Chapter 170: Meeting Terumi Mei Again
"Running away so quickly?"
Hoshikawa looked at Tsunade, who had vanished, and inwardly felt it was a pity.
A few seconds was simply too short.
However, Hoshikawa noticed that Tsunade was slightly different from before.
This change undoubtedly thrilled him.
Hoshikawa took a deep breath, pulled out his sleeping bag, and crawled in.
Since the camp was large enough, they weren't sleeping together.
A new day began.
Hoshikawa was woken up by noise.
He opened his eyes, yawned, packed up his sleeping bag, and walked out of the tent.
It was the Sunagakure shinobi.
Five hundred of them, dense and numerous, were orderly filing into the camp under the leadership of Baki.
The one greeting them was Nara Suzaku of Konoha.
The Nara clan, due to their exceptionally high intelligence, often held positions like strategists.
Nara Shikaku had gone with Orochimaru to the Land of Frost.
The Land of Rivers, having a relatively smaller-scale war, was left in the charge of Nara Suzaku.
As for Tsunade, she was likely still asleep at this hour.
Because tents were scarce, the Sunagakure shinobi were already setting up new ones, creating quite a ruckus.
Hoshikawa scanned the area but didn't find any Suna-nin he recognized other than Baki.
This was normal.
The Suna-nin he was familiar with—Chiyo, Gaara, Temari, and Kankurō—were absent.
Gaara and Kankurō hadn't been born yet, and Temari was less than a year old.
"Good morning, Hoshikawa ."
From a nearby tent, Yūhi Kurenai emerged. The moment she saw him, she ran over with a cheerful smile.
"Did you sleep well?"
Hoshikawa naturally took her hand.
"Very well."
Kurenai felt a little shy but allowed him to hold her hand.
"Oh, the power of youthful passion!"
Might Dai suddenly appeared and asked, "How about a morning run?"
Kurenai subconsciously pulled her hand back.
"Uncle Dai, it's wartime. Let's save our stamina consumption for the enemy ahead."
Hoshikawa glanced at Kurenai and said with a smile.
She wasn't shy just moments ago, but the presence of a third person made her embarrassed.
But he found it amusing.
"You speak the truth!"
Might Dai looked left and right, then eagerly asked, "When will we be going on a mission?"
"We wait for Sensei's arrangements."
Hoshikawa paused, then added, "Don't worry, Uncle Dai, there will definitely be a mission that allows you to give your all."
"That is exciting!"
Might Dai said with an emotional tone.
Kurenai listened quietly to their conversation beside them.
She couldn't quite grasp Might Dai's obsession with youth.
But she chose to respect it.
Hoshikawa , however, seemed capable of talking about anything, making him much more capable than she was.
"Come over and eat."
A moment later, Yūhi Shinku beckoned to them.
Breakfast wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either—just rice balls.
But they were hot, so they tasted decent.
Tsunade pouted slightly.
Although not inedible, she was used to Hoshikawa 's cooking and found the rice balls quite unappealing.
She ate until she was half full, then stopped.
Tsunade planned to ask Hoshikawa to make something special for her around noon.
"Lady Tsunade."
Nara Suzaku entered. "The Sunagakure shinobi have all been properly accommodated."
Behind him was Baki.
"Lady Tsunade."
Baki said respectfully, "Granny Chiyo told us to follow all of your commands."
Chiyo was well aware that they were currently seeking Konoha's help, so Sunagakure had to cooperate actively.
Besides, following Tsunade's command was not disgraceful.
"Gather all the Jōnin for a meeting."
Tsunade stood up and said, "We will go to the main tent."
"Yes."
Everyone replied in unison.
Hoshikawa followed Tsunade to the main tent.
He stood to one side, waiting quietly.
Soon, all the Jōnin from Konoha and Sunagakure were present.
Hoshikawa was surprised to find that nine Jōnin from the Hyūga clan had arrived.
Compared to the total number of five hundred, nine Jōnin was quite astonishing.
Perhaps this was the Hyūga clan's investment.
Of course, the Byakugan could indeed play a significant role in countering Kirigakure's Hiding in Mist Technique.
"Let the meeting begin."
Tsunade scanned the room and spoke.
"Hyūga Saku led the Hyūga clan shinobi last night to investigate Kirigakure's situation."
Nara Suzaku spoke first.
Tsunade looked at a young man in the crowd.
"The Kirigakure shinobi are currently active in the south of the Land of Rivers. We haven't found their main base, only five outposts," Hyūga Saku stepped forward and reported. "At the same time, we spotted their transport ship by the sea."
"Just as I thought."
Tsunade looked thoughtful. "I suspect their main base and supply points are out at sea."
"Kirigakure is proficient in Water Release. Fighting them at sea would be very disadvantageous," Nara Suzaku frowned.
"Are we just going to wait for them to make the first move?"
Baki couldn't help but ask, "That's far too passive!"
"Naturally, we won't sit around and wait," Tsunade shook her head. "First, we eliminate their outposts, and then we search for their main base and supply points."
Although Kirigakure excels at Water Release, both their main base and supply points still require land, which means an island.
"Understood."
Everyone replied in unison.
"Now, let's distribute the missions."
Tsunade glanced at Hoshikawa and spoke.
She suddenly realized that the ninja with the strongest Water Release here was him, followed by Yūhi Kurenai.
As for Sunagakure, there was no need to mention them.
In the Land of Wind, where deserts were everywhere, who would be bored enough to learn Water Release? It would only bring trouble upon themselves.
Three hours later, the mission assignments were complete. Hoshikawa 's team was assigned the sea exploration mission.
"This is a joint mission."
Tsunade stopped at the camp entrance.
"Who else?"
Kurenai asked curiously.
"It's the Hyūga clan ninja," Hoshikawa explained. "Our mission is sea exploration, and having the Byakugan makes it much easier to complete."
"That's true."
Kurenai said with a touch of envy, "The Byakugan is really convenient."
Although the Byakugan is generally less impressive than the Mangekyō Sharingan, for ordinary shinobi, its utility is immense.
Telescopic vision, X-ray vision, and advanced perception—these are god-tier abilities.
In a video game, it would be equivalent to cheating.
"Thank you for waiting, Lady Tsunade."
A voice suddenly rang out.
Hoshikawa turned his head and saw Hyūga Saku.
Besides him, there were three other young shinobi with the Byakugan.
"These are my three students," Hyūga Saku introduced them proactively.
Hoshikawa raised an eyebrow.
He recognized one of them, named Hyūga Kamon.
In the original work, he was a Hyūga Jōnin with little screen time.
He was primarily responsible for support and sensing duties during the Fourth Great Shinobi War, with no major moments of glory.
"My plan is to follow the transport ship," Tsunade said after they had introduced themselves.
"Yes."
Everyone replied in unison.
"The key to this mission lies with the Byakugan," Tsunade said sternly. "You will be responsible for scouting and mapping the area."
"Understood!"
Hyūga Saku quickly replied.
This was undoubtedly a highly demanding request for the Hyūga team.
But Hyūga Saku was happy to hear it.
Because the Hyūga clan had sent many members for this war against Kirigakure, specifically to make a good impression on Tsunade.
This was the perfect opportunity, and he couldn't afford to disappoint.
"Move out!"
Tsunade declared with a wave of her hand.
The group of eight ran out of the camp.
They traveled south and reached the coastline after two hours.
"Now we wait."
Tsunade glanced at the empty sea and said softly.
Everyone nodded, found concealed spots, and hid themselves.
Time slowly passed.
Just when Hoshikawa thought they might return empty-handed, a ship approached from a distance.
His spirit immediately lifted.
After the transport ship docked, the receiving Kirigakure shinobi appeared and began unloading supplies.
"There are eight shinobi on the ship. Based on their chakra levels, there are two Jōnin, three Chūnin, and three Genin."
Hyūga Saku's eyes widened, the veins around his eye sockets immediately bulging.
This was the sign of an activated Byakugan.
"Hoshikawa ."
Tsunade thought for a moment and said, "You are proficient in Water Release. Follow them closely, and we will follow shortly."
"Alright."
Hoshikawa smiled and said, "Leave it to me."
"Don't get too close," Tsunade added. "If you are discovered, retreat immediately. We will cover you."
Hyūga Saku subconsciously looked at Hoshikawa .
To be honest, he was very skeptical.
Hoshikawa was simply too young.
And how could Tsunade's student be good at Water Release? Even if he was, he couldn't possibly be stronger than a Kirigakure Jōnin, could he?
"Their unloading is finished. The transport ship is likely to return soon," Hyūga Saku reminded.
As for Hoshikawa , since it was Tsunade's command, he dared not question it and could only trust it for now.
Suiton: Suishunshin no Jutsu! (Water Release: Water Instantaneous Body Technique!)
Hoshikawa made a single hand sign, transformed into a puddle of water, and vanished before their eyes.
This was a Water Release Ninjutsu obtained from interrogating Hanzō's corpse.
Hoshikawa felt it was similar to Hōzuki Suigetsu's Hydrification Technique. It was extremely useful and could instantly nullify physical attacks.
The weakness was also obvious: Ninjutsu attacks, especially Lightning Release.
Hyūga Saku immediately looked astonished.
There was such a Water Release Ninjutsu?
Hoshikawa quickly traversed the sea, nearing the transport ship.
He maintained a certain distance, following them without haste.
Fortunately, he had mastered the Strength of a Hundred Seal; otherwise, he wouldn't have enough chakra to swim for so long.
About an hour passed, and Hoshikawa 's spirit suddenly soared.
He saw an island. If he wasn't mistaken, that was the main base or supply point of Kirigakure.
Hoshikawa made two hand signs and closed his eyes.
He quickly frowned.
There was a barrier on the island, blocking his perception.
Hoshikawa thought for a moment, swam a little further forward, and activated his eight-fold zoom.
The transport ship stopped at the shore, and a group of people walked out.
Hoshikawa raised an eyebrow.
He saw a familiar figure: Terumi Mei.
Although it had been a long time since they last met, her features were too distinctive, especially her long, auburn, wavy hair.
Beside her was a young man with green hair carrying twin swords on his back.
Hoshikawa hadn't met him, but he could generally guess his identity.
It was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Kurozuchi Raiga, and the twin swords he carried were the Lightning Blades Kiba.
In the original work, after defecting, he occupied a gold mine, oppressed the villagers, and eventually died at the hands of Hyūga Neji and Uzumaki Naruto.
"It seems we've found the right place."
Thinking this, Hoshikawa began to retreat.
A few minutes later, he saw Tsunade standing on the surface of the sea.
Yūhi Kurenai and Nohara Rin didn't have enough chakra to sustain themselves for that long, so they stayed on the shore to follow up.
To be safe, they let Hyūga Saku protect them.
"What's the situation?"
Tsunade looked at him.
"There's a barrier on the island. I can't sense anything inside, but I saw Kurozuchi Raiga."
Hoshikawa was fully submerged, with only his head floating on the surface.
He was wrapped in Water Release chakra, allowing him to swim freely like a fish.
Of course, the main reason was that standing on the sea surface was too conspicuous and could easily lead to discovery.
Tsunade's eyes flickered as she pondered what to do next.
Hoshikawa looked up at her.
His view was filled with her long, slender legs, and tracing upwards, her delicate waist and a heavy burden above.
"Never mind. Our mission is exploration, not combat," Tsunade shook her head. "I'll go inform Hyūga Saku to come over."
She made two hand signs, created a Shadow Clone, and sped away.
The barrier could block Sensory Ninjutsu, but it couldn't block the Byakugan.
Hoshikawa had the same thought as Kurenai: this Byakugan was truly amazing.
Unfortunately, the Byakugan was a bloodline limit; there was no way to possess it outside of the Hyūga clan.
Unless he dug a pair out.
But the Branch Family of the Hyūga clan had the Caged Bird seal, so he would have to dig out a pair from the Main Family.
Hoshikawa suddenly thought of Ao of Kirigakure, who obtained a Byakugan during the Third Great Shinobi War.
"Lady Tsunade."
Hyūga Saku appeared before the two of them.
"Just figure out the number of ninja on the island," Tsunade pointed to the distant island and said, "Be careful."
"Yes!"
Hyūga Saku stepped on the sea surface and quickly approached the island.
Hoshikawa and Tsunade began to wait.
About ten minutes later, a mist suddenly rose from the sea, engulfing the island in an instant.
"This is the Hiding in Mist Technique!"
Tsunade's face changed when she saw it. "Hyūga Saku has been discovered!"
"There are three Jōnin chasing him," Hoshikawa made two hand signs, closed his eyes, and said, "Southeast direction."
"Prepare to provide cover!"
Tsunade said deeply.
"Yes."
Hoshikawa submerged into the water.
A figure flew out of the mist, and it was Hyūga Saku.
Just then, a roar echoed.
The sea surface suddenly rose, and the seawater transformed into a water dragon rushing towards the sky.
At the same time, a huge lightning orb appeared out of thin air, crashing towards Hyūga Saku at high speed.
Hyūga Saku immediately countered with a punch, scattering the lightning orb.
Just as the water dragon was about to hit him, Tsunade flashed out, shattering the water dragon with a single punch.
"So, it's Princess Tsunade herself!"
As the words fell, a massive Kubikiribōchō (Executioner's Blade) whizzed towards Tsunade.
Water Release: Water Wall!
A water wall rose, blocking the Executioner's Blade.
"Oh? Is there another Water Release user?"
Hoshigaki Kisame looked around but couldn't spot Hoshikawa .
"Leave him to me."
Terumi Mei suddenly guessed something, and a sense of excitement rose in her heart.
Since Tsunade was here, the Water Release user was likely Hoshikawa .
"Excellent."
Kurozuchi Raiga, holding his twin swords, said excitedly, "Killing Tsunade will be a great accomplishment for us!"
(End of this chapter)
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