Konoha Village is the strongest, with a large number of experts, and now possesses the military strength to simultaneously wage war against any two of the Four Great Shinobi Villages and achieve victory.
Jiraiya remained calm, constantly dispatching envoys to contact the other Four Great Shinobi Villages, reiterating that no matter how those Daimyo and lords fought, Konoha absolutely could not participate in the war.
Kakashi, Asuma, and Shikaku went to various places and achieved some success, but Iwagakure presented a problem; they were uncooperative, and the envoys couldn't even meet the Third Tsuchikage, let alone inquire about his views on the current war between nations.
After much deliberation, Jiraiya formally assigned a mission to Tsunade, instructing the so-called "Tsunade Squad" to represent him and travel to Iwagakure, personally meet the Third Tsuchikage, and explain the seriousness of the current situation.
Although Tsunade hadn't become Hokage, her "Status in the industry" (status in the Ninja world) was undeniable, and no one could ignore her.
The Third Tsuchikage was more than twenty years older than Tsunade, almost two full cycles, but if one considered their lineage from the First Hokage and First Tsuchikage, he and Tsunade were absolutely of the same generation.
"Your grandfather is the First Tsuchikage? What a coincidence, my grandfather is the First Hokage."
"You're older? That doesn't count!"
"Let's go! We're heading to the Land of Earth! I heard the Third Tsuchikage's granddaughter is also a strong individual among the younger generation, Ino, get ready!" Tsunade's tone was like someone challenging a dojo, which left Ino and Shizune speechless.
Tonton, the little pig, squealed "puyu puyu" a couple of times, seemingly very happy about being able to visit other countries.
Everything about Konoha Village was good, except for the villagers' unfriendly gazes towards it, especially those fat people from the Akimichi Clan; just thinking about them was terrifying!
The four-"person" squad left the Village under the pretense of going to the Land of Earth, but as they traveled, they arrived at the Land of Hot Springs, a place that combined leisure and entertainment.
Gambling! Drinking! Gambling!
Tsunade was practically suffocating; when they left the Village that morning, they were heading northwest towards the Land of Earth, but by the afternoon, they had turned northeast towards the Land of Hot Springs.
The Land of Hot Springs, as its name suggests, is a land of hot springs.
Konoha also had hot springs, but with a certain peeping pervert there, it was never as relaxing as this place.
The three people and one pig drank sake while soaking in the hot springs, enjoying themselves immensely.
The senior sister with the long, fair legs was quite responsible, constantly asking about the mission. Tsunade, annoyed by the nagging, waved her hand: "You don't understand Ōnoki! Even if we go to Iwagakure now, he won't see us. That guy is too stubborn. I've sent a letter to Kitsuchi, asking him to persuade his father. We'll depart once we hear back!"
After the hot springs, Tsunade returned to her room to rest first.
Ino, Shizune, and Tonton exchanged glances in the pool.
"Lady Tsunade seems a bit unhappy…" Shizune murmured softly.
"Is she?" Ino genuinely hadn't noticed; she seemed quite happy when gambling earlier.
"Puyu puyu" Tonton looked at Ino with a reproachful gaze, as if to say, are you a pig? You're too slow, even I noticed.
Ino thought carefully; Tsunade did seem a bit down, but she didn't quite understand the feelings of a fifty-year-old woman and couldn't figure out the exact reason.
Shizune lowered her voice: "Last night, I heard Lady Tsunade talking in her sleep. She seemed to be calling the names of her uncle and her younger brother, Nawaki."
Ino knew that the "uncle" Shizune referred to was Kato Dan, Tsunade's fated lover. If Teacher Kato hadn't been involved, she and Jiraiya might have grandchildren by now.
"Then what can we do to help? Senior sister, you're not thinking of Edo Tensei, are you?"
Shizune rolled her eyes at her. Can't you think of a more 'above ground' solution?
She lowered her voice: "I heard that deep within the Land of Hot Springs, there's a Revival Hot Spring where one can see the deceased…"
Tonton shivered, as if hearing something terrifying.
Ino narrowed her eyes, remaining silent. "Senior sister, your idea sounds like something foolish people would come up with. Chakra is omnipotent; we should believe in Ninjutsu. How can we believe in such things?"
"We must help Lady Tsunade resolve her worries!" Shizune said with great determination.
What else could Ino say? She nodded vigorously: "Alright, alright, sure, sure. Revival Hot Spring, right? For Teacher Tsunade, hmm, let's go find it properly."
Worried that Tonton might be mistaken for mobile food by outsiders, they left the pet pig at the inn. Ino and Shizune split up to search for clues related to the Revival Hot Spring.
Shizune was truly serious about Tsunade's matter. Despite her limited Chakra, she immediately used Multiple Shadow Clone upon leaving the inn. Ino never expected this senior sister, whose Chakra reserves could rival Kakashi's, to be so persistent. Left with no choice, she also created fifty Shadow Clones to gather information.
In the evening, the two reunited.
They had inquired throughout several nearby towns and Villages.
Ino said solemnly: "There really is such a Revival Hot Spring. Many people say they've seen their deceased relatives there, and it seems they can even converse with the dead."
Shizune frowned: "However, I heard that there's an age restriction for the Revival Hot Spring; it seems only girls under eighteen are allowed."
There was a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice. "Why am I not a girl? At most, I'm just eighteen years and one hundred and twenty months old."
The two were bold due to their skill, mainly because Ino wasn't afraid of trouble now. Regardless of whether it was true or false, they would know by going to see.
They couldn't use force for now. What if the "eighteen-year-old girl" was a strict requirement? Only Ino could go and check.
If it had no effect, they'd come back. If it had an effect, they'd also come back, and then they'd discuss it together.
"Okay, I'll go take a look. Tonton, come, follow me." Ino kept smiling. "You're giving me something to do, so you, a pig, shouldn't be idle either."
Tonton: "???"
"Such a dangerous thing, why do I have to go too? I'm a pig, not a Ninja!"
Ino said her demeanor wasn't like a Village girl, and Shizune thought she had a point.
"Alright, for Lady Tsunade, Tonton, be good."
Before Tonton could object, she stuffed the pet pig into Ino's arms.
Because it involved the issue of'sincerity brings efficacy,' Ino didn't use Transformation Technique. She simply changed into a simple linen dress, untied her ponytail, removed her Ino–Shika–Choji earrings and death god rosary, then, with a bare face, she carried Tonton and walked to the nearest town to the Revival Hot Spring.
These guys gathering a bunch of defenseless eighteen-year-old girls in the middle of the night for a meeting—it seemed problematic no matter how she thought about it.
When a middle-aged woman, who resembled a shady tour guide, asked for her name, Ino began to make things up.
"Where are you from, what's your name? Who do you wish to see?"
Ino held Tonton in her arms and said timidly: "My name is Ema, I'm from the Land of Ashina, and I want to see my brother, Genichiro."
The middle-aged woman glanced at her, wrote a few words on a small wooden tag, and then handed it to her: "Take this. Someone will take you to the Revival Hot Spring shortly."
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