Ch.277 First Mission in the Organization

"I'm so jealous of Yakumo!" 

"Right? It's Lady Tsunade we're talking about!" 

"With Lady Tsunade taking Yakumo as her disciple, her health should be fine now, right?" 

When Shinji found Shion on the training field, she wasn't doing her usual warm-up stretches while waiting for him. Instead, she was huddled with Sakura, Ino, and Hinata, chatting about Yakumo's apprenticeship. 

Spotting Shinji approaching, Shion hurried over: "Shinji, Shinji, did you hear? Yakumo's been taken as a disciple by Lady Tsunade!" 

Shinji nodded: "I heard." 

Shion asked: "Do you think if I begged Lady Tsunade right now, she'd take me as a disciple too? If I could become a student of one of the 'Sannin,' I'd definitely get super strong!" 

Before Shinji could reply, he noticed Sasuke, training alone nearby, subtly tilting his head—clearly eavesdropping on their conversation. 

Evidently, Shion's words had piqued Sasuke's interest, but he was too proud to join them, so he pretended to train while listening in. 

Shion sighed to herself: "Ugh, Lady Tsunade would never take me as a disciple! Yakumo got noticed because she beat Sasuke. I can't even beat him." 

Shinji caught Sasuke's eye twitching slightly in the distance. 

Shion suddenly added: "Shinji, I'll let you in on a secret!" 

Shinji asked casually: "What secret?" 

Shion leaned in close, whispering mysteriously: "Do you know where Naruto's been these past few days?" 

Perhaps because Shion had lowered her voice, Sasuke edged closer to Shinji's side, his ears perking up even more. 

Shion continued quietly: "When I visited Yakumo at the hospital yesterday, I saw Naruto. He said he hasn't been at school because he's been training with some old guy on a special move! Guess who that old guy is?" 

Sasuke's gaze flickered, and he subtly shuffled another step toward Shinji. 

"I snooped around a bit!" Shion said proudly, like she was presenting a treasure: "The old guy helping Naruto train that move is Jiraiya-sama, who's just as famous as Lady Tsunade! I also heard that Jiraiya-sama, another of the 'Sannin,' might take Naruto as his disciple!" 

"What?" 

Shinji feigned surprise. 

Sasuke, overhearing this, furrowed his brow deeply, his face darkening instantly. 

He'd heard about Yakumo becoming Tsunade's disciple the moment he arrived at school today. At first, he didn't care much. But when he caught wind of rumors that Yakumo was chosen because she beat him, a flicker of irritation sparked inside him. 

In his mind, if Shinji hadn't intervened in yesterday's match, he would've won. Yakumo had only caught him off guard with genjutsu—she hadn't truly beaten him! 

"Damn it!" 

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. 

Yakumo being chosen by Tsunade, one of the "Sannin," was one thing—her performance yesterday had been impressive, after all. 

But the idea that even an idiot like Naruto could catch the eye of Jiraiya, another "Sannin," made him bristle with indignation: "How am I inferior to them?" 

At Hidden Leaf Hospital. 

Since she'd been recovering, Yakumo was the last to hear that Tsunade wanted to take her as a disciple. 

Shizune, administering a nutrient drip, smiled: "Don't worry—with Lady Tsunade here, your body will definitely be fine!" 

Yakumo managed a weak smile. 

Unlike the jubilant Kurama clansmen, Yakumo wasn't as thrilled as everyone assumed upon hearing the news. 

She'd already guessed the real reason Tsunade wanted her as a disciple. 

"Hmph, those village folks must've noticed the Koryugan—that's why they're tripping over themselves to take you as a disciple!" 

Ido, in Yakumo's inner world, had reached the same conclusion. 

Yakumo said inwardly: "This is bad. The Leader ordered us not to let the Koryugan's secret slip!" 

Ido sneered: "Good luck explaining this to the Leader!" 

Yakumo grew anxious. 

Ido continued: "That Tsunade told you to give up being a shinobi before, and now she wants you as a disciple. She's obviously after our Koryugan—don't fall for it!" 

"It's the Leader's Koryugan!" Correcting her, Yakumo added: "Of course I know Tsunade's taking me as a disciple because of the Koryugan." 

She'd begged Tsunade for help before, but back then, Tsunade had only shaken her head, saying she couldn't do anything about her condition and advising her to abandon her dream of being a shinobi. 

When she'd been at her most isolated and helpless, it was the leader who'd reached out to her. It was the leader who'd transplanted the Koryugan into her. So the kinder people were to her now, the more grateful she felt toward him. 

She knew full well that all these changes stemmed from the leader's actions! 

Yakumo fretted silently: "What should I do to protect the Leader's Koryugan?" 

Just then, a familiar voice sounded in her ear: "Tsunade's taking you as a disciple?" 

Yakumo jolted, instinctively looking up at Shizune by her bedside. 

Shizune smiled gently: "Yakumo, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" 

"She can't hear it!" 

Realizing this, Yakumo sighed in relief. It was her first time being linked by "Jikibi" in front of someone, so she wasn't used to it. 

Adjusting her mindset, she responded inwardly: "Leader, I only just found out about this. The village seems to know about the Koryugan—what should I do? I-I'm scared of losing your Koryugan! Shouldn't you take it back?" 

Shinji chuckled through "Jikibi": "No need to worry. Given Tsunade's character, she's unlikely to covet those eyes. Just be cautious of Danzo!" 

"You mean…?" 

Yakumo paused, sensing from the leader's tone that he approved of her becoming Tsunade's disciple. 

"Don't be surprised. Becoming Tsunade's disciple is your first mission as a member of the Akatsuki!" Pausing, Shinji continued: "Not only do you need to become her disciple, but you must also show enough talent to earn her recognition!" 

Yakumo hesitated: "What if Lady Tsunade asks me to show her the Koryugan?" 

Shinji replied: "Then show it to her! Cooperate fully with her—use her knowledge and power to develop the Koryugan!" 

He'd already decided: instead of hoping Yakumo could unlock the Koryugan's depths on her own, it'd be better to let her leverage Tsunade—and the full might of Hidden Leaf behind her—to help him refine it. 

"Huh!?" 

Yakumo was dumbfounded. 

Shinji pressed on: "Also, find a way to learn her 'Yin Seal' and 'Super Strength Punch'—especially the 'Yin Seal.' Got it?"