Tsunade truly deserved her title—
The greatest medical ninja in the world.
Inside the quiet room, her expression was completely focused, every movement precise and controlled.
Aoki Yoru lay unconscious on the bed, his body trembling faintly as the dark energy continued to gnaw at his very existence.
But under Tsunade's hands—
That relentless erosion was finally being challenged.
"Hold him steady!"
Jiraiya and Shizune tightened their grip immediately, pinning Aoki Yoru down as his body convulsed under the strain.
Tsunade's fingers glowed with concentrated chakra.
Not ordinary chakra—
But a refined, razor-sharp flow, condensed into countless microscopic blades.
Slowly…
Carefully…
She guided that chakra deep into Aoki Yoru's body.
Past his muscles.
Past his organs.
Into the most fragile and untouchable place—
His soul.
"There it is…"
Her eyes narrowed.
Wrapped tightly around his soul—
Like a parasite—
Was a strand of pitch-black energy.
Twisting.
Writhing.
Alive.
Without hesitation—
She struck.
The chakra blades sliced into the black energy.
Hiss—!!
The energy reacted violently.
It struggled.
Resisted.
Tried to burrow deeper.
But Tsunade's control—
Was absolute.
Bit by bit—
She peeled it away.
And finally—
A thin wisp of black energy was extracted.
It hovered in the air.
Tsunade immediately wrapped it in a sphere of chakra—
Sealing it within.
Inside the sphere—
The energy thrashed violently.
Trying to escape.
Trying to devour.
"Jiraiya—!"
"Seal it!"
Jiraiya didn't hesitate.
He pulled out a sealing scroll, slammed his hand onto it, and activated a sealing technique.
The black energy was dragged into the scroll—
Pinned firmly at its center.
"…Did it work?" he asked.
Tsunade didn't answer immediately.
Her gaze remained fixed on Aoki Yoru.
Her expression—
Dark.
"…That…"
She spoke slowly.
"…was only a tiny fragment."
Jiraiya's face stiffened.
"And even that…"
Tsunade continued,
"…required me to release the Yin Seal and expend a massive amount of chakra to extract."
She clenched her fist slightly.
"It takes me over three years to fully store chakra in the Yin Seal."
Her voice turned cold.
"At this rate…"
"…he'll be dead long before I can remove it all."
Silence fell.
Then—
Jiraiya spoke.
"…What about Sage Art?"
"Natural energy is far more effective than ordinary chakra."
Tsunade paused.
Then—
She nodded.
"…It's worth trying."
She turned to Shizune.
"Summon Katsuyu."
Shizune immediately turned her head away—avoiding Tsunade's gaze—and bit her finger.
"Summoning Technique!"
A puff of smoke.
A slug appeared.
About the size of a human.
"Katsuyu greets Lady Tsunade, Lord Jiraiya, Lady Shizune…"
Her gentle voice echoed softly.
"It's been a long time."
Indeed—
Since the end of the Third Great Ninja War—
She had rarely been summoned.
But Tsunade wasted no time.
"Katsuyu."
"Take us to Shikkotsu Forest."
"Understood."
Without delay—
Katsuyu expanded.
Her body stretched—
Covering everyone present.
"Poof—!"
The room—
Went empty.
Shikkotsu Forest
One of the three great Sage regions.
Alongside Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave.
But unlike the others—
This place felt…
Alien.
There were no towering trees.
No animals.
No life as one would normally understand it.
Instead—
The ground was covered in vast, translucent layers of organic, slug-like structures.
They pulsed faintly.
Glowing with a soft, pale green light.
The air was thick.
Humid.
Filled with natural energy.
Tentacle-like strands swayed gently.
As if the forest itself—
Was alive.
"Poof—!"
They reappeared.
Aoki Yoru was laid gently on the ground.
Tsunade immediately placed a hand on his head.
"His seals have all broken…"
The black energy—
Was spreading again.
"Katsuyu," Tsunade said firmly,
"Use the natural energy here."
"Help me extract it."
"…Understood."
At once—
Countless small slugs emerged.
They covered Aoki Yoru completely.
Natural energy surged.
Dense.
Pure.
And then—
Katsuyu paused.
"…This energy…"
"…It belongs to Jashin."
Tsunade's eyes widened.
"You know about it?"
Katsuyu shook her head gently.
"…Only a little."
"That being is far too ancient."
"Even before my main body came into existence…"
"…it had already existed for a long time."
Disappointment flickered across their faces.
But then—
Katsuyu continued.
"…However…"
"This is only a fragment."
"And here…"
"In Shikkotsu Forest…"
"…we have enough natural energy…"
"To wear it down."
Hope returned.
And so—
The treatment began.
Hours passed.
Then—
A full day.
And night.
Tsunade didn't stop.
Not even for a moment.
Her focus—
Absolute.
With Katsuyu's assistance—
The black energy—
Was gradually extracted.
Bit by bit.
Until—
Finally—
The last trace—
Was removed.
Tsunade exhaled deeply.
Her body swayed slightly.
"…It's done."
Her face was pale.
Exhaustion clear.
Even for her—
This had pushed her limits.
"Now…"
"He just needs to recover."
"His body is too depleted."
"It won't be quick."
"…That's great!"
Nao smiled.
Relief flooding her face.
But—
In the next moment—
Her vision went black.
And she collapsed.
"Na—!"
Shizune caught her immediately.
Carefully lowering her to the ground.
Tsunade, despite her exhaustion, stepped forward.
"…This child…"
She examined her.
"…Severe malnutrition."
"Extreme fatigue."
"And long-term depletion."
Her voice softened slightly.
"She needs proper care."
Tsunade injected chakra gently.
Nao's pale face regained color.
The bite marks on her arm—
Healed.
Tsunade looked at her thoughtfully.
"…That red hair…"
"…Who is she?"
Jiraiya explained everything.
From the village.
To her abilities.
"…Kagura Shingan…"
"…Healing ability…"
Tsunade gently stroked Nao's hair.
"…She's definitely from the Uzumaki Clan."
A trace of nostalgia appeared in her eyes.
"…Just like Grandma."
Days passed.
Aoki Yoru remained unconscious.
Tsunade occasionally treated him—
Stabilizing his soul.
Then—
Spent the rest of her time…
In casinos.
Using Jiraiya's money.
"…Again?!"
Jiraiya could only despair.
Finally—
"…Ugh…"
Aoki Yoru stirred.
Pain.
Dull.
Heavy.
His body felt like it was breaking apart.
His throat—
Dry.
Burning.
He moved his fingers.
Alive.
Barely.
"Brother Yoru!"
Nao rushed over.
"…You're awake!"
"…Water…?"
He tried to speak—
But only a rasp came out.
Nao ran.
Moments later—
Warm chakra flowed into him.
Relief spread through his body.
Pain faded.
He opened his eyes.
Tsunade stood beside him.
He forced a faint smile.
"…Thank you…"
"…Lady Tsunade…"
His voice was hoarse.
But sincere.
Tsunade looked at him.
Serious.
"…Don't thank me yet."
"You're not out of danger."
His expression didn't change.
"…Your body…"
"…is completely drained."
"That energy nearly consumed your life."
"If we don't find a solution…"
"…you won't live much longer."
Silence.
Then—
"I understand."
Calm.
Steady.
"…Thank you."
Tsunade frowned.
"…You're not afraid?"
Aoki Yoru simply closed his eyes.
Fear?
Of course he felt it.
But—
He also knew—
There were solutions.
White Zetsu cells.
Or—
Extreme Yang Release.
Even someone like Might Guy—
Who had burned his life away—
Had survived.
Compared to that—
His situation—
Was not hopeless.
Tsunade shook her head.
"…Whatever."
Then—
She turned.
"…I'm going to find Jiraiya."
"He still owes me money."
The next day—
Aoki Yoru sat up.
Weak.
But conscious.
Holding a bowl of porridge.
"…Bang—!"
The door burst open.
Tsunade walked in.
Looking annoyed.
Behind her—
Shizune looked utterly defeated.
And just from that—
Aoki Yoru understood.
She had lost again.
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