While Team 7 wandered through silence and dead ends, Team 8's journey unfolded very differently.
From the very first day, things actually made sense. This was the advantage of having real specialists working on the job.
Each member's power and abilities were almost tailor-made for tracking in Team 8.
Hinata's Byakugan.Shino's insects.Kiba's animal-like instincts and Akamaru.
Even Karin, who was not a part of the team, was almost perfect for this group with her Mind's Eye of the Kagura.
Even Kurenai, who had no special ability related to tracking, pulled her weight not just by being a sensei, but by being a Genjutsu mistress. Meaning, getting intel out of people who had tight lips was her job.
"This way," Shino said calmly, adjusting his glasses as his kikaichū returned to him. "The chakra residue is faint, but consistent."
Kurenai sighed in relief. "Finally. Someone saying something useful."
Though better, that didn't mean Team Kurenai didn't have their own problems. Tracking had always been hard, no matter the case. Especially when there were no leads to go by.
The Hokage's order came out of nowhere; they had to be dispatched with what little intel they had on Lady Tsunade.
Shino's insects and Kiba's nose were usually what they relied on when they had nothing to go by, to track.
Still, they pulled through.
Shino's insects finally found a strong chakra which could be Tsunade's. That, with all the other leads they had gotten, made them believe they were closer. At least, they believed that they were...
Karin grinned, hands on her hips. "Told you. Old Senju chakra is loud. Lady Tsunade might be a renowned kunoichi and the greatest medic-nin to grace the Elemental Nations; however, chakra has its own signature. I have spent enough time with both Sukuna and Sakura to know this. By logic, Lady Tsunade's chakra should be very similar to Sakura's if what Sukuna explained about Yin and Yang makes any sense."
"What even is that supposed to mean?" Kiba looked completely lost. He wasn't the only one. Kurenai and even Shino were the same.
Only Hinata nodded softly, Byakugan active. "I can see traces too. Sukuna-san's chakra is dark, while Sakura-chan's chakra is the exact opposite; it's bright. Same with Kiyomi-san..." She said, but by the end her voice lingered out, recalling that bringing Kiyomi into the conversation right now wasn't the best idea.
"I... I can see it. She must have passed through here recently," she said, her white eyes seeing the lingering chakra containing powerful Yang chakra traces.
Kurenai gave them all a look. "Alright. We're officially doing better than Team 7."
She didn't know that, of course, but anyone could have figured it out seeing what kind of mission both teams had gotten.
That became a running joke for the rest of the trip, actually. Kurenai, for once, was looking forward to seeing a dark spot on Kakashi's otherwise pretty spotless mission list.
Was she petty for thinking like that?
Yes... yes, she was. But she didn't care.
They moved from town to town, following a pattern that was almost embarrassing in how obvious it was. Gambling halls. Sake shops. Expensive inns that Tsunade absolutely could not afford, yet somehow always stayed in.
Courtesy of the Hokage knowing her student well, they at least had a few leads to follow, unlike poor Kakashi and his team. And that helped them greatly.
"She really has a type," Karin muttered as they stood outside yet another rundown casino. Being someone who worked in Konoha Hospital, she had heard enough of the legendary feats of Tsunade Senju.
Mostly good.
From her beauty to her overwhelming strength.
Of course, the most she heard was about her godly skills in the art of healing.
But not everything was sunshine and rainbows.
When you run around asking for money to gamble more after losing enough to bankrupt a behemoth like the Senju Clan's treasury, you're going to earn some bad reputation, even if you're one of the Sannin.
Karin, by stories, knew exactly what kind of kunoichi Tsunade was.
Shino tilted his head. "A statistically improbable series of financial decisions."
"That's one way to put it," Kurenai said dryly.
Asking around was easy. Tsunade Senju had never been subtle.
"Blonde woman?" a bartender said. "Yeah, she cleaned us out last night."
Another town, another trail.
Kiba quietly pointed ahead one evening. "It's the same smell. I believe she's close."
Kurenai straightened. "Everyone sharp. This is the real thing."
They followed the chakra trail into a larger city, brighter and louder than the others. Lanterns hung from buildings, laughter spilled into the streets, and the scent of alcohol was thick in the air.
Karin stopped suddenly.
"Oh," she said. "Oh yeah. She's definitely here." Her Mind's Eye of the Kagura could sense it.
Shino's insects buzzed uneasily. "There is… an additional chakra presence."
Kurenai frowned. "Hostile?"
"Unknown," Shino replied. "But heavy. And no less strong than Lady Tsunade."
Kurenai, for once, stiffened at that.
A chakra signature as strong as Lady Tsunade... that was trouble. Who had a stronger chakra signature than the last living Senju anyway?
They found Tsunade exactly where they expected her to be.
A gambling hall.
Inside, Tsunade Senju sat at a low table, sleeves rolled up, sake cup in one hand, smirk firmly in place. Shizune hovered nearby, already looking stressed.
"Again," Tsunade said cheerfully. "Double or nothing."
Shizune whimpered. "Lady Tsunade—"
Kurenai stepped forward. "Lady Tsunade."
Tsunade glanced up lazily. "Huh?"
Her eyes sharpened instantly.
"...Konoha."
Her eyes narrowed the moment she saw the Konoha forehead protector.
Shizune nearly cried in relief. "Thank goodness!"
'At least this will stop her gambling. Then I won't mind even if all four villages come here looking for us together... I really don't want to sleep on the street tonight.' Shizune almost had tears in her eyes.
Poor Shizune...
Tsunade leaned back in her chair. "You've got bad timing. I'm on a losing streak."
Karin blinked. "You're always on a losing streak."
Tsunade squinted at her. "Who are you?"
Upon seeing Karin's red hair and obvious Uzumaki nature, Tsunade was stunned.
'Since when was Konoha hiding more Uzumaki girls?'
"Someone who comes to know you owe about twelve towns a lot of money."
"Ahem..."
Kurenai cleared her throat. "We need your help. Urgently."
Tsunade's smile faded just a little. "That tone usually means something's gone wrong. That old man sent you..."
"Tell him I'm not coming back," Tsunade said.
Before anyone could say anymore—
The door exploded inward.
The entire hall went silent.
A massive man stepped inside, lightning-like chakra rolling off him in waves. Dark skin, white hair, eyes sharp and furious. Behind him stood several shinobi, dragging a man whose body twitched unnaturally.
Tsunade cursed under her breath. "You've got to be kidding me."
"That's the chakra from earlier..." Shino murmur under his breath.
Kurenai stiffened. She knew this man..."The Raikage."
Even Karin's eyes went wide seeing the powerful chakra.
The Fourth Raikage, A, strode forward, gaze locking onto Tsunade.
"So," he said, voice like thunder. "You're a hard kunoichi to find, Tsunade Senju."
Tsunade crossed her arms. "Flattering. What do you want, Raikage?"
To say Tsunade didn't have a good impression of the Cloud Village would be an understatement.
Her grand uncle, Tobirama, died in the Land of Lightning. Kushina was once almost kidnapped by these people.
Her usual reaction upon seeing a Cloud shinobi was to outright avoid them or send them flying.
However, this was the Raikage himself. Neither of the previous two options were valid anymore.
A's jaw clenched. "My man was hit during a covert operation. His body was infected by an insect technique. I need your help to remove it."
Tsunade's expression turned serious. "You want me to remove them. Are you hearing yourself, Raikage? Why would I do that!"
"I want you to save him," A said. "Now."
That wasn't a request, but a demand. It was very apparent that it was one.
Kurenai felt the air tighten.
Tsunade glanced at Team 8, then at the Raikage, and then sighed. "You guys couldn't have chosen a worse time to come by..."
xXx
A/N : Yup... I chose the best time to send team 8 there. Interesting, isn't it.
Did any one of you expected that... what you think will happen next.
By the way, did you know giving stones make author write more... I just learn it today. What you gonna do of those stones anyway, give them here...
Also comment and review this fix. That helps.
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