Chapter 197: The Fourth Raikage's Request
In the following days, Tsunade didn't mention going to Kumogakure again. Ino thought she was just rambling after drinking, so she didn't bring it up either.
"I've already figured out a way. The training of the Spirit Transformation Technique can't be delayed any longer. Hmm, the fact that we haven't taken the final step has been due to both you and me. Your next task is to continue drinking! Maintain a happy mood. A good mood is very important for the initial Spirit Transformation."
Hearing that Tsunade had used Jiraiya's savings to pay the bill, Ino didn't hold back.
I've dedicated the better part of a year to Konoha, can't I enjoy myself a little? If I don't drink it, it'll go to waste. Drink!
She completely missed the fact that after leaving the Land of Fire, Tsunade had been leading the two of them and Tonton northeast. Three more days passed, and they chartered a boat at the port of the Land of Hot Springs, officially setting sail for the Land of Lightning.
Tsunade said they were going to a place called Nanagusa Island to collect some medicinal herbs. Ino didn't know much about sailing and figured that Tsunade, having traveled extensively, knew what she was doing with the route, so she didn't question it and continued to drink.
When she was feeling cheerful, she would sit on the deck, holding a wine bottle, clapping her hands to the rhythm, and singing "Binks' Sake."
Several sailors, Tonton, and Tsunade all clapped and cheered for her. After finishing the song, she even pretended to lift her skirt and bowed to them in thanks.
Only Shizune kept looking suspiciously at the sea. Whenever a ship approached, she would become particularly nervous.
She suddenly pointed northeast and exclaimed in a panic, "Over there! Lady Tsunade, it looks like a small boat is coming!"
Ino squinted and looked in the direction she was pointing. It was just a small boat, and it looked like there was only one person on board?
She said with a smile, "Don't worry, Shizune. I'll protect you."
She pointed at the surrounding sailors, "Who do you think I am? Steer the boat towards them!"
"Go closer, go closer!" Tsunade and Tonton cheered in unison, while Shizune just looked helpless.
"Tsunade! You dare enter the Land of Lightning? Are you trying to start a war between our villages?!" The Fourth Raikage didn't bring any attendants. He rode out on a boat alone, and seemingly thinking the boat was too slow, he threw away the oars and started running on the water, bellowing with his hoarse voice as he questioned them sternly.
Tsunade was even more forceful, "So what if I'm trying to start one? Are you going to wage war?!"
Ino: ???
The moment she saw the Fourth Raikage, she sobered up significantly. What was going on? How did they end up in Kumogakure? Wasn't the plan to find some suckers to con out of their money? Kumogakure, with its village full of violent individuals, didn't seem like a place with easy marks.
She glanced at her surroundings. Not bad, they were out at sea, her home turf. If she dove into the water, ordinary ninjas wouldn't be able to catch her at all.
Tsunade smacked her shoulder good-naturedly, "What are you afraid of? You've met the Fourth Raikage before, haven't you? He owes us a favor. Be bold, it's just Kumogakure, nothing to be scared of."
The more Tsunade said that, the more uncertain Ino felt.
This worry reached its peak when the Fourth Raikage, who looked like a black man, jumped onto their boat.
The Fourth Raikage started bringing up old grievances with Tsunade.
"I saved your subordinate last time."
"You entered our ninja village's territory without permission!"
"You cheated during our arm wrestling match last time."
"...Well, you still can't enter our ninja village's territory without a good reason!"
"Forget the cheating, let's arm wrestle again! If I lose, I'll leave immediately. I mean what I say. How about it? Dare to compete?"
Tsunade said decisively. The Fourth Raikage's expression was a bit awkward. In terms of pure strength, he was indeed a little weaker than Tsunade, just a little.
As the dignified Raikage, it wouldn't be acceptable for him to cheat twice in a row.
Jiraiya had recently reduced his habit of peeking into bathhouses and instead picked up the Third Hokage's crystal ball, starting to study the Telescope Technique, all to maintain the dignity of a village leader.
The Fourth Raikage cared even more about his reputation. Kumogakure was full of warmongers. If he lost to Tsunade in terms of strength, there would definitely be unrest in the village. People were people, and large organizations were complex. Konoha had its various schemes and intrigues, and Kumogakure had its own, just further away, so outsiders didn't know about them.
If they were to compete again, he absolutely couldn't cheat.
But if they had a fair arm wrestling match, he really couldn't beat Tsunade. Losing then would be even more embarrassing.
"What exactly do you want?" As the leader of a village, the Fourth Raikage, setting aside his crude words and actions, possessed considerable political acumen.
Tsunade pointed at Ino standing to the side, "My disciple is preparing to train in a secret technique and needs to use the Truth Waterfall on your Turtle Island."
The Fourth Raikage's first reaction was no way. Konoha ninjas were all cunning schemers, rotten to the core. He was straightforward, and there was definitely some conspiracy he didn't know about. He absolutely couldn't let them set foot on Turtle Island.
But seeing Tsunade swinging her arms and wrists, he hesitated a bit.
He was indeed in the wrong. It was a fact that Tsunade had helped him save his subordinates, and he even knew Ino. He had been present when she became Tsunade's disciple.
The Fourth Raikage looked at Ino, "Is it her? The recently renowned genius rookie from Konoha, who defeated Chojuro of Kirigakure and the Jinchuriki of Sunagakure?"
Tsunade knew it was time for the other party to state their conditions and nodded slightly, "That's right."
The Fourth Raikage said in a muffled voice, "Not just anyone is qualified to set foot on Turtle Island. Let her fight Yugito. If she wins, I'll agree to let her onto the island to train using the Truth Waterfall."
Tsunade was taken aback at first, then became a little annoyed, "Yugito? The Two-Tails Jinchuriki? Isn't that female ninja almost thirty years old this year?"
The Fourth Raikage shook his head repeatedly, "No, no, Yugito is still young. She's different from us old folks."
Tsunade pressed, "How old is Yugito?"
"Still young."
"Stop talking nonsense! I'm asking you, how old is Yugito, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, this year?"
"...Twenty-five."
Tsunade laughed in exasperation, "Don't you have any young ninjas in your village?"
Of course, they did, but there weren't any ninjas of the same age who could beat Ino at the moment.
That was obvious at a glance.
The Fourth Raikage remained silent, meaning that was his condition. If they agreed, they would proceed; if not, they could turn around and go home.
Tsunade was unsure and could only ask Ino for her opinion.
"We're training in the Spirit Transformation Technique, and I think we need to use the Truth Waterfall on Turtle Island to further purify your spirit body. According to my plan, this place is crucial. Now, the Fourth Raikage has proposed a condition, requiring you to defeat the Two-Tails Jinchuriki. Do you think you're confident?"
It was at this moment that Ino understood Tsunade's intention. Train the Spirit Transformation Technique using the Truth Waterfall? Naruto seemed to have used that waterfall before.
The Two-Tails Jinchuriki, could she beat her? She really wasn't confident, not even a little bit.
If she could, she would rather fight Choji's future wife, Karui, or something like that.
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