Chapter 123: Kurotsuchi! Great Figure! Morkel! Karin! Jinchūriki! Sasuke's Revenge!

That was a close call.

She had almost slipped up.

No one knew Morkel's strength better than Kurotsuchi. With his terrifying reserves of chakra, how could he be so weak just from creating a mountain? But this guy was such a good actor—he nearly had her fooled.

After hearing what Tsunade said, Kurotsuchi assumed the Hokage of Konoha didn't like Morkel, so she didn't say much more.

She simply pointed in a direction.

"Go forward and turn right—you'll find the largest casino in our country."

"Hokage-sama, you should be careful. You can lose tens of millions in an instant."

"I won't accompany you. I'm a little worried about the village… or rather, God—no, I mean the village."

With that excuse, Kurotsuchi left a few subordinates with Tsunade and returned to the village first.

Tsunade watched her walk away.

Having once been a young girl herself, Tsunade could see exactly what Kurotsuchi was thinking.

"Morkel is one lucky guy," she muttered to herself, then turned and headed straight for the casino.

"Today, I'm going to win!"

---

In the luxurious ward of the Earth Country Ninja Hospital, Morkel estimated the time with steady breathing. He figured it was about time to wake up and slowly opened his eyes…

Just then—

Bang!

The ward door slammed open.

Startled, Morkel reflexively closed his eyes again.

It was none other than Kurotsuchi.

She quietly walked over and sat beside his bed, gazing closely at the sleeping boy.

His slightly pale complexion, flawless features, long lashes trembling lightly…

A total lady-killer. Dangerous!

Unconsciously, Kurotsuchi leaned in closer.

Closer…

"Calm down," she told herself. "You're just taking a look. A little peek, no big deal…"

"But now that I'm this close… maybe just one little kiss?"

"Just a soft peck..."

She pouted as she leaned even closer.

Morkel, sensing her movements, tensed.

Is this girl trying to take advantage of me while I'm 'injured'?

Scheming little Rock nin!

Suddenly, Morkel's eyes flew open!

Their eyes met.

Kurotsuchi froze.

"I-I… I saw spit on your face! I was just going to wipe it!"

Morkel remained calm, assuming it was just a nervous reaction after a failed sneak attack.

"No worries. I can wipe it myself."

He lifted the corner of his hospital gown and casually wiped his mouth.

At that moment, Kurotsuchi caught a glimpse of his defined abs and toned body…

DAF…!

"$79M!!"

Her nose twitched—then bled. She blanked out and fainted right onto the bed.

Morkel blinked.

"What the…? Did she fail her mission and choose to poison herself?!"

Thankfully, Morkel was a skilled medical ninja. With a quick pulse of medical chakra, he revived her.

As soon as she came to, a mortified Kurotsuchi ran out of the room.

Sitting up, Morkel sighed. "Rock ninja will never give up on me."

"It's safer in Konoha, after all."

"Oh, right. Iwagakure has two tailed beast Jinchūriki, doesn't it? I should go check them out…"

Then he suddenly felt a cold shiver… from his wallet.

"Weird. Didn't I already pay off the compensation for the Land of Earth? What's still draining my funds?"

---

At that very moment.

Inside the largest casino in the Land of Earth—

Tsunade beamed. "Just one more round! Put it on my tab!"

The staff hesitated. "Ma'am… you've gambled 18 times in a row and lost over 200 million. Might be time to settle the bill."

"200 million?!" Tsunade gasped.

"We gave you a discount out of respect for Iwagakure. Otherwise, it would've been even more."

"Surely you won't default, Hokage-sama?"

"I-I would never! I'll have my apprentice come over to pay!"

---

A short while later, Morkel shuffled out of the casino like a ghost.

Tsunade followed behind, looking sheepish. "Uh… Morkel, this time it's really Master's fault. I promise—never again."

"You're still thinking about next time?!" Morkel snapped.

"Do you know how long I've been saving that money?! Do you know how hard I worked for it?!"

Tsunade tried to argue. "Didn't you earn it catching criminals?"

"And that's not work?!"

"...Okay, okay, Master will secretly pull from the village's public funds…"

"The village was prepared to take a big loss in the Jinlun Mountain incident," she mumbled. "But you resolved it solo with Crystal Style and just a few days of fake sickness. So there's some budget left. Enough for 200 million…"

Morkel's sweat trickled down. "Is this how you govern as Hokage?! Using the village's money to pay your gambling debts?!"

Tsunade offered, "Or you become Hokage and I go do odd jobs to pay you back?"

"Forget it!" Morkel sighed. "Just manage the funds better, okay?"

Tsunade smiled. "My apprentice Morkel is so reliable. Much better than that unlucky pervert Jiraiya!"

Changing the subject, Morkel asked, "Seriously, I want to meet Iwagakure's Jinchūriki. What excuse should I use?"

Tsunade shook her head. "Doesn't matter what excuse you come up with—they won't let you near."

"Why not?"

"You've been faking unconsciousness, so you missed the news—Six Tails' Jinchūriki, Utakata, is dead. Tied to Akatsuki. Now Iwagakure's even more cautious."

Morkel frowned. "Figures."

"They even sent med-nin to examine you while you were faking. And the Four Tails Jinchūriki, Roshi, is at odds with the Tsuchikage. He's not in the village."

"Do you know where he is?" Morkel asked.

"Nope. But you can buy info at a bounty house."

"I spent all my money paying your gambling debts!"

Tsunade coughed, guilt-ridden.

"I'm the Sannin, Hokage of Konoha. Maybe I can go with you to meet Roshi?"

Morkel eyed her. "You think that'll work?"

"I'm somewhat famous in the ninja world. Worth trying, right?"

---

At Iwagakure's Tsuchikage Office

Ōnoki slammed the table.

"Roshi still refuses to return?"

The search ninja nodded. "He said not to worry."

Ōnoki growled. "That old guy's a headache. If he didn't have Four Tails, I wouldn't care!"

After a pause, he calmed down.

"Forget it. He has Lava Release and Four Tails. He should be fine."

---

Outside Iwagakure

Sasuke, Karin, Suigetsu, and Jūgo stood in Akatsuki cloaks, watching the village.

Karin spoke. "The Five Tails Jinchūriki is heavily guarded. No way in."

She glanced at the massive crystal mountain nearby.

"You said we were here for Morkel, but your real target is the Five Tails! If you lie again, I'm out!"

Sasuke pointed at the mountain. "That mountain? Morkel made it. He's here in Iwagakure."

"Capturing the Five Tails is also his goal."

Lying, of course. He needed Karin's tracking abilities.

Suigetsu changed the subject. "Forget it. Let's figure out how to sneak in. Tsuchikage's Dust Release turns people into atoms…"

Sasuke nodded grimly. "Wait until night. There'll be a chance."

---

At the Bounty House

When Morkel and Tsunade walked in, all eyes turned.

Morkel—because of his striking looks.

Tsunade—because of her, well, obvious advantages.

Whispers buzzed.

"Wow, check out that body!"

"She's stacked!"

"Gotta find a way to hit on her!"

"Are you blind? Look at the guy beside her!"

"He's just a pretty face. I could take him down easy."

"Shut up! That's Morkel—300 million bounty!"

"What?!"

The pair ignored the chatter and approached the information dealer.

The dealer instantly recognized them. "Morkel?! Tsunade-sama?! What an honor!"

Tsunade raised her chin proudly. "We need the location of Iwagakure's Four Tails Jinchūriki."

The dealer nodded, then held out his hand—payment required.

"I don't have cash," Tsunade admitted. "Can we…"

"No exceptions," the dealer cut in. "This work's risky. I have a family to feed."

Tsunade floundered.

Then Morkel stepped up. "We'll pay."

The dealer's eyes lit up.

"For you, Morkel, I can waive the fee! Just an autograph will do—I'm a fan!"

Tsunade's face darkened.

"You want my money, but not his?! Where's the professionalism?!"

In the end, Morkel traded a crystal for the intel.

Outside, he teased, "Master, looks like your charm didn't work this time."

"Don't rub it in!"

They opened the scroll. It tracked Roshi's movements for the past six months.

Morkel frowned. "This distance in six months?"

Tsunade explained, "Roshi's a wandering monk. He travels on foot, step by step."

Morkel muttered, "A monk... and Four Tails is a monkey named 'Son Goku'? They're really referencing Journey to the West here."

"Why that weird face?" Tsunade asked.

"Nothing. Just amused."

"The latest record puts him at the Bird Country—between the Wind and Earth nations," Morkel said.

Tsunade nodded. "Want me to go with you?"

Morkel shook his head. "You've been with me too long. Go back to the village—lots of work waiting."

He used Flying Thunder God to send her back, then returned to Iwagakure to say goodbye.

Kurotsuchi tearfully grabbed his hand. "Can't you stay a few more days?"

Morkel's internal alarm blared.

Trying to wear me down with emotion now? No way!

He pulled back. "Sorry. Important mission."

Ōnoki, now oddly revitalized, saw him off. "Since it's important, safe travels."

Morkel nodded, "Thank you, Tsuchikage."

He muttered as he walked out.

"If only he knew I'm planning to extract Four Tails from his own village…"

---

Back Outside Iwagakure

Karin spotted Morkel exiting.

"Sasuke! It's him!"

She dashed forward, but Sasuke held her back. "Now's not the time. Catch the Five Tails first—Morkel would want that."

Karin hesitated.

Just then, Suigetsu gasped. "Wait—where's Morkel? He disappeared!"

Sasuke shrugged. "He knows Flying Thunder God. It's normal."

Then he noticed everyone staring at him.

"What's wrong?"

He turned slowly…

Only to meet Morkel's gaze—standing right behind him.

Morkel smiled. Time froze.

"Your eyes recovered well, Sasuke. Looks like your brother's eyes suit you."

Sasuke panicked. Morkel and Akatsuki didn't mix.

"Hehe… Thanks to your excellent healing, Morkel…"

Morkel narrowed his eyes. "Then why are you wearing Akatsuki robes?"

Sasuke looked down. Crap!

"I-I've joined Akatsuki to get revenge on Konoha!"

Morkel's face twitched. "What the hell happened to you…?"

--