The next day, as expected, Tsunade lost everything.
Uchiha Sogetsu had to advance her shopping money, asking Tsunade to sign an 'IOU' to repay him when they got back. But considering Tsunade's reputation, the chances of her paying him back were slim.
They both dressed up again. Uchiha Sogetsu wore a white outfit, with disheveled black hair, sharp eyebrows, and piercing eyes, making him look like a handsome young man. Tsunade changed into a white tube top, a dark blue robe, loose wide-leg trousers, and her long blonde hair tied into two ponytails.
To avoid being recognized, she used a transformation technique to alter her appearance.
From an outsider's perspective, they looked like a pair of traveling siblings, not ninjas.
Following the directions on the scroll, they reached Morinama by late afternoon. It was a vast basin with a diameter of several kilometers, filled with a lush primeval forest. Tall ancient trees shot up from the ground, their dense branches and leaves forming a canopy like a vast green dome.
"I never thought I'd be back here," Tsunade said, a touch of nostalgia in her voice as she gazed at the forest.
"You've been here before?" Uchiha Sogetsu asked.
"Yeah," she replied tersely, then jumped off the cliff without further explanation.
"Okay," Uchiha Sogetsu said, shrugging, before jumping after her.
As they entered the primeval forest, the energy of the place hit them. Uchiha Sogetsu was awestruck.
"What an incredible surge of life energy!" he exclaimed.
The energy was palpable, as if the forest itself had a heart, beating with strong, vibrant pulses. With each pulse, the energy seemed to course through the forest's veins, nourishing every corner of the woodland, giving it vitality and vigor.
No wonder the vegetation and trees here grow so large, thought Uchiha Sogetsu, watching Tsunade's back as they walked through the forest. The place felt odd with its intense life energy, yet something about it seemed unsettling.
"Let's keep moving," Tsunade said abruptly. Noticing that Sogetsu had stopped following, she didn't turn around, her voice sharp with impatience. "Don't ask questions. I don't want to talk right now. You'll understand once we reach the sealed area."
The aura surrounding her seemed to reflect her mood—a deep blue, filled with melancholy and sadness. Uchiha Sogetsu knew better than to press her with more questions.
She'd likely punch him if he did. Instead, he kept his thoughts to himself and continued following her deeper into the forest.
As they walked, the dense vegetation thinned out, replaced by small earthen mounds, unmarked and without tombstones. Hundreds of these mounds stretched out before them, the resting places of those who once lived in the heart of this ancient forest.
It dawned on Uchiha Sogetsu that the rich life energy that filled the forest emanated from these silent graves. As he surveyed the area, he saw a pattern etched into a cave wall—the family crest of the Senju Clan. The twin swirl-shaped sunflowers, resembling branches spreading out, were unmistakable.
Seeing the emblem, Uchiha Sogetsu finally understood why Tsunade had been so reluctant to talk. It was clear now why this place carried such sadness for her.
"I'm sorry. I get emotional every time I come here," Tsunade said quietly, her voice soft and wavering. Her long eyelashes trembled as she bit her lip, her sorrow palpable. The people buried here were once her family—her grandfathers, uncles, and even her beloved brother.
"Tsunade-sama, would you like some assistance?" Uchiha Sogetsu asked, adjusting his glasses and keeping his voice gentle.
"There's no need. It's all over," Tsunade said, taking a deep breath. With her hands on her hips, she added with a touch of indifference, "Besides, kid, do I look like the kind of woman who needs rescuing?"
"Definitely not," Uchiha Sogetsu replied, his response heartfelt and sincere.
He wasn't just flattering her—he genuinely believed it. After all, Tsunade had lost so many family members, elders, relatives, and her lover, yet she still rose to become one of the legendary Sannin. That alone spoke volumes about her strength.
"You do know how to say the right things sometimes," Tsunade remarked, pleasantly surprised. Her previously somber expression lightened, and she gave him a smile that was both charming and confident, her allure evident. "Let's go, kid. The seal is over there."
As they stepped into the cave, the candles on the walls flickered to life, casting a warm glow. Uchiha Sogetsu peered into the dimly lit space and saw an altar-like structure with Eight Trigrams seals arranged around it.
"Hmm, the seal looks intact," Tsunade noted, visibly relieved. She turned to Sogetsu with a sly grin, her red lips curving seductively. "Speaking of which, the person sealed here has a connection to you."
"A connection to me?" Uchiha Sogetsu furrowed his brow in confusion.
"Do you know who's sealed in the Senju Clan's forbidden area?" Tsunade asked, her voice teasing, her eyes filled with mischief.
"Is it someone from the Uchiha clan?" Sogetsu ventured.
Considering that the person was sealed in the Senju clan's forbidden area, it seemed likely that it was someone from the Uchiha clan. He couldn't think of any other clan that fit the criteria.
"Hahaha~ You're quite sharp, kid," Tsunade said with a chuckle, confirming his assumption. "The person sealed here is indeed from the Uchiha clan. My uncle once mentioned him. Apparently, he was instrumental in helping the Uchiha clan achieve many victories in past battles."
"So why was he sealed by the Senju clan?" Sogetsu asked, perplexed.
"No, that's not quite it," Tsunade replied, shaking her head. Her voice lowered as she explained, "This person was sealed by the Uchiha clan itself. After they founded Konoha, they approached the Senju clan, proposing that the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques be used to keep this person sealed indefinitely."
"Sealed by the Uchiha clan?" Sogetsu was baffled, his eyes filled with uncertainty. "Why would they seal someone who had done so much for them? And why hand him over to the Senju and Uzumaki clans? It seems like they were afraid of his power or something."
Tsunade nodded, a hint of skepticism in her eyes as she glanced at the altar. "I'm not entirely sure. I asked my great-grandfather about it when I was a child, but he brushed it off, saying the person was just a bit troublesome."
Uchiha Sogetsu smirked, recalling an old saying, "If I can dominate the world with just a single swipe of wood, then what do I have to fear?"
When in doubt, take the high road; let your presence be known and voice your authority.
Kyuubi, the nine-tailed beast, is like a pet chicken to him. So why should he be afraid of anything? It's not like he hasn't beaten legendary shinobi before, right, Uchiha Madara?
"Since the seal is intact, can we leave?" Uchiha Sogetsu asked. There were more places to go and seals to inspect.
"Yeah, let's move," replied Tsunade, about to leave, but her eyes caught something unsettling on the altar. She paused and frowned, "It seems the Eight Trigrams seal is slightly damaged, probably due to age. I'll fix it."
With that, she moved toward the altar to begin repairing the seal.
Buzz!
A sudden burst of spiritual energy sent an alarming shockwave through the area.
Uchiha Sogetsu's Sharingan flared to life as he sensed danger, his three tomoe spinning within his red pupils. The altar reflected an ominous dark chakra, boiling with countless layers of hatred and resentment. The energy coalesced like a ghostly specter, surging from the Eight Trigrams seal's damaged section.
"Tsunade, get away from there, now!" Sogetsu shouted.
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