Tracking

After Sasori stopped speaking, he let out a long breath. He had found the source of that inexplicable pressure: the leader always made strange requests.

"What do you want this time?"

"A set of chains that can seal Chakra. Preferably, they should also be able to seal the strength of Taijutsu Ninja while still allowing them to move."

"Don’t you think those last two requirements conflict?"

"Anyone else definitely couldn’t do it, but you’re Sasori of the Red Sand, the Federation’s greatest Puppet Master. Even in the entire Ninja World, no one should be able to compare with you."

No matter how many times he heard it, Sasori of the Red Sand had the weakest resistance to such words. If his art were praised a little more at this point, the matter would be settled without dispute.

"Hmph. Aside from suppressing Chakra, we just need to lock several muscles and bones while leaving them with weak mobility, right?"

The corners of Sasori’s mouth rose slightly as he snorted. His familiarity with the human body could rank among the top three in the Ninja World. After thinking for only a moment, he came up with two Ninja Tools: one to seal Chakra, and another to limit the strength of Taijutsu Ninja.

"This shouldn’t be difficult for you. Did you really need to come find me for it?" Sasori asked curiously. Even without regularly studying the human body, such a small matter should not have troubled Hyuga Mirai.

Hyuga Mirai smiled sheepishly. "The quantity is a little large, so I can only have the Puppet Department handle it."

"How many?"

"Make five thousand first. There may be more later."

Sasori took a deep breath, then pointed toward the door and said to Hyuga Mirai, "Go find Pakura first."

Five thousand was only the starting point. Without Pakura’s support, the Puppet Department could not obtain that much material. Moreover, there were only a little over three hundred registered Mecha Puppet Masters and apprentice Puppet Masters in the Federation capital. To fulfill Hyuga Mirai’s request, at least two hundred of them would need to work together.

"My clone has already gone to find her. You’ll receive notice tomorrow."

After saying that, Hyuga Mirai left. Pakura needed to be informed about the Four Nations Alliance and the Chunin Exams, but it was enough for her alone to know.

Preparing for a rainy day, if everything went smoothly, the Ninja from the three Ninja Villages could capture at least ten thousand prisoners. As for Konoha, Hyuga Mirai still needed to discuss things with Tsunade. If that drunkard were even one-third as diligent as Yakushi Kabuto, she would probably already be able to persuade some Ninja Clans with her prestige.

From Tsunade of Wood Release to the Hidden God Hokage, that woman had taken only two years.

Tsunade did not say much on the way back. She and Sarutobi Hiruzen had not returned to Konoha together either, but Yuhi Kurenai and Hyuga Tokuma could clearly sense that Tsunade was in a bad mood.

After all, Tsunade-sama had been the last to learn of the Four Nations Alliance. Even though Yuhi Kurenai was not the Hokage, she could still sense Tsunade-sama’s frustration when the agreement was made.

Nothing unexpected happened on the way back. In less than a day, the three of them returned to Konoha Ninja Village.

Both the Chunin Exams and the war required considerable preparation, so there was no need to convene a Jonin Meeting for now. However, the Chunin Exams definitely had to be announced in advance. Even if their main purpose was gathering intelligence, Konoha could not perform too disgracefully in the Chunin Exams.

Hyuga Tokuma and Yuhi Kurenai were also given orders to keep it secret. Although Tsunade knew Hyuga Tokuma would definitely tell Hyuga Kiyomi after returning, she hoped it would stop with Hyuga Kiyomi.

"Tsunade-sama, if there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave."

"Mm, all right. Kurenai, stay behind."

After returning to the Hokage’s Office, Hyuga Tokuma and Yuhi Kurenai had completed their mission. However, Tsunade specifically kept Yuhi Kurenai behind. Once only the two of them remained in the Hokage’s Office, Tsunade asked,

"Kurenai, last time you said you planned to become a team-leading Jonin. How about choosing three students from the next graduating class? With your strength, teaching three newly graduated students would be more than manageable."

Yuhi Kurenai’s red eyes froze for a moment before she asked, "Tsunade-sama, are you planning to have my students participate in the Chunin Exams?"

"That’s right. I do have that idea."

"But the time is too short. There won’t even be three months between their graduation and the Chunin Exams…"

Tsunade propped up her chin and said to Yuhi Kurenai, "I know. But this time, all graduating Genin must participate in the Chunin Exams. After all, they’re being jointly held by the ‘Five Great Nations’ and the surrounding Small countries. If there are too few participants, it won’t fulfill the original purpose of holding the Chunin Exams."

Yuhi Kurenai nodded slightly in agreement, but inwardly, she shook her head. If she had not known Tsunade-sama’s identity, she might have thought Tsunade-sama was truly planning for the Chunin Exams.

"But Tsunade-sama, I know absolutely nothing about this class of students…"

"Don’t worry about that. I’ll choose a few students suited to your style. If you aren’t satisfied when the time comes, you can refuse."

With Tsunade putting it that way, Yuhi Kurenai could only nod in agreement. "I understand, Tsunade-sama."

When she reached the door to leave, Yuhi Kurenai turned back and asked, "Tsunade-sama."

"Mm? What is it? Do you still have questions, Kurenai?"

"No, it’s nothing."

Now was not the time to ask. As the leader of a village, how could Tsunade-sama possibly admit something unimaginable so easily based on other people’s speculation without any evidence?

After leaving the Hokage Tower, Yuhi Kurenai went to the Kurama Clan to check on Yakumo, but Yakumo had not yet returned from an outside mission.

As Kurama Yakumo’s teacher, aside from teaching Yakumo Ninja knowledge and training, she also experienced the Kurama Clan’s Kekkei Genkai Illusion Techniques. Only by constantly attempting various Illusion Techniques herself could she gradually discover their secrets. After having Illusion Techniques cast on her dozens of times by Kurama Yakumo, Yuhi Kurenai had already found another method of using the five senses to cast Illusion Techniques.

This could also be considered the Kekkei Genkai-ization of Illusion Techniques, but Yuhi Kurenai was still unfamiliar with it and was slowly experimenting. If she truly managed to develop it, then when Kumo-nin Darui and C looked at the Senbon in her hand inside the Tenshukaku Pavilion of the Daimyo Manor, they would already have fallen under an Illusion Technique.

After leaving the Kurama Clan, Yuhi Kurenai made another trip to the Ninja Academy. From afar, she observed the students who were about to graduate and felt that, aside from those Ninja Clan Ninja, none seemed suitable to be her students. She did not know whom Tsunade-sama would assign as her subordinates.

"It’s been released."

Yuhi Kurenai’s expression shifted suddenly. The Illusion Techniques she had cast on several Civilians near the Hokage Tower had automatically been released. It was a little trick she had developed. These people normally would not feel that they were under an Illusion Technique, but when they saw a specific image Yuhi Kurenai had implanted in them, the Illusion Technique would automatically release.

Using Illusion Techniques on Villagers from the same village was wrong, but Yuhi Kurenai had a tiny bit of selfishness as well. She had trained painfully for more than a decade. If she still could not pursue an answer, she did not know how much longer she could persist.

"That direction… is she going home?"

After confirming the location where the Illusion Technique had first been released, Yuhi Kurenai murmured softly. She could not use sensory Ninjutsu in the village. Unless it was a reconnaissance-type Kekkei Genkai, sensory Ninjutsu could easily be detected by another Sensor Ninja.

Moreover, Yuhi Kurenai had cast this trigger-based Illusion Technique on more than one person. Very soon, the Illusion Technique on another Konoha civilian was released, allowing Yuhi Kurenai to roughly determine the direction Tsunade was heading.

Sorry, but this is the only way I can do it.

Yuhi Kurenai formed a hand seal with one hand, silently apologizing to the Civilians she had placed under trigger-based Illusion Techniques. Then she directly used the Body Flicker Technique and left the Ninja Academy.

One or two teachers at the Ninja Academy also noticed Yuhi Kurenai, but upon seeing that it was Konoha’s Illusion Sunset, they stopped paying attention.

When the previous class graduated, Yuhi Kurenai had come to inspect them many times. But that incident had happened, ultimately causing Yuhi Kurenai to give up on becoming a team-leading Jonin. She had probably rekindled that desire just now, so she had come to take a look.

Tsunade returned to the Senju Compound in high spirits. After pushing open the door, she smelled the familiar fragrance of alcohol. She licked her lips, kicked off her shoes, and walked inside. When she saw Hyuga Mirai, along with the exquisite drinking dishes on the table and the two bottles of shochu, Tsunade could not help sitting down beside him.

"I’ve been waiting for you for a long time."

After sitting down, Tsunade prepared to pour herself a cup of alcohol. However, just as she raised her hand, Hyuga Mirai stopped her.

"I’m sorry, Princess Tsunade, but there’s no share for you this time. You can only watch me drink."

"W-What?" Tsunade’s light brown eyes widened slightly, as though she had witnessed something unbelievable. Then her eyes shifted, and she immediately said, "I heard something important."

"The Chunin Exams, right? As the Hidden God Hokage, you’re about ready to pass the position to Yakushi Kabuto. How confident are you that you can persuade Konoha to merge into the Federation now?"

After hearing that, Tsunade lowered her head in shame.

She probably did not even have a ten percent chance. If she brought up the matter, even Kimura would raise questions, let alone the Ninja Clans that had lived in Konoha for sixty years.

At present, the major Ninja Clans still occupied seventy percent of the village’s combat strength. Even if Tsunade established the Military Police Force, she would have to rely on the power of the Hyuga, Aburame, and Inuzuka Clans. Although she was drawing those three clans closer, if she truly raised this matter, Tsunade was not confident she could persuade even them.

Two years of peace had made Tsunade somewhat enjoy this life. Although she had developed the Electromagnetic Field Technique to its next level and handed in an exceptionally satisfactory answer, progress on the other front had been extremely slow.

"You have a little over half a year left. Hurry up, Tsunade. I don’t want to make a move when the time comes."

"Hey, that last sentence was what you really wanted to say, wasn’t it?"

Watching the shochu and drinking dishes steadily diminish, Tsunade said painfully. These were exquisite side dishes made by the champion of last year’s Hot Spring Country God of Food competition, delicacies that were difficult to buy anywhere in the entire Land of Fire. Yet she had not even taken a bite, and they were almost gone.

"Stop talking nonsense. You have half a year left, so get moving."

Hyuga Mirai had come purely to annoy Tsunade this time. After finishing, he cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks, then prepared to leave.

However, Tsunade suddenly grabbed his sleeve. Hyuga Mirai turned his head and heard Tsunade say, "At least leave me one bottle…"

"Stop pretending to be pitiful."

Hyuga Mirai directly pushed Tsunade’s face away, then packed up the unfinished shochu and walked outside.

Guys, I owe you two thousand words. I’ll make them up tomorrow.

My liver is about to go on strike. The renovation drilling kept making noise all day, and I don’t want to sacrifice tonight’s sleep, or tomorrow will be miserable.