Incurable Illness

It took Jiraya three months to track down Tsunade to a bar in the Land of Vegetables. Finding her was never easy, even with one of the best spy networks in all Elemental Nations.

Entering a modest sake bar, Jiraya spotted Tsunade with her apprentice Shizune and pet pig Tonton, drinking like no tomorrow.

"Long time no see, Tsunade", Jiraya sat opposite to Tsunade with a cheeky smile.

"Huh, Jiraya in Monkey sensei again calling me back?" Tsunade asked, eyeing the scroll Jiraya pulled out.

"No, it was a personal request from Itsuki." Jiraya offhandedly replied but carefully monitored Tsunade's reaction. Technically Tsunade should not know Itsuki but he had a sneaking suspicion for years that Tsunade maintained contact with the Medic department even after she left Konoha. Given that Tsunade is still believed as their head despite basically abandoning them was baffling in itself.

And true to his hunch, Tsunade did not ask who Itsuki was. She did not even act to make him not suspicious. She simply took the scroll and started to read, any trace of drunkenness vanishing from her face.

Unsealing few writing supplies, Tsunade started working on the scrolls with a single-minded focus. The day passed and night came but Tsunade kept glued to her seat. Neither Shizune nor Jiraya disturbed her or left. When the shopkeeper asked them to leave, Jiraya handed him a thick stack of Ryo to leave them alone overnight. For him seeing Tsunade this focused, so unlike her usual Drunken, Broken self reminded him of old times. Then all others saw Tsunade as a spoilt princess and to a certain extent, she was. But very few knew how brilliant she is when she decided to apply herself.

It was dawn when Tsunade put down her pen. She was scowling at the paper before rolling and throwing at the face of sleeping Jiraya.

"Huh, you done?" Jiraya caught the scroll before it could hit him, waking up instantly. Sending a glance at the sleeping form of Shizune, he asked Tsunade, "How about we go on a walk?"

Tsunade nodded but not before picking up a sake bottle from behind the counter. Making away outside, they roof hopped till reaching a cliff overlooking the entire city. Tsunade pulled out sake and poured in two cups Jiraya pulled out of somewhere.

"So, you indeed know Itsuki," Jiraya stated.

Tsunade nodded. Jiraya smiled, "I figured that much. That kid does not respect anybody, not even Hokage or me but he always refers to your name with an honorific."

"I thought you would want to know more about what is in the scroll?" Tsunade tried to divert the topic.

"I admit I am curious. Is it another jutsu, because I saw his handiwork with another one and I must say, I am damn impressed." Jiraya decided not to press the matter and take the bait.

"It is a jutsu I admit but I have no idea even what it is supposed to do other than one thing it." Tsunade ended in a foreboding tone.

"And what is that?" Jiraya asked.

"Complete immunity to the user to any and all genjutsu other than users own," Tsunade stated. Jiraya's jaw dropped. Immunity to all genjutsu is not something Tsunade will say lightly, she knew the existence of Mangekyo Sharingan and its horrific inherent techniques like Tsukuyomi and Izanami.

Ignoring the look of shock on Jiraya's face, she continued, "And for what I could guess that is just a side-effect of real technique. He wants to force some sort of evolution of chakra but I can only guess."

"And you have been helping him..."

"He wants me to make a backdoor in the technique so he is not immune to genjutsu he applies to himself. Been working for a year on it but he strangely got anxious enough to send you to personally deliver. Do you have any idea why?"Tsunade questions.

"Hmmm...no idea." But internally Jiraya believes it has something to do with what happened on the night of the Uchiha massacre. Tsunade does not continue the line of conversation.

Both quietly enjoyed sake while watching the sunrise.

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"I think it is high time I leave. By the way, you know any blacksmith here?" It was about noon that Jiraya decided to leave Tsunade and Shizune.

"Why? Blacksmiths here does not make weapons," Tsunade replied, a little too harshly.

"No no, I just find out what this metal is?" Jiraya unsealed a black metallic arrow given by Itsuki and showed it to Tsunade.

"I have been asking every blacksmith I could find but no one knows which metal or alloy is this. I was on my way to Land of Iron to find something similar." Jiraya lamented.

Tsunade examined the arrow and saw seals inscribed on the metal. Now Tsunade is no seal master but she is no novice either. "Who was the idiot who inscribed seals directly on metal without any chakra medium."

"That idiot happens to be Itsuki. And before you ask, seals work without a medium." Jiraya changed chakra into the arrow causing the middle and tail seal to glow, signaling their activation.

"No metal I know could have seals directly inscribed on them," Tsunade stated, but soon adopted a disinterested facade.

"Whatever, just leave me alone." Tsunade shooed Jiraya out of her hotel room.

Sensing Jiraya leaving, Tsunade called Shizune, "Reach capital of Wind, I will take a detour."

"Ahh, Tsunade-sama, are you again going to Konoha?" Shizune questioned.

Tsunade did not reply, opting to leave through the window.

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Sitting in his office, Itsuki was reading some medical reports. The last three months were not kind to Itsuki. He still could not fully deal with trauma. But the real problem was the girl he saved had a rare genetic disease with no known cure.

His dulled eyes zoomed on one name in particular. 'Ichika' meaning one thousand flowers. It was the name he decided for her to disassociate from her previous identity. A name he gave her when everyone has given up all hope for her survival. But it was his promise to her parents that drove him. But even with his vastly superior Mystic Yang palm, he was only delaying the inevitable. At best she has a year left to live.

Kito knocked on the door and entered Itsuki's office. He looked at ragged hair and bags under Itsuki's eyes and sighed. Kito and many other medics have tried to explain to Itsuki that sometimes it is simply not possible to save everybody but Itsuki stubbornly refused to give up. Even Tsunade watched her loved ones die in front of her. They just hoped he was able to bear the pain and grow out of it instead of succumbing to it like Tsunade.

As for the chance of treating her, it simply was not possible. Any genetic disease was incurable. It simply was not possible no matter how talented a medic was.

Kito signed and was about to say something when someone's presence behind him interrupted him.

Kito turned and was surprised by the newcomer. Giving a quick bow, Kito left the office. Itsuki too sensing the newcomer, raised his head and stood up from his seat.

Giving a bow, Itsuki greeted the newcomer.

"Welcome to my office, Elder Danzo-sama."

Danzo nodded and featured Itsuki to take his seat before continuing, "Itsuki, I have a proposition for you."