Return to Rōran

The Curse Mark Hyuga Mirai used differed from Orochimaru’s. Mirai’s Curse Mark contained his own blood and Yin Release Chakra, giving it a strong affinity for Natural Energy. Moreover, Mirai’s Yin Release Chakra was extremely difficult to remove. Having mastered the Spirit Transformation Technique, his command of Yin Release Chakra far surpassed even the Yamanaka Clan, who specialized in such matters.

After the Curse Mark on Tsunade’s body activated, numerous markings resembling the Fire Cloud Pattern instantly appeared and gradually spread across half her body. As she absorbed Natural Energy, the Curse Mark would slowly evolve and enter another state.

Seeing Tsunade’s pained expression, Jiraiya hurriedly asked, "Tsunade, are you all right? How do you feel? I’ll take you back to Konoha."

"Shut up, Jiraiya."

The erosion of Natural Energy left Tsunade somewhat enraged. Still, she was a Ninja proficient in Sealing Technique. Enduring the discomfort brought by Natural Energy, she formed hand seals and used a Sealing Technique on herself.

"Evil Sealing Method."

Once Tsunade completed the hand seals, numerous Sealing Runes instantly emerged from her body, slowly forcing back the Curse Mark’s Fire Cloud Pattern before surrounding and sealing it away.

Only after finishing all this did Tsunade slowly let out a breath. By then, her body was already covered in sweat and blood.

Seeing that Tsunade had resolved the danger, Jiraiya asked, "Tsunade, how did you end up fighting Hyuga Mirai?"

"We happened to run into each other. I had no choice but to act." Tsunade did not want to admit that she had failed to restrain herself. With her concealment abilities, she could have avoided that clash so long as those two had not actively sensed her presence.

Fortunately, Hyuga Mirai had made that woman of the Uzumaki Clan leave in advance, and fortunately Jiraiya had arrived in time. Otherwise, she definitely would not have gotten off lightly today.

"Never mind, Jiraiya. Why are you here?" Tsunade had initially wanted to mention the intelligence, but she had acted impulsively first and had no grounds to question Jiraiya over faulty information. Besides, investigating a Rogue ninja of that level was difficult to begin with, so inaccurate intelligence was understandable.

"Something happened in Konoha. On my way back, I sensed fighting here, so I approached using the Toad Hiding Technique."

Jiraiya had always been able to receive messages from Konoha. The only difference was whether he was willing to respond.

But this matter was too significant. Jiraiya had no choice but to abandon his surveillance of the Uzumaki Company in the Capital of the Land of Fire and immediately set out for Konoha.

Jiraiya then told Tsunade about the Nine-Tails rampage and Namikaze Minato’s death. However, he had only received a message from Sarutobi Hiruzen. For the specific details, they would have to return to the village.

"So something that serious happened."

Tsunade said with a frown. She had not dealt much with Namikaze Minato, but she knew he was a powerful and dependable junior. Compared to the Minato couple, Tsunade was more familiar with Kushina.

After all, they had lived together for several years as children. Though they had rarely interacted after Tsunade began taking missions, whenever Kushina saw her while living at the Senju House, she would call her Sister Tsunade.

"…I’ll go back with you. I happen to have something to discuss with Kushina."

After speaking, Tsunade moved her stiff body. She had already noticed that the Evil Sealing Method she had used was being slowly eroded by Natural Energy. The Curse Mark that White-eyed Kid had planted on her seemed highly corrosive. Even Sealing Technique could not completely isolate it.

But that made sense. The other party’s Sealing Technique was no weaker than hers, perhaps even far superior. If the Evil Sealing Method could resolve it so easily, she would be underestimating that White-eyed Kid.

Although she still did not know the Curse Mark’s exact dangers, Tsunade had researched Natural Energy before. Absorbing too much of it could directly kill a Ninja.

I’ll ask Katsuyu when I have the chance.

Tsunade thought to herself, then went with Jiraiya to pick up Shizune and prepare to return to Konoha.

At the coastal border between the Land of Fire and the Tea Country lay the place where Hyuga Mirai and Uzumaki Ayaka had arranged to meet.

Nohara Rin stood nearby as well. Knowing that her actions had angered him, she obediently remained at the side without saying a word.

"Lord Mirai, are you all right?"

Upon seeing Hyuga Mirai, Uzumaki Ayaka hurried over. Only after he shook his head to indicate that he was fine did she relax and obediently stand to one side like a well-behaved minion.

"I’ve already notified Android 18. A ship will take us to Rōran in twenty minutes."

After speaking, Hyuga Mirai sat down and quietly absorbed Natural Energy.

After thinking for a while about Nohara Rin, Hyuga Mirai decided to give her another chance. However, once they returned, he would equip her with compulsory armor. Back when he had saved her, seventy percent of the reason had been Obito, while the remaining thirty percent was because the Three-Tails had nowhere else to be sealed for the time being. Furthermore, Nohara Rin possessed sufficient medical talent and was worth cultivating.

But Hyuga Mirai had given Nohara Rin ample trust, and she seemed to have treated that trust as capital for reckless behavior. If this tendency was not cut off in time, it would become a hidden bomb in the future.

Once they returned, he would confine her for a while and then see how she behaved. If she recklessly squandered her kindness again rather than following Hyuga Mirai’s orders, her life might truly be at its end.

If not for Uchiha Obito and the Three-Tails within her, Hyuga Mirai would never have tolerated Nohara Rin to this extent.

Uzumaki Ayaka sensed a little of Hyuga Mirai’s attitude toward Nohara Rin, but she did not wish to say anything on Rin’s behalf. Having followed Hyuga Mirai for some time, Ayaka knew he was fairly tolerant toward his own people. Yet even she found Nohara Rin’s actions excessive and utterly unforgivable.

Although Ayaka thought highly of Nohara Rin’s Medical Ninjutsu, Rin’s actions made it impossible for Ayaka to speak in her favor.

Before long, the group returned to Rōran by ship.

Hyuga Mirai had developed this place well. The environment had been managed excellently, the oasis had expanded considerably, and with the city growing, many residents had voluntarily moved into newly constructed homes on the outskirts. This freed up a great deal of space around the Dragon Vein Tower.

Hyuga Mirai’s trading company had contributed greatly to Rōran. The Yasunori Trading Company’s reputation now even rivaled Queen Sara’s. Although Rōran’s people still loved Sara, the ones who fed them, paid their wages, and brought in all the Supplies from the outside world were the Yasunori Trading Company.

If Queen Sara could once rally Rōran’s people to take up weapons and fight, then now, with a single order from her, nearly half of Rōran’s populace would likely side with the Yasunori Trading Company.

As time passed, that number would continue to grow until Sara could no longer command a single person.

After returning, Hyuga Mirai had Android 18 confine Nohara Rin in one place before asking about Haku.

The answer was that Haku’s personality had not changed much, but he had not neglected his daily training in the slightest. Haku knew that Hyuga Mirai needed his strength and Kekkei Genkai, so he did not want to slack off at all.

With Haku’s constitution alone, adapting to a Tailed Beast will probably still be difficult. I’ll first let him adapt to Sage Mode before transferring the Tailed Beast.

After making arrangements for Haku, Hyuga Mirai said to Uzumaki Ayaka, "Ayaka, before you go cultivate at the Dragon Vein, leave me some Nine-Tails Chakra for research."

"I understand, Lord Mirai." Uzumaki Ayaka paused, then continued, "Lord Mirai, I will definitely gain control of the Nine-Tails as soon as possible."

"It’s enough if you can adapt to the Nine-Tails Chakra. If the Nine-Tails still refuses to behave, I’ll try erasing its consciousness."

Hyuga Mirai spoke calmly. Through Uzumaki Ayaka, his ocular power could also observe the activity within her Sealing Space. Those words were also meant for the Nine-Tails. In his view, the claim that Tailed Beasts could not die was a false premise. Even Six Paths-level Yin-Yang Release could be unraveled through Genetic Biology.

"Damn human!!"

Within the Sealing Space, the Nine-Tails bared its fangs and roared. That human actually dared say he would erase Kurama’s consciousness! One day, once it got out, it would definitely kill that damned human!

Sorry, we’re about to enter the next stage.