Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 99: Slug

"So, it seems this situation indeed requires informing the Hokage."

At some point, Tsunade had appeared by the team's side.

"Lady Tsunade!" the three of them called out in unison.

Confirming the identity of the arrival, the Taki ninja's face turned ashen. He would never have imagined that a simple merchant convoy would not only have three Konoha ninja protecting it but also include none other than Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin.

At that moment, he realized how foolish he had been to celebrate his luck earlier.

"But… how do we send him back?" Yoshino asked hesitantly.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Tsunade quickly formed hand seals, and with a puff of smoke, a large slug, roughly the size of two people, appeared before them.

"Slug, I need you to transport this man back to Konoha and deliver him directly to the Hokage."

"Understood, Lady Tsunade," the slug replied in a gentle, almost soothing voice that felt like it belonged to a kind older sister. Its soft tone had a calming effect on everyone.

The slug slowly moved onto the Taki ninja, its pliable body enveloping him completely. Then, with a soft sound, both the slug and its cargo disappeared from sight.

This was Tonari's first time seeing Tsunade's summoning beast, the famed slug from the Shikkotsu Forest. Like the other two sacred summoning places, Ryuchi Cave and Mount Myoboku, the Shikkotsu Forest housed mystical creatures. However, it was unique in that it contained only one entity—the enigmatic giant slug that served as Tsunade's summon.

Unlike the numerous toads of Mount Myoboku or the snakes of Ryuchi Cave, the Shikkotsu Forest's slug had an unusual ability: it could split into countless smaller clones. Each clone carried its own chakra, and the slug's consciousness was shared across all its parts. It could even transmit chakra between its fragments, making it a powerful tool in healing and support.

Thanks to this, Tsunade could simultaneously heal hundreds, even thousands, of people during a battle, provided her chakra reserves were sufficient.

With the Taki ninja dealt with, the atmosphere lightened. After all, if there was a problem, someone like Tsunade could handle it. Tonari and his team no longer felt the need to worry excessively.

"Lady Tsunade, what about our mission?" Tonari stepped forward to ask.

"Continue," Tsunade replied bluntly. "A ninja's duty is to complete their mission unless exceptional circumstances arise. Remember that."

Tonari blinked in surprise, her words stirring a thought in his mind.

"What if, during a mission, a teammate is gravely injured and requires immediate care? Would it be acceptable to abandon the mission to save them?" he asked cautiously.

Tsunade paused at the question, her expression softening as she considered her response. "In such cases, if the mission isn't critical, abandoning it to save a teammate could be justified."

Her answer struck a careful balance. A mission's importance was relative. For missions with significant implications—ones that could affect the safety or future of the village—sacrifices might be necessary, even at the cost of one's life. But for less critical tasks, the life of a comrade should take precedence.

Tonari mulled over her response. He finally understood why Konoha's White Fang, despite his stellar reputation, had been vilified after choosing to save his comrades over completing a mission. The underlying cause wasn't his decision—it was the manipulation of public opinion by figures like Danzo. The ordinary ninja who condemned him likely had no knowledge of the mission's true importance.

And most damning of all? The Third Hokage's inaction.

Tsunade noticed Tonari's unusually contemplative demeanor. "What's got you so serious all of a sudden?" she asked.

Tonari sighed internally. "It doesn't matter. Even if I understand what's coming, I'm powerless to stop it. For now, I need to focus on growing stronger. Only with strength can I change things."

If someone as capable as Konoha's White Fang could fall victim to political schemes, then Tonari knew he'd need overwhelming strength to protect himself and his ideals in the future.

Tsunade's voice broke his reverie. "It seems this trip to Kusagakure might not just be about escorting a convoy. The situation in the Grass Village is precarious, which could actually work to Konoha's advantage."

Tonari picked up on her meaning immediately. "Kusagakure is still wavering?"

Tsunade nodded. "Grass's leadership is ambitious. They see this crisis as an opportunity. If they can defeat Takigakure, they'll expand their territory significantly. And with the recent end of the Second Shinobi War, the major villages are too busy to intervene."

"Still," Tonari interjected, "Grass doesn't seem much stronger than Taki. And Taki has a tailed beast. If it comes down to it, Grass doesn't stand a chance."

Tsunade didn't disagree. Instead, she remarked, "Each small nation has its own survival strategies. It's hard for those in major villages to understand the gambles they're willing to take."

Shaking off the heavy conversation, she addressed the team. "We're close to Kusagakure now. There might be more attacks, but they're unlikely. Once we reach the village, resupply quickly and wait for me at the Fire Nation's border. I'll meet you there after finishing my task."

With that, she vanished into the forest, leaving the team to complete the mission independently.

Tonari, Yoshinari, and Yoshino pushed forward with heightened vigilance, but the rest of the journey proved uneventful. They successfully escorted the convoy to Kusagakure without further incidents.

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(Chapter End)

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