i am kimimaro

Tsunade stared at the smile on Kimimaro's face, momentarily lost in thought. 

Kimimaro's face always reminded her of Dan and Nawaki.

In this moment, even her fear of blood seemed to subside slightly.

"You win."

Shizune was still in the middle of treating him, but the Raikage had already fully recovered, so there was no need to say who won or lost.

Kimimaro's technique had also astonished Tsunade.

To perform a medical ninjutsu that allowed a patient to regain mobility immediately after surgery was no simple feat.

Tsunade could tell how difficult it was, almost like it had opened up a whole new system of medical techniques.

It must be some kind of secret jutsu.

This greatly surprised Tsunade.

The Kaguya clan had not only learned medical ninjutsu, but had also developed a secret technique within it.

Is this talent misplaced? 

No, that's not right.

During the battle, he had dodged the entire time, not even using his Kekkei Genkai, clearly not going all out.

Just his evasion skills alone were comparable to those of a Jonin.

Who is this guy?

Thoughts raced through Tsunade's mind as she quickly organized them.

"Thank you, Lady Tsunade."

Kimimaro breathed a sigh of relief.

The mission was finally complete.

By now, the fully recovered Raikage also walked over.

He extended his right hand and said, "Kimimaro, your medical ninjutsu is truly amazing. If you have the chance, you should visit the Hidden Cloud Village. I'll be sure to treat you well."

Nearby, Ameyuri chimed in, "Yes, Mr. Kimimaro, our medical department in the Hidden Cloud has many advanced medical devices. I think you'd be interested."

"Raikage, are you trying to poach people now?" Tsunade said with a half-smile.

"A talent like Kimimaro is always welcome in the Hidden Cloud. Unlike the Leaf Village, which persecutes its own, the Hidden Cloud is at least safe."

The Raikage's words had an obvious meaning, and Tsunade's face turned pale.

She couldn't argue with that.

She knew her own village well, and Tsunade was fully aware of Konoha's state over the past few years.

Her departure from Konoha was partly because of the deaths of Dan and Nawaki, but also due to the increasing darkness within the village.

After losing the people most important to her, Tsunade couldn't bear to witness the village's internal strife any longer.

It made her feel as though Dan and Nawaki's sacrifices were meaningless.

She couldn't change it, so she chose to leave.

Leaving was a form of escape.

For Tsunade, who had not yet emerged from the shadows of the past, this might have been the best choice.

The atmosphere grew tense.

At that moment, Shizune's treatment was finally complete.

Kimimaro shook the Raikage's hand, breaking the suffocating silence.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Raikage. As one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, I'd love to visit the Hidden Cloud someday.

But not now. I plan to study medical ninjutsu with Lady Tsunade for a while. Once I finish that, I'll be sure to visit."

"Hahaha! Great! With your word, that's enough. I'll be waiting for your visit in the Hidden Cloud."

The Raikage laughed heartily.

Faced with a medical genius like Kimimaro, the Raikage was indeed tempted.

This invitation was also a way to gain Kimimaro's favor.

A skilled medical ninja is more valuable to a village than even a Kage-level fighter.

They could elevate the entire village's medical capabilities.

If it weren't for Tsunade being there, the Raikage would have taken Kimimaro back to the Hidden Cloud right away.

The temptation was just too great.

"You should worry about the Yokai Clan instead. They won't stop until they achieve their goal. Though the explosive bugs have been removed from your body, if it happens again, you might not be so lucky," Tsunade said, taking the opportunity to taunt the Raikage, who she clearly didn't like.

"You don't need to worry about that. I won't fall for the same trap twice."

Having been caught off guard by the Yokai Clan before, the Raikage would not let it happen again.

Now that he knew about the explosive bugs, it was impossible for him to be tricked again.

"Good luck then. Shizune, Kimimaro, we're leaving."

With the treatment done, Tsunade didn't want to stay any longer, so she left with the two of them.

Watching their backs as they departed, the Raikage seemed lost in thought.

"Raikage-sama, are you really going to let them go? If Kimimaro joins Konoha, it won't be good for us," Ameyuri said quietly.

"Don't worry, he won't join Konoha. He's a proud man and won't bow to anyone. There's something more to him. I don't know where he came from, but he's not simple. Ameyuri, once we return, have the Anbu investigate his background. I have a feeling he's more than he seems."

"Yes, Raikage-sama."

"Now that Karai's explosive bugs have been removed, let's head back to the village."

"Understood."

Ameyuri replied, but then suddenly remembered something and quickly added, "Oh, Raikage-sama. When I came to meet you yesterday, new intel arrived from the village."

"What intel?"

"Lady Yugito encountered an unconscious boy on her way back from her mission. She said that the Two-Tails inside her sensed the Three-Tails' chakra in the boy, but the boy himself didn't have the Three-Tails. She thought it was strange."

"A boy with the Three-Tails' chakra? The Three-Tails should be sealed inside the Fourth Mizukage. How could there be a boy like that? Strange. What did Yugito think?"

"She thinks the boy might be the Fourth Mizukage's child, which could explain it."

"The Fourth Mizukage's child? The Hidden Mist has been in isolation for years. Who knows what they've been up to. Maybe we can find some clues from that boy."

The Raikage muttered as he led his group back to the Hidden Cloud Village.

Meanwhile, Kimimaro and the others were already sitting down for breakfast.

"Kimimaro, a deal's a deal. Since you won, I'll study medical ninjutsu with you. As for your Kekkei Genkai disease, I'll do my best to treat it, but I can't promise a full cure."

"I understand. If the Kekkei Genkai disease were easily curable, it wouldn't be considered an incurable condition. But I believe, with our combined medical skills, we can find a path forward."

"With that mindset, we'll be fine."

Tsunade nodded in satisfaction.

"Kimimaro, welcome aboard."

"No need to be so formal, Shizune. Just call me Kimimaro."

"Alright, Kimimaro."

Tonton, the pig, jumped onto Kimimaro's shoulder, visibly happy.

"It seems Tonton likes you a lot," Shizune said, surprised, as it was the first time she'd seen Tonton so affectionate with anyone besides her and Tsunade.

(End of Chapter)