Chapter 305: Thirteen Years Old! The Man Who Will Determine the Future of the Ninja World! Please Book Tickets, Brothers
"Tetsuya... congratulations on being discharged!"
"Big Brother Tetsuya..."
After Uchiha Mikoto and Torune Ryoui accompanied him, Fujiwara Tetsuya spent another ten days lying in a hospital bed.
He finally walked out of Konoha Hospital.
At the hospital entrance, when Fujiwara Tetsuya, Uchiha Mikoto, and Torune Ryoui emerged, a considerable crowd had already gathered.
Tanaka Jiro, Fujiwara Sachiko, Uzumaki Meika, Uzumaki Kyoji... Yuhi Shinwa, Minato Namikaze, and even Kushina, the Jinchuriki, were present with Hiruzen Sarutobi's permission.
"Thank you all for your concern..."
Looking around at the people in front of him, Fujiwara Tetsuya's lips curved into a slight smile.
Being cared for... it felt truly good. After Uchiha Yashiro, Uchiha Ryuuka, and the others were beaten into a state of helplessness by Uchiha Mikoto.
No Uchiha Clan member dared to openly cause trouble for Fujiwara Tetsuya anymore.
Among this... although Uchiha Mikoto's deterrence played a part, Fujiwara Tetsuya understood that it was also related to Hiruzen Sarutobi's warning.
Although... this state was likely only temporary, it allowed him to spend the New Year peacefully.
Konoha Year 41, January.
After the New Year, Fujiwara Tetsuya's birthday followed closely.
On this day, Fujiwara Tetsuya truly completed the baptism of turning thirteen... "Hey... I say, kid! To show up at this time, isn't that a bit too rude?"
Senju Clan Grounds, due to Fujiwara Tetsuya's sudden visit.
The members of the Senju Clan forcibly dragged Tsunade, who was in a drunken stupor, out.
Rubbing her throbbing forehead, Tsunade's gaze towards Fujiwara Tetsuya also began to turn unfriendly.
"Cough~"
"Senior Tsunade, I didn't expect... that you would have such a wild time with Dan-senpai last night."
"Sleeping until this hour..."
"These two flasks of sake will be my apology... These are excellent goods brought from the capital, said to be exclusive to only the highest-ranking nobles."
Looking at the slightly tipsy Tsunade... and the light that inadvertently escaped.
Fujiwara Tetsuya quickly averted his gaze and let out two awkward laughs.
If he had known, he would have called more people; at least... it wouldn't be as awkward as it was now.
"Is that so?"
"Let me try..."
Hearing Fujiwara Tetsuya's explanation, Tsunade's right hand flicked, directly pulling the two flasks of sake in front of Fujiwara Tetsuya into her embrace, and took two large, rather pleased gulps.
"But... it truly is good sake."
"Given how sensible you are, I'll forgive you this time."
"Tell me, what do you want from me at this hour?"
Staring at the flush on Tsunade's cheeks, Fujiwara Tetsuya sighed inwardly.
Indeed, just as he had predicted.
The person before him had once again forgotten the promise she made to him... "Cough~ Senior Tsunade, have you forgotten? Slug Sage!"
"Oh! Is it about that?"
"I remember now, kid... Wait for me, once I hide these two flasks of sake, I'll take you to Shikkotsu Forest."
...Shikkotsu Forest.
Unlike later conjectures that Shikkotsu Forest contained countless insect-like creatures besides the Slug, after Fujiwara Tetsuya followed Tsunade to Shikkotsu Forest via the Reverse Summoning Technique, all he saw, besides a primitive forest full of a sense of age, were countless split bodies of the Slug Sage.
"Lady Tsunade... why have you come?"
"This smell, have you been drinking again?"
Upon seeing Tsunade arrive, a large number of the Slug Sage's split bodies gathered around.
The small ones were no bigger than a finger... but the gigantic ones were comparable to the towering mountains in the deep forests surrounding Konoha.
"Cough~ Slug, that's irrelevant. I'm here this time... because I promised this kid beside me."
"To give him a chance to sign a contract with Shikkotsu Forest... Quickly take me to see the Slug Sage."
"There are still many things in the Village waiting for me to handle."
Listening to the clamor in her ears, Tsunade was clearly a bit flustered.
After casually scooping up a miniature Slug, she directly pulled Fujiwara Tetsuya and rushed towards the Slug Sage's location.
Ten minutes later, as Fujiwara Tetsuya followed Tsunade past a giant waterfall.
A shadow that covered the sky and sun suddenly appeared before Fujiwara Tetsuya's eyes.
"Oh, is that Lady Tsunade!"
"Is this person beside you the contractor you brought: Fujiwara Tetsuya?"
Perhaps the Slug's vital signs determined its vocal tone.
In any case, whether it was the numerous split bodies of the Slug Sage that Fujiwara Tetsuya had just seen, or the main body of the Slug Sage before him, their vocal tones were identical.
"The Slug Sage knows me?"
Looking up at the Slug's enormous body, Fujiwara Tetsuya was slightly puzzled.
Although he had signed a contract with Ryūchi Cave, due to his strength, he didn't have the confidence to face Shinya, the Three Snake Princesses... and the White Snake Sage.
Therefore, he had never been to Ryūchi Cave... Plus, it had been so long since he summoned Shinya, so he naturally wouldn't have any residual aura related to Ryūchi Cave.
"I saw your figure... in vague fragments of the future."
"Foreseeing the future?"
"The same method as the Toad Sage and the White Snake Sage."
Hearing the Slug Sage's answer, Fujiwara Tetsuya didn't appear too flustered.
"Wait... fragments of the future?"
"Slug Sage, do you mean that this kid's existence... will affect the development of the Ninja World in the future?"
Poking Fujiwara Tetsuya's tender face with her hand, Tsunade looked at him for a few more moments before turning to the Slug Sage.
The Sages of the Three Great Sage Locations all possessed some ability to foresee the future; this was no secret to their contractors.
However... that power, even the Sages of the Three Great Sage Locations, could not easily use.
Only when someone appeared in the Ninja World who would influence the future... could they know everything from vague dream fragments.
That was a supreme treatment that even she had never enjoyed.
"Indeed, Lord Tetsuya is an important person who will influence the future development of the Ninja World."
"Um... Slug Sage, would you mind revealing a little bit of my future?"
As his eyes flickered, Fujiwara Tetsuya secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
According to the Slug Sage's words, he most likely survived until the Fourth Great Ninja War, without collapsing midway and becoming a stepping stone for others.
"Lord Tetsuya, I can know fragments of the future, but I cannot tell you these things."
"Otherwise, it will affect the future of the Ninja World, causing the original future to deviate from its fixed trajectory."
"However... I can tell you that you will face many terrifying enemies in the future... and your existence will determine the existence of the Ninja World."
"Hey! Slug Sage, isn't that a bit too big of a joke?"
"This kid... how is that possible?"
"I remember Jiraiya said that the Toad Sage's dreams showed that his student was the one who would determine the future of the Ninja World..."