Tsunade's arms were wrapped around Kairen's neck. Behind her sunglasses, her eyes stared at the raging flames rolling like ocean waves, filled with deep shock.
She turned her head and looked at the boy holding her.
"You have terrifying talent in ninjutsu. Sometimes I even suspect you're the reincarnation of my granduncle!"
Kairen gave Tsunade's rear a light pat and said softly,
"I don't want to be your granduncle. I want you to wait for me to grow up, then marry me!"
"You little rascal!"
Tsunade pinched Kairen's cheeks hard.
"Are you that desperate for me?"
"Of course. Is there any woman in this world more beautiful than you?"
Hearing Kairen's compliment, a faint smile appeared on Tsunade's face.
But then the smile faded, replaced by seriousness.
"I will never love anyone else in this lifetime. And… you're too young. By the time you grow up, I'll be around fifty. It's impossible between us!"
Kairen hugged her tightly.
"Look, by then you'll be nearly fifty with no one wanting you. But I'll still want you. Isn't that a huge bargain for you—an old vine clinging to fresh cattle?"
"Lit-tle! Ras-cal!"
Tsunade pulled at Kairen's cheeks fiercely, twisting them into all sorts of shapes.
"Tap!"
A sudden footstep echoed before them. It was Yūhi Shinku.
Shinku froze upon seeing the intimate posture between Tsunade and Kairen.
Flustered, Tsunade immediately punched Kairen, sending him flying more than ten meters.
Shinku shook his head. Tsunade and Kairen were impossible—there was just too large an age gap.
When Kairen got back up, he properly put on the white clothes tied around his waist, tightened the black belt, and fixed his black eyes on the forest ahead.
Thick smoke rose into the sky. Not a single tree was left visible—the entire forest had been destroyed by the Blazing Flame Dragon.
How many years in prison would this cost?
"Byakugan, open!"
Kairen activated his Byakugan, covering a five-kilometer radius. Nothing living remained.
Outside the forest, a group of Sunagakure shinobi stood at the edges. Under the lead of a Jōnin, they all retreated, too afraid to approach.
Kairen didn't chase. Instead, he spotted a faint chakra signature. In a flash, he dashed straight toward it.
Inside a smoke-filled crater, Meimuda's body was charred all over, only his head still recognizable.
The sound of soft footsteps echoed. Meimuda weakly opened his eyes and saw Kairen—dressed in spotless white, graceful, and unscathed, as if he had merely strolled through the chaos.
Meimuda's voice grew weaker.
"Cough… cough… With each battle, you grow stronger. Sunagakure has many deadly techniques, but you… you only become stronger still."
"Perhaps… Sunagakure should never have provoked you…"
"Cough… cough…"
Blood spilled from Meimuda's mouth. His dim eyes fixed on that white silhouette.
"Moku Kairen… I… I have never seen a shinobi like you. Let me give you a name!"
"Your flames are boundless. This is the true shadow within fire. I will call you… the Fiery Cloud!"
Kairen: ⊙﹏⊙‖∣°
"Hope… hope…"
Kairen quickly raised his hand.
"Hey! Wait a second, pick another one! Even 'Flame Tyrant' or 'Ghostfire Kairen' would be better!"
Meimuda's voice faded away.
"…One… day… Sunagakure will… extinguish your fire…"
His head drooped. A powerful shinobi had fallen on the battlefield.
[Congratulations to the Host for receiving the title bestowed by Sunagakure Commander Meimuda—Fiery Cloud!]
Damn it! Isn't this title just a curse that I'll go bald?!
Kairen checked his template. He had indeed received a title, though it meant little—at most, it made him known on the streets, no longer just some petty thug.
He sheathed his blade. Though tempted to sever Meimuda's head as proof of merit, he decided it would be an insult to such a great shinobi.
The clouds above slowly began to spark with lightning, summoning rain to quench the flames.
Raindrops splashed against Kairen's face as he stared at the countless charred remains on the ground.
The shinobi world felt like a curse—endless killing and hatred forming whirlpools that dragged everyone inside.
The sky darkened. The rain came. And Kairen suddenly felt like I was failing again.
Tsunade's soft hand gently patted his shoulder. She whispered,
"Let's go. Dying on the battlefield is a shinobi's fate. From the moment we tied on our forehead protectors, we accepted that destiny."
Kairen followed Tsunade back toward the Konoha lines. His voice sounded resolute.
"I don't fight for anyone else. I fight for myself!"
"Suit yourself!"
After they left, a Venus flytrap sprouted from the ground. A low voice murmured,
"Moku Kairen… interesting… such intriguing flames. Even Madara-sama couldn't compare!"
...
By the time they returned to the camp, it was already afternoon.
Yūhi Kurenai had been waiting there. Seeing Kairen, she happily waved and ran over.
"Kairen, are you alright?"
Kairen shook his head and clasped her hand, easing her worries.
"I'm fine. Those Sunagakure scum all ran away from me!"
Kurenai pressed a hand to her chest.
"You scared me half to death just now!"
Then she looked at Kairen with confusion.
"What did you do to make Tsunade-sama so angry, chasing you around like that?"
Kairen stayed silent, sneaking a glance at Tsunade.
"Hmph!"
Tsunade snorted coldly beside them. Her anger had mostly faded—thanks only to Kairen risking his life to protect her. Otherwise, she would've beaten the brat into a meat patty.
Behind Shinku, the shinobi standing with Tsunade scrutinized Kairen seriously.
"So that's the one descended from the Senju?"
Rumors had been spreading across the frontlines about the awakening of Senju power.
The shinobi had seen the massive fire dragon earlier. The caster wasn't Tsunade, who wasn't skilled in Fire Release, so it could only have been Kairen.
That kind of overwhelming Fire Release could annihilate an entire forest in one strike.
As for why a Senju wasn't skilled in Water or Earth Release, but rather in their enemy's Fire Release, they chose to overlook it.
The power of the Senju would return to the village. They saw hope of resisting the other shinobi clans.
Tsunade spoke to them briefly, mostly words of thanks for coming to her aid. The civilian-born shinobi shook their heads, insisting it was simply their duty.
"Goodbye, Princess Tsunade!"
"Goodbye!"
After they left, Kairen went into the forest to hunt. He returned with two wild boars.
This time, Kurenai didn't follow. She was still part of Shinku's squad and had to patrol her own sector.
Only Kairen and Tsunade remained at camp.
Kairen first used Water Release to clean the boars' innards, then slowly roasted the fresh meat over a fire.
The two of them ate roast pork together and chatted about the day's events.
"You were really fierce today, like a female tyrannosaurus! I could barely handle it!"
With greasy hands, Tsunade squeezed Kairen's cheeks hard.
"Don't ever be that rude again. Even I get scared when I lose control!"
Kairen pried her hand off and straightened himself.
"Didn't you want to see what I'm made of? Well? Can you handle it?"
Tsunade savored the boar meat carefully, chewing over both the taste and Kairen's words. Something about them always felt off.
But she didn't dwell on it, instead commenting,
"Your chakra is immense, your recovery is astonishing, and you even carry the Nine-Tails' chakra. Combined with the Eight Gates' forbidden technique, chakra is no longer your weakness."
"Plus, your unique kekkei genkai makes you immune to physical attacks. Especially your Fire Release, which is practically a forbidden jutsu. I'll admit—you're strong. Stronger even than me."
"But don't get arrogant. Your weakness is sealing jutsu. Sunagakure's sealing arts are weak, but other villages are not. Be careful, or you'll be sealed someday."
Kairen nodded.
"Got it!"
Unconsciously, Tsunade reached out and ruffled his hair.
"Don't worry. From now on I, Tsunade, will protect you."
Kairen immediately stood up, looking at her hand in disgust.
"Your hand's all greasy, and you just smeared it in my hair."
Embarrassed, Tsunade chuckled.
"Sorry… sorry…"
Kairen walked into the shadows and performed a Water Release, washing his hair clean.
When he was done, Tsunade came over, tapped his shoulder, and said,
"Spit out a little water—I want to wash my hands."
Kairen looked exasperated.
"What do you take my Water Release for? Don't you have plenty of water in your own body?"
"What did you say?" Tsunade raised her delicate fist.
"Nothing, nothing!"
Kairen formed hand seals. A stream of water poured from his mouth, flowing down like a faucet.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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