Chapter 75: Reminiscence

The group immediately set off, with Tsunade grabbing the client and taking off at high speed while Orochimaru and Jiraiya followed.

This caught almost everyone off guard, as no one expected her to directly carry the client she was supposed to be protecting.

However, this action seem to enliten something in Sakumo as a glint passed in his eye.

'I see.' he thought to himself before he proceeded to do the same to his client.

This basically sparked everyone who had a client to begin carrying their client to increase their chances of moving to the next stage.

Back to Tsunade, Jiraiya sped up to go next to Tsunade as he asked her

"What made you pick him up directly Tsuna? Isn't is dangerous for the client?"

"I think that he'll be just fine right now." Tsunade answered back in a cryptic manner, confusing Jiraiya further while Orochimaru simply stayed quiet while examining their client.

After traveling a good distance, the group stopped to rest and rebuild their strength.

While Tsunade and Orochimaru set up the cave and the food for them to eat, Jiraiya spoke to their escort.

"Say old man, what's your name?" Jiraiya asked.

The man at first snorted at Jiraiya, however a strange glint flashed in his eye before he responded "Kasume."

Jiraiya then proceeded to barrage the man with questions, though he mostly answered in blank short answers while paying him little attention.

Orochimaru and Tsunade finally finished their tasks, after which the group began to rest after eating, with Tsunade telling them that they should begin moving out in the morning.

However, while the future sannin rested, Kasume who was posed at the client looked silently at the night sky.

He thought back to Jiraiya's barrage of question and fell into his own memories.

He remembered when he first became a Jonin right before the 1st Great Shinobi War, and the joy he had on becoming a teacher.

He had planned to train his students at a slow pace, with him hoping that the 3 of them could surpass him in strength in the future.

All of his students had bubbly and energetic personalities, however they grew to be able to deal with the hardships that come with being a shinobi.

Watching them grow had become the light of his life, and brought him immense happiness.

But, this happiness was short lived, as during the war, he lost each of his students one by one, with him losing each of them on subsequent missions.

What hurt him most was that he didn't lose them all at once, but instead, had to suffer the dread and despair of losing each of them one after another, while also watching the survivors of his students feel similar feelings.

After their deaths, he became a member of the ANBU and worked in his missions without a single shred of emotion.

However, Jiraiya's questioning made him feel something he hadn't felt in years. Not simply annoyance, but instead, he felt as if he had once again returned to the time when his students were alive.

He was broken out of his thoughts as he felt someone beside him, with him sharply turning to see Tsunade looking at the night sky as well.

Tsunade looked at him with a look that was familiar to him before she turned back to the sky.

The two stood in silence for a while before she spoke

"I know how hard it is to lose someone. I've had to feel the feeling twice in the past. But, if the people you lost are any similar to the ones I lost, then I feel that they wouldn't want you to fall so deep into your grief like you have."

Kasume eyes widen and looked at her, however, before he could respond, Tsunade brought a kunai out of her storage seal and blocked a blade that was intended for him.

"We're under attack!!" Tsunade yelled to wake up Orochimaru and Jiraiya, after which, the battle began.

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