Chapter 92 – Restrained Serpent
The news of Kazane's awakening spread quickly throughout the camp. Several jonin in the camp formed small groups to come visit him, each one genuinely concerned about when Kazane would fully recover.
As soon as Nara Shikaku left, Jonin Sasaki arrived. Then, just as Sasaki stepped out, another jonin came in.
In the blink of an eye, the normally quiet medical tent had turned into the liveliest little market in the entire camp.
"You idiots! Don't you know patients need rest? Get out of here, all of you!"
But causing a ruckus in Tsunade's territory? Has anyone even asked our Boss Tsunade whether she's okay with that? Visibly irritated by the noise, Tsunade stormed in from outside the tent, her face dark, and promptly drove out the crowd fussing over Kazane.
"Haha, I've been hospitalized plenty of times, and not once did I get this much attention. Kid, you're something else!"
Already able to move around a little, Jiraiya joked with Kazane, who lay on the bed wrapped up like a ball.
"Mm, maybe it's because you lost, Uncle Jiraiya?"
Though his body couldn't move, Kazane had honed himself a sharp tongue. He replied with a hint of sass.
Jiraiya's previously cheerful face instantly darkened at Kazane's words.
"This great lord was simply showing respect to the injured! Looks like you're asking for a bit of special care, brat!"
Annoyed, Jiraiya glanced at the immobilized Kazane, and then let out his signature geigeigei laugh as he reached out his claws toward the boy.
"Jiraiya, that's enough already!"
Fortunately, Kazane had his trusty Tsunade-neesan. At the critical moment, she stepped in and smacked Jiraiya hard on the head with a punch full of energy.
"Ow! That hurts! Tsunade, I'm an injured patient too, you know!"
Jiraiya clutched his aching head and grumbled in protest.
But the moment he saw Tsunade raise her fist again, he zipped his mouth shut and dove straight under the blanket.
"Tsunade-neesan, if I just get enough meat, I'll be fully healed in two days."
Kazane looked up at Tsunade with a soft voice. He knew his own body all too well.
As long as he had enough food and plenty of rest, he'd be back on his feet in no time.
But upon hearing his words, Tsunade became visibly irritated.
"Are you doubting my medical expertise? Until your injuries are fully healed, you're only allowed light meals. Once you recover, you can eat all the meat you want—but not now!"
Tsunade had never heard of anyone insisting on a full meat diet during recovery. Was he questioning the power of her fists?
"It's true, Tsunade-neesan! My body's different. With meat and sleep, I heal myself—meat can cure anything!"
Kazane knew he was telling the truth, but if he couldn't convince Tsunade, his dreams of daily meat feasts would be reduced to bland vegetables and tofu boiled in water.
Seeing Kazane still trying to argue—especially about medical treatment—with the number one medical ninja in Konoha, Tsunade was so furious that even her chest heaved with each breath.
At that moment, Kazane stole a glance at Jiraiya beside him—only to find the man's gaze fixed on Tsunade's... assets as well. He sighed. So it was true—men shared the same instincts.
No matter the age difference, there are certain common traits among men. We're not pervs—just lovers of beauty with an eye for appreciation.
But considering Kazane had only just woken up and wasn't in a condition to withstand her punches, Tsunade, not wanting to hurt her own patient, stormed off in frustration. She couldn't bear to look at him anymore, fearing her anger might harm her own health.
Right now, Kazane wouldn't survive one punch from her. Better to wait until he fully recovers—then she'd gift him that punch. It was definitely going on the tab!
Even in her fury, Tsunade didn't forget that Kazane was still an injured patient. After leaving the tent, she found Shizune and asked her to take over caring for him.
Not long after, Shizune walked over with a pout. She was also quite upset. If she hadn't stepped in to save Kazane, he would've already bled out and died.
And now Kazane dared to anger Tsunade? Even going so far as to challenge her medical judgment?
Hmph! If Tsunade-sama says it's right, then it's definitely right.
"Wants to eat meat, does he? From now on, if there's even a drop of oil in your food, I'll change my last name!"
Shizune huffed silently to herself, though she didn't say it aloud. Instead, every time she changed Kazane's bandages, she would subtly tighten them more than necessary. Sometimes, a minor "accident" would cause his wounds to reopen just slightly.
And so, under the meticulous care of Tsunade and Shizune, Kazane's injuries—originally set to heal in a few days—took over half a month to recover.
During that time, Jiraiya had already made a full recovery and resumed his position as frontline commander.
Moreover, on the orders of the Third Raikage, the Hidden Cloud didn't retreat. Instead, under Killer B's leadership, they engaged in several intense battles with Jiraiya.
Everyone knew it in their hearts: once the Third Raikage recovered, it would be time for the final decisive battle.
Meanwhile, on the Iwagakure front, things were far less harmonious than on Kazane's side.
Due to Sarutobi Hiruzen overestimating his own abilities, he benched Orochimaru the moment he arrived and chose to personally lead the troops against Ōnoki and the Iwa-nin army.
But against Ōnoki's Dust Release: Particle Style, Hiruzen was completely helpless. As a result, Konoha suffered massive casualties. If not for Namikaze Minato's extraordinary bravery, the entire Konoha force would've been pushed back into the Land of Fire.
Through battle after battle, Minato—using his near-teleporting Flying Thunder God Jutsu—earned the title of the Fastest Shinobi in the Ninja World.
Ōnoki himself even issued a direct order: if any Iwa-nin encountered Konoha's "Yellow Flash" on the battlefield, they were permitted to retreat immediately without punishment.
In a sense, Hiruzen's original goal—getting more jonin to recognize Minato's worth through wartime contributions—had already been achieved.
However, unlike what Hiruzen had imagined—stepping over Orochimaru to boost his own prestige—it was he himself who ended up being overshadowed by Minato's consistent victories.
But as far as Hiruzen was concerned, it was still better than letting Orochimaru win more accolades.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru was more than content. With no one interfering, he now had ample time to research the two unique Kekkei Genkai that Kazane had sent him from the Land of Water.
Not far from the Konoha camp, inside a cave, Orochimaru stood over a dissection table, looking down at two people, both bound.
He let out a long, eerie geigeigei laugh.
At this point, Orochimaru had completely given up on Sarutobi Hiruzen.
But he still believed that Kazane—facing the Hidden Cloud—would eventually bring him a surprise.
Hiruzen might be able to restrain him, but he couldn't possibly restrain Kazane, fighting on the other side of the Land of Fire.
Kazane's existence continually shattered Orochimaru's understanding of what defined a "genius."
Even Orochimaru couldn't have imagined that the once-stubborn boy he met would grow into a ninja capable of going toe-to-toe with the legendary Third Raikage.
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