The arid landscapes of the canyon stretched as far as the eye could see, bathed in the harsh light of the sun. Shikai, bare-chested, with sweat beading on his skin, faced Tsunade. It had been two months since she had been training him relentlessly, focusing all her efforts on physical strengthening and mastering taijutsu.
This type of training became their daily routine for the next two months. Tsunade demanded that Shikai push his physical limits during each session, gradually increasing the weights and difficulty of the exercises.
In the morning, they covered long distances across the rugged terrain of the canyon, with Shikai carrying weights attached to his legs and arms. In the afternoon, they trained in taijutsu, combining brute strength with precise chakra control.
Shikai felt his body transform. His muscles grew stronger, his speed increased, and his physical endurance reached new heights.
"At this rate, I'll end up surpassing even your physical abilities," he joked one evening, exhausted but satisfied with his progress.
"If that happens, I'll be the first to admit it," she said coldly.
Indeed, from that day on, Tsunade kept her distance from Shikai. He didn't know the exact reason why, but he could already guess what was leading up to the culmination of her plan.
After these grueling three months, Tsunade decided they deserved a break, especially since she had been gloomy throughout this time, and this scene not only made her feel uncomfortable and ashamed but Shikai had said the exact same words as Dan when he was paying his debts. In her still-fuzzy mind, she feared that Shikai would disappear like Dan, even though he had a place in her heart that she didn't even suspect.
In the end, to forget all these thoughts, she succumbed to her addiction.
Tsunade soon spotted a pair of dice in the inn and sat down at a table, holding a glass of sake.
Shikai, who had learned to anticipate her habits, simply watched her without saying a word.
Tsunade waved at him with her hand, seemingly unconcerned. "You worry too much, Shikai. Just... just one last time..."
As Shikai watched Tsunade's sexy silhouette, he murmured to himself, "It's time." A slight smile appeared on his face.
...
A few hours later, around midnight, Tsunade returned to their room, as expected, with an empty purse and drunk.
She quickly frowned, looking at the state of the room.
The floor, once clean and spotless, was now stained with blood, with signs of a struggle visible, furniture overturned, and debris scattered everywhere. At the center of the room lay the lifeless body of a renegade Jonin ninja, his face marked by the violence of the fight. The atmosphere was heavy and silent, except for the muffled sound of Tsunade's steps on the bloody floor.
Tsunade, despite her state of drunkenness, immediately realized the extent of the situation. Her gaze fell on the inert body, and then she scanned the room desperately, searching for any sign of life. Where could Shikai be? Had he managed to escape? Or was he injured, hiding somewhere, waiting for help?
Her heart was pounding, and a deep fear overcame her. She knew time was against her. Tsunade, despite her fear, took a hesitant step towards the ninja's body, her hands trembling. Her face contorted in pain and despair as she realized it was too late. The ninja was dead, and Shikai... Shikai was nowhere to be found.
"Shikai... Where are you?"
Questions without answers kept repeating in her mind, her worry growing with each passing second.
She had to act, find clues, and most importantly, find Shikai. Tsunade stood up, her determination overcoming her fear. She quickly eliminated the alcohol from her system. She searched the room, looking for clues, signs of a struggle, or perhaps a message left by Shikai. Every minute felt like an eternity.
"He... He was kidnapped? While I was getting drunk." She said, laughing as tears ran down her eyes. Her already unstable mind threatened to break.
***
Tsunade was but a shadow of her former self. Her hollow cheeks and dark circles marked her once proud and radiant face. Her clothes, now too loose, floated around her emaciated body. She wandered in the silence of her thoughts, haunted by Shikai's disappearance.
Captured, most likely by his creditors or more insidious enemies, Shikai seemed to be nowhere to be found. Consumed by despair, Tsunade resolved to contact Jiraiya.
...
"Shikai, you say? Your nephew, right?" Jiraiya had asked when she finally explained the situation to him.
Tsunade nodded, her voice broken.
"He... he's somewhere, I know. But I can't find him alone. I need you, Jiraiya."
The legendary Sannin didn't respond immediately. He had heard about Shikai, the prodigy disciple of Minato, often called the heir of Yondaime. He remembered postponing their meeting, thinking that one day their paths would naturally cross. Like Minato, perhaps his talented disciple was the child of the prophecy. But now, he understood the urgency.
"Alright," he finally said, his expression serious. "I'll help you find him. But Tsunade... you have to pull yourself together. If we want to save this boy, I'll need the real you."
...
Months passed, marked by unsuccessful searches. Jiraiya watched helplessly as Tsunade descended into despair. Her tenacity and stubbornness seemed to be fueled by her guilt. Then, one day, a lead finally appeared.
Jiraiya examined the kunai that had been found, his fingers brushing over the blade marked with familiar inscriptions.
"He's alive," he murmured to himself. "And he's leading us."