Chapter 146: Caged Bird, Activated!

"Alright," Yuto stepped back a couple of steps, admiring the red ribbon tied in Tsunade's hair, and said with satisfaction, "It's beautiful! Looks like my talent for tying hair knots is on par with my Kenjutsu."

Tsunade puffed her cheeks lightly, "Hmph, That's because I'm good-looking."

Yuto reached out and tucked a stray lock of golden hair behind her ear, "You're right, sensei. There's no woman in the shinobi world more beautiful than you."

Today, Tsunade wasn't wearing her usual green Konoha vest. Instead, she was dressed in a traditional outfit. She wore a crimson hakama on the lower half, a small-sleeved kimono on the upper half, with layers underneath, and an oversized chihaya cloak on top.

This ensemble of white robes and red skirts, adorned with pine and crane patterns, was extremely ancient. Before chakra existed in this world, shrine maidens often dressed this way. A thousand years ago, when the God Tree descended and people gained supernatural powers, the profession of shrine maidens almost disappeared, and such attire was only seen at weddings or funerals. However, traditional clothing was passed down, and people would wear it during festivals or significant life events.

Today was the last day for the Konoha group in Sunagakure. Coincidentally, it was also a traditional festival in the Land of Wind—the Flowing Fire Festival.

Bonfires, carnivals, and market dances filled the night.

Before this, Yuto had no idea that Sunagakure, with its endless sand, had such a festival.

"You're really lucky," Tsunade said with a bright smile, lifting the curtain at the door, "It's getting very late, let's go out."

Outside, the starry sky was brilliant, and the yellow sand resembled a sea. Surrounding Sunagakure, countless low huts and wooden stands had appeared, filled with vendors and crowds from all over the Land of Wind. They lit bonfires, laughing and lying on the yellow sand, throwing burning wooden sticks into the sky as if trying to poke holes in the night.

Konoha's biggest festival is Grand Sports Festival, but in the Land of Wind, the most lively is tonight's "Flowing Fire Festival." The desert is harsh, so the people living on this land dress up and celebrate today, laughing and throwing torches into the sky, telling the heavens: "The unlucky folks in the Land of Wind are still alive; mere dust and sand can't take our lives!"

Yuto didn't understand these stories, he just felt that tonight was very lively, like the New Year's Eve countdown in a big city from his previous life.

Tsunade pulled his hand and ran out of Sunagakure to the market outside. The golden-haired woman first bought two masks for herself and Yuto, then shouted in his ear, "Pay up!"

The young branch family member hesitated, remembering that his sensei had lost all her money in the casino. He laughed, handed money to the vendor, and then gave his entire purse to Tsunade. "Don't spend it all, sensei. I've used up all my savings buying explosive tags."

"Don't worry!" Tsunade patted her chest, indicating she was reliable. Through the mask, her eyes sparkled as she grabbed her student's hand and started wandering.

Initially, they weren't wandering aimlessly. Being shinobis, Tsunade and Yuto had a strong sense of direction and wouldn't get lost easily. However, the Flowing Fire Festival's market was vast and chaotic, with sand underfoot, bonfires, and people in costumes all around, and the noisy calls of vendors in their ears. Without road signs, it was hard to remember their route.

So, they let themselves go, eating, drinking, playing, and buying as they went, until their money was almost gone. Finally, the teacher and student walked to the edge of the wide market.

Here, there weren't many people, just hundreds of thick wooden stakes driven into the yellow sand, whose purpose was unknown but probably related to the festival's traditions.

"Phew..." Tsunade exhaled lightly, leaning against a wooden stake and rubbing her shoulders, "Yuto, how long have we been walking?"

"Three hours."

"So tired... Hey, Yuto, do you remember that pig-shaped candy?"

"I remember, we bought it."

"It was so good, do you have any left?"

"Here." Yuto opened his palm, revealing the small pig-shaped candy. Tsunade reached to take it, but the young man suddenly grabbed her wrist, lifted her hand above her head, and pressed it against the wooden stake. "Sensei, you seem tired. I'll feed you instead."

Yuto lightly lifted Tsunade's mask to just below her nose, revealing her fair, smooth chin and rosy lips. Blinded by the mask, Tsunade trembled but didn't resist, leaning softly into Yuto's arms, waiting to be fed.

Both knew that the lips about to be touched couldn't possibly be just for the candy!

Jingle jingle...

However, at that moment, a bell rang.

"Candy for sale... Handmade candy..."

Tsunade snapped out of it, pushing Yuto away and hurriedly putting her mask back on, "The candy is so good, I'll buy more..."

Then, she ran off in a flash.

'Just three centimeters!' Yuto regretted, slapping his thigh and looking at the disappearing blonde. He knew his sensei would avoid him for the next few days. Annoyed, he looked up at the candy vendor.

'No wonder he has so much candy left... An itinerant vendor with such low emotional intelligence, really?'

Yuto approached the candy vendor, annoyed, "Boss, give me two pieces to try."

"Sure..." the vendor's voice was extremely hoarse, his exposed skin looked like withered tree bark, dry and loose.

Yuto hesitated, softening his tone, "How old are you?"

"Very old, young man... What shape candy do you want?"

The old man, hunched over, his hands steady, quickly rummaged through his bag. "A bird shape... Elder, how old is very old?"

"Older than anyone you've ever met," the old man smiled, handing him a bird-shaped candy, "Young man, was that your girlfriend just now?"

"Uh..."

"Seems she's someone you care about," the old man felt a bit guilty, "Sorry, old eyes are dim, I disturbed you."

"No problem," Yuto waved generously.

"Being young is great," the old man sighed, "You can make up for mistakes right away, there's plenty of time, unlike us old folks, who have to roam the streets buying candy to fix things for our grandchildren..." As he spoke, he raised his hand, "Young man, do you recognize this?"

The old man's skeletal fist was clenched, with his thumb pressed on the second joint of his index finger, leaving a gap in his palm.

In an instant, the world went silent. Yuto felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss, with long-buried memories roaring violently.

Three years ago, Shinosuke Hyuga made this gesture too!

"Finally found you, little bird pecking at the cage..." the old man's hoarse voice reached Yuto's ears.

At the same time, excruciating pain erupted in his brain and eyes. The world spun, darkening in the overwhelming agony.

—Caged Bird, activated!

(End of Chapter)