Before she went deeper into the cavern, Tsunade could smell it. It was a stench all to familiar to her. The cloying, sickly sweet macabre crimson liquid was awaiting her just beyond the bend of this corner.
For a brief instant, Tsunade considered turning back right then and there. It wasn't to long since she had lost Dan, and Nawaki. The sight of blood alone could send her into a panic attack.
Taking a deep breath, Tsunade took a glance at her charge. The small black haired girl, Shizune believed in her. She had already let down so many people, but the one person she couldn't let down no matter what, was Shizune. She had a duty as her mentor to impart to her all things medical. One day, Shizune would succeed where she had failed.
Steeling her resolve, Tsunade pressed on to the aftermath of a battle.
Tsunade took a look at the scene, and clucked her tongue.
She had been witness to hundreds of deaths, and triaged thousands of patients. Yet, the arrangement of bodies before her was quite peculiar.
Was this a case of friendly fire? A genjutsu? Or some third party lurking nearby?
Subtly circulating her chakra, Tsunade confirmed it was no genjutsu.
Taking a step closer, Tsunade turned the small girl's corpse over. Casting her well experienced clinical eye over her wounds, Tsunade was quick to come to a conclusion.
The easiest cause of death to identify was the small purple hair girl. The wounds on her back matched with the serrated edge of the headless corpse's scythe.
Her face was still locked in shock. Tsunade decided her death was the first of the three. It was one swift, and brutal betrayal.
Just the sight of her wounds reminded her of Dan's! Eyes dilated, Tsunade began to take deep, ragged breaths. Her stomach was queasy, and she could hear Dan's voice, telling her to promise him…promise him what? Her hands shook, and she barely caught herself on the side of the cave wall.
Gritting her teeth, Tsunade ignored the concerned look on Shizune's face, and stood tall. She could do this.
Moving on, she took in the deep scratches on the wall. The physical strength of the scythe wielding man was impressive. At least Tokubetsu Jonin level, if Tsunade had to judge. Likewise, the amount of puddle left over from their struggle placed the chunky bald man in the realm of Tokubetsu Jonin.
Placing a hand on the bald man, Tsunade pumped her chakra through his system to get a better idea of his cause of death.
"How peculiar." Tsunade muttered to herself.
"Lady Tsunade?" Shizune questioned from the side.
"Come here and perform a quick scan of his body, Shizune. Tell me what you see."
"Yes!"
Tsunade vigilantly stood guard while Shizune performed her brief autopsy.
"Wow! He died from cardiac arrest! It wasn't poison…and I see no metal, and yet, he has all the signs of a puncture wound! The only obvious external injury he sustained was in the thigh, something cylindrical. Lady Tsunade, I think whatever pierced his thigh was a ninjutsu that somehow damaged his heart!" Shizune exclaimed in surprise, and excitedly came to her revelation.
Tsunade on the inside was proud as can be. This child was Dan's younger sister. If they had a daughter, she would be just as bright and smart as Shizune.
"Sensei?" Shizune questioned when she saw Tsunade have a far away look on her face.
"Good job Shizune. However, in science, it is not good to make assumptions! It is important to test hypotheses, and null hypotheses. Let's asses the rest of the scene before jumping to any conclusions!" Tsunade made sure to praise her disciple, but also give her some criticism so she didn't grow to big of a head.
"Got it!" Undaunted by Tsunade's stern attitude, Shizune tapered down on her excitement, and maintained a serious demeanor.
Coming to the third and final corpse, Tsunade noticed right away based on the angle of the neck, that he had been decapitated from behind. The corpse was pierced in the chest, however, the blade was different! In fact, Tsunade could feel water release chakra still fresh on the wound! Meanwhile, the neck was cut by a more traditional style sword!
Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"I know you're in here. Come out, and explain yourself." Tsunade's angry voice echoed throughout the cave system.
Shizune directed an enquiring gaze at Tsunade, but one look was all she needed for understanding.
A moment passed, and the steady drip of water falling from stalactite's was the only sound in the dimly lit cave.
"I am Tsunade Senju, granddaughter of the First Hokage. As the man who signed the Treaty of Seven Herbs Island, I would not besmirch his memory. Come out, or all veneer of neutrality will become null and void." At the end of her statement, dense chakra began to flood the cavern. Tsunade's might was a level higher than any of the current Seven Swordsman of the Mist!
Only silence greeted her.
"You think I won't punch this mountain to smithereens? You asked for it!" Tsunade cocked back her hand, and was about to punch a section of the cave.
"Wait!" A small figure covered in mud peeled himself off of the wall right where Tsunade's fist was about to land.
Shizune took a step back behind Tsunade, frightened by the sudden appearance.
"How did you know?" The boy questioned.
Tsunade quirked an eyebrow, she was not expecting a boy to pop out of the wall! And judging from his hitai-ate, he was from the Hidden Mist!
Tsunade never for an instant dropped her guard. Although Kirigakure didn't participate in the Second Great War, they fought a brutal civil war. A war in which the village became known as the "Blood Mist Village." This child before her was likely a product of said system!
After a moment had passed, and Tsunade could see the boy fidgeting, she decided to throw him a bone.
"The trail of blood, and mudflow from the headless corpse to your hiding place was disturbed. For a shinobi that comes from the Hidden Mist, a place famed for their stealth, you certainly don't live up to the hype." Tsunade crossed her arms under her breasts, indirectly presenting her assets.
The boy paused for a second, before formulating a reply. "Ah, yeah. So, ahem, what brings you to these parts? I was just looking for some Elixir Mud when these three turned the corner. They then started to kill each other, and almost got me several times in their crossfire!"
Tsunade's eyes twinkled. Not even enemy shinobi were immune to her charms. Orochimaru's first choice was torture. But Tsunade found that a soft approach was always the best introduction to an interrogation.
"I can see that. But just how did the bald man die?" Tsunade asked.
"Well, the headless guy is a blood ninjutsu specialist. Whenever he tastes someones blood, he can inflict damage onto their body from affar."
"What a unique kekkei genkai!" Shizune walked up to Hidan's body, and drew a sample of his blood with a syringe.
A muffled sound came from the mud, but Tsunade wrote it off as a gas pocket popping between the layers of mud.
"Finally, why did you kill this man, and break this islands neutrality?" Tsunade's voice took on a murderous aura.
The boy nervously licked his mud covered lips.
"I actually didn't kill anyone, uh, Lady Tsunade."
"Hoh?" Tsunade tilted her head to the side in amusement.
She couldn't believe this boy would have the balls to lie to her face like that. Much less, still be standing after she had unleashed her aura. Was Kiri training up a new, and more dangerous generation for war perhaps? She would have to let Sensei know once she left this faraway land.
"Uhm yes! Just let me search this mud for a second! No need for anything drastic!" The boy struggled in the mud for more than a few minutes, desperately searching for something.
Tsunade felt bad for the kid. She could see the angst in his eyes. He didn't want to die, and Tsunade didn't particularly feel like killing any kids today. Maybe she would just let him go?
"Forget it kid, you can g-"
"For you see, this blood line user, is still alive!" Pulling a silver haired head from the pile of mud, the boy radiated a relief filled smile.
"Let me go, asshole! When I get out of this, I'm going to torture you for an entire year!" The head began to shout expletives the second he came out of the hole.
Hidan's body, which had been playing dead a moment ago, sprung up, and slapped Shizune into the wall.
"Shizune!" Tsunade yelled in a combination of anger and terror.
Retsu's heart sped up, and he began to panic! In a fit of panic, Tsunade was totally going to turn him into a smear on the wall!
Reaching his hand down, Retsu poked both of his fingers into Hidan's eyes.
"Ow! You're dead!" Hidan roared in response.
His body clumsily made its way over towards Retsu and Tsunade, only to trip and fall into the mud.
"C'mon body, what are you doing?!" Hidan shouted in anger.
Reaching out a hand, Tsunade tapped Hidan's headless body. A moment later, his body spasmed like a corpse hooked up to an electrode. It then remained still, and unmoving.
"I'm, okay Lady Tsunade!" Shizune climbed out of a pile of mud, and grit her teeth.
Retsu let out a sigh of relief that Tsunade's ward was safe.
"Explain. Now." Tsunade's loud, rage filled voice was now replaced by one more soft and sinister.
'She's definitely channeling some Orochimaru right now.' Retsu gulped.
"Ahem, I was showing you that I didn't kill anyone! I saw that this guy could take almost any hit, and wouldn't die! In a moment of life or death, I had to protect myself! You saw how crazy he is!" Retsu made sure to cast off all the blame onto the guy who harmed Shizune.
"And I would've killed you all in the name of Lord Jashin if I could!" Hidan mouthed off.
'Thank you Hidan, your sacrifice will not be missed!' Retsu thanked his lucky stars that Hidan was such a loudmouthed idiot.
Tsunade cocked back her fist as if she was about to throw out a punch,
"Wait! What about neutrality, and your uh, grandfathers honor! I didn't kill anyone here, I'm innocent!"
Letting out a tired sigh, Tsunade closed her eyes, then gave Retsu a troubled look. "Beat it kid, you're not worth the trouble."
"I'll remember this kindness." Retsu gave a small bow of acknowledgement, and slowly made his way out of the cave.
"What are you doing bastard, where are you taking me?!" Hidan's head complained from the side.
Looking down, Retsu had question marks in his heart. What the hell was he still doing holding onto this severed head?! Tearing a piece of cloth off his already ragged and dirty kimono, Retsu stuffed some mud into Hidan's mouth, and tied the cloth tight.
At the same time, Shizune bemoaned to Tsunade. "I'm sorry, sensei, I couldn't find the Mandra Grass."
"It's okay, Shizune, medicine is valuable, but ultimately, the body is the foundation to medical ninjutsu." Tsunade gave Shizune a hug.
As Retsu was walking away, he picked up the tail end of Shizune, and Tsunade's conversation.
A mad, insane thought popped into his head. Should he do it? Would it work? If it was anyone else, Retsu would never consider it. But with her? It might be doable!
"Are you willing to trade?" Holding the Mandra Grass in hand, Retsu approached the master and disciple.
"Lady Tsunade, that's-"
"This explains why you cut his head off." Tsunade commented sardonically.
"Eh heh heh heh. You need the Mandra Grass, and I'm selling. This is a neutral ground signed into treaty by our founding Kage! I would never besmirch my village's honor in such a fashion!"
"Okay kid, how much money do you want? I don't have much on me right now, but I can write you an I.O.U. I'm a Senju, my family's rich." Tsunade crossed her arms again, so that her assets popped out.
Retsu struggled internally for a moment. He stole a glance at Tsunade's bountiful mountains, then quickly attempted to maintain eye contact.
The exchange did not go unnoticed.
Tsunade directed a knowing smirk his way.
'Damnit! It's like gym class all over again!'
"As much as it pains me, I don't want money. I want your knowledge!" Retsu grit his teeth, and bitterly made his demands known.
'Goodbye sweet, sweet money. I could've bought the softest pillow with you. Or an actually good microscope.' Retsu shed a tear at the fortune he had just pissed away.
Tsunade's face turned serious at Retsu's declaration.
"That's a sky high price. A kunoichi's life is tethered to her knowledge. Just what exactly do you want?" Tsunade directed a piercing gaze at Retsu.
Taking a big gulp, Retsu began his big ask. "I want your notes on chakra control, thoughts on the nervous system, information regarding seals, the secret behind your healing hands technique, and knowledge on cellular regeneration."
"That's to much! Don't do it Lady Tsunade!" Shizune cried from the side.
Holding up a hand, Tsunade gestured for Shizune to cool it.
Tapping a finger on her cheek, Tsunade stared deep into Retsu's eyes.
"To much. The value of that herb is only worth one of those things."
"What about if you took this guy with you! His body is a limitless supply of blood, and has some basic regeneration!" Retsu held up Hidan's head in offering.
Retsu had considered taking Hidan's body as a prize. It would make the perfect test subject for poisons. However, as a living organism, he would have no way to transport it via storage scroll. Transporting the body of a Tokubetsu Jonin who could potentially attack at any time, and randomly pull some Jashin voodoo nonsense seemed like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off.
Tsunade reluctantly held up two fingers. "So you have two bargaining chips. Say what you want, and do it quick you brat. My patience is running thin looking at all this filth on the floor."
After splitting with Tsunade, Retsu spent the day trekking back to the Monday Typhoon. He cleaned himself off, and shaped his bones to cover the pieces of his torn robe before he returned to the ship. He rushed back in a hurry, and ignored many of the animals that would threaten his life. Retsu was giddy at the idea of studying the notes he had traded for with Tsunade.
When he arrived, at the shore, Retsu spotted the vessel weighing anchor a hundred feet out at sea.
"Ahoy, is that you Retsu?! Shoot a bone in the air, so I know it's you!" Iguru called out from the top of the deck.
Lifting his hand straight up, Retsu launched his ulna out of his forearm, and into the sky.
"Come aboard! Haha, welcome aboard! It's been so boring on this ship keeping watch! Come, come! Let old Iguru tell you some sea stories!" Iguru gripped Retsu by the shoulder, and pulled him toward the bridge the second Retsu boarded the ship.
'Damn, you're not an old man! You're 32 at best!' Retsu cursed in his heart as he was dragged along.
"So there I was, just me, my pet penguin, Skipper, and this huuuge levitating rock!...But what we didn't know, was that the talking cactus was really an old lady in disguise!...Which led to a hoard of silver mint mini figurines!...Eventually, we made sweet sensual love to the Land of Snow's Daimyo's wife. She wanted in on Skipper more than me, can you believe that?!" Iguru went on and on talking about his life experiences, and other tall tales.
Retsu closed his eyes, and tilted his head back. He couldn't help but sight. If he had known he would get cutscened as soon as he boarded the ship, he would've stayed on the island. Even with the constant animal encounters, and threat of other shinobi, he'd still have some time to study the notes Tsunade had imparted to him!
AN: Which character in Naruto did you really like, but feel they got hard nerfed? There's a lot, but I always thought Kimimaru's death by disease was a copout.
We're wrapping up the Seven Herbs Island arc, and moving on to new places! Will definitely be running into some antagonistic Konoha-nin soon. Biggest bunch of bullshit bloodline users imo.