"—Go! Sealing Ball!"
Just as Natsuhiko and his group noticed Tsunade's message, the truth was that Tsunade hadn't gone far. She was leisurely strolling near the capsule house, capturing yokai along the way.
Of course, given the limited supply of Sealing Balls in Onmyoji GO, her first choice for capture remained the ever-promising Caterpillar...
After successfully capturing yet another divine beast's infant form—a Caterpillar—Tsunade tilted her head, estimating the time. A sly grin of triumph spread across her face.
"Judging by Shizune's speed at doing homework, they should be seeing my message now. Haha, too bad I can't see Natsuhiko's expression!"
"Serves him right!"
"That brat is still too naïve. He actually thought that after the Kakuzu incident, I'd obediently go back with him? Dream on!"
Tsunade, filled with pride, strode forward decisively.
After reviewing and analyzing the recent series of events, she had a clear understanding of Natsuhiko's intentions.
This guy had never truly abandoned the mission as he claimed. From the start, he knew that conventional methods wouldn't persuade her to return, so he took a roundabout approach, playing the "mobile arcade" card.
Earlier, he'd even claimed that he was promoting arcade machines—bah! Men and their lies!
But honestly, Natsuhiko's plan was terrifyingly effective.
If not for Kakuzu's unexpected interference, she might indeed have been lured in like a sheep, captivated by the tempting greenery of the arcade's offerings. She'd have been unknowingly shepherded back to Konoha by that devious "herder," only to find herself as lamb meat on Grandma's chopping board...
The thought alone made Tsunade shudder in fear.
Apart from not wanting to return to the heartache of Konoha, an even bigger reason was the IOU she had written, which Kakuzu had taken to collect debts from the Senju clan. She couldn't imagine what awaited her if she went back.
Even though Grandma carried the image of the gentle and elegant First Hokage's wife in the public eye, Tsunade, her granddaughter, knew better. Grandma still carried the blood of the Uzumaki clan...
Though Tsunade had only seen it a few times during her childhood, the sight of Grandma's crimson hair flying in nine strands, writhing like claws when angry, was her greatest childhood nightmare.
Even Grandpa Hashirama—the so-called "God of Shinobi"—could only shrink back and stay silent during those moments.
The more Tsunade thought about it, the more her scalp tingled. She quickly shook her head to dispel the horrifying images.
No matter how she saw it, going back to Konoha was simply not an option!
Her only regret was that by leaving, she might have to wait until the arcade machines became accessible beyond Konoha Village to play again...
She hadn't even fully explored the new DLC characters from King of Shinobi 97!
However, Tsunade knew that if she didn't act decisively now, she might sink deeper into the trap, unable to extricate herself.
Even if she got bored of the DLC characters, Natsuhiko would likely come up with even more enticing games to keep her tethered.
If she wasn't careful, she'd wake up one day to find herself standing at the gates of the Senju compound.
Thus, Tsunade decisively chose to leave without notice.
Fortunately, while she couldn't play arcade games for now, she still had the AR glasses—another ingenious creation by Natsuhiko.
If King of Shinobi 97 wasn't an option, wasn't Onmyoji GO just as fun?
Not to mention, the glasses also helped alleviate her hemophobia, solving a major issue for her.
Now, even if Kakuzu came after her again, she wouldn't be as vulnerable. While she might not be able to defeat him, escaping was no longer an issue.
Previously, her hemophobia had confined her to wandering only within the Land of Fire, but with these glasses, the whole shinobi world was open to her.
As Natsuhiko had mentioned, Onmyoji GO simulated the ecosystem of the real world. Different yokai appeared in different environments. To complete the Pokédex, one had to travel across the shinobi world.
And so, Tsunade from Konoha set out with her Pikachu partner and thirty Caterpillars, determined to become a Grand Onmyoji...
…
…
…
Who could have guessed that just as Tsunade embarked on her ambitious journey, a notification appeared in her vision:
[Network Connection Lost]
…
That afternoon, outside the capsule house.
Natsuhiko pressed a large red button near the door, causing the house to shrink into a capsule with a puff.
Shizune, standing beside him, looked worried, clearly still upset about being "abandoned" by Tsunade.
Despite her concern, when Natsuhiko announced their return to Konoha, she couldn't help but ask anxiously:
"Sensei, are we really going to leave Lady Tsunade alone? Will she be alright? Without me reminding her, she often gambles and forgets to eat or sleep."
Natsuhiko looked at the six-year-old Shizune, who seemed more like an old nanny worrying about the thirty-something Tsunade, and wanted to retort: Who is the real mentor here?
Kakashi hesitated for a moment before speaking:
"Sensei, we still have time before the vacation ends. Couldn't we try again to complete the mission?"
"If it's you, Sensei, you should have a way to find Lady Tsunade again."
Kakashi's eagerness stemmed from this being his first official mission outside the village. Learning it was classified as S-rank made him even more determined not to give up easily.
Seeing their expectant looks, Natsuhiko sighed and decided to explain:
"Relax. Lady Tsunade's message was just a joke. She'll still come back to Konoha with us."
When they looked doubtful, Natsuhiko smiled helplessly and turned toward the nearby forest:
"Lady Tsunade, I told you this joke wasn't funny. You can come out now."
Startled, Kakashi and Shizune turned to the forest, where Tsunade did indeed emerge, her face dark and her gaze fixed angrily on Natsuhiko.
Ignoring the olive branch he extended, she gritted her teeth and said:
"Network connection lost..."
"I thought it meant something else, but it turns out you tampered with the glasses! Once outside the arcade's range, the game doesn't work anymore!"
"You calculated everything from the start! Aren't you tired of scheming?"
Not at all. Seeing you frustrated but helpless is totally worth it.
Natsuhiko thought this but raised his hands in mock surrender, smiling wryly:
"Lady Tsunade, you misunderstood. Why would I do such a thing?"
"It's not sabotage; it's just a limitation of the design."
"Have you wondered why the arcade machines are so bulky while these glasses are lightweight?"
When Tsunade's anger gave way to curiosity, Natsuhiko explained:
"The AR glasses lack the computational power to run games like Onmyoji GO fully. They're merely input and display devices. The actual processing is done by the arcade machines, which interact with the glasses via chakra waves."
This cloud gaming-like concept, coupled with chakra's efficiency, made it viable in the shinobi world.
Hearing his explanation, Tsunade's anger subsided, though she still felt disappointed. Her dream of becoming a Grand Onmyoji would have to wait.
After a tense silence, she finally said:
"Let's go."
Without waiting, she began walking.
Shizune quickly followed, asking, "Where are we going, Lady Tsunade?"
Tsunade sighed deeply before replying begrudgingly:
"Back to Konoha."
(End of Chapter)