Small Castle
"Tsunade-sama! Why are you drunk again?!"
After wandering around the unfamiliar town for what felt like hours, Yuyan finally spotted a girl about her age rushing toward her.
At last, she had arrived at her destination. Observing the newcomer with mild curiosity, she guessed this was likely the person Bai Ye had mentioned the day before—Tsunade's other disciple, Shizune.
"Sorry about this. Please help me take our idiot of a master back inside."
Shizune came running over and bowed slightly to Yuyan. Her etiquette was refined—clearly a girl from a good background.
Though she respectfully addressed her as Tsunade-sama, Yuyan noticed an easy familiarity in her tone. Their relationship must have been quite close.
"Leave it to me. It's nice to meet you—I'm Hyūga Yuyan."
Yuyan gently stopped Shizune from taking Tsunade's arm and kept a polite smile on her face. Her first impression of Shizune was a good one.
"Ah, just call me Shizune," she replied, surprised by Yuyan's gesture. Her outstretched hand lingered for a second before she responded with a soft smile of her own.
The two girls shared a quiet laugh before supporting the drunken Sannin toward the house nearby.
Once they had Tsunade settled, the two began chatting like old friends reunited after a long absence. As the conversation flowed, Shizune learned more about Yuyan's identity. Before long, she began venting about Tsunade, grumbling without restraint. The sky darkened gradually as her complaints piled up.
"Wait... why is your face so pale all of a sudden? I'm telling you, I can't believe Tsunade dared to stab me—!"
Shizune, still fired up after talking for hours, finally noticed the shift in Yuyan's expression. Yuyan had gone stiff, her hands covering her face.
From behind them came the ominous sound of teeth grinding.
Shizune's stomach dropped.
She inwardly cursed herself for being so loud and forgetting that Tsunade was still in the same house.
"I—I mean! Lady Tsunade really is one of Konoha's legendary Sannin! She dealt with that thief the other day effortlessly!"
Now breaking out into a cold sweat, Shizune scrambled to spin a compliment from memory, desperately trying to save herself.
"I'll deal with you later," Tsunade said darkly, her tone flat. "Pack up. We're leaving."
The Iron Fist of Love landed squarely on Shizune's head before any further protest could be made.
"Leaving? At this hour?" Shizune asked, rubbing the fresh bump, shocked to see her master this serious for once.
"Just do as I say. And you—" she glanced at Yuyan, "—keep quiet and don't ask questions."
Her sharp gaze silenced them both. Yuyan, reading the situation, offered no resistance and helped Shizune gather a few essentials.
Tsunade had deliberately chosen to leave in the middle of the night—likely to avoid the prying eyes of those interested in Yuyan's identity.
Before stepping out, Yuyan pulled a black forehead protector from her robe and tied it securely around her brow.
When the trio slipped out of the village under cover of darkness, Jiraiya was passed out in the guest room of Yue's house, sprawled in a ridiculously indecent position. Yue, for the first time in years, slept beside her mother.
This unlikely pair—Tsunade and her two disciples—became the last group to leave the village.
---
Meanwhile, Bai Ye and his companions had already arrived at their destination.
Upon arrival, both Bai Ye and Hongdou (Anko) were stunned by the sight before them.
It was nothing like what Bai Ye had imagined—no secretive, gloomy lair buried deep underground. Instead, a large and flamboyant complex stood openly aboveground. It resembled a small castle, its structure bold and even arrogant.
Its massive size made it easy to spot from afar, and the interiors were surprisingly sparse—nearly lifeless.
Bai Ye didn't doubt that Orochimaru had the power and influence to construct such a place, but the style felt… wrong. In his mind, the Snake Sannin was more of a shadowy figure, not someone who built gothic mansions out in the open.
Hongdou, meanwhile, was in awe. The grandeur of the place dwarfed anything she'd ever seen in the Hidden Leaf. From the moment they entered, she'd been spinning in circles, marveling at every corridor like a wide-eyed tourist.
"You two go ahead and pick any room you like," Orochimaru said after giving them a brief tour. "Bai Ye—come to the top floor once you've chosen."
Then he vanished, likely to prepare whatever twisted plan he was working on.
"Hey, Bai Ye… which room are you picking?"
The excitement had worn off, and now Hongdou was growing anxious. They hadn't seen a single other soul in the castle—it was deathly quiet.
And now that Orochimaru was gone, the eerie atmosphere thickened.
"I'll take this one," Bai Ye replied flatly.
He had already sensed Hongdou's nervousness—she was practically glued to his back, clutching his sleeve without realizing it.
Bai Ye wasn't being impulsive. He had a plan. Based on the layout, the castle had five floors. Given Orochimaru's parting words, the top floor must be his private domain.
So, Bai Ye picked a room on the first floor, near the main entrance—close enough to escape if anything went south.
"Then I'll take the one next to yours," Hongdou muttered, visibly relieved. She didn't even pretend to want her own space.
The architecture of the building was strange. European-style on the outside, but the interiors—especially the sleeping quarters—were traditionally Japanese. Every room was large, minimally furnished, with futons instead of beds.
Alone in a room like that, in such a quiet place? It could unnerve anyone without a strong will.
"Aaaahhh! I'm such an idiot! We're just kids! Why does it feel so embarrassing to live next to him?!"
The moment she stepped inside her room, Hongdou had a full-blown meltdown. She collapsed to her knees, clutching her head in despair.
"No, I have to stay strong. This is just a little test. I can survive this...!"
Then she flipped again—back to pep-talking herself in exaggerated voices, acting out dramatic scenes solo.
Bai Ye, walking past her door on his way upstairs, paused when he heard the commotion inside. His brows rose.
This… wasn't how Anko was ever shown in the manga.
He'd always seen her as sharp-tongued and intense, but this side of her? It was unexpectedly adorable.
Shaking his head, he resumed climbing.
Upon reaching the fifth floor, Bai Ye noticed the structure here was different. The stairs opened into a small square corridor with walls on all sides—except for a single narrow door ahead.
He opened it.
"You're fast. Give me a minute—I'm still getting things ready," came Orochimaru's voice.
The Sannin didn't turn around. He was hunched over a table, handling unknown materials, his tone casual.
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