Chapter 19: The Wandering Monk
The Route to Tanzaku Town
"Going to Tanzaku Town first?"
Uchiha Kazuki looked Tsunade up and down, his face full of suspicion. "You're not planning to indulge your gambling addiction, are you? Planning to hit the casinos the moment we arrive?"
"Ahem! Of course not!"
Tsunade placed her hands on her hips, her amber eyes glaring at him fiercely. "What kind of person do you think I am?! I know the difference between mission priorities and personal entertainment!"
Whether you do or not, you know the truth better than anyone.
Kazuki's lips twitched, his expression radiating profound doubt.
It wasn't that he didn't want to believe her—it was simply that this woman's gambling addiction was legendary for all the wrong reasons.
One of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha. The founder of the modern medical ninja system. The director of Konoha Hospital itself. This same woman had nearly lost the entire hospital to a casino owner in a single disastrous night of betting. If it weren't for the Hokage's personal ANBU guards physically dragging her away, she probably would have gambled away her own clothes. The extent of her addiction was painfully evident.
The boy's suspicious gaze made Tsunade's cheeks flush slightly with embarrassment. She wanted to retort indignantly, but lacked the confidence. "There's... there's a seal location south of Tanzaku Town. Isn't that basically on the way?"
"The Forest of Death is clearly due south of Konoha, while Tanzaku Town is southwest."
Kazuki replied with practiced expressionlessness, pointing to the nearest marked location on the ancient scroll. "The two locations are over 170 kilometers apart in opposite directions. Lady Tsunade, are you absolutely certain this qualifies as 'on the way'?"
"Well... aren't they both technically in the southern region?"
Confronted with irrefutable geography, Tsunade pouted like a scolded child—a surprisingly cute expression on the face of a legendary kunoichi. Her two slender fingers twisted together nervously. "I just thought that since we have so many locations to visit along the way, and your ANBU uniform would easily attract unwanted attention, we could stop at Tanzaku Town to purchase some civilian clothes for proper disguises."
That reasoning was actually valid.
The ancient scroll recorded at least a dozen seal locations scattered throughout the Land of Fire—some in remote wilderness areas, others near populated settlements.
Not to mention, the ANBU mask and uniform Kazuki currently wore would draw immediate attention anywhere they traveled. And Tsunade herself was recognizable enough; the two of them traveling together were incredibly conspicuous.
Therefore, Tsunade's concerns weren't entirely unfounded.
However, Kazuki wasn't fooled for a second. He'd already seen through the woman's transparent scheme and directly exposed her. "Then why didn't you mention any of this this morning when we were still in Konoha? We could have purchased disguises before departing."
"I... forgot."
Tsunade spread her hands with exaggerated innocence, her expression utterly shameless.
Faced with such an unyielding 'master of shamelessness,' even Kazuki felt helpless. He had no choice but to reluctantly agree to her transparent plan. "Fine. As you suggested, we'll stop at Tanzaku Town first. But we're agreed—we stay for no more than one day. One. Day."
"Yay!"
A sly, victorious glint flashed in Tsunade's eyes as she revealed a triumphant smile that would have been adorable if it weren't so obviously scheming.
Now that the route was decided, Kazuki stopped arguing and planned to reach Tanzaku Town as quickly as possible, rest for exactly one day, and then immediately head toward the Forest of Death.
Journey to Tanzaku Town
The journey itself was relatively uneventful.
As sunset approached and the sky painted itself in brilliant shades of orange and purple, the neon lights of Tanzaku Town finally came into view on the horizon.
Kazuki hadn't rested properly since the previous night and had been traveling at shinobi speed almost non-stop all day. Despite his training, exhaustion was beginning to take its toll.
"Hah... hah..." He gasped, hands braced on his knees as he caught his breath.
"Tsk, tsk, kid—your stamina is absolutely terrible. Why are you so weak?"
Tsunade, by contrast, remained completely at ease. Her face showed neither flush nor breathlessness, as if the day's journey had been nothing more than a casual stroll. She squinted her beautiful eyes teasingly. "Why don't you call me 'big sis'? Maybe if I'm in a good mood, I'll teach you some of my techniques for building chakra reserves and physical endurance."
"No thank you, Lady Tsunade."
Kazuki shook his head firmly, took one final deep breath, and straightened up with determination. "Don't forget what you promised me—one day only."
"Ugh, I know, I know."
Tsunade's playful expression turned cold. She pursed her lips, released an annoyed huff, and deliberately turned her head away like a sulking teenager. "If you don't want to call me that, fine! I don't want to teach a stubborn brat like you anyway!"
With that petulant declaration, Tsunade strode forward with exaggerated irritation, marching straight into Tanzaku Town without looking back.
"Women are such a hassle..."
Kazuki sighed helplessly and followed after her.
To be honest, although he'd carried out numerous missions in his time as a shinobi, he'd never actually visited Tanzaku Town before. This would be a good opportunity to explore.
Tanzaku Town was the most famous entertainment district in the Land of Fire—filled with casinos, amusement parks, hot spring resorts, restaurants, and luxury hotels. It was practically paradise for those seeking escape from the harsh realities of shinobi life.
The dazzling neon lights, the lively festive atmosphere, the bustling crowds of civilians and off-duty ninja, and the vibrant commercial streets gave Kazuki an unexpected feeling—like he'd somehow returned to his previous life's modern world.
The similarities are uncanny...
He'd long since removed his ANBU mask and stored it away. Following Tsunade's lead, they approached a high-end hot spring hotel and checked into separate rooms.
Seemingly revitalized by the prosperous energy of Tanzaku Town, Tsunade's mood improved dramatically. She didn't even bother settling into her room—leaving behind only a few hasty words before practically running off down the street.
Without question, that woman was heading straight for the nearest casino.
"It's still early evening... might as well explore a bit."
Nighttime was when Tanzaku Town truly came alive, and having traveled all this way, Kazuki didn't plan to retire so early.
The Entertainment District
Charming and alluring women lined both sides of the main street, their captivating appearances and practiced smiles beckoning to passing tourists and shinobi on leave.
As expected—although nominally just an entertainment district, there's far more happening beneath the surface.
Kazuki wandered seemingly without purpose, like a transparent ghost detached from the surrounding hustle and bustle. He moved through the crowds while silently 'observing' the pedestrians and tourists with his trained shinobi awareness.
He discovered something interesting almost immediately.
A small but significant number of people here were actually ninja—and not Konoha ninja.
Rogue ninja? Or perhaps intelligence agents from other hidden villages?
Or most likely... both.
Kazuki pondered this revelation carefully. No wonder Jiraiya preferred gathering intelligence in places like this. Red-light districts and entertainment towns had always served as natural intelligence hubs—neutral ground where information flowed as freely as sake.
THUD!
Lost in analytical thought, Kazuki failed to notice someone approaching from the opposite direction. He collided directly with them.
The other person was considerably taller and more powerfully built. The impact sent Kazuki stumbling backward two full steps.
"Namu Amida Butsu."
The man seemed genuinely surprised by the collision, but recovered quickly. He pressed his palms together in the traditional Buddhist prayer gesture and bowed deeply with obvious sincerity. "My profound apologies, young one. I was contemplating matters of doctrine and failed to notice your approach. Please forgive my carelessness."
"Ah, no—it's fine, really."
Kazuki scratched the back of his head and offered a disarming, innocent smile. "It was my fault as well. I wasn't paying proper attention, Master."
The monk appeared relatively young—perhaps twenty years old at most. He wore pristine white robes in a style Kazuki didn't immediately recognize. His hair was gathered on top of his head in a topknot, with a long braided tail hanging down his back.
However, two features stood out as distinctly unusual: a Roman numeral 'V' tattooed below his left eye, and a peculiar wedge-shaped black mark on his chin.
That's... not a typical monk's appearance.
"Since you are unharmed, young benefactor, I shall take my leave."
The monk pressed his palms together once more and turned to depart.
"Master, please wait a moment."
Kazuki suddenly called out, his voice friendly but firm.
The monk paused mid-step, then stopped completely and turned back with a mildly puzzled expression. "Yes, young benefactor? Was there something else you required?"
"Since we've met like this, it must be fate bringing us together."
Kazuki smiled warmly, his expression open and genuine. "My name is Uchiha Obito. May I know yours, Master?"
Using a false name—let's see how he reacts to the Uchiha clan name.
"Ah, so you're from the renowned Uchiha clan of Konoha."
The monk hesitated briefly—apparently surprised by such direct introduction—but quickly returned the smile with practiced ease. "This humble monk is called Jigen. I am a wandering practitioner seeking enlightenment."
"Jigen... what an interesting name."
Kazuki's tone carried layers of unspoken meaning. "It's a genuine pleasure to meet you, Master Jigen. Perhaps our paths will cross again sometime."
"May the Buddha watch over your journey, young Uchiha."
Jigen smiled serenely, clasped his hands in a respectful farewell bow, and departed with surprising haste—almost as if eager to leave.
Recognition
"Jigen..."
Watching the monk's retreating figure disappear into the crowd, Kazuki's friendly expression evaporated. His eyes gradually turned cold and analytical.
Interesting.
Just moments ago, he'd been maintaining a state of 'psychological invisibility'—a technique that made most people's attention unconsciously slide past him without registering his presence. The surrounding passersby and even the ninja in the crowd hadn't noticed him properly.
But 'Jigen' had not only noticed him immediately—he'd deliberately collided with him.
Not intentional? Please.
Such a clumsy excuse might fool a naive civilian, but to fool someone with Kazuki's awareness? Laughable.
"Even Jigen has appeared in the timeline already..."
Kazuki's thoughts turned dark and calculating as he gazed up at the rising moon. "This shinobi world is becoming more complicated and dangerous than I anticipated. The chessmen are moving into position earlier than expected."
Down the street, the monk who'd introduced himself as Jigen suddenly paused mid-stride. He turned slightly, as if sensing something unsettling.
"Was that merely my imagination?"
He frowned, looking back down the path he'd traveled, muttering quietly to himself. "That boy's final gaze... there was something strange about it. Something knowing. As if he recognized..."
The monk shook his head, dismissing the uncomfortable thought, and continued on his way.
But a seed of concern had been planted.
[Author's Note: To clarify for readers—this story will NOT follow Boruto's timeline or include Boruto-era plot points. The reason certain Boruto-era characters like Jigen appear is purely to utilize the Ōtsutsuki clan's established character designs and to set up the protagonist's eventual journey beyond the shinobi world. From the moment Kazuki appeared and began changing events, the original timeline ceased to exist. This is an AU where the protagonist's actions reshape history.]
[End of Chapter 19]
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