Naruto: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 27: Searching for Tsunade

"S-rank secret techniques, especially those related to the soul. As expected, the Scroll of Seals in Konoha should record them."

Hagoromo Gengetsu mused.

The Scroll of Seals in Konoha certainly contained more than just the multiple shadow clone technique at the beginning.

Given the size of the scroll, the forbidden techniques recorded within are numerous.

Senju Tobirama contributed a significant portion of these techniques.

Other ninjas from Konoha also made considerable contributions.

"Breaking into the Hokage's office and stealing the Scroll of Seals?"

As soon as this thought crossed Hagoromo Gengetsu's mind, he decisively dismissed it.

Though Konoha had suffered substantial losses, its foundational strength as the premier ninja village remained.

He was not Naruto Uzumaki.

Given his current abilities, attempting to steal the Scroll of Seals would likely result in failure.

Fortunately, if the Scroll of Seals route was not feasible, there were other channels.

"The Kato Clan, I've heard of them before, but their scale was so small that they could be completely disregarded. Kato Dan should still have descendants. It's... Shizune, right?"

Hagoromo Gengetsu thought of the black-haired woman who had always been by Tsunade's side.

If he remembered correctly, Kato Dan should be Shizune's uncle.

Shizune's parents, like Kato Dan, were also Konoha ninjas who perished in the war.

Orphaned, Shizune was taken in by Tsunade as a disciple and left Konoha with her.

"Given this, it seems the Kato Clan is left with only Shizune."

Otherwise, considering Tsunade's aversion to trouble, if there were still elders in Shizune's family, she wouldn't have taken such a young girl when leaving the village.

Though only one descendant remains, the family's legacy would still be preserved.

Kato Dan's unique S-rank Spirit Transformation Jutsu would be recorded by the village, and as the sole heir, Shizune would likely inherit it as well.

As for why Shizune did not display this technique in the original work.

Some ninjutsu can't be learned just by obtaining a scroll.

Just like how in nine years of compulsory education, some people can grasp the material thoroughly after one reading, while others struggle to understand despite their efforts.

Obtaining a supreme skill doesn't mean one will become invincible.

It's more likely that one might inadvertently fall into a state of madness while practicing, leading to their demise.

Shizune likely possesses the spiritualization technique that Hagoromo Gengetsu needs.

Additionally, there's also the possibility with Tsunade, his former lover.

Just like a poor young man who catches up with a princess, Kato Dan might have given Tsunade his most important spiritualization technique to bridge their gap.

Considering both possibilities, Hagoromo Gengetsu decided to try his luck with Tsunade and Shizune, whether through force or persuasion.

Finding them would be easy enough.

By asking around in major casinos and among moneylenders, he quickly got some leads.

Without delay, Hagoromo Gengetsu vanished from the Valley of the Fallen God.

The mountain wind howled, and under the moonlight, the two enormous statues continued to stand silent, resisting as they had for decades.

While Hagoromo Gengetsu was searching for Tsunade, others with the same goal were also setting out.

"Let's go!"

At the gate of Konoha, carrying his luggage and his hard-earned toad wallet, Naruto Uzumaki, full of energy, waved his hand and set off with the perverted sage Jiraiya on a journey to find Tsunade.

At this time, he only knew he needed to find someone who could heal Sasuke and the guy with the thick eyebrows, not realizing that he was actually looking for the soon-to-be Fifth Hokage.

It would be quite a sight when they met.

Meanwhile.

Orochimaru, whose hands were sealed with the Corpse Sealing Technique and burned with unbearable pain, managed to escape from Konoha's pursuers and returned to his secret base. After various treatments failed,

he and Kabuto set out to find Tsunade, the most skilled medical ninja in the ninja world, to treat his hands.

"Tsunade's medical skills are unmatched."

As a medical ninja himself, Kabuto highly respected Tsunade's position as the best in the ninja world.

However,

Kabuto adjusted his round glasses and asked the weakened Orochimaru beside him, "Lord Orochimaru, how can you be sure that Tsunade will treat your hands?"

As a former Konoha ninja who had recently killed the Third Hokage and caused significant damage to Konoha, it seemed unlikely that Tsunade would be favorable to him.

Orochimaru smirked and replied in a hoarse voice, "Because I will offer her an offer she can't refuse. The most beautiful emotions in the human world—recovered kinship and love—who could refuse them?"

"I see."

Kabuto's eyes behind his glasses lit up.

Imagining that he would be using techniques learned from Orochimaru himself, he grinned as well and said,

"The Reanimation jutsu is truly an incredible art!"

"Even the greatest technique must be treated seriously."

Orochimaru suddenly thought of Hagoromo Gengetsu, who had slipped out of his control, and asked with a glint in his eye,

"Any news on Hagoromo Gengetsu?"

Kabuto shook his head, "None so far. Instead, many forces, including Konoha, the Cloud Village, and the Mist Village, have been searching for him."

Orochimaru was not surprised.

For someone like Hagoromo Gengetsu, a seasoned veteran from the Warring States period, finding him once he went into hiding was no easy task.

"Never mind. The most important thing now is to find Tsunade."

Ignoring other matters and feeling the constant, unbearable burning pain in his arms, Orochimaru gritted his teeth, cursed the old man in his heart, and ordered,

"Let's go, to Tanzaku Town!"

"Tanzaku Town?"

In a back room of a casino, where the outside was lively with dice shaking and loud calls, the inside was filled with wails.

The only person standing in the room was Hagoromo Gengetsu, disguised as an ordinary middle-aged man. He skillfully stuffed bundles of cash into his bag and looked down at the previously fierce, now terrified, moneylenders, showing no sympathy as he asked,

"You said that the so-called big cash cow is currently in Tanzaku Town?"

"Yes, yes!"

The bruised and battered moneylender, feeling pain and agony, didn't dare to be unruly. He quickly nodded and said,

"The woman you're asking about, with golden ponytails, a green gambling robe, and a hot figure, is undoubtedly the big cash cow. She regularly borrows money from our company and still owes us fifty million ryo. We know her very well! Every year around this time, she goes to Tanzaku Town, come rain or shine."

"Do you know that there are the most numerous and luxurious casinos in the Fire Country and even the entire ninja world there? The big cash cow never stays away for less than a month!"