Tsunade (1)

After splitting up from Asuma's group Rei stopped by a couple of stores. In the end, he had spent almost all the money he had gotten from the old man before he finally left the village. As he began to make his way towards the towns and villages around Tanzaku Rei had plenty of time to think to himself. 'I wonder if the Sennin I'm trying to find will actually tell me where Orochimaru is.'

If they were previously comrades they may not be willing to give information to someone trying to find them. 'And if they are strong enough to get an official title, forcing them might be hard.' With that in mind, Rei remembered to ask about something. "Ryujin, how much longer will it take before my body is fully suitable to become a Shinigami?"

"Your body is currently composed of thirty percent Reishi. Given another twenty days, you will be able to generate Reiryoku on your own without my assistance." Listening, Rei nodded his head. "So that just means finding them within six days would be best." Having a time frame and a goal Rei decided to switch gears and speed up his search.

Jumping off of the dirt road Rei decided to use the quicker route. Without the use of Chakra, he was able to navigate through the forests a lot easier. Jumping from branch to branch he quickly got used to traveling this way instead and found it was a lot faster than running. And with his search speed increased the number of towns and villages he could reach within a single day increased.

Starting from the North, Rei had gotten into a rhythm visiting around 2 towns and villages a day asking about the rumors of a Sannin. It was following this rhythm however that also made things harder for Rei. In the first five days, there was no issue; he would go to a village, gather as much information as he could, and then leave.

But it was on the days after, that rumors about him began to spread. Inside of a bar, a fair-skinned woman with blonde hair that reached down to her shoulders was playing blackjack. "Hey, Tsunade, have you heard the rumors?" Staring at the woman who was nervously glancing over her hand she looked up.

"What are you talking about?" Wondering whether to hit or stand Tsunade asked in a glancing manner. "I heard from one of my friends that you have someone searching for you in the town over. And it's not because you didn't pay up after skipping town." Grinning the old man in front of her laid his hand on the table. "Stand." Seeing the old man stand Tsunade decided to hit however she instantly regretted it as she went seven over twenty.

"Dammit!" Watching as the old man took all of the money she had brought with her Tsunade lowered her head. "Hehe, better luck next time Tsunade." The old man chuckled as Tsunade exited the bar empty-handed. "You lost again Lady Tsunade?" A slightly older woman with short black hair looked at Tsunade with a face of disbelief.

"I had him Shizune! The old bastard distracted me with some stupid rumor going around." Whining to Shizune, Tsunade didn't notice her expression change. "Actually heard the same rumor going around. I looked into a bit more and it seems someone is looking for you or to be more specific Orochimaru…" Glancing over at Tsunade after mumbling this part Shizune could already tell what was going to happen next.

They only stayed in this region because it had plenty of gambling houses but now that someone was searching for her they were probably gonna leave Town soon. "I mean it could be a coincidence you know how rumors are…" Trying to convince her Shizune gave up the moment Tsunade began walking in the direction of their hotel.

What happened next could either be called a lucky break or a burst of misfortune. Making his way to this Town Rei had felt the trail on Tsunade grow cold. Making his way down a fairly isolated road he found himself passing a woman with blonde hair being chased after another with short black hair. "Wait! Lady Tsunade at least let me pack our bags properly!"

Walking by them Rei didn't think too much of it as he continued walking around the Town for another twenty minutes. 'This is all because people couldn't keep their mouths shut.' Walking past a bar preparing to close down for the night Rei overheard two people talking. "I can't believe Tsunade got prepared to leave so quickly I was hoping to make a little more money off of her."

Shaking his head the other person the man was talking to responded. "Ya I guess the fact someone was trying to track her down got to her." Before the two men could even open their mouths again they heard a slam. Turning around they saw Rei staring at them with his hand clutched against the bar's entrance. "What did you just say?" Seeing a random kid speaking to them the two men were confused.

"What are you talking about?" The younger man looked at Rei strangely. "You said something about a woman being tracked down! What did she look like!" Hearing him yell at them the old man who played with Tsunade before scoffed. "Listen kid when you want to know something it's best if you ask nicely fir-" The old man stopped talking when he suddenly felt something cold against his neck.

Giving off a chilling glare at the old man as he pushed Ryujin Jakka against his throat Rei asked again. "This is me being nice. Now, what did she look like I won't ask again." Shaking the old man held his hands as he responded. "Sh- She has blonde hair and looks really young… And uh- A woman! She travels with a black-haired woman a lot."

Rei's memory began to roll itself back twenty minutes as he remembered the two ladies he passed. 'You've got to be kidding me that was her!' Sheathing Ryujin Jakka the old man could finally breathe easy as Rei turned around and dashed in the direction he had just come from. 'It's only been around twenty minutes so they shouldn't have gotten too far.'

Ignoring the road's Rei immediately jumped on to the roof of a building to get a better vantage point while making his way to the town's entrance. On the other hand, both Tsunade and Shizune were keeping a normal pace as they made their way out of the village. "Lady Tsunade, do we really have to leave because of a rumor.

I mean we had just paid for that hotel and were running low on money." Looking towards Tsunade, Shizune tried to convince her one more time. "You know I left the Leaf VIllage because I don't want to be wrapped up in their problems. If someone is looking for Orochimaru it has nothing to do with me."

It was after the two of them had made their way out of the town and back onto the road that they heard a voice. "Hado #4: Byakurai." Acting reflexively Shizune dropped their bags and quickly pulled out a scalpel in their stead.

Not long after what seemed to be a bolt of lightning struck the ground in front of them. "I've been looking for you. Landing on the ground in front of them Rei was breathing quickly due to him rushing here as fast as he could.

"That voice…" Hearing Rei's voice, Shizune lowered her guard as she got a better look at Rei. Looking at Tsunade, Rei spoke to her in all seriousness. "Tell me where Orochimaru is." Hearing his question Tsunade almost laughed.

"Hahaha I can't believe it I almost left town because of some brat. Nevermind Shizune were heading back to the hotel." Continuing to laugh Tsunade turned around and began to walk back to the village.

"Eh but… Wait Lady Tsunade!" Glancing back at Rei for a moment Shizune picked up their bags from the ground before running after her. Seeing this Rei narrowed his eyes as he began to chant to himself while drawing a symbol in the air in front of him. "Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanini!! Look upon yourself with horror and then claw out your own throat! Bakudo #9: Geki!"

Not knowing exactly what Rei was doing Tsunade suddenly felt her body freeze up as a red light coated her body. "Wh- What the hell." On the other hand, seeing Tsunade suddenly freeze and glow red Shizune looked back at Rei. 'Did that boy do that? But I've never seen such a strange Jutsu before and it was able to actually stop one of the Legendary Sannin.'

"Now let's try this again. Where is Orochimaru."