Ninja combat is about constantly probing the opponent's trump cards, grasping their weaknesses, devising countermeasures, and defeating them in one fell swoop.
Whoever can be one step faster in this process will secure the victory.
If a ninja is too famous, then the moment of encounter, they are already at a disadvantage.
Because the opponent knows who you are and what you are famous for.
Take Kakashi, for example.
Anyone with a bit of skill in the ninja world knows his title of Copy Ninja and knows he can copy other people's ninjutsu right in front of them.
Therefore, they will guard against this right from the start.
During the Chunin Exams, tourists, Daimyos, and ninja village leaders from various countries came to watch.
His feat of using Wood Release to end the war in one fell swoop must have surely spread.
If someone wanted to deal with him, they would definitely think of a way to counter his Wood Release beforehand.
Just like the attack by Pain and Obito this time.
Deep in the ocean, his Wood Release was almost unusable.
The only things he could use were some low-level ninjutsu that turned his body into wood.
That was completely useless against experts like Pain and Obito.
If he didn't have other methods, he would have been done for on that ocean.
Seeing Jokichi's attitude, Tsunade cast an approving glance.
As the saying goes, the young are arrogant and frivolous.
Becoming famous across the ninja world at such a young age, Tsunade worried that Jokichi would become conceited and arrogant because of it.
For the ninja profession, pride is the easiest cause of failure, and once you fail, it highly likely means death.
Her younger brother Nawaki also had extraordinary talent and was acknowledged by Orochimaru.
Yet, he became proud and complacent because of it, recklessly charging forward on the battlefield, and died after falling into an enemy trap.
She did not want such a tragedy to happen to anyone else.
Possessing extraordinary talent, an unarrogant and composed personality, plus a bit of hard work, these are the true qualifications to become a top-tier powerhouse.
"You are quite good. Perhaps it really is as the villagers say, you might become a ninja like my grandfather in the future."
Tsunade praised.
I can already fight your grandfather to a standstill right now.
Jokichi muttered inwardly, but on the surface, he scratched his head, pretending to be modest.
"Are you really not going to consider the Royal Guard position?"
Tsunade smiled, picking up the Royal Guard application form, and said meaningfully.
"This is a stepping stone to entering the Twelve Guardian Ninja. Nominated personally by the Daimyo, if you build up your credentials there for a couple of years, you can pretty much get in. This is the highest honor for a ninja of the Land of Fire."
The Hokage is the most respected, powerful, and authoritative ninja in Konoha.
However, in the eyes of the world, ninjas are just a group of mercenaries who take money to do a job.
Even the Kage, who holds the highest status in a village, is nothing more than a mercenary leader.
Following a capable lord and dying for him through fire and water is the romance of a ninja.
Even Naruto, after watching the movie Princess Gale, had fantasized about following such a princess, feeling that dying in battle for her would leave no regrets.
The Daimyo's personal guard.
The Twelve Guardian Ninja is the highest honor, and the dream pursued by countless ninjas in the Land of Fire.
This was also why the bounties on Chiriku and Asuma in the black market were so high.
An ordinary person, upon receiving such an invitation, would simply not refuse.
But that is only for the people of this world, whose concepts lean towards the mindset of Japanese people from his past life.
The Japanese mindset is that the sense of honor and disgrace outweighs the sense of right and wrong.
Jokichi was different; he is a transmigrator.
In his eyes, being someone's personal guard, even if it was the Daimyo's personal guard, was no different from being an ordinary bodyguard.
At most, the salary was higher and it was more dangerous.
After all, as a transmigrator, he didn't have much of a sense of belonging to the Land of Fire.
Even Konoha was merely his second hometown.
"I don't want to be a long-term guard. There is no freedom at all."
Jokichi shook his head slightly and continued.
"Even if I don't go, the Daimyo isn't short of one guard, right."
"That is true."
Tsunade straightforwardly tore up the application form, threw it into the trash can, and looked at Jokichi again, her beautiful eyes filled with appreciation.
"In that case, your application to leave the village for travel. I approve it!"
"Thank you!"
Jokichi looked delighted and hurriedly thanked her.
Conversing with someone like Tsunade, who still maintained vitality and an enterprising spirit, was refreshing.
It was unlike that old man the Third Hokage, who was overly cautious.
"Work hard!"
Tsunade looked at Jokichi with high expectations.
"I also want to see if you can truly reach the level of your predecessors."
"I will definitely surpass them."
Jokichi puffed out his chest, brimming with confidence.
"You've got some nerve saying that!"
Tsunade stood up and lightly punched Jokichi in the chest.
Then, Jokichi's face turned red.
He clutched his chest and bent over.
This old hag, she definitely did that on purpose.
Seeing Jokichi's deflated look, Tsunade burst into laughter.
"Hurry up and go. Go say goodbye to the people you are close with, then pack your bags and leave. I look forward to the day you return."
"Crazy woman!"
Jokichi cursed and ran off in a flash.
Tsunade looked stunned, then chuckled softly.
"Crazy woman? It has been a long time since anyone dared to say that to my face. What an interesting little guy."
Regarding this person possessing the Senju bloodline, she was looking forward to his future more and more.
Shaking her head, Tsunade buried herself back into her work.
After leaving the Hokage building, Jokichi did not go find anyone to say goodbye, but directly left the village.
The goodbyes that needed to be said were said before the Land of Snow mission, and all necessary preparations had been made.
Jokichi was a decisive person who hated dawdling.
After leaving Konoha, he wasn't in a hurry to travel.
Instead, he walked slowly with the mindset of sightseeing.
Although this trip was for the purpose of the Tailed Beast rings and the Dragon Vein, there was no need to rush.
The punch Tsunade gave his chest wasn't just a malicious joke; she also passed him the payment for the Land of Snow mission.
This was a mission that was A-rank on the surface but S-rank in reality, and the reward was a full 2.5 million ryo.
As a Genin, even after the village took its cut, there was still 1 million ryo.
However, Jokichi counted it on the road and found Tsunade had given him 1.5 million ryo.
This was even more than a Jonin's cut, enough for three years of travel expenses.
This was Tsunade sponsoring his travel funds.
After all, in the village, he was an orphan and had only recently become a Genin, so he didn't have much wealth.
The money Tsunade sponsored was insignificant to Jokichi, but he appreciated her goodwill.
He walked for about three hours.
Jokichi came across a way station.
He ordered some dango and tea at the station, then pondered his next route.
Although his targets were the Tailed Beasts and the Dragon Vein, he had to find them first.
The Dragon Vein was in the ruins of Rouran in the Land of Wind, but the exact location of that ruin was unknown.
He only knew that the missing-nin from Sunagakure, Mukade, searched for a long time before finding it.
As for the Tailed Beasts.
According to the anime's plot, apart from the Three-Tails, the rest of the Tailed Beasts were sealed inside their Jinchuriki and moved around with them.
Only the Three-Tails, after the disappearance of the Fourth Mizukage Yagura, appeared at some unknown time in a lake in the Land of Water.
After some thought, Jokichi decided to look for the Three-Tails first.
After all, the Three-Tails was right there in that lake and its location wouldn't change.
Moreover, dealing with a wild Tailed Beast was much simpler than dealing with a Jinchuriki.
He wouldn't have to worry about the village backing the Jinchuriki.
Amegakure.
At the top of the central tower.
The Deva Path stood at the edge, silently watching the heavy rain outside.
Konan stood behind him, looking worriedly at the back in front of her.
Suddenly, space distorted, and Obito walked out from within.
"Have you found it?"
The Deva Path asked without turning his head.
"Found it."
Obito nodded.
"Do we really have to do this?"
Konan's expression grew even more worried.
"Our plan requires the pure power of the Tailed Beasts. If we let Nagato become a Jinchuriki, in the future."
"If this is a necessary sacrifice on the path to peace, then even giving up this life is worth it."
The Deva Path said calmly.
"That Jokichi is too strong. Our current strength is absolutely no match for him. If our plan three years from now is obstructed, we will have no power to resist."
Saying this, the Deva Path looked at Obito.
"Where is it?"
"The only one that won't attract attention right now is the Three-Tails in the Land of Water."
"Then, to the Land of Water!"