Tobirama Chase Kagura

At that time, Konoha wasn't as well-organized as it would later become, so the ninja guarding the Gate weren't as vigilant as Izumo and Kotetsu, who seemed to be permanently stationed at the entrance.

With Hashirama around, anyone with half a brain wouldn't dare invade Konoha, so the guards at the gate were naturally quite lax.

Kagura took advantage of the shift change during mealtime, when no one was around, and slipped out through the main gate. She held a crude map in her hand, which she had secretly torn off the wall of a neighboring shop while buying rice balls.

She wondered if the shopkeeper would be furious when he discovered the map was missing.

The map didn't have specific routes, only rough markings of the geographical locations of countries and villages, along with some main roads, mountains, and rivers.

It would be a miracle if she could find her destination with such a map.

Munching on bread, Kagura headed southeast. Without a compass, phone, or navigation, she had no idea if she was going the right way. If she wasn't mistaken, she might meet Uchiha Madara in an underground cave in Kusagakure Village in a few days.

Being transmigrated, it would be a shame not to meet Uchiha Madara at least once. She hadn't even seen Konoha first dance king bust a move yet-missing, that would be a regret.

Kagura walked along the main road, which gradually became narrower and overgrown with weeds, making it harder to traverse.

As the sky darkened, she looked up to see the moon hanging in the sky. Starting at it for too long made her feel like a werewolf might suddenly howl from some corner.

It was terrifying.

Even though she had immortality, fear wasn't something that could be lessened by any power. It was purely a psychological pressure.

Huddled under a tree, Kagura stayed completely still. She began to regret her impulsive decision to run away.

What if there were wolves or tigers in this remote wilderness? If an animal ate her, would her body still regenerate?

The more she tried not to think about it, the more her mind raced, as if deliberately opposing her.

Kagura imagination had always been used in the most useless ways.

A nightingale chirped from a nearby tree, startling Kagura into letting out a small scream. Though her voice wasn't loud, it startled the birds perched above her. The flapping of their wings reminded her of the American horror movies about vampires and werewolves she had watched during her school days.

Bats flapping their wings before landing and transforming into pale-skinned men with fangs, who would then bite her neck and drain her blood...

"Eek!" Shivering, Kagura hugged her arms tightly and shook her head, trying to drive the terrifying images from her mind.

"Heh."

A mocking laugh sounded nearby, scaring Kagura half to death. She shouted,

"Who's there? Come out!"

"What a joke - a coward like you trying to run away from the village."

"Who is it?" Kagura nearly jumped, her heart pounding in her throat.

The voice carried a slight nasal tone, as clear and melodious as the sound of crystal tinkling.

This voice...

Normally, she would have recognized the voice immediately, but now, gripped by fear, her first instinct wasn't to identify who it belonged to but to determine whether the person approaching harbored any ill intent.

A figure slowly emerged from behind the tree. The moon broke through the clouds, and the light gradually brightened. The moonlight illuminated his feet and traveled upward, revealing a man clad in a dark blue, form-fitting ninja outfit.

He walked at a steady pace and stopped in front of Kagura. She saw his blood-red eyes, the streaks of paint on his face, and his strikingly white hair, which stood out even in the darkness of the night.

"Tobirama..."

"Yes, it's me."

Her heart, which had been lodged in her throat, finally settled the moment she saw his face. She even felt a sense of relief, as if she had encountered a family member.

The fear dissipated, and her strength seemed to drain away. She leaned weakly against the tree trunk.

"What are you doing here? Oh, I get it-you were following me, weren't you?"

Tobirama wanted to deny it, but he decided against it. Let Kagura think whatever she wanted.

"Ugh, you creep! You've even learned to stalk people. If this were my world, I'd definitely call the police on you!"

Kagura had a knack for infuriating Tobirama within just a few sentences.

"I followed you because I was worried you might be in danger. Don't be so ungrateful!"

"Since when are you so nice! If it weren't for your sister-in-law forcing me to marry you, would I have had to flee in the middle of the night? Who's really to blame here!"

At this, Tobirama anger deflated somewhat.

After hearing that Mito had gone to Kagura to propose the marriage, Tobirama had immediately gone to kagura shop. But by the time he arrived, the shop door was already closed.

When he asked the neighboring shopkeeper, the man said he had only seen Mito leave, and then Kagura had bought some food in a hurry before closing the shop. She hadn't been seen since.

Standing at the shop entrance, Tobirama couldn't quite describe what he was feeling.

This person, who always seemed to tarnish his reputation, was gone-so be it.

After all, whenever he was involved with her, he always ended up unlucky one.

Yet, on the other hand, he felt a faint sense of loss.

He, Tobirama Senju, wasn't someone everyone wanted to marry, but at the very least, a significant portion of the eligible women in the ninja world held him in high regard.

So why, in Kagura eyes, had he become something to avoid like the plague?

For the first time, his pride had been wounded, and he couldn't accept it.

'Bring her back!'

A voice inside him urged.

When the thought surfaced, he was startled. What was this? Was Kagura different from other women to him?

She was arrogant, sharp-tongued, twisted the truth, spouted nonsense everywhere, bargained with him, and even dared to talk back.

Aside from her attractive appearance, she seemed to have no redeeming qualities. Why would he care about such a woman? He must be out of his mind.

And yet...

As the sun set, he thought about how Kagura didn't know any ninjutsu.

What if she encountered danger?

Gritting his teeth, he cursed himself for being so weak-willed as he chased after her outside the village.

In the end, he found her, but instead of being grateful, she acted like a startled kitten, turning the blame on him.

It was infuriating.

What was so special about her?

"You're just terrible!"

"Why are you looking at me like that? Speechless, huh? I'm determined to become the richest woman in the ninja world. How could I let something as trivial as romance hold me back? You're really underestimating me!" Kagura was still fuming.

Tobirama had been quite angry, but as his anger simmered, the fire in his heart gradually faded, leaving only a lingering sense of frustration.

Aside from that Uchiha Madara guy, Kagura was probably the first living person who disliked him so much.

"Am I really that bad?" Tobirama muttered under his breath.

"All my sister in law did was asking you to marry me. You didn't have to run away in the middle of the night. Do you really dislike me that much?"

His tone was full of grievance, the bitterness in his voice almost rivaling an aged vinegar.

Kagura, being the oblivious person she was, didn't pick up on Tobirama inner turmoil at all.

She nodded bluntly. "The person I want to marry hasn't even been born yet. You're just too old."

"Pfft."

It felt like a sword had been plunged into his already sour heart.

Tobirama expression could only be described as utterly grim.

The word "old" wasn't something women liked, and men didn't like it either, especially when it was an unchangeable fact.

The twilight years, whether describing a beauty or a hero, always carried a sense of melancholy.

Thinking about it, the fifteen-year age gap between them meant that in a few more years, he could practically be Kagura father...

Depressing.

"So, you're really not coming back with me?"

Glancing around at the pitch-black surroundings, Kagura couldn't bring herself to say she wouldn't go back. But if she did go back... she eyed Tobirama warily...

"Tch."

Tobirama turned his face away, not looking at her. Her little thoughts were all written on her face, and he could see through them at a glance.

"Even if you wanted to marry me, I'd have to agree first. I'm not interested in someone with a flat figure like yours. Just ignore what Mito said."

"Really?" In the darkness, Kagura eyes sparkled with joy.

Tobirama felt a pang of disappointment but nodded anyway.

"Really."

"Great! Let's hurry back then. I'm scared to death. If a wolf shows up, I wouldn't even be enough to fill its teeth. Let's go, let's go!"

Once she realized Tobirama had no interest in her, Kagura immediately relaxed.

No longer restrained, she grabbed Tobirama arm and started running back. Tobirama expression was a bit awkward, but under the cover of night, Kagura didn't notice anything. She ran as fast as a rabbit.

Tobirama gritted his teeth, cursing Kagura a hundred times in his heart.

This woman who changed her attitude faster than flipping a page-she deserved to be fed to the wolves!

The two figures grew smaller and smaller as they walked further away, their voices fading into the distance.

"How did you know I was here? Did you really follow me?"

"No."

"Then how did you find me?"

"I'm not telling."

"Huh!" Kagura wailed. "You're going to drive me crazy with curiosity. Come on, tell me!"

"No."

"Tch, fine. Keep your secrets. It's not like it's a big deal anyway. Hmph! ٩(^㉨^*)و"

Tobirama would probably never tell Kagura that the moment he poked her forehead in the shop that night, he had already placed a seal on her.

Unlike other seals, this one was invisible to everyone except Tobirama himself...

[Tobirama : Sadge :( ]