Chapter 43: That Year, My Hands Were in My Pockets

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"Anybody else out there?"

Sasame gazed toward the distant valley, frowning. "Something feels off. This reeks of a trap."

"Not that I can detect."

Kabuto shook his head. "Might be beyond the range of my sensing jutsu."

"Let me check."

Tsunade activated her own sensory technique but still found nothing. "Stay sharp. Prepare for combat."

She knew there were plenty of ways to evade detection, so she didn't let her guard down.

"Understood."

Sasame and the others responded in unison.

Tsunade took the lead, heading toward the northern slope of the valley.

Her entire body was a weapon—she didn't need any special preparations.

Shizune, however, quietly activated the poison needle mechanism hidden in her right arm.

Kabuto reached into his pouch, fingers brushing against several kunai.

Sasame, primarily a Water Release user, was essentially a long-range fighter—all he needed were his hands.

"Signs of battle here."

Kabuto's eyes narrowed as he pointed it out.

Not that anyone needed the warning—the evidence was impossible to miss.

"That's the Akimichi Clan's Multi-Size Technique."

Tsunade studied the massive, meter-deep footprints. "If there was a fight, leaving survivors is suspicious. But we're here for a rescue—we can't just turn back because it feels like a setup."

Her gaze lifted, spotting corpses further ahead—mostly Cloud-nin, but a few Konoha shinobi as well.

At the center of the deepest crater lay the wounded shinobi Kabuto had detected earlier: Akimichi Shitou.

Battered and barely conscious, the man's eyes widened in panic when he saw Tsunade. He shook his head desperately.

"The whole area's rigged with traps."

Kabuto didn't even need a closer look—the danger was palpable.

That was why Akimichi Shitou was trying to warn them off.

"Probably more than just traps."

Shizune scanned the surroundings. "There's bound to be an ambush."

A blatant, in-your-face bait.

Turning back now would mean avoiding the danger.

But Sasame already knew Tsunade wouldn't abandon someone in need.

More importantly—she had the strength to pull this off. Walking away wasn't in her nature.

"I'll get him. You three watch for enemies."

Tsunade stepped forward cautiously.

Setting and disarming traps was basic shinobi training.

Just because she specialized in medical ninjutsu didn't mean she was helpless outside it.

Combined, the experience of Sasame and the others didn't even amount to a tenth of hers.

On the southern slope of the valley, twelve shinobi lay in wait.

A faint barrier surrounded them, masking their presence.

"A woman and three brats? Since when does Konoha send squads like this on rescue missions?"

A jōnin in a flak jacket clicked his tongue in disappointment. "Lord Toroi, seems our plan didn't draw out the big fish."

"Ryouma, we just hooked a whale."

Toroi's lips curled into a grin. "You're too young to recognize her. Do you know who that woman is?"

"Who?"

Ryouma perked up immediately. "A Konoha big shot?"

The other shinobi leaned in, eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Akimichi Shitou had been a formidable opponent—injuring him had cost them dearly.

The moment they identified him as one of the Akimichi Clan's elite, Toroi had set this trap.

Konoha would send a rescue team.

"Tsunade."

The moment Toroi uttered the name, Ryouma and the others froze in shock.

They'd all heard of the Legendary Sannin.

"Can we actually take her?"

Excitement aside, Ryouma couldn't help but worry.

"Easily."

Toroi smirked, oozing confidence. "Look at Tsunade's record—she's famous for her medical ninjutsu. Sure, she's stronger than the average jōnin, but we've got four jōnin here. Plus, my Magnet Release. You really think she's walking away from this?"

"Brilliant as always, sir!"

Ryouma fawned. "With your kekkei genkai, you're worth several jōnin on your own. And Tsunade? No bloodline limit to speak of."

"As expected of the Sannin—she dismantled all our traps."

Toroi stood, hefting two massive square shuriken. "Time for Plan B. Let the others go if you have to, but Tsunade must be captured alive. Bring her to the Raikage, and the rewards will be legendary."

Ryouma and the others grinned.

Tsunade herself!

Beyond the rewards, this would make their names known across the shinobi world.

Maybe they'd even earn a title—like Sannin-Slayer.

Just the thought sent a thrill down their spines.

A sharp whistle cut through the air.

Sasame looked up just in time to see a square shuriken the size of his own body hurtling toward him.

That thing hits, and I'm paste.

Without hesitation, he flung six kunai—three in each hand.

But the moment they made contact with the shuriken, they reversed course, hurtling back toward him.

"Watch out! Something's wrong with it!"

Kabuto shouted a warning as he unleashed a barrage of shuriken, intercepting the rebounding kunai before they could strike.

But when his projectiles hit the square shuriken, they too shuddered—then shot back like boomerangs.

"Magnet Release!"

Tsunade was still treating Akimichi Shitou.

His injuries were severe—any longer, and he'd suffer permanent damage.

Losing a jōnin like that would be a tragedy.

Noticing the bizarre shuriken, she recalled intel she'd studied earlier. "Toroi of Kumogakure. A Magnet Release user."

"Water Release: Water Wall!"

A barrier of water erupted in front of Sasame, deflecting the returning projectiles.

But the massive square shuriken sliced straight through.

Sasame was ready.

Behind the water wall—an earthen barrier.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

Though he specialized in Wood and Water Release, Sasame had learned a few Earth techniques.

Elemental counters were essential.

The shuriken lodged itself deep into the thick dirt, stuck fast.

"Not bad, for a Sannin's student."

A voice rang out as twelve figures emerged, surrounding them.

Toroi flicked his wrist, and the square shuriken wrenched free, flying back into his grasp—courtesy of Magnet Release.

"You're surrounded. Surrender now, and we'll make it painless."

Toroi tilted his chin up, oozing arrogance. "Even if you're one of the Legendary Sannin, there's no escape this time."

Sasame took in his posture and suddenly remembered a phrase:

That year, my hands were in my pockets—because I didn't know what a real opponent was.

But Kabuto was on their side.

Glancing at Tsunade—still mid-treatment—Sasame bit his thumb and slammed his palm onto the ground.

"Summoning Jutsu: Slug!"

The earth trembled, fissures spiderwebbing outward as dust and debris billowed into the air.

Then—it appeared.

The Cloud-nin recoiled in horror.

All except Toroi.

He knew about Tsunade's summon.

But Katsuyu couldn't compare to the toads or snakes—its offensive capabilities were limited.

And Toroi's Magnet Release happened to be one of the few kekkei genkai effective against massive creatures.

"I'll handle this. You focus on Tsunade!"

Toroi bit down on a scroll, and a swarm of shuriken erupted like locusts, hurtling toward Katsuyu.

His goal was simple—restrict its movements, even if just briefly.

Ryouma and the others didn't hesitate.

They charged straight for Tsunade.

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