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As if thinking of something serious, Ye Dou suddenly spoke in a low, solemn tone, "If you ever encounter anyone from Akatsuki in the future—don't hesitate. Retreat immediately."
"I know. You've already told me this twice," Hyūga Huahuo replied, clearly puzzled. It was the first time she had ever seen Ye Dou wear such a grave expression.
What exactly happened that day in Suchang-chō? Who did he encounter?
"Are they really that dangerous?" she asked hesitantly.
"Just do as I said," Ye Dou insisted, his voice firm.
Whether or not the Akatsuki are dangerous isn't even up for debate. Every confirmed member of the organization is an S-rank missing-nin, capable of killing a Kage in one-on-one combat.
Their strength is overwhelming.
Furthermore, each of them possesses an abnormal temperament—cruel, unpredictable, and almost entirely devoid of human compassion. They view lives as expendable and act far outside the bounds of conventional logic.
"Understood," Huahuo responded, albeit uneasily.
Time passed swiftly, like a fleeting white horse over a crack.
During this time, Ye Dou didn't leave the village. He spent nearly every day at the training grounds, pushing himself harder than ever before.
The emergence of Akatsuki had lit a fire within him. He felt the pressure of time closing in.
He had to seize every second—to grow stronger, strong enough to survive what was coming.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya and Naruto Uzumaki had successfully located Tsunade in a small town called Tanzaku Town (Tanzaku-gai), deep within the Land of Fire. Tsunade had clearly not cut all ties with Konoha—otherwise, she wouldn't have remained in Fire Country.
However, the trip had not gone smoothly.
Orochimaru was also searching for Tsunade, hoping to persuade her to heal the arms he had lost during his battle with the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, through the use of the Reaper Death Seal.
Fortunately, despite the interference, they succeeded in convincing Tsunade to return. Naruto's persistence and Jiraiya's trust helped her overcome her long-standing hemophobia. Now, the group was preparing to return to Konoha.
—That day.
Ye Dou was, as usual, training alone in the field.
At this time, with no one else around, he could fully unleash his gravity-based training without holding back.
The pressure he subjected himself to was terrifying—ten times the normal gravity, a burden no ordinary human could survive.
But Ye Dou wasn't ordinary. His body had been forged and hardened like steel through relentless physical training. He was a true little superman.
By the numerical standards of the Rokushiki system, Ye Dou had already surpassed 90% of CP9 agents. His Dōryoku (combat power) had reached an astonishing 360 points—just under Rob Lucci, who stood at 400.
And if Ye Dou fully activated the power of his Gravity Fruit, his maximum output would rival, if not exceed, Lucci's full strength.
That was astounding. Rob Lucci had trained for decades and reached 400 by the age of 28. Ye Dou, at most fifteen years old by appearance and perhaps even younger in actual age, was already breathing down his neck.
In the shinobi world, he utterly outclassed his peers.
But even with such a body, training under tenfold gravity was brutal—a test of pain and endurance. This was the path of the taijutsu ninja: suffering and sweat in exchange for strength. Only by constantly challenging one's limits could true power be attained.
"Ye Dou! Someone's coming!" the mongoose on the tree suddenly called out, its tail raised in alert.
Back in Konoha—
"This place hasn't changed a bit... No, it might be worse. There isn't even a pub or a casino left. Just like that old man from the Third—on the brink of death and decay," Jiraiya muttered as he strolled along the village street, now under heavy reconstruction.
Next to him, a striking blonde woman scanned her surroundings with a sharp gaze. Though her voice was casual, her expression was grave.
She was the one they had brought back from their journey: Tsunade-hime, granddaughter of the First Hokage, and future Fifth Hokage of Konoha.
Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin, had led a life riddled with tragedy.
Born into the prestigious Senju clan as the granddaughter of the legendary Senju Hashirama, Tsunade's childhood had been golden. At that time, the Senju were still prominent. The names Hashirama and Tobirama were revered across the world.
As the granddaughter of Konoha's founder, Tsunade's status was akin to royalty.
But that golden age didn't last.
As she grew older, the Senju clan slowly faded from power. Tsunade lost both the First and Second Hokage at a young age. Later, she lost her younger brother Nawaki and her lover Dan Katō—both killed in the Second Shinobi World War.
Believing herself cursed, she abandoned the village, carrying with her a deep fear of blood and a broken heart.
"It's only natural. Konoha is still recovering from the last war," Shizune said, walking beside her. She held a small piglet—Tonton—in her arms. "Entertainment districts like pubs and casinos are probably the last things on the list."
Shizune, Dan Katō's niece, had been taken in by Tsunade after his death and followed her faithfully ever since.
"I'm not deaf. Of course, I knew what happened to the village," Tsunade replied. "But I never expected it to be this bad..."
Konoha, in her eyes, was now a struggling sapling compared to the great tree it had once been.
"The old man... He should've stepped down a long time ago," Tsunade muttered under her breath, frustration bubbling beneath her calm demeanor.
Jiraiya and Shizune said nothing. They knew what it had taken to convince her to return. Until she officially took the position, they'd follow her lead.
Besides, they both understood Tsunade's sharp tongue hid a tender heart. She loved Konoha more than most.
"Lady Tsunade!" came a shout from down the street, cutting through the stillness.
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