Chapter 19 : Jigen!!

"Should we head to Tanzaku Town first?"

Uchiha Sogetsu eyed Tsunade skeptically and asked, "Are you sure you're not secretly planning to gamble? You look like you're ready to roll the dice again."

"Ahem! No way!" Tsunade stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at him. "Do I seem like the type who can't stay away from the casino?" 

Her words said one thing, but her guilty expression told a different story.

Sogetsu's skepticism was well-founded. After all, Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin, the founder of Konoha's medical ninja system, and the director of Konoha Hospital, almost gambled away the entire hospital in one night. 

If it hadn't been for the intervention of the Hokage's personal guard, Anbu, she might have gambled herself into oblivion. It's no wonder he was wary of her intentions.

Tsunade blushed under Sogetsu's probing gaze. She tried to defend herself, but her confidence faltered. "Well, there's a seal south of Tanzaku Town, so I thought it would be convenient to go there."

Sogetsu, unfazed, pointed at the scroll to show the actual distance between their current location and Tanzaku Town. 

"The town is in the southwest, and it's more than 170 kilometers away from our current destination. Are you sure this is a simple side trip, Tsunade-sama?"

"It's on the way south, isn't it?" Tsunade looked like a reprimanded schoolgirl as she twisted her jade-like fingers together and pouted. "Besides, we need to disguise ourselves a bit if we're traveling this much. Don't want to draw too much attention, right?"

She had a point. The scroll listed more than a dozen sealing locations scattered across the Land of Fire. With Sogetsu wearing an Anbu mask and Tsunade's reputation, they were bound to attract attention. Her idea of blending in by buying disguises seemed plausible.

However, Sogetsu wasn't buying it entirely. He saw through her ruse. "Then why didn't you mention this when we were in Konoha this morning?" he challenged.

"I forgot." Tsunade spread her hands with a fake innocence, a weak attempt to defend her oversight.

Sogetsu sighed, knowing he'd have to give in. "Alright, fine. We'll go to Tanzaku Town first, but we're only staying for one day. Deal?"

"All right!" Tsunade's eyes flashed with a hint of mischief, her smile revealing a sense of triumph.

Having settled on a plan, Uchiha Sogetsu didn't waste time. His goal was to get to Tanzaku Town as quickly as possible, rest for the night, and then move on to the location of the seal. The journey was quiet, with only the rustling of leaves and distant bird calls to keep him company.

By the time he reached Tanzaku Town, the sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the neon signs. He'd been running nonstop since the previous night, and the fatigue was starting to catch up with him. "Huff... huff..." He bent over, hands on his knees, breathing heavily.

"Tsk, tsk, kid, not much stamina, huh? Getting tired already?" Tsunade stood nearby, looking completely unbothered. Her breathing was steady, and her expression was calm, but her teasing tone was undeniable. "Why don't you call me 'sis'? Maybe then I'll teach you a thing or two when I'm happy."

"No thanks, Tsunade-sama," Uchiha Sogetsu replied, straightening up after a deep breath. "Remember, you promised me something else."

"Oh, I know, I know." Tsunade's voice turned cold as she rolled her eyes, her lips curling slightly. "If you don't want to ask nicely, then I'm not interested in teaching you." With that, she brushed past him and walked into the lively streets of Tanzaku Town, leaving him to his own devices.

"Women... such a hassle," Uchiha Sogetsu sighed. He followed her into the heart of Tanzaku Town, curious about the bustling nightlife.

Despite all his missions, he'd never had a chance to visit Tanzaku Town before. It was the entertainment hub of the Land of Fire, filled with casinos, amusement parks, and luxury hotels. 

Neon signs blazed from every corner, and people filled the streets, enjoying the lively atmosphere. It reminded him of the modern cities from his past life.

He had taken off his Anbu mask, hoping to blend in. Following Tsunade's lead, he checked into a hot spring hotel. As if catching the infectious energy of the city, Tsunade didn't even bother to rest; she left without a word, no doubt heading to a casino.

"Well, I might as well explore too," he thought to himself. Tanzaku Town truly came alive at night, and Uchiha Sogetsu wasn't about to miss out on the experience.

The street was bustling with tourists, with charming women on both sides enticing passersby. It was Flower Street, where lively chatter and colorful sights met at every corner.

Uchiha Sogetsu wandered down the street, seemingly detached from the chaos around him, as if he were invisible to everyone else. 

He was here to 'observe' the crowd, to understand the hidden narratives that unfolded amidst the buzz. There were always interesting things to notice among the constant flow of people.

Something felt off. There were hardly any ninjas among the crowd. Were they rogue ninjas? Or perhaps spies from another village? 

Uchiha Sogetsu mused over the possibilities. No wonder Jiraiya favored this place for gathering intel. Flower Street had always been a hotbed for information.

Suddenly, a loud thud echoed as Uchiha Sogetsu, deep in thought, collided with someone. He stumbled back a couple of steps.

The man he bumped into was large and muscular, with a towering presence. He wore a simple white monk's robe, and his hair was neatly gathered at the top with a long braid hanging down his back. 

Under his left eye, a small black Roman numeral 'IV' tattoo stood out. Despite the imposing appearance, he clasped his hands and bowed deeply, speaking with a gentle tone.

"Namo Amitabha. I'm sorry, my friend. I was lost in thought and didn't see you. I hope I didn't hurt you," he said with genuine concern.

Uchiha Sogetsu rubbed the back of his head, flashing a sheepish grin. "No harm done. I should've been paying more attention." He noted the monk's youthful face, guessing he was about twenty years old.

The monk nodded and bowed again, ready to leave. "If you're okay, I'll take my leave now," he said courteously.

But just as the monk turned to go, Uchiha Sogetsu called out, "Wait, Mr. Monl. I have a question for you."

The monk was taken aback for a moment, then halted and looked back at the person addressing him with a puzzled expression: "May I ask what you need, donor?"

"Since we've met, it must be fate," Uchiha Sogetsu replied with a smile. "My name is Uchiha Obito. What about you?"

"The Uchiha clan? The famous one?" The monk was briefly stunned. He hadn't expected the young man to be so direct, but he quickly composed himself and replied with a friendly smile: "I'm Jigen, a wandering monk."

"Jigen, that's a wonderful name," Uchiha Sogetsu remarked thoughtfully. "It's a pleasure to meet you. If there's a chance, I hope we can meet again."

"Goodbye, young monk," he added as he turned to leave.

Jigen smiled and pressed his hands together in a respectful gesture before quickly continuing on his way.

"Ah, Jigen," Uchiha Sogetsu murmured as he watched the monk's retreating figure. His gaze grew colder as he observed the monk's departure.

Earlier, Sogetsu had been using his 'psychological invisibility' ability, so no one, whether pedestrians or ninjas, had noticed him passing by. But Jigen not only noticed him, he had even bumped into him.

"Coincidence? Ha, that's an excuse that might work on a child, but it's not fooling me," Sogetsu thought to himself.

"The fact that Jigen showed up is telling," he mused as he looked up at the moon in the sky. "This ninja world is becoming more and more interesting."

Meanwhile, Jigen, who had been leaving, stopped and turned around, sensing something amiss. He looked back down the road where he'd come from.

"Was that an illusion?" he muttered to himself with a frown. "That kid's gaze was... strange."

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