But with war imminent, Tsunade still temporarily pushed down the thoughts in her heart and directly agreed to Gekko Chizan's plan.
"Let's go. I'll come with you — if it really works, it'll count as a major accomplishment."
"I'm just afraid... hey, don't jinx it before we even go. How do you know it won't work, you little Chizan? No time to dawdle — we move now."
Tsunade was always decisive; when she said she would act she acted. She grabbed Gekko Chizan by the collar and prepared to jump out of the camp.
That sudden surge of strength nearly flung Gekko Chizan away — that was monster strength, the kind that could send half a mountain flying with one punch. He didn't want to experience that, and hurriedly said,
"Hey, hey, hey! Put me down first! We can use the Flying Thunder God! No need to run over!"
"And we can't summon right at their doorstep either! Do you want them to notice such a huge slug?"
That remark finally convinced Tsunade. She loosened her grip on Gekko Chizan's collar; he nearly sat down on the ground.
My god, that strength is terrifying.
Who in the previous life would possibly be interested in Tsunade? If they got intimate and she wasn't careful, they'd end up with broken bones and ripped tendons. Tsk tsk — but not to brag, Tsunade had indeed claimed the title of the ninja world's greatest brute for a reason.
Too bad she couldn't handle it.
"You're right, but the slug's size is too big. Even if we teleport by Flying Thunder God, the noise when it lands will probably give us away."
"Exactly. So we need you to summon it now, and we'll fly to a hidden spot from there."
Tsunade didn't waste time; she bit her finger and performed a summoning. The seal struck the ground.
"Boom!"
When the smoke cleared, the enormous Katsuyu appeared before them.
If they hadn't been out in front of the lines, that huge body might have crushed a number of tents.
"Tsunade-sama, good evening."
"Katsuyu, we'll need your power later. Whatever we ask, I hope you can bear it."
Tsunade spoke to Katsuyu a little awkwardly, while Gekko Chizan went to gather the explosive tags.
Katsuyu looked puzzled — it was the first time Tsunade had spoken to her in that way; it felt odd.
Seeing more and more explosive tags gathered together, Katsuyu grew even more confused. What were they planning to do?
Perhaps sensing her summoned beast's confusion, Tsunade leapt onto Katsuyu's head and began explaining the plan.
Hearing it made Katsuyu gasp. Even with the long-lived intelligence of a slug, she couldn't help but want to crush the person who proposed the plan — no, grind them into powder!
This was too much... too much for Katsuyu. Even with her tenacious life force, she couldn't be put through this.
Split apart and carry explosive tags to commit suicide? My heavens! Who the hell came up with this idea?
Tsunade watched Katsuyu grow warmer in color and felt awkward — how could she explain? After all, she herself had agreed to the plan.
"Tell me who proposed this plan and I promise I won't eat them!"
Katsuyu's voice was usually very gentle, but now there was a thread of anger in that gentleness — hmm, how to put it — slightly like a scolding.
Gekko Chizan, still carrying explosive tags, unconsciously looked up toward Katsuyu when he heard that voice.
It would have been fine if he hadn't looked, but the moment he did, Katsuyu instantly found him — don't ask how she noticed.
His scent was obvious. As the inheritor of Ryūchi Cave, Gekko Chizan carried that snake-like aura, and Katsuyu detected it at once.
"Hmph! The inheritor of Ryūchi Cave, huh?"
"So you came up with this plan! Of course — you long serpents are rotten to the core!"
"That big purple snake was bad enough; now it's your turn — worse!"
Gekko Chizan froze. What the hell? He knew the three sacred sites had poor relations, but why was she accusing him the moment she saw him? Although — to be fair — he actually did come up with the plan.
"Yes, it was him. Katsuyu, it was his idea."
"But in the current situation we'll still need you to sacrifice a bit. I mean, the assault from Iwagakure is fierce."
Tsunade told Katsuyu about the venomous bees. Katsuyu was shocked. Man-eating bees? That was an incredible story, but seeing the state of the Konoha front, she had to believe it. If that was really the case, there was no other way — even she would be helpless facing thousands upon thousands of bees.
"Hmph!"
Katsuyu gave a final cold snort and fell silent.
Work continued. Soon a huge pile of explosive tags was ready; Gekko Chizan estimated there were at least ten thousand.
"Tsunade-sama, shall we depart?"
"I'll use Flying Thunder God to send us somewhere relatively close to the border of the Land of Grass."
"Then we'll begin the operation."
Tsunade nodded and looked apologetically at Katsuyu.
"Katsuyu, please."
"Hmph, I know."
Gekko Chizan grinned and ordered men to place the explosive tags beside Katsuyu. He pressed one hand to Katsuyu's body — gosh, that touch was maddening!
His other hand pressed onto the explosive tags.
"Everyone, wait for our good news."
"Stop the chatter! Move!"
At Tsunade's urging, Gekko Chizan activated the Flying Thunder God.
Man, slug, and explosive tags vanished from Konoha's encampment in an instant.
They reappeared in a valley bottom. The sound of running water made Tsunade pause. The pit was pitch-black; only a sliver of light leaked from above.
"You bastard—"
"Shh!"
Tsunade's words were cut off as Gekko Chizan warned her. Realizing they were now at the border of the Land of Grass, Tsunade swallowed the rest of her remark.
"This is a spot I specifically looked for. It's a bit dark, but it's safe."
"And the space is big enough. Don't fuss — the earlier we finish the better."
Tsunade nodded, then looked to Katsuyu.
"Please, Katsuyu."
Katsuyu said nothing and immediately performed her division. In an instant the huge slug split into countless small slugs, a sight that made Gekko Chizan's scalp crawl.
"There won't be problems on our side with Katsuyu. How will you keep her from being noticed by the enemy?"
"Heh heh, leave it to me."
Gekko Chizan chuckled, hands clasped. A wave of energy unique to Ryūchi Cave rose instantly.
"Hmph — the snake's holy arts? This one is interesting."
Tsunade suddenly felt a small slug on her shoulder she hadn't noticed before, commenting on the plan.
The other slugs had already begun fastening explosive tags.
"Serpent Coiling Technique..."
"Come out and help me..."