Chapter 101: Bite Marks

Chapter 101: Bite Marks

The fleeting figure was etched deeply into Tonari's memory, a vague familiarity tugging at his thoughts.

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"You brat! Can't you let a girl win for once?" Tsunade growled, locking Tonari's head in a tight hold and giving him the now-infamous "temple knuckle rub."

"I already held back! Besides, she was the one who picked the fight with Yoshinari, not me! I just handled the aftermath... smartly," Tonari said, freeing himself from her iron grip with difficulty.

Yoshinari, who had been quietly sulking nearby, looked embarrassed. Even with his Sharingan active, he had been caught off guard by the swirling petals. Clearly, a single-tomoe Sharingan had its limits.

As Tonari's words slipped out, the Kusagakure kunoichi, Sayen, flushed with anger. Rolling up her sleeves, she looked ready for another round.

"Sayen! Enough! They've already shown restraint!" barked the older Kusagakure ninja, a man named Mogiho. His sharp reprimand made Sayen reluctantly back down, though not without glaring daggers at Tonari.

Mogiho turned toward Tsunade, offering a strained smile. "I apologize for her behavior. I trust this incident won't affect our negotiations."

Tsunade waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it, Mogiho-san. But about your earlier suggestion…"

Mogiho's face twisted in an awkward grimace before he replied, "Let's consider it a bad idea. I was overly confident. If your students are any indication, Konoha's reputation as the top Hidden Village is well-deserved. Kusagakure is willing to cooperate."

Tonari frowned slightly, piecing together their words. So, they were planning to use them for a sparring match to gauge Konoha's strength? It made sense—pitting young ninjas against each other was less destructive than an all-out battle between seasoned veterans.

Satisfied, Tsunade gave Tonari an approving pat on the head. "Sometimes, having a capable brat around really does make things easier."

As the group made their way to Kusagakure's central building—the largest structure in the village—Tonari lingered behind, glancing toward the alleys.

"I'll catch up later. There's something I need to take care of," he told Tsunade.

She gave him a skeptical look but ultimately relented. "Don't cause trouble. And don't do anything stupid."

Nodding, Tonari watched the group walk away, Sayen included. She shot him one last glare before disappearing into the building with the others. Once they were gone, Tonari turned and followed his instincts—and his memories—into the winding alleys.

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"Little miss, I need your help," Tonari whispered to the Nibi on his shoulder. "There's a faint chakra signature nearby. Can you pinpoint it for me?"

The Nibi tilted its head curiously. "You're quite persistent today... Fine. Let me take a look."

After a brief moment, her blue eyes opened with a flicker of recognition. "There is something unusual nearby. The chakra is faint, almost depleted, but it feels... oddly familiar."

"That's her. Lead me."

Under the Nibi's guidance, Tonari wove through Kusagakure's narrow streets and alleys, moving further from the village's bustling center. As he ventured deeper, the surroundings became increasingly overgrown with plants—some carefully cultivated, others left to grow wild.

The thick vegetation ranged from medicinal herbs to toxic plants. Tonari paused briefly to examine some, noting their potential uses. It wasn't hard to imagine Kusagakure ninjas using these resources to enhance their arsenal of poisons and antidotes.

The plants reminded him of Sayen's poisoned weapons from earlier. Clearly, this village had its niche in the ninja world.

Finally, the trail led him to a small, rundown cluster of straw-roofed huts at the outskirts of the village. The area was silent except for the soft hum of fireflies flitting around overgrown gardens. These meager plots of land seemed to be the sole livelihood of whoever lived here.

Tonari approached one of the huts cautiously, sensing the faint chakra signature emanating from within. His hand reached for the door, but he paused mid-motion.

This would be rude, he thought, lowering his hand with a sheepish smile.

Instead, he sat down outside the door, letting the moonlight wash over him. The pale glow seemed to ease his thoughts, offering a rare moment of serenity in a life dictated by survival and constant vigilance. He hadn't allowed himself such a simple pleasure since arriving in this world.

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Creak.

The door opened slowly, its hinges groaning in protest.

Tonari looked up to see a girl emerge from the shadows. Her red hair gleamed under the moonlight, but her trembling hand clutched a knife. Her eyes—bright crimson and full of fear—locked onto his Konoha headband.

For a moment, Tonari remained silent, letting her adjust to his presence. Then, offering a disarming smile, he broke the tension. "Sorry if I woke you. I didn't mean to disturb anyone."

The girl didn't reply. She bit her lip, shifting nervously as she slowly hid the knife behind her back. Her gaze flickered between him and the headband, fear gradually overshadowing her earlier resolve.

"Relax," Tonari said gently, raising his hands in a show of peace. "I'm not here to—"

"I-I can heal you," she interrupted, her voice shaky but earnest. "One thousand ryo... no! Two thousand per session..."

The girl pushed up her sleeve, revealing her forearm.

Tonari's breath caught in his throat.

Her pale skin was covered in bite marks, some fresh and raw, others old and scarred. The sight struck him like a physical blow, each mark telling a story of desperation and exploitation.

He tried to speak, but no words came. He could only stare at the girl's arm, at the evidence of what she had endured.

In that moment, the cruel reality of the ninja world hit him harder than ever before. This wasn't just a world of power and glory—it was a world where survival often came at the cost of one's dignity and humanity.

The girl mistook his silence for hesitation and extended her arm further. "Please... I need the money..."

Tonari clenched his fists, his mind racing. He couldn't ignore what he was seeing. This wasn't just about chakra—it was about survival in a system that chewed up the weak and spat them out.

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(Chapter End)

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