Chap.45 Abundant rewards

A quick note before starting the chapter:

I didn't upload anything for two days. The first day I just forgot, since I was writing some ideas for my official books. (You can see more in my profile) Yesterday I tried to update, but I couldn't access the editing part, I got a blank page. Today as you can see, it already seems to work.

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Tony left the Hokage's office relieved. The story had unfolded more or less as it should and had about three years of time to unfold once Naruto left with Jiraiya for training.

He took his return home in stride and claimed the System quest rewards along the way.

[The host has successfully completed the mission!]

[The rewards are being delivered.]

[Reward: Three servings of Limit-Break Macedonian + A Large Jar of Jeweled Jam (Dungeons & Gobblers) + Three servings of Great A'tuin Turtle Egg Omelette (Discworld) + A Gourd of Flavored Sparkling Hero's Water to Lemonade (No Side Effects) + Cold Drink and Hot Drink Recipe (Monster Hunter)]

[Detected that the host managed to complete Task Two in full.]

[Reward for completing the task without failure: Interdimensional Travel Ticket (single-use item) + Demon Awakening Medallion (2/2)]

[The two parts of the Demon Awakening Medallion have been automatically combined and now has the full version, the host can awaken his "gourmet demon" whenever he wants.]

The next thing he saw was a red System notification blinking much more intensely than usual.

[Caveat! It is strongly suggested to make certain preparations before starting the awakening or the consequences are unimaginable.]

—Wow, it's been a while since I got another ticket. He asked me where I'm going this time —he commented as he examined the rest of the rewards— There are quite a few good things. System, what kind of preparations do I need to do before using the Demon Awakening Medallion?

[The host is recommended to find an isolated, secret and resistant place, since once everything is finished successfully it will enter a period of temporary weakness where even a child could take down the host. He will also need to have a huge amount of food within his reach to supply the nutrients that the body will require during awakening. It is better that there is no one in the vicinity for your own safety. Lastly, the host needs to be mentally prepared, as awakening involves a great deal of pain and should NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, lose consciousness.]

"How long will my weakened state last, because no one can be around, and exactly how much food do I need?"

[The host will not be able to move for two days. After that period, he will regain mobility but his strength will be reduced to that of a civilian for a month until the cells adapt. The precise amount of food cannot be calculated, but it is estimated that the host will need about five tons minimum, and all must be of the best kind. As for why it's better if no one is around, it's because if food isn't enough, hunger can drive the host to devour anything around it: rocks, trees, and even humans.]

—I see —Tony was somewhat perplexed, but considering the leap in strength that he would obtain after the awakening of his gourmet demon, he understood that there is no gain without sacrifice— Still, it is better that I prepare myself. A month of absence will be easy for many people to notice," he murmured somewhat worried.

He wouldn't try to wake up now, he needed some time to work out the situation with Tayuya. He also wanted to spend time with his little sister and prepare his business for a long absence.

Should I involve Tsunade?

He could use the excuse that he needs to go away for a month somewhere as a cover, but that might cause someone to try to track him down and ambush him. The absence of him in the village could also give some ideas.

"It's not like this world is peaceful," he sighed tiredly as he reached his house.

After a nice dinner with Karin and a couple of days of well-deserved rest, Tony visited Tayuya every day for the next few days in the prison where she was being watched and talked to her.

All before the inevitable presence of Tsunade's ANBU.

Tayuya during this time had expected to be tortured or even considered having her memories violated to get information out of her and when Danzo tried to make the move on her, she mocked herself for believing in Tony even if she was a little. What did she really expect?

But the confrontation of the masked people caught her off guard.

Based on the words they exchanged, she understood that there was a faction trying to take her away while the Hokage faction defended her. Tony's name was mentioned several times and it was clear that each side had a different attitude towards him.

She tried to get information out of the ANBU after the event with some 'kind words', but all she was told was that Tony would visit her in a while and the rest of her was silent. Her treatment was… kind, more than she should receive with her identity. She didn't pressure her to loosen her tongue or use subtle mind games.

They didn't even drug her food! Not only that, the food was the best she had ever tasted in her life. She only found out from the container that it came from a store called Kuku.

And all because of one person, Tony.

Was it someone with some influence apparently?

The silence helped her calm down and really consider if she had a choice. She replayed her encounter with Tony in her mind dozens of times and tried to extract as much information as she could from her memories. She ignored the ANBU watching over her and was unaware that she occasionally subtly changed her expression and her gaze, revealing part of her thoughts.

Hope, worry, restlessness, fear, anger, doubt…

Everything was noted down by the ANBU and reported to Tsunade, who felt somewhat surprised by the conclusion. Tayuya displayed all the traits of someone she was struggling with internally. In other words, there really was a possibility that she would betray Orochimaru.

What did Tony see?

Tsunade couldn't help but take out the document with the information she had on Tayuya and she once again read the part that would probably be the most problematic, the Cursed Seal. Even before she took office, she was already aware that another ninja in the village had the same seal and she just so happened to be Tony's sensei, Anko.

Perhaps she was a part of what influenced Tony's decision. If her teacher could be accepted into the village even with the seal, why not Tayuya?

But Tsunade knew Orochimaru's methods better, so she studied a way to contain the seal during her absence in the village, but she didn't spend enough time on it and it was still in the early stages of it.

Maybe it was time to pick it up again.