"So... are we still going?" Having learned about the horrors of Hōzuki Castle, Tsunade hesitated.
In a place like that, aside from Kamizuki Hikari, even people like Kakashi and Maito Gai couldn't guarantee their own safety.
Did Hikari want to go?
Not at all.
He had just returned with Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata from a mission outside the village. He hadn't even had time to rest before heading off to Hōzuki Castle—how could he possibly be willing?
But...
Glancing at Kakashi and Gai beside him, Hikari sighed inwardly.
He had no choice but to go.
Konoha only had a handful of top experts. Tsunade, as the Fifth Hokage, needed to stay and oversee the village, while Jiraiya had to protect Naruto—and gather materials on the side.
Below them were just Kakashi and Maito Gai.
Given Hikari's relationship with the two of them, he couldn't just sit back and watch them go off to their deaths.
"Add me in then!"
"With the three of us together, we can handle anything except the Akatsuki!"
Tsunade frowned as she thought it over. Deep down, she didn't want to get involved in this matter at all. It wasn't Konoha's problem anyway—if she didn't send anyone, or delayed it, there wouldn't be any real consequences.
"Maybe I should think about it a bit more?"
"No need to think!"
Hikari knew exactly what Tsunade was thinking. "The Box of Ultimate Bliss is far too dangerous. If it's really that thing, we need to seal it as soon as possible. The longer we wait, the more troublesome it gets."
"In that case, you three should head out immediately!"
---
"Why do you have to leave again?!"
Anko looked at Hikari, her surprised expression impossible to hide.
"Yeah, I don't want to either." Hikari replied helplessly.
He really wanted to stay and train—so he'd have the strength to deal with the Ten-Tails and the still-hidden Uchiha Madara when the time came.
But now that the Box of Ultimate Bliss might be resurfacing, if they ignored it early on, even if Hikari advanced to the Six Paths level later, it would take a huge amount of effort to resolve it.
Compared to that, handling it now would save a lot more energy.
"Isn't Kakashi strong enough?" Anko glanced at Kakashi. In her mind, aside from Tsunade and Jiraiya, Kakashi was the strongest in Konoha.
Hikari had only just returned—let him handle this mission.
Kakashi kept his dead-fish eyes half-open, unable to do anything about Anko's resentment.
In his heart, he could only envy Hikari's luck with women.
Why didn't anyone tell him to be careful? Was it because he wasn't a good person usually?
"Kakashi, you're heading out too?"
Speak of the devil.
Shizune came running quickly from the entrance of the Hokage building, holding a small bundle in her hands. "I prepared some food for you—take it for the road."
This...
Kakashi didn't even know when he'd taken it. By the time he came to his senses, Shizune had already headed back.
"Tsk tsk, Anko, look at Shizune. You're just complaining—why not do something practical?"
"Heh, Shizune wants to marry Kakashi. What, do you want me to marry you too?" After saying that, Anko glanced around and lowered her voice. "Or should I summon a few snakes for you to grill and eat on the way?"
Worthy of being Orochimaru's student.
Ryūchi Cave must have accumulated generations of bad luck to have a summoner like her.
Hikari quickly waved his hands. "Thanks for the kind offer, but I'll just mooch some off Kakashi!"
"Don't talk like I'm willing to share!" Kakashi hugged the food Shizune had prepared close to his chest, then eyed Hikari warily. Right now, he looked just like a protective wolf pup guarding its food.
Hikari: "Heh, our friendship's over. Don't ever say you know me again!"
Kakashi: "Who are you? Do I know you?"
Hikari: "Get lost. Don't bother seeing us off!"
Kakashi: "I won't get lost. I've got food, ha, sucks to be you!"
Hikari was just about to teach Kakashi a lesson when he saw Tenten running over from afar.
"Gai-sensei, Hikari-senpai."
"I heard you're leaving, so I prepared some food for you. Take it!" Compared to Shizune's bundle, this little rich girl Tenten used a sealing scroll—clearly a step above Kakashi's in quality.
"Tenten, I won't say grand thanks. If you ever need anything, just tell me directly!" Hikari looked at her gratefully. He was the type who cared a lot about face.
"It's nothing—really not a big deal!" To Tenten, this truly wasn't much.
It was just about the thought—the thought, you know!
Gai felt a bit embarrassed accepting the food Tenten had prepared. As a teacher, having his student take care of him like this—he hadn't reached the point of ignoring everything yet.
His face wasn't that thick.
"You three, hurry up and get going! Don't you know this is an urgent mission?!" A loud shout came from the Hokage building. No need to turn around—Hikari could already picture Tsunade's expression.
The best strategy out of the Thirty-Six Stratagems: run.
"Tenten, Anko, we'll talk when I get back!"
"Safe travels, Hikari-senpai!"
"You better die out there, you bastard!"
After saying goodbye to Tenten and Anko, Hikari immediately dashed toward Konoha's main gate. Kakashi and Gai followed right behind him, and soon the three figures vanished from everyone's sight.
---
Hokage's office.
Shizune smiled sweetly at Tsunade, making the latter feel a bit annoyed and embarrassed.
"Shizune, are you itching for a beating again?"
"Hee hee!"
Shizune giggled as she stepped forward, grabbing Tsunade's arm and acting cute. "Tsunade-sama, I know you wouldn't actually hit me."
"That's not necessarily true! Look at that pervert Jiraiya—he's been beaten so bad he can't even show his face!" Tsunade said irritably.
Of course she wouldn't hit Shizune, but she couldn't let Shizune convince her so easily. Did Tsunade not have any pride?
"I just got here and already heard someone calling me handsome!"
Jiraiya swaggered in through the door, not treating himself like an outsider at all.
"I heard earlier that Hikari, Kakashi, and Gai are out on a mission?"
"Yes, Jiraiya-sama!" With only two people in the room, the only one who would be so respectful to Jiraiya was Shizune.
"What a pain. With them gone, I'll have to watch Naruto again!" Jiraiya yawned. Looking at his dark circles, it was obvious he'd been "working hard" somewhere last night.
Seeing Jiraiya like this, Tsunade couldn't hold back her anger. "Why don't you go swap with one of them?"
"No need. These young folks still need training! An old fossil like me is better off staying in Konoha!" Jiraiya refused outright.
No way in hell—he'd never agree to this.
Missions required running thousands of miles, and worst of all, there were no pretty ladies on the road, no good places for his research. Only an idiot would choose that.
"Then go watch Naruto!" Tsunade was too lazy to deal with Jiraiya and waved her hand, signaling him to leave quickly.
"Of course I will—but I'm a bit hungry right now. Tsunade, that bun you're holding..."
"Get lost!"
"Fine, fine—if you're not giving it, don't get mad!"