If Shigure had relied solely on himself, he could never have achieved such flawless precision. That level of control—every motion timed to perfection—was beyond human instinct.
He gazed at the frozen figure before him—Jiraiya, the Toad Sage, encased in crystal ice.
A faint smile tugged at Shigure's lips.
"It seems I still have a lot of room to grow."
The Great Sage said nothing in response, but Shigure could almost imagine it smirking with smug satisfaction inside his mind.
With both Jiraiya and Orochimaru neutralized, the next step was clear—return to the Hidden Mist Village and bring Tsunade with him.
First, he would find a way to resolve the emotional wounds that held her back.
Then, with her medical expertise, he could finally begin treatment for Ringo.
As for the political consequences of taking Tsunade from Konoha… that could wait.
Shigure rose to his feet, turning toward the horizon.
Far away, hidden in the shadows, Shizune watched him silently, her eyes wide with disbelief.
How… how is this possible?
Even the two Legendary Sannin—Jiraiya and Orochimaru—had fallen so easily.
Defeated by a boy who couldn't be more than half their age.
She had witnessed every moment of the battle.
Jiraiya, one of the strongest shinobi alive, had barely lasted a few exchanges.
To Shizune, it was unthinkable.
Facing someone like Shigure, she didn't even dare to breathe too loudly.
Beside her, the unconscious Naruto, host of the Nine-Tails, lay slumped against a rock.
If Shigure discovered them here… would he take Naruto, too?
Konoha had already lost Lady Tsunade.
If the Nine-Tails was taken as well, the village would be plunged into chaos.
Shizune bit her lip, torn between fear and duty.
Should she follow Shigure to rescue Tsunade—or stay and protect the Nine-Tails?
When she peeked out again, the answer came on its own.
The clearing was empty. Shigure was gone.
"He… left?"
She waited a few seconds longer, then cautiously stepped out, supporting Naruto as she approached the battlefield.
The sight that greeted her left her speechless.
"This… this is ice?"
Jiraiya stood frozen solid, locked mid-motion, like a statue carved from clear blue crystal.
Shizune's hands trembled.
"How… how am I supposed to thaw him out?"
After a moment's hesitation, she decided to take the most direct approach.
She gathered water, heated it with a simple Fire Release technique, and began pouring it over the ice.
Ten minutes passed.
Then twenty.
Slowly, the ice began to melt, water pooling at her feet.
By the time Jiraiya finally stirred, an hour had gone by.
His eyes fluttered open, dazed.
"Wh–what happened…?"
"Lady Jiraiya! You're awake!" Shizune exclaimed, relief flooding her face.
Jiraiya blinked, taking in her words before glancing down at his numbed limbs
A deep chill clung to him—his Chakra flow sluggish and unstable.
He gritted his teeth.
"So… that was his power."
The memory returned in flashes—ice creeping over his body, Chakra freezing solid inside him.
It wasn't a technique he'd ever seen before.
"How long was I out?"
Shizune paused, then replied softly, "Around an hour, give or take."
"An hour…" Jiraiya muttered. His jaw tightened.
By now, Shigure must have been long gone—Tsunade with him.
"Damn it."
He clenched his fists, frustration boiling beneath the calm.
Beside him, Fukasaku and Shima were just beginning to thaw as well, their forms dripping with melted frost.
Even they, ancient Sages of Mount Myōboku, had been completely overwhelmed.
Jiraiya looked around—the remnants of battle still hung in the air.
In the distance, two towering ice dragons twisted upward into the sky, their forms frozen mid-flight.
At their intersection, Orochimaru's sealed body glimmered faintly within the ice.
For a long moment, Jiraiya said nothing. He simply stared, deep in thought.
How could he return to Konoha now?
How could he explain losing Tsunade… right before his eyes?
He didn't have an answer.
Meanwhile—
After nearly an hour of swift travel through cloud and mist, Shigure landed at the outskirts of Hidden Mist Village.
Beside him stood Haku, Ringo, and Tsunade, the latter enveloped in a cocoon of shimmering mist.
The cold ocean wind swept through the village as Shigure looked ahead.
"Time to begin… the next phase."
After dismissing the Flying Nimbus, Shigure paused. Before releasing Tsunade's restraints, he needed to suppress her chakra—otherwise, the moment she was free, she might tear the place apart.
After all, this was Tsunade of the Legendary Sannin. If she went on a rampage in the Hidden Mist Village, the consequences would be disastrous. Other villages might even seize the opportunity to criticize Kirigakure for harboring her.
'Great Sage, calculate and design a Sealing Technique specifically for Tsunade. One that limits her movement and completely suppresses her chakra, ensuring she can't leave this room.'
[Great Sage: Calculating...]
[Estimated time: three minutes]
Three minutes wasn't long. It passed quickly.
[Congratulations to the host for acquiring the new technique: Tsunade Sealing Formula]
As the details of the technique flowed into his mind, Shigure dispelled the mist shrouding Tsunade. But the moment he cast the seal, he froze.
The mist faded away, revealing Tsunade slowly regaining consciousness. However, around her neck formed a collar of mist, connected to a faintly glowing chain covered in sealing runes.
It looked… exactly like a leash.
Shigure stared blankly. Did it have to be like this?
[Great Sage: Chains are the most efficient method of restricting movement. If Tsunade attempts to leave the room, the chains and restraints will reappear. Should she resist, she will be forcibly bound.]
Shigure imagined the "binding" in his head—a traditional rope pattern like those seen in certain cultural practices.
It felt… awkwardly detailed.
And, against his better judgment, he found himself oddly curious about what might happen if Tsunade actually tried to leave.
Just then, Tsunade stirred. Groaning, she sat up, rubbing her temples.
"How long was I out? Shizune…"
Her voice faltered. The memory of her last battle came rushing back, and her expression hardened.
She sprang to her feet, instantly adopting a combat stance, eyes locking on Shigure.
"Brat—did you bring me here? What is this place?"
Her anger spiked—triggering the seal.
The mist chain extended from the collar around her neck, tightening as the sealing runes flared to life.
"What the—?!" Tsunade glared down at the glowing restraints. "You sealed my chakra?"
Even without chakra, Tsunade's sheer presence radiated menace. Her hand twitched—ready to strike.
But the moment she moved, more mist ropes burst from the collar, wrapping around her limbs and pulling her upward.
In seconds, Tsunade was suspended midair, glaring daggers at Shigure.
"You little brat… how dare you! I am Tsunade, the Princess of Konoha—one of the Sannin!"
"Shigure, you're back. I just checked on Ringo—it seems you didn't succeed in getting Konoha's—"
The door behind Shigure opened. Mei Terumī stepped in mid-sentence… and froze.
Her eyes widened. Her brain momentarily stopped processing what she was seeing.
Tsunade, one of the most powerful kunoichi in the world, hung in midair by glowing mist chains—while Shigure stood nearby, looking more exasperated than guilty.
The silence that followed was deafening.
...
TN:
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