Abandoned houses outside the Sugi village.
"This is the secret ninjutsu passed down for generations by the Sugi ninja. Fortunately, with your support, Lord Raikage, I was able to escape safely and bring it here!" The Kumogakure Jonin, upon seeing the waiting Fourth Raikage, immediately took out a scroll and handed it over respectfully.
The anxious Fourth Raikage took the scroll without even glancing at it, tucked it into his robes, and said in a low, urgent voice, "Amai, come with me..."
"What's going on?" Seeing Raikage's grim expression and hasty demeanor, Kumogakure's Amai immediately sensed something was wrong and followed him without hesitation.
As soon as he entered the dilapidated house, he saw his companion Karai lying on a stone slab in pain, strange worm-like bulges crawling across his chest and abdomen.
"Karai!" At the sight, Amai rushed forward to begin treatment without needing any orders.
Activating his Mystical Palm Jutsu, his face darkened as the Raikage quickly explained the situation. The more he examined Karai, the more his expression fell.
"This is a worm-like parasite infused with explosive chakra. It's feeding on Karai's chakra and growing rapidly. It'll eventually explode—timing unknown! I'm sorry, Lord Raikage... I really can't do anything about this..."
"Even you can't?" The Fourth Raikage's eyes trembled as he clenched his fists. He wasn't angry at Amai's lack of options—he was ashamed of his own helplessness in saving his men.
What kind of Raikage couldn't even protect his own subordinates?
"Wait, Lord Raikage," Amai suddenly brightened, as if recalling something. "I can't save Karai, but someone in the town can. It's Tsunade-sama, the medical saint. If it's her, there should be no problem."
"Princess Tsunade of the Legendary Sannin? She's in this town?" The Fourth Raikage's eyes lit up as if he had grasped a life-saving straw.
"You're being too naive, Lord Raikage! And Amai, I won't allow you to call a ninja from another village 'sama.' I can die, but the name of the Raikage must never be tarnished!" Karai, half-conscious, shouted with sudden intensity.
The dignity of a Kage could not be compromised.
If word spread that the Raikage had to beg a former enemy ninja for help, it would deal a devastating blow to the Hidden Cloud's reputation. Even if he survived, Karai would never be able to stay in the village. Better to die now than see the Raikage humiliated.
"What dignity do I have as a Kage if I can't protect my men? What kind of Raikage would I be?" The Fourth Raikage's voice thundered, cutting through Karai's resistance with fiery conviction.
"Lord Raikage..." Karai's voice softened, shaken.
"I'll save your life—and I'll protect the dignity of the Kage. Amai, we're going to find Tsunade!" The Raikage declared, eyes burning with resolve. He punched open a section of the wall and called out forcefully.
"Yes, Lord Raikage!" Amai responded immediately, stepping forward to lead the way.
The two figures blurred into motion, vanishing into the night like wind…
---
At the same time, inside the mayor's mansion—
"Teacher Kakashi, do you know that woman... the one called 'Legendary Sucker'?" Taro asked hesitantly, watching Kakashi's rare expression of shock.
If they really knew her, there was a risk they'd have to return the money. His precious 10,000 Ryo...!
"Yes... I think I know who it is," Kakashi nodded, visibly suppressing his excitement. "Do you know where she is now?"
Compared to Tsunade's location, the C-rank mission was practically irrelevant. Even a few days' delay meant nothing in comparison!
"I think I saw her and her companion heading into an Izakaya on our way back. Teacher, are you going to find her?"
"Izakaya, huh?" Kakashi's eyes lit up instantly. Without another word, he took out a blank scroll and spread it across the cash box.
Under the astonished eyes of Ishikawa and the others, Kakashi's hands moved like a blur, seals flashing in rapid succession.
"Seal—!"
The three of them watched as a black sealing technique burst from Kakashi's palm and enveloped the cash box. With a soft bang, the money box vanished in a puff of white smoke, swept up by the technique and imprinted onto the blank scroll, forming a storage seal inscription.
"This is a storage sealing technique. It can be used to seal items or weapons," Kakashi explained casually, noting the trio's surprised expressions. He quickly rolled up the scroll and tucked it into his pocket.
"I'll keep the money for now. Let's head to the pub and find that person."
"Find someone? Aren't we supposed to carry out the mission tonight?" Ishikawa asked in surprise. He hadn't expected Kakashi to be so eager that he'd postpone the mission altogether!
"If you're willing to give up the credit and reward of an A-rank mission just for a C-rank bandit suppression task, sure, we can go back," Kakashi said with a relaxed shrug, then looked at the three with a playful smile.
How could a routine C-rank mission possibly compare to tracking down Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin? There was no comparison at all.
"A–A-rank mission!?"
"No way... Are we really doing a super high-level A-rank mission?"
Taro and Jiro were dumbfounded, struggling to process the sudden windfall.
Who wouldn't want to complete an A-rank mission, with its hefty rewards and bragging rights? But A-rank missions were usually reserved for jonin or elite chunin teams. For genin like them, it felt way out of their league!
"Relax, this A-rank mission doesn't involve any danger. Honestly, you guys are lucky," Kakashi said with a light smile. Finding Tsunade and Jiraiya was one of the rare A-rank missions with little to no risk.
No one expected that the three rookies would bump into Tsunade on their very first mission out of the village. This reward practically fell into their laps.
Thinking about the possibility of re-establishing contact with Tsunade—or even persuading her to return to Konoha—Kakashi didn't dare waste time. He immediately instructed the trio to pack up and move out.
"Sensei, who exactly is she? Why is finding her considered an A-rank mission?" Ishikawa asked as they walked through the small town's dimly lit streets.
It was a rare chance to get more information about Tsunade, and Ishikawa wasn't going to miss it.
Hearing this, his two younger brothers also looked at Kakashi with eager curiosity.
"That woman…" Kakashi paused, gazing up at the overcast night sky, where the moon was hidden behind thick clouds. With a sigh, he continued, "If it's really her, then she's none other than the legendary kunoichi of Konoha—one of the famed Sannin who shook the ninja world during the Second Great Ninja War—Lady Tsunade, known as the Medical Saint."
"The Legendary Sannin... the medical genius... Lady Tsunade?" Taro repeated in awe, swallowing nervously at the heavy title.
"Teacher Kakashi, is she stronger than you?" Jiro asked immediately. He had no real concept of legends, so Kakashi was his benchmark.
After all, in Ishikawa's words, even Kakashi's name was renowned throughout the ninja world.
"Me?" Kakashi blinked, then let out a self-deprecating chuckle. "Compared to Lady Tsunade, the difference between us is like the gap between you and me."
"What?!"
"No way...!"
The two brothers shouted in shock, completely unable to believe the comparison. While they had never fully grasped Kakashi's strength, they knew he could defeat them effortlessly.
Could that seemingly unlucky, gambling-addicted woman really be that strong!?
'You're being too modest, Sensei. You're the legendary Hatake Ninja! Even if there's a gap, it's not that bad…' Ishikawa complained silently, then pointed ahead.
"Teacher, the Izakaya's just around that corner…"