Goodbye

Natsume organized her things with a solemn expression. She knew she would have to leave one day, just didn't expect to be unconscious for the last stretch of it. Natsume didn't bother asking for an extension because she also felt it was time to leave. Although, the fact she was not allowed to go up the mountain anymore helped her make that decision. She looked down at her abdomen and sighed.

Natsume thought about the conversation she had yesterday when she first discovered the seal.

"It's the Punishment Seal. You won't be able to use ninjutsu for 3 years…" Saru explained to her.

"What punishment? I want to see Son Goku!" She didn't believe him and silently tried to use a simple ninjutsu, but her chakra was scattered and disorderly as soon as it started taking shape. However, Saru only looked at her awkwardly and scratched his head.

"The Great Sage has also banned you from going to the peak." Natsume fumed, so Saru didn't stay any longer and let her cool off. However, he did leave a bundle behind. When Natsume calmed down the next morning and opened the bundle she was surprised and touched. They were new clothes for her to wear.

Natsume sighed and flattened the crease on her kimono. One of the new clothes was a white and pink formal kimono with peach blossom designs. It was very pretty and completely unlike her style. Fortunately, there was a completely black kimono and three sets of black training robes that fit her much better. She touched the peach blossom design on her sleeve and started reminiscing on the last year.

"Natsume, the Monkeys have gathered to send you off. Enma even came down. Are you ready?" Saru dropped down from above and landed in front of the cave entrance. She double checked all of her scrolls and exited the cave. Although she couldn't use ninjutsu, all other techniques were still available which made her relieved. At least she wouldn't be in danger of getting randomly killed outside.

Natsume followed Saru to the small clearing that she first met everyone in. Over the last year, she learned the basic structure and layout of the mountain. The only way to leave Mount Kakazan was past this clearing. However, Natsume had investigated the path once and didn't see any way out. There was probably some secret she didn't know. When she arrived, all the monkeys and Enma were already waiting.

"Hey guys, I guess this is goodbye!" She said to the group of monkeys. Some were hollering and others were whimpering. They came by to hug her one at a time, not holding back their strength as if competing in who could leave the biggest impression. Enma didn't budge from his spot and kept standing with his arms crossed.

After all the monkeys finished, she walked over to him and put her fist out. Enma snorted, but the corner of his lip turned up. They bumped fists and he went back to his angry expression. Natsume thought how dishonest he was but didn't want to ruin the moment by calling him out. The light from the sky of Mount Kakazan barely illuminated the lower mountain. However, it suddenly increased as a ray of light shot down to the clearing.

"The way is open." Enma said before going back up the mountain. Saru walked over and patted Natsume on the back.

"Summon me if you need me." He didn't bother saying goodbye since he was confident that she would call for him one day. Natsume nodded and went down the path. She walked for a while until eventually she entered a cave. The cave was not here the last time she explored this area, so she knew that this was the path. The cave was pitch black, but there was a tiny light source ahead of her.

Natsume walked for a long time and eventually started hearing the sounds of water. The light source ahead of her was much larger and she could tell she was about to reach the end. When she looked behind her, all she saw was solid stone. She reached her hand out and felt the smooth rock behind her. After moving forward to the entrance, a giant waterfall created a veil of water in front of the cave.

She reached her hand out and the water parted with her touch. She eventually retracted her hand when it got red from the fast-moving water. The first thing she did before leaving the little cave was make a ram hand seal and spread her awareness out. What shocked her was how far she could sense all of a sudden.

Natsume did not realize that Mount Kakazan's concentrated Nature energy inhibited her sensing range. So outside in the world, her active sensing range was already ten times better than before. Before, she could sense past the second peak from the valley she entered. Now, she could sense all the way to the beginning of the mountain range. Although it wasn't very detailed, if she narrowed her focus to about half the total distance, she could determine numbers and strength of those around her.

Thinking back to her inherited memories, not many were this capable. She touched her right eye and wondered if her ability influenced her growth. Although her sensing ability improved significantly, it still paled in comparison to Zenchizen. She mused that she could rival the second and fourth hokage in sensing talent even without her sharingan. She suddenly sensed a platoon of shinobi enter the edge of her sensing range which broke her train of thought.

Natsume had been gone for a year, and the whole valley had transformed completely. After slipping past a small gap in the waterfall she saw the altered terrain. The volcano eventually calmed down, but the damage was already done. Although, the main culprit was her destroying the blocked water, creating a flood. She had underestimated the volume of water hidden in the mountains. It was able to create such a powerful waterfall curtain, raging river and even formed a lake at the base of the mountain.