Karn. After hastily handing over the finished antidotes and formulae for three deadly illnesses that she had prepared in advance, she went back to her own room without saying anything else.

At that hour, Nawaki was already asleep. These days he spent either on missions or being trained by Orochimaru until he looked like a dead dog. And now that Orochimaru knew of the recovery ability of the new Doomsday Virus, he never showed Nawaki any mercy, using every vicious method at his disposal, even snake venom.

Once, because of one moment of carelessness, Nawaki paid for it with three minutes of convulsions. Since then, he had become exceedingly cautious about everything, and only at home could he rest in peace.

"Boss, are you done talking?"

Just as Karn was preparing to leave, Kushina suddenly poked her head out from the kitchen hall on tiptoe and whispered to him.

"More or less. Kushina, what is it...?"

Kushina bobbed her head and said, "I just remembered I hadn't asked how your sealing technique study has been going... If you've learned enough, do you want to learn some more advanced things?"

Hearing this, Karn felt a stir of interest. "Is that all right? The scroll you gave me last time was very detailed; I’ve basically understood the principles of sealing techniques. It’s just that when it comes to actually using them..."

Kushina raised one finger to her lips. "Shh. This isn't the place. Let's go upstairs and talk."

This house Tsunade lived in was very large, with three spacious rooms on the first floor alone. Nawaki and Tsunade stayed downstairs, while Kushina’s room was on the second floor.

Karn had always felt that sealing techniques were the only form of ninjutsu that could be used across different systems. If there was chakra, then chakra could be sealed; if there was no chakra, then the body and spirit could be sealed instead, meaning physical energy and spiritual energy. He even suspected sealing techniques were not a product of the chakra system at all, but rather a power unique to this planet before the age of Kaguya Otsutsuki.

If one studied sealing techniques closely enough, it might even touch upon the quantum realm. After all, they could seal a tailed beast, larger than a mountain, inside a human body.

If, in the future, Karn found a stronger form of energy in another world, perhaps he could even become a "jinchuriki" himself. But first, he had to learn sealing techniques well, and that meant studying under Kushina.

Her own mastery of sealing techniques was improving every day, because none of the other ninja in the Leaf sealing corps had the inheritance of the Uzumaki clan. Those profound techniques were not even possessed by the Hidden Leaf; only Kushina knew them.

The Eight Trigrams Seal that could subdue the Nine-Tails into utter compliance, and the mutual-destruction seal that traded one life for another, were all signature arts of the Uzumaki clan.

Once in Kushina’s room, Karn began asking her questions and demonstrated the most basic sealing technique in front of her. Kushina then pointed out its shortcomings and the like.

He studied for nearly three hours in one stretch. Only after seeing sleepiness rise in Kushina’s face did Karn reluctantly thank her and take his leave. After all, chances like this were rare. He could occasionally study beside Kushina, but if he lingered by her side every day, Hiruzen Sarutobi would never tolerate it; and if he could not deal with Karn himself, he would surely move against Kushina.

He might even notice that Kushina was teaching him sealing techniques. Even if Kushina said she was allowed to pass them on, Hiruzen Sarutobi would certainly not wish to see such a thing.

The next day.

With the news of the medicine in hand, Tsunade’s mood improved considerably. She first went to the Hokage’s office, and after Mitokado Homura arrived, she told them the good news from the previous night, urging them to quickly send her the money so she could buy the supplies. Then she left the Hokage building at once.

Mitokado Homura had first been surprised upon hearing the news, and then delighted.

Being able to purchase ample medicine and medical supplies was truly excellent news for the Hidden Leaf. Some time ago, Homura had gone to the capital of the Land of Fire and found nothing at all. Had Tsunade not brought good news, he had even been preparing to send people to smaller countries such as the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Grass to have a look.

Now, to be able to buy enough medicine and medical supplies for the Hidden Leaf to weather a war at a price thirty percent lower than the original offer, even if they had previously purchased some medical supplies at twice the price, the calculation still left them in profit.

"Hiruzen, what do you think that fellow is after? Is this a gesture of goodwill toward the Hidden Leaf?" Homura asked. Having gained such a huge bargain all at once, he was somewhat unaccustomed to it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe and slowly exhaled it. "It probably isn't a gesture of goodwill toward the Hidden Leaf. Otherwise he could have come directly to you instead of specifically naming Tsunade as the buyer. Remember, Tsunade said that because of that Doomsday Virus, she needed to research several medicines. A few days ago, she told me about it..."

Homura nodded slightly. "So he's afraid Tsunade won't give him what he wants? That's possible..."

"Whatever the case, being able to buy so much will spare you all this running around, Homura. Still, to be safe, make sure that entire batch of medical supplies is thoroughly inspected."

After setting down his pipe, Hiruzen reminded him. Through the crystal ball, he had already seen that Minato Namikaze had learned the Flying Thunder God technique. Once he became proficient with it, he would be the second shinobi in the Hidden Leaf capable of using space-time ninjutsu.

Back in the day, the Second Hokage had been known as the fastest shinobi in the ninja world. Perhaps now that title would reappear in the hands of his disciple's disciple.

Hiruzen knew all too well how troublesome space-time ninjutsu could be. By then, the Hidden Leaf would not need to fear Karn’s space-time abilities so much.

Not long after Homura departed, Jiraiya flipped in through the window. Before his feet even touched the ground, he said to Hiruzen, "Old man, Minato Namikaze has already learned the Flying Thunder God technique. His team can now carry out missions independently."

Hearing that, Hiruzen coughed twice. "I already know that. What are you planning now?"

"I want to leave the village to gather some intelligence, and as for the matter of the Child of Prophecy..."

"No. The ninja world is so tense right now that you must remain in the Hidden Leaf."

"But, old man, the Child of Prophecy is important too..."

Hiruzen's tone deepened. "All the jounin are at their posts right now. Sakumo has been gone for almost half a year. If you leave the village, then you'll be the same as Sakumo."

Upon hearing this, Jiraiya quickly shook his head. "No, no, I’m completely unsuited to missions like Sakumo’s."

Sneaking into enemy territory to kill and framing it on another village—his strongest method now was summoning a massive pact beast. The moment anyone saw a toad, they would know it was Jiraiya of the Three Sannin. How was he supposed to frame anyone then?

"Then stay in the Hidden Leaf and wait for your mission."

Hiruzen would not agree to letting Jiraiya go at a time when war might break out at any moment. He trusted Mount Myoboku’s strength, but he was not very interested in the prophecy of the Child of Prophecy.

Jiraiya had spent three years in the Land of Rain, and that had already stirred plenty of discontent and complaints. If not for him, his teacher, Jiraiya would have still been locked up in the Hidden Leaf prison. Which Hidden Leaf ninja, besides him, could stay outside during wartime for three whole years?

After a tense argument between master and disciple, Jiraiya still did not get approval. Knowing that if he left without a word this time, he might truly never again be a Hidden Leaf ninja, he abandoned the idea.

...

Hidden Leaf Hospital

"Teacher Tsunade, this is the batch of files screened yesterday. They need your approval."

Yakushi Nonou walked into Tsunade’s office carrying a stack of documents more than half a meter high. After placing them on the desk, she suddenly twitched her nose, adjusted her glasses, and said with complete certainty, "Teacher Tsunade, you drank, didn't you!"

"Nonsense. As the director of the Hidden Leaf Hospital, how could I possibly drink on the job!"

Tsunade slapped the desk and said, "That was alcohol. I was researching a new medical ninjutsu, so the smell of alcohol hasn't gone away yet."

"That's not right. This is the sake from Karn’s tavern. Medical alcohol has a very sharp odor, whereas this scent is mild and fragrant..."

Yakushi Nonou sniffed twice more and glanced toward the cabinet beside Tsunade. Then she shook her head and said to Tsunade, "It's rare for your mood to have improved a little, Teacher. Still, drinking after work is better."

"All right, Nonou, I get it!"

Tsunade could not very well lose her temper at such a responsible student. The main issue was that she was in the wrong; even if she wanted to be angry, she had no grounds.

"Why was Teacher Tsunade in a bad mood some time ago?" After sorting the documents, Yakushi Nonou asked as if casually.

Tsunade thought for a moment and felt there was nothing much to hide from Nonou, so she recounted her troubles from some time before.

It was mostly that standing between the village and a friend had made things difficult for her, and that friend might even end up harming the village.

"Mr. Karn would never be like Teacher Tsunade says. Medicine that saves people would never harm the village. If that were true, then doctors from other countries would also be the root of harm to the Hidden Leaf."

Yakushi Nonou spoke to Tsunade in a calm voice, though Tsunade could not see whether the gaze beneath those reflective lenses was truly calm or not.

"Mr. Karn is currently supporting war orphans from three orphanages. Teacher Tsunade, why not go ask those who slander Mr. Karn whether they can do the same?"

After saying that, Yakushi Nonou took her leave and quietly departed from Tsunade’s office, leaving Tsunade behind in deep thought.

Afterward, Yakushi Nonou began to recall who, during this period, had been relatively close to Teacher Tsunade, and from what day her mood had started to change.

After carefully thinking it through, Yakushi Nonou sent the names, times, and her speculations through the unique means of communication she shared with Karn.

Doing so was somewhat unfair to Teacher Tsunade, but if Yakushi Nonou had to choose between Karn and Tsunade, she would undoubtedly choose the former. The reason was exactly as she had just said: Karn was supporting the children of three orphanages.

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Chapter Eighty-Eight: Nonou's Intelligence Search, Free to Read.