chapter 185 part 1
Chapter 185 Set Sail! A Grand Adventure on the Sea!
In the forest, Tsunade walked along, observing the Cursed Seal mark on Uchiha Ren's neck.
Uchiha Ren felt a chill on his neck and turned his head to ask, "Why are you staring at my neck?"
Tsunade shifted her gaze slightly. "It's nothing. I was just reminded of something. How is Kakashi doing?"
"Before I left the Village, his appetite was pretty good, but he couldn't walk normally, and performing hand seals was even more difficult."
Tsunade nodded. "It's not a potent poison, so he can be saved. But who would use such a poison on him? It's very strange."
Uchiha Ren knew Tsunade meant that the perpetrator's actions were unnecessarily convoluted; they could have killed him but chose a slow-acting poison instead.
"Actually, it was potent at first. He just wasn't deeply poisoned and went to the Land of Grass for help."
"The Land of Grass?" Tsunade was a little curious. "Does the Land of Grass have that level of medical expertise?"
"It was one of Orochimaru's people who saved him."
"As I thought," Tsunade sighed. "The last time I saw that Cursed Seal on your neck in the Land of Rice Fields, I figured Orochimaru must value you highly. A mark like that is no ordinary thing."
Tsunade was a Tier-0 medical-nin in the shinobi world, but she was also a top-tier master of sealing jutsu.
Her own technique for staying young relied on the effects of an S-rank medical sealing jutsu, the Yin Seal.
After Orochimaru's arms were sealed by the Reaper Death Seal, the first person he thought of was Tsunade, a genius skilled in sealing jutsu, to undo the seal for him. Naturally, she understood the significance of the Cursed Seal of Heaven.
That thing was a massive power-up capable of contending with the Nine-Tails' Chakra. It was inevitable that Tsunade would read more into it.
Uchiha Ren looked at Tsunade's knowing expression. "Well, it's not without a price. I have to offer my body to him as a vessel."
"Is that so?" Tsunade frowned. "After all these years, he's still researching immortality. He's truly become obsessed."
Uchiha Ren stepped on a withered yellow branch and continued walking. "But you have to admit his research is effective. The last time I saw him, that guy had switched to another body, one in its teens. As long as he keeps changing bodies, I suppose that counts as a form of immortality in its own way."
Tsunade was silent for a moment. "And you're willing to let him take over your body?"
"Of course not! But what choice do I have?" Uchiha Ren said, activating his Sharingan.
"As an Uchiha, I was born with sin. You've seen the attitude the Village Higher-ups have toward me."
"But where else can I go?"
Just as Tsunade was about to say something, Uchiha Ren continued, "My aspirations aren't grand. A small home of forty square meters, a kind and beautiful wife, money I can make with the lift of a hand, and no worries about what to eat."
"The villagers are all kind, the Uchiha are cared for, there are no more wars year after year, everyone has meat to eat, and the village foots the bill..."
"This is my Leaf Village dream. It's small, and it's very ordinary."
Tsunade stood frozen in place, not knowing what to say. After all, she had been away from the Leaf Village for so many years and could still be persecuted by them. What comfort could she possibly offer?
"Lady Tsunade, let's go. We need to hurry and get your medical ninja tools. We still have to go back and save Kakashi."
"Right."
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Over the next few days, Pirate Ren Arakawa led Carrot on a rampage, robbing all sorts of slave auction houses.
No matter where he went, a single blast of Conqueror's Haki could take down a large swath of thugs. Anyone left standing could be dealt with in a single punch.
After a few days, he had single-handedly raised the public safety index on the Sabaody Archipelago because Marines were now patrolling everywhere. This also made him temporarily abandon the idea of collecting more protection fees.
It was time to find a ship and set sail.
Early one morning, he burst into Shakky's Rip-off Bar with Carrot in tow.
The light inside the bar was dim, and the air was thick with the smell of alcohol. Pirates of all shapes and sizes were drinking and making a ruckus.
Ren Arakawa strode to the counter. "Business is booming today, so many people. Where are Ivankov and Lightning?"
"They went out."
Ren Arakawa nodded. "Then do you have any carrot juice?"
Shakky glanced at the rabbit girl following Ren Arakawa. "I do, but you'll have to wait a bit. The juicer hasn't been washed yet."
"Alright~"
Carrot looked around curiously while Ren Arakawa pulled out a piece of paper at the bar. He quickly scribbled a few lines and casually left the letter on the counter.
After a while, Shakky brought over the carrot juice and a drink.
The moment Carrot smelled it, her ears shot up with a *thump*, knocking her hat askew. She grabbed her hat and took the glass, downing it in one go.
"*Gulp, gulp, gulp*." She finished it in a few swallows, then wiped her mouth. "Is there any more carrot juice?"
"Nope." Shakky shrugged and looked at Pirate Ren Arakawa. "Where have you been these past few days? Ivankov and Lightning have been looking for you everywhere."
"Making money. By the way, can you give this letter to them for me?" He took out a wad of bills and placed it on the table. "Thanks. We're leaving."
"Okay, take care."
The two turned and left the bar, heading for Grove 10 of the Sabaody Archipelago.
Along the way, the sea breeze whistled, making Carrot's fluffy ears sway.
Finally, they reached the shore of Grove 10.