i am kimimaro

No matter how beautiful the moonlight is, it will eventually fade.

The morning sun will arrive as promised.

When the sunlight touched Kimimaro, he groggily opened his eyes.

On the balcony, the little pink-skinned pig rolled over contentedly, letting the sun warm its belly. It looked quite adorable.

Kimimaro smiled softly and stretched lazily.

"Ton-Ton? Ton-Ton? Where are you?"

Outside, Shizune's worried voice suddenly echoed.

The pig had disappeared early in the morning.

How could she not be anxious?

If she didn't find it soon, it might end up as someone's braised pork!

Ton-Ton had no combat skills—just a smart, cute pig with an extraordinary sense of smell.

Hearing the commotion, Ton-Ton didn't feel like getting up. It simply rolled over again and continued to sleep soundly.

With a creak, Kimimaro opened the door and saw Shizune in the hallway, searching for the pig.

"Excuse me, are you looking for a little pink-skinned pig?"

"Yes! Did you see it?"

"It's over there."

Kimimaro pointed to the balcony in his room, and Shizune rushed over.

She saw Ton-Ton basking in the sun, sleeping comfortably.

Shizune smiled helplessly.

This little pig sure knows how to enjoy life.

"Sorry for the trouble," Shizune said, a bit embarrassed.

"No worries. It's a pig with character. We had a pleasant chat last night."

"Huh?"

Shizune was surprised.

"You can understand Ton-Ton?"

Kimimaro nodded.

Just as Shizune was about to say something, Tsunade's voice called out.

"Shizune, what are you dawdling for? Have you found Ton-Ton yet?"

Suddenly, Tsunade froze.

She had caught sight of Kimimaro's face.

"Dan…? No, Nawaki?"

For a moment, Tsunade saw the shadows of two people in Kimimaro's face.

"You must be Lady Tsunade, right? Last night, I chatted with Ton-Ton, and it told me you were its owner. I was surprised for a long time. Lady Tsunade is like a goddess to us medical ninjas.

Oh, right. I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Kaguya Kimimaro, a wandering healer."

"A wandering healer? Kaguya Kimimaro? Are you the famous wandering healer?"

Before Tsunade could respond, Shizune spoke in surprise.

"That's me."

As soon as he finished speaking, a gust of wind came toward him!

Kimimaro was startled and instinctively dodged.

Boom!

A punch missed and struck the wall, leaving a large hole.

"L-Lady Tsunade? What are you doing?" Shizune was shocked by Tsunade's sudden attack.

Kimimaro was also confused.

What had gone wrong?

Why was her first move a punch?

Tsunade's face darkened, her gaze fierce as she stared at Kimimaro.

"Who are you? Showing up in front of me with that face—what's your purpose?"

Kimimaro had used Gaia's foundation technique to blend the features of Dan and Nawaki, intending to make Tsunade feel more at ease.

But it had the opposite effect, raising her suspicions instead.

He hadn't anticipated this.

He had been careless.

Now, there was no choice but to continue with the act.

Otherwise, this trip would be for nothing.

"Lady Tsunade, I don't understand what you're talking about."

"Don't understand? Let me make you understand!"

Tsunade's face was icy, clearly not buying Kimimaro's words.

In the next moment, she attacked again!

Tsunade gathered chakra in her feet and accelerated instantly!

This punch was even more powerful. Kimimaro didn't dare be careless. With a quick step, he darted into his room and leapt off the balcony!

Tsunade followed close behind.

Ton-Ton, who had been sleeping, was startled by the sudden rush of shadows, feeling a chill in the air.

"Ton-Ton, stop sleeping. A fight's broken out."

Although Shizune had no idea what was going on, she quickly scooped up Ton-Ton and followed.

The two of them landed one after the other on the street in front of the inn.

"Lady Tsunade…"

Kimimaro still wanted to explain, but Tsunade didn't give him the chance.

Her fists flew, and all Kimimaro could do was keep dodging.

But Tsunade's taijutsu was among the best in the ninja world. With her full power unleashed, her punches were lightning fast.

Kimimaro could feel the wind whipping past his ears, the punches roaring like speeding cars.

"So fast," Kimimaro thought in awe. As Tsunade's punch retracted, she transitioned into a palm strike aimed at his neck.

He couldn't dodge it in time.

Left with no choice, Kimimaro raised his right arm to shield his neck.

Thud!

The heavy blow sent a sharp pain through his arm, and his whole body was thrown backward.

In midair, he flipped and landed steadily.

But his right arm throbbed with pain, bruised and nearly broken.

Tsunade frowned.

"Your bones are tough. Most people would have had their bones shattered by that hit."

Kimimaro took a deep breath. His left hand glowed with blue chakra as he gently brushed over the bruise on his right arm.

The bruise vanished instantly.

And the pain dissipated.

Tsunade's pupils contracted in surprise. Such an impressive healing technique—without even forming hand signs.

In the ninja world, there were fewer than five people capable of such high-level medical ninjutsu.

"Lady Tsunade, I think there's been a misunderstanding between us."

"Hmph!"

Tsunade snorted coldly, showing no intention of stopping.

Seeing this, Kimimaro had no choice but to fight back.

If this kept up, there'd be no end to it.

"My apologies, Lady Tsunade."

Kimimaro's hands formed seals, and blue chakra gathered in his palms, forming blades.

An A-rank jutsu!

Chakra Scalpel!

A high-level medical ninjutsu even more difficult than regular healing.

It could cut open a body without causing injury and be extended.

Facing Tsunade's charge, Kimimaro waved his hand, extending the chakra scalpel to twenty centimeters.

The chakra scalpel could both save lives and take them.

Shizune, watching, was surprised.

"I haven't even mastered that technique yet. He looks younger than me, and he's already learned it? No wonder he's gained so much fame recently. Such talent—only Lady Tsunade can compare."

Ton-Ton, watching the battle, sweated nervously for Kimimaro.

A friend he'd just made yesterday—hopefully he wouldn't meet his end today.

As Kimimaro slashed out with the blade, Tsunade's expression shifted. She abandoned her attack and swiftly dodged, bending backward to avoid the chakra scalpel's sharp edge.

"You've got some skill. No wonder you dared to play tricks in front of me. But it's still not enough! Let's see who you really are!"

Tsunade spun, bent her legs, and suddenly accelerated!

After dodging the chakra scalpel, she aimed a punch straight at Kimimaro's face!

As the fist grew closer, Kimimaro's pupils shrank.

Crap!

No way to dodge!

Bang!

The punch landed squarely on his right cheek!

Kimimaro was sent flying, crashing into a nearby wall.

The wall trembled, cracks spreading out like a spiderweb.

The people on the street had long since fled from the fight.

In this world, ordinary people naturally had the sense and awareness to avoid getting caught up in a ninja's quarrel.

Otherwise, their lives could be lost at any moment.

(End of Chapter)