In the Land of Rice Fields, on a cliff.
"How are you?"
Pakura helped Tatsuya sit down on a large rock and asked him with concern.
By now, Tatsuya's hands had severely petrified. The gray substance had already spread up to his arms. This was the first time Tatsuya had used such a powerful ninjutsu and Sage Mode. The excessive consumption of his chakra had caused the natural energy that Seiryu had channeled into him to become unbalanced, and it was beginning to erode his body.
"I'm fine!"
Tatsuya forced himself to sit cross-legged and began forming seals with his stiff hands. He was preparing to use the Body Revival forbidden technique.
The Body Revival technique not only quickly healed injuries but also, due to the generation of new cells, allowed the body to gain fresh chakra. Right now, he desperately needed chakra to alleviate the natural energy's erosion of his body.
As the Body Revival technique was activated, Tatsuya's body immediately began to warm slightly, and streams of fresh chakra began to gather within him. Channeling the newly generated chakra, Tatsuya began to repair his petrified hands.
Nearby, Pakura looked at Tatsuya's young face, her expression complex.
On one hand, the strength Tatsuya had displayed gave Pakura more confidence. Previously, Pakura had agreed to follow Tatsuya primarily because he had saved her life, and, being disheartened, she had no other plans for the time being. That was why she had agreed to Tatsuya's request.
As for Tatsuya's claim that he could help her get revenge in a few years, Pakura hadn't entirely believed it. But now, judging from the strength Tatsuya had displayed during his fight with Yugito, Pakura had gained faith in his words.
Both the powerful Seiryu and the astonishingly powerful Great Waterfall Technique, enhanced by Sage Mode, were completely beyond Pakura's expectations.
On the other hand, as a former hero of Sunagakure, Pakura still had deep feelings for her village. The more outstanding Tatsuya, a member of Konoha's younger generation, appeared, the more concerned Pakura became about Sunagakure's future.
Although Konoha and Sunagakure were currently allies, the fragile alliance meant nothing. In the future, war could very well break out between the two villages again. Compared to the abundant talent of Konoha, Sunagakure's future looked far bleaker.
After about half an hour, Tatsuya's hands gradually returned to normal.
"What's wrong?"
Opening his eyes and finishing his technique, Tatsuya saw Pakura standing beside him, looking at him with a complicated expression, and he couldn't help but ask.
"Were you using Sage Mode just now?" Pakura inquired.
Tatsuya nodded. "Yes, but it was my first time, so I'm not very skilled at it yet."
Pakura: "I underestimated you, after all."
Tatsuya shook his head. "I'm still too weak! It's too difficult to accomplish anything in the ninja world with this level of strength!"
Pakura couldn't help but say, "To have such strength at your age is already extremely rare. Even Konoha's Sannin were probably no more than this in their youth. I really don't understand what you're worried about."
Tatsuya remained silent for a moment. "The future of the ninja world is going to be very interesting. You'll see."
After that, the two didn't say much more and soon got up and left.
The capital of the Land of Rice Fields, Yamanashi City, was located in the western part of the country, near the Land of Hot Water. After two days of travel, Tatsuya and Pakura finally arrived in Yamanashi City.
After exploring the city, Tatsuya found a black market contact point and inquired around. He quickly located Yoshida Jin's residence. After sending a message to Yoshida Jin, Tatsuya and Pakura temporarily settled down in the city.
After the battle with Yugito the other day, a lot of information about the two of them had been exposed. Tatsuya didn't want to go to Yoshida Jin's mansion in a grand manner and get caught.
"Oh my! Little Brother Tatsuya, you've finally come!"
In less than a day, the fit and healthy Yoshida Jin arrived at Tatsuya and Pakura's temporary lodging under the cover of night. As soon as he saw Tatsuya, his round, fair face bloomed into a chrysanthemum-like smile.
Behind Yoshida Jin, two middle-aged wandering ninja stood with their arms crossed, looking at Tatsuya and Pakura with slightly provocative gazes.
These two middle-aged wandering ninja were Yoshida Jin's most trusted guards. Judging from the chakra levels they exuded, they were both around chunin level, considered elite among wandering ninja. Ever since he'd almost lost his life in the Land of Fire, Yoshida Jin had become even more concerned about his safety, and he'd spent a fortune to hire these two chunin.
He'd brought them along to this meeting with Tatsuya and Pakura, just in case. The two middle-aged wandering ninja were clearly unaware of Tatsuya and Pakura's identities. They were simply afraid that someone would steal their high-paying jobs.
"Heh, is this how you treat your guests?" Tatsuya gestured towards the two men behind Yoshida Jin with his chin, speaking calmly.
"Just in case! Just in case!" Yoshida Jin smiled awkwardly, but he didn't ask his two guards to leave.
"Have them leave first. I have something to discuss with you," Tatsuya said directly.
"Where did you come from, you little brat? How dare you be rude to us?" Hearing this, the two wandering ninja behind Yoshida Jin were instantly enraged. One of them stepped forward and pointed at Tatsuya, cursing.
"Peng!"
"Ah!"
"Any more nonsense, and you are dead!"
However, before the speaking wandering ninja could finish his sentence, Pakura, standing beside Tatsuya, used a Body Flicker Technique to disappear from her spot. When she reappeared, she had already lifted the man up by the neck, her aura pressing down on the two wandering ninja, preventing them from moving.
"Th-This, this is a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding! I'll have them leave right away!" Instantly, large beads of cold sweat appeared on Yoshida Jin's face.
"Let them go," Tatsuya's calm voice came from behind.
"Get out!" Pakura, hearing this, threw the man out with a flick of her wrist. The other one, seeing this, didn't dare to hesitate and followed, scrambling out of the room.
Pakura's strength had completely exceeded the expectations of Yoshida Jin and his two guards. This kind of aura was definitely not something an ordinary jonin could possess.
"Brother Tatsuya, I'm so sorry about this…" Yoshida Jin wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, rubbing his hands together, looking somewhat sheepish.
He'd initially had some thoughts of showing off his strength, but those thoughts were completely extinguished. Both times he'd met Tatsuya, he'd been greatly shocked.
"It's fine, it's fine! Uncle Yoshida Jin, come, sit down!" Tatsuya smiled, gesturing for Yoshida Jin to sit, and said.
Yoshida Jin, hearing this, sat down tremblingly.
Tatsuya pointed to Pakura beside him. "Uncle Yoshida Jin, let me introduce you first. This is my good friend, Pakura, a Scorch Release ninja from Sunagakure."
Yoshida Jin quickly got up and greeted her. "Hello! Hello!" He looked at Pakura with some fear in his eyes.
Such powerful strength, and she was also from Sunagakure, one of the Five Great Hidden Villages… he couldn't afford to offend her!
Pakura nodded faintly in acknowledgment.