Chapter 44: Tenchi's Imprisonment
That's right. Tenchi had given Tsunade the training method for the Strength of a Hundred Seal Jutsu. He had spent his last 10 system points to exchange for it.
"This... this is...!" Tsunade stared at the scroll in her hands, her voice a whisper of pure shock.
"Tsunade, I know your talent for medical ninjutsu is incredible. But medical-nin can't always be on the front lines. With this technique, in just a few years, you'll be able to fight at the forefront of any battle and protect those who need you." Tenchi gently patted her head, his expression fond.
"Thank you... thank you, Tenchi," Tsunade stammered, her face flushing red as she accepted the precious gift.
Tenchi then turned to Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru, we've been together a while now, but I've been unsure what ninjutsu to teach you. You seem suited to almost any style. This scroll contains the training methods for all five basic nature transformations and several combination ninjutsu. Take it and study it slowly." He handed the scroll to the pale boy.
Tenchi had exchanged his last 10 points for this comprehensive training manual. Because it was a method for learning, not the pre-mastered jutsu themselves, it was relatively inexpensive, finally resetting his point balance to zero.
"Thank you, Brother Tenchi." Orochimaru's face, which had fallen slightly when Tenchi said he didn't know what to teach him, now lit up with genuine gratitude. He accepted the scroll with both hands.
And so, they continued their journey, practicing their new ninjutsu along the way. It finally took them half a month to reach the outskirts of Konoha—a trip that should have taken only a few days. It had taken Jiraiya a full week just to master the first stage of the Rasengan.
The other two had also grown stronger. Jiraiya and Tsunade had reached solid Chunin level, while Orochimaru was now an Elite Chunin.
"Ah! Finally! We're almost back to Konoha! I'm so homesick!" Jiraiya yelled, excited at the sight of the village gates.
"Yeah, I didn't expect this mission to take so long. I've actually missed the place," Orochimaru admitted with a rare, soft smile.
"Tenchi, do you miss Konoha?" Tsunade asked him gently. Over the past half-month, the two had grown much closer.
"To be honest, if I could, I'd rather not come back," Tenchi said with a sigh of resignation.
"Why would you say that? Doesn't everyone want to go home?" Tsunade asked, her expression puzzled.
"You'll find out soon enough." Tenchi walked ahead without looking back. He said it because he had already spotted two ANBU operatives, their cat masks unmistakable, standing by the gate. He had a strong feeling they were there for him.
Step by step, they approached the gate.
"Hey, we're ba—" Jiraiya started to call out to the guards, but his words were cut short as the two ANBU ninja suddenly hurled heavy chains.
The chains shot straight for Tenchi, wrapping around him tightly. He saw them coming but didn't resist, allowing himself to be captured without a fight. He knew why they were here.
"Uchiha Tenchi. You're coming with us," the ANBU said, their voices cold and impersonal.
"Yeah..." Tenchi didn't argue. He simply let them take hold of him.
The ANBU were surprised it was so easy. They had expected a struggle. But they weren't about to question his cooperation; it just made their job simpler.
Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru, who had been in the dark, watched in horror as Tenchi was arrested.
"Wait! Why are you arresting him? What's the reason?" Tsunade stepped directly in front of the ANBU, blocking their path. Jiraiya and Orochimaru immediately flanked her.
"That's right! You need to give us an explanation!" Jiraiya demanded. Tenchi had done so much for them; they felt they had to stand up for him.
The ANBU ninja stared back coldly. "We follow orders. We don't give explanations. If you want to know why he's being arrested, ask the Hokage."
"Hmph! We not only completed our mission, we surpassed it! Why are you arresting him? Asking the Hokage? The Hokage can't just act like a tyrant! We're not moving! You are not taking him anywhere today!" Tsunade declared, her hands planted firmly on her hips.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru drew their kunai, adopting fighting stances. They were ready to fight to prevent Tenchi from being taken.
"Are you obstructing an official order?" the ANBU warned. "I advise you to step aside. Interfering with an arrest is a crime. We have the authority to detain you as well. Think carefully."
"I don't care about that! You're not taking him!" Tsunade stood her ground, stubborn and defiant.
"In that case, don't blame us." The ANBU prepared to engage.
"Enough!" Tenchi's voice cut through the tension. He had remained silent until now. "Tsunade, step aside. Don't cause trouble for the village."
"No, Tenchi! If we get out of the way, it means the village is being unfair, arresting people for no reason! I will never let them take you like this!" Tsunade shot back, her anger directed at the two ANBU. She couldn't accept such injustice in the village her grandfather had founded.
"Listen to me. I *am* at fault this time. The village is right to do this. Tsunade, please, move." Tenchi tried to reason with her.
"What fault? What did we do wrong? We completed the mission together! There's nothing wrong with that! *They're* the ones in the wrong!" Tsunade insisted, pointing an accusing finger at the ANBU. It was clear she and Tenchi were talking about two completely different things.
Seeing that reasoning was useless, Tenchi's eyes shifted. The tomoe of his Sharingan spun, and he cast a genjutsu on Tsunade. Her defiant tirade cut off mid-sentence as she froze in place, trapped in the illusion.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru noticed immediately and moved to break the genjutsu, but Tenchi's voice stopped them.
"Don't. Just take her to the side. Don't interfere, or I'll put you under a genjutsu, too."
Hearing the steel in his voice, the two reluctantly guided the motionless Tsunade out of the way.
"Don't be so impulsive next time, Tsunade," Tenchi said softly to the entranced girl. He then walked off with the two ANBU. This time, they didn't try to restrain him further; they simply let him walk ahead while they followed. A man who could cast genjutsu without seals while bound was not someone to provoke unnecessarily.
The ANBU were just following orders. They didn't know the specifics of Tenchi's "crime." If they had known he had single-handedly attacked another Great Ninja Village and won, they would have been terrified.
And so, without seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tenchi was taken directly to Konoha's dark, subterranean prison. Upon entry, the guards moved to put a blindfold on him.
Tenchi flared his chakra, creating a palpable pressure that pushed them back. "If I wanted to escape, a blindfold wouldn't stop me."
The guards, aware of his reputation and power, didn't press the issue. They locked him in a cell, the chains still binding his arms.
He sat down in the dim cell without a word, quietly waiting. He knew Hiruzen Sarutobi would come to see him. It was only a matter of time.