(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
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Early the next morning, Tsunade reluctantly took Shizune to the dense forest nearby.
"Lady Tsunade, we already promised to return to the village soon. Why are we going to see Orochimaru now?" Shizune asked, visibly puzzled. "Are you really going to agree to his outrageous terms?"
Shizune was thoroughly confused. Not long ago, Orochimaru had unexpectedly approached Tsunade, asking her to heal his damaged hands and his sickly subordinate Kimimaro. Shizune didn't know the specific conditions discussed, but since that fateful day, Tsunade had seemed constantly distracted.
"Be quiet. You'll understand everything when the time comes," Tsunade replied impatiently, clearly tired of the young woman's persistent curiosity.
Shizune sighed.
Soon after, they met Orochimaru and Kabuto, who had been patiently waiting for them there.
Seeing Tsunade arrive punctually for the appointment, Orochimaru smiled deviously.
"Tsunade, as long as you heal my hands and my loyal subordinate, I can immediately bring Nawaki back with the forbidden technique: [Impure World Reincarnation]."
Tsunade remained deathly silent, pacing nervously as if deep in conflicted thought.
They started walking, changing the place where they talked.
When they finally reached another suitable location, she suddenly lashed out ferociously!
"Orochimaru, this time, I'm here to fix your twisted brain instead of healing you!"
"Legendary Heel Drop" she roared.
She raised her slender right leg high above, then slammed it heavily onto the ground. Under her immense inhuman strength, a large crater suddenly appeared, sending sharp gravel flying dangerously.
Orochimaru and Kabuto quickly jumped back, instantly alert and wary.
"What terrifying monstrous power!" Kabuto exclaimed, clearly frightened.
The incredible force of that single devastating strike was easily comparable to an A-rank destructive jutsu.
"Foolish Kabuto! Don't lose your calm" Orochimaru called out coldly.
"Understood, Orochimaru-sama" Kabuto pushed up his glasses.
He took a breath, and then cut his arm without any hesitation.
Bright red blood spurted out immediately.
Tsunade, still suffering from her hemophobia, was instantly weakened visibly and fell helplessly to the ground.
Orochimaru and Kabuto were about to move closer to her when…
"Elder sister, you're in quite a pitiful state..." Colt's concerned voice suddenly sounded.
Everyone was startled immediately, frantically searching for the mysterious source of the voice.
Colt appeared beside Tsunade in an instant, his robe fluttering majestically behind him. His tall imposing figure brought a sense of unexpected calm to both Tsunade and Shizune.
However, they also quickly panicked once they realized: how could Colt possibly be a match for the legendary Orochimaru?
"Colt, hurry up and call Jiraiya over immediately!" Tsunade blurted out.
After speaking hastily, Tsunade instantly regretted her careless words.
She suddenly remembered that yesterday, in order to get rid of Jiraiya's persistent entanglement, she had deliberately put some strong medicine in his wine.
"Don't worry unnecessarily, Tsunade-san. Orochimaru and I are quite good 'acquaintances', hehe" Colt reassured them confidently.
Colt signaled the two women to stay back, and turned his piercing eyes to Orochimaru, "I won't let you go easily today, you slimy snake."
"You're really quite confident, aren't you, Colt-kun." Orochimaru's face darkened ominously, but internally, he didn't expect Colt to suddenly come over and interfere with his plan.
"Lord Orochimaru, I'll help you stop Kamiyo Colt effectively," Kabuto interjected.
Yakushi Kabuto was extremely confident internally.
He hadn't seen Colt killing people mercilessly in the village the last time.
In his heart, he arrogantly thought that even if Colt was somewhat stronger than him, his strength was still ultimately limited.
If he couldn't beat him outright, he could always hold on desperately for a while.
As for Tsunade, she was naturally no match for Orochimaru who exploited her crippling fear of blood.
That left, Shizune? No one took her seriously at all.
After carefully thinking about all the potential factors that might have an impact on the tense situation, Kabuto found that they still had a surprisingly good chance of winning decisively.
"Stop me, you say?" Colt chuckled amusedly, and with a casual wave of his right hand, dozens of feathers flew menacingly towards Kabuto.
Seeing this, a trace of obvious disdain flashed in Kabuto's overconfident eyes.
What possible harm can these little weapons do?
Only Orochimaru seemed to feel that something was terribly wrong, and after a careful analytical look, his face changed greatly with dawning realization.
"Kabuto! Retreat immediately!" he shouted urgently.
Hearing his panicked cry, Kabuto was momentarily taken aback, but his trained body still obeyed the desperate order subconsciously.
However, by then, it was already far too late.
A bright red light flashed ominously in Colt's eyes, the speed of the flying weapon suddenly increased dramatically, and his figure flashed instantaneously, as he appeared right in front of the stunned Yakushi Kabuto.
His right fist was clenched tightly!
"When did you become worthy enough to take care of me?" Colt yelled out as he punched with his full strength.
*BOOM!*
Like a flimsy kite with its string violently cut, Yakushi Kabuto flew out dozens of meters, fell heavily on the unforgiving ground, and started bouncing pathetically until he came to a stop.
"[Flying Thunder God Technique]!" Orochimaru exclaimed in disbelief, uttering each word slowly, his expression even more ugly and shocked.
He knew instinctively that it was all completely over.
With the legendary [Flying Thunder God], the powerful [Sharingan], and his masterful swordsmanship, Colt clearly had no exploitable weaknesses.
Not to mention that Orochimaru couldn't even use his hands effectively now.
Even if he was completely intact, he would still try his absolute best to carefully avoid confronting Colt directly.
There was no other way, the [Flying Thunder God] was simply too overpowered and broken.
A large snake suddenly emerged from Orochimaru's loose cuff and quickly grabbed the unconscious Yakushi Kabuto, whose life and death were currently unknown, and Orochimaru hastily spat out a thick smoke bomb, immediately covering his retreating figure in the dense cloud.
The two shadowy figures disappeared swiftly into the forest.
Colt also frowned slightly in frustration. The two of them had already prepared to escape so quickly so there was nothing he could do now.
"It's over? Is it all over now?" Shizune muttered disbelievingly.
Shizune still didn't fully react, processing the fact that Orochimaru was actually beaten away so easily by Colt.
Looking at Shizune who was still holding Tonton tightly, Colt had to help the weakened Tsunade up by himself carefully.
If he hadn't keenly noticed Tsunade's unusual behavior yesterday, he might have carelessly forgotten about this important episode entirely since it had been quite a while since he saw it.
"Colt," Tsunade forced a weak smile, "I didn't expect you to be so incredibly strong, and you actually learned the legendary [Flying Thunder God] too."
As she praised him, she couldn't help but pause for a bit, before she added.
"You have also clearly seen my current pitiful situation. I will not go back to Konoha now. I will let Jiraiya fully support you as the new Hokage instead. You are worthy of the position"
Originally, Tsunade had reluctantly agreed to become Hokage primarily in order to protect Colt's continued growth and development.
But now, Colt had easily scared away the fearsome Orochimaru, so what use was she, who loses all fighting power as soon as she sees a drop of blood?
An improper ninja, no, an unfit Hokage candidate?
How can that possibly work effectively?
"Elder sister, I'm still so young and inexperienced. It's far too early for me to be the Hokage or anything similar. You're clearly the most suitable qualified person for the role," Colt insisted firmly.
"And it's just a treatable phobia. I have an effective way to permanently cure it for you."
'Really? Is that even possible?'
Tsunade was understandably a little skeptical, but after pondering carefully for what felt like 10 long years, she finally agreed to go back to Konoha to at least take a closer look.
The three of them returned quickly to the Street, where they found Jiraiya painfully limping out with the helpful assistance of Naruto.
"Tsunade, you're actually here?" Jiraiya exclaimed, clearly surprised and elated when Tsunade unexpectedly came back.
"Okay, fine. Go back inside I'll reluctantly give you the needed antidote," Tsunade gave Jiraiya a Tsundere guilty look.
This old stubborn guy didn't get to the important point after talking endlessly for a long time yesterday.
If it had been said much earlier that Colt had miraculously awakened the rare Wood Style, why would everything be so unnecessarily troublesome now?
Jiraiya was momentarily stunned by Tsunade's piercing stare.
But after joyfully learning that she had finally promised to return to Konoha, he was only incredibly happy and relieved.
The small group regrouped briefly in the quaint Street, and then embarked on the long journey back to their treasured Konoha.
Along the way, Tsunade desperately wanted to know exactly how Colt planned to treat her hemophobia, but was firmly dismissed by the fact that this clearly wasn't the appropriate place to openly discuss such sensitive matters.
And she also learned a great deal about Colt's mysterious past during this eventful time.
She was also surprised to learn that Colt also unexpectedly owned the rare [Sharingan] ability.
Unexpectedly and miraculously, the legendary talents of both the Senju and Uchiha clans appeared simultaneously in the same gifted person.
Two long days later, they finally reached Konoha's imposing main gate.
Looking at the familiar yet strangely unfamiliar place, Tsunade took a deep steadying breath.
This was the great village that her beloved grandfather had painstakingly built, the ultimate dream of her dear younger brother.
And today, the primary purpose of her unexpected return was to finally become the next Hokage and carefully guide the promising Colt.
Looking fondly at him, who was about the same tender age as Nawaki when he tragically died, her conflicted heart became noticeably softer and more resolved.
'Konoha, I'm finally back home at last!'