The dappled light and shadows in the forest flickered by as the group moved quickly.
Kanzaki's consciousness fully awakened with a slight jolt. He didn't open his eyes immediately, but instead used all his strength to sense his surroundings.
His body felt light, held in someone's arms. A pleasant scent, a mix of herbs and a faint hint of alcohol, wafted from a woman. This embrace was warm and safe, a stark contrast to the despair he felt waiting to die beneath the tree roots, as if a lifetime had passed.
The Chakra within him, that life force originating from the Wood Release's essence, though weak, flowed like a gentle stream through his parched meridians, repairing the depletion in this body. He could clearly sense the vast, ocean-like Chakra within the woman holding him, and deep within that Chakra, a sorrowful rift that had been soothed by his power but still remained.
It was Tsunade.
Kanzaki slowly opened his eyelids, his long eyelashes fluttering, revealing a pair of clear, black-and-white eyes. He looked up slightly, and what met his gaze was Tsunade's beautifully sculpted jawline and her tightly pursed lips. Her expression was still tense, but the unshakeable irritation in her brow had significantly diminished.
So soft. As expected, two-dimensional doesn't lie to two-dimensional; Tsunade's figure is truly explosive. Kanzaki thought, drooling inwardly as he felt the pressure on his body.
Seemingly noticing the movement of the person in her arms, Tsunade lowered her head. The moment their eyes met, her amber pupils instantly filled with an indescribable tenderness and pity.
"Are you awake?" Her voice was extremely soft, as if afraid to disturb the treasure in her arms.
Kanzaki's gaze held a hint of initial confusion and a touch of timidity towards the unfamiliar surroundings. He blinked, his lips parted, and he uttered his first conscious words since arriving in this world.
"Sister...?"
These two words, like a precise incantation, instantly struck the softest part of Tsunade's heart. Her body suddenly stiffened, and her breathing paused for half a beat.
Nawaki... he used to be like this when he was little, always calling her "Sister" in that soft, dependent voice every time he woke up.
Tsunade's eyes reddened once more. She held the boy even tighter, her voice trembling slightly with emotion: "Yes, Sister is here. Do you... remember anything?"
Kanzaki's heart was calm as still water; he knew this act had to be played well. He looked at Tsunade with those pure, innocent eyes, a perfectly timed expression of discomfort and pain in his gaze.
"Many people fought with Dad, Mom took me and ran, then Mom told me to hide alone, I hid for several days, I was too hungry, so I came out to find food," he said, subconsciously snuggling closer into Tsunade's warm embrace, as if embarrassed, yet also like a young beast seeking shelter.
This action once again melted Tsunade's heart completely. She freed one hand and gently stroked the boy's messy black hair, her movements impossibly gentle.
"Sister, can you take me to find Mom and Dad?" Kanzaki seized the opportunity while being petted to say this, as it was the most appropriate and expected thing for a child who had lost his parents to say.
As Tsunade and Jiraiya, who had experienced countless wars, they understood in an instant.
Kanzaki's parents were being hunted by Ninja. To allow his wife and child to escape, his father chose to stay behind, and later his mother also went to distract the enemies alone for Kanzaki.
"Sister will take you to find Mom and Dad right now. I also want to know who dares to harm our Senju Clan," Tsunade's heart twisted into a knot of pain after hearing Kanzaki's words, and a surge of anger rushed up.
Jiraiya suddenly felt guilty towards this child; he had actually suspected a poor orphan who might have just lost his parents.
"Tsunade, you take the child back to the village. I'll go look for this child's parents. After all, so many days have passed..." Jiraiya volunteered for the task, saying this to Tsunade.
Tsunade also instantly understood what Jiraiya meant. Yes, so many days had passed; if the child's parents were still alive, they should have come back to find him long ago, and this child wouldn't have been so hungry that he had to come out to find food himself.
Tsunade looked down at the child, who was trembling slightly from nervousness. One of this child's parents must be from their Senju Clan; finding them was crucial.
But bringing this child back to Konoha was equally important. If something happened to them while searching for the parents, Tsunade would never forgive herself in this lifetime.
"Okay, then you go find this child's parents. I'll take this child back to the village first," she said, then looked down at Kanzaki, speaking with concern.
"Don't worry, with Sister here, no one will be able to harm you again."
"Mm, don't worry, little one. I'll go find your parents right now. Once I find them, I'll bring them to see you," Jiraiya also put on what he thought was a kind smile for Kanzaki.
After speaking, he disappeared with a Body Flicker Jutsu.
After hearing what I said earlier, Shizune's maternal instincts also overflowed in an instant.
"Little brother, don't worry, Lord Jiraiya is very powerful and will definitely find your parents," Shizune said, comforting him.
"Little brother, what's your name?"
"I'm Kanzaki."
"Mm-hmm, little brother, how old are you?"
"I'm four years old."
"Where do you live?"
...After that, Kanzaki pretended to be tired to send away the curious Shizune. It wasn't that chatting with Miss Shizune was bad.
Kanzaki would never admit that he was just clinging to Tsunade's "embrace."
However, the first hurdle was finally overcome.
Lying on Tsunade's shoulder, Kanzaki finally had time to check his god-tier stealing system.
"god-tier stealing system"
Through the system, one can steal all "extraordinary things" from others, including but not limited to:
Bloodline Limits, Ninja Arts, Secret Techniques, Talents, Special Abilities, etc.
However, only one ability can be stolen from one person at a time, and it must be when the other party is in a state of intense emotion.
Currently, there are four stealing slots. Apart from the Wood Release that has already been stolen, there are three empty slots.
If the stealing slots are full and you want to steal a new skill, you can replace an original stolen ability.
It's like having four more skill slots, just like in a game, Kanzaki thought.
Although there's the prerequisite of intense emotion, being able to have four more abilities than others, and being able to use them directly after stealing them, that's not a problem.
Only four skill slots, huh? It feels a bit insufficient, Kanzaki thought to the system.
The system suddenly prompted: If the world lines of other characters in the Hokage world are changed, the host can obtain a lottery draw, and even upgrade the system to increase stealing slots, depending on the extent of the change.
Hearing the system prompt, Kanzaki instantly became excited. So the stealing slots could be increased!
He already had Wood Release; if he stole a Sharingan next, he would monopolize the two strongest Bloodline Limits of Hokage.
Or directly steal the Rinnegan, and also Sage Body, Flying Thunder God, Eight Gates, Dust Release, and so on.
Just thinking about it, Kanzaki felt his future path in the Hokage world was bright.
He wondered if Tailed Beast power could be stolen. If he had more skill slots later,
and he stole the power of all nine Tailed Beasts, wouldn't he be able to directly rival the Six Paths Sage?
Or directly steal Kaguya's power. Kanzaki remembered that in the movie, the protagonists went to the moon and encountered a giant Tenseigan, even splitting the moon with one blow.
If he could steal these, wouldn't he be able to walk sideways in this world in the future?
Thinking of this, tears of happiness were already streaming down Kanzaki's face.
...The setting sun dyed the clouds in the sky a brilliant orange-red.
In front of the group, the tall and magnificent gate of Konoha Village was already visible in the distance.
Kanzaki leaned on Tsunade's shoulder, quietly looking at that gate, at the striking, flame-swirl-like symbol on the gate.
Konoha... I've arrived.