Chapter 25: The Secret Base and the Slug

Yuto quickly returned to the Land of Hot Water.

The Land of Frost's territory was small, and when Yuto crossed the border, the sky was only just beginning to lighten.

Using the last cover of night, he found a valley and raised his fist, smashing it downwards.

Using his Chakra Enhanced Strength on his wrist, the ground trembled slightly, creating a two-meter-deep pit.

Bang, bang, bang—another series of punches hit the ground. Soon, an L-shaped underground structure appeared in front of him, with the deepest part reaching forty meters below the surface.

Yutoa's hands were wrapped in a glowing blue light, a medical ninjutsu similar to the chakra scalpel, perfect for cutting tumors off a patient's surface, but now used to smooth out the tunnel's soil.

Flattening the protruding rocks in the pit, Yuto activated a scroll, releasing blocks of red wood. These trees, growing in the southern red forest of the Land of Fire, were moisture-resistant, insect-proof, and soundproof, making them the best material for the outer walls of an underground base.

After building the walls, Yuto sealed the soil and rocks he had dug out into a scroll, planning to dispose of them elsewhere.

The subsequent work was detailed and tedious: multiple security devices, deadly traps at the underground base entrance, ventilation and sewage pipes, and emergency escape tunnels. Yuto even buried a significant number of explosive tags at the deepest point. These were self-destruct mechanisms powerful enough to collapse the entire underground base, burying all evidence.

Finally, Yuto placed the tools he had bought from the bounty station in the secret base. Six large medical tanks were lined up, facing a long metal table covered with various medical tools and instruments.

Everything in order, Yuto exhaled lightly and lay on the ground.

The dim oil lamp burned slowly. An underground chamber always conjures thoughts of eerie darkness, but to Yuto, this place was more comfortable than the Hyuga clan grounds.

This was entirely his own, a secret base.

At this moment, he was the only one here, but with the outbreak of war, this place would no longer be lonely.

"I made a lot of money, but it's still not enough," thought Yuto as he lay on the ground.

According to his plan, he needed six more secret bases. All these bases would be in small countries, more specifically, each small country bordering the Land of Fire. Yuto planned to establish an underground stronghold in each to store medical tools and supplies.

The upcoming Third Shinobi World War would last three years. Yuto didn't know which battlefields he would be sent to, so, like a cautious rabbit, he decided to set up secret bases in all possible locations to store and research his "spoils of war."

Yuto lay down for a while and dozed off. The underground environment made it hard to sense time, and when he woke up, his head felt a bit groggy, clearly from oversleeping.

He knocked his head, sat up, and started planning his next move.

It had been about two days since he killed the wealthy defector in the Land of Hot Water. Such public figures' deaths spread quickly, so the upper echelons of the Land of Fire and Konoha would certainly know the assassination target was dead.

Konoha shinobi missions were not indefinite. Generally, assassinations required reporting back within five days. Considering unforeseen circumstances like being pursued by strong enemies, the reporting time could be extended to ten days.

But for Yuto, this time was clearly not enough. Doing village missions could never be as profitable as getting high bounties from the bounty station. Besides, if the next mission required a team, it would be hard for Yuto to find an excuse to act alone.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, he had to make more money and establish two more bases.

Yuto took out paper and a pen and, after careful consideration, began writing a letter to Tsunade,

[Dear Sensei,

I have completed the mission but had a sudden inspiration regarding the new jutsu while returning to the village. Therefore, I want to stay outside for a while longer. I will definitely return within a month. When you receive this letter, the news of the assassination target, Asakawa Hiroshi's death, should have reached Konoha. Please convey my greetings and apologies to the Hokage.

Also, Sensei, I saw a beautiful jade in the Land of Hot Water, said to bring good luck.]

After checking the content of the letter and confirming there were no mistakes, Yuto left the base, put on a cotton coat, and walked alone into the snow until he crossed over a dozen mountains before stopping.

He put his thumb in his mouth, bit it, and then pressed his whole hand against a tree.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

With a bang, after a puff of white smoke, a peculiar creature appeared, about the size of an adult's torso. Its appearance was that of a soft-bodied creature, somewhat like a shell-less snail, with small eyes at the ends of its two antennae, both a bit disgusting and inexplicably cute.

This was Tsunade's summoning beast, Katsuyu!

Of course, this was just a small part of the giant Katsuyu.

After becoming Tsunade's disciple, Yuto signed a blood contract for summoning in the third month.

"Ah, Yuto-kun, it's so cold here—"

Katsuyu started shivering as soon as it appeared in the icy wilderness. Its soft body looked increasingly stiff, almost like it was about to freeze.

What a nice voice... Yuto thought mischievously, respectfully saying, "Katsuyu-sama, sorry for summoning you here. To be brief, I would like you to deliver a letter to my sensei."

Katsuyu swallowed the letter. Just as it was about to disappear, Yuto stopped it.

"Eh... Katsuyu-sama, wait... please also deliver this jade pendant to my sensei. It's a beautiful warm jade said to bring good luck. Haha, my sensei loves good luck."

The jade pendant was something left behind by a group of bandits, kept as a treasure by their leader. It was indeed beautiful, warm to the touch, and even had a natural "千" character pattern on it, making it perfect for Tsunade.

—Whether as a "Senju" or a "gambling" addict, the blonde woman would likely appreciate it. When out of money, it could be a valuable item to pawn for another round, full of both aesthetic and practical value.

The essence of being a good disciple lies in these seemingly insignificant details. Yuto, the little rascal, never missed an opportunity to touch his teacher's heart.

"Ah? Yuto-kun is so thoughtful..." Katsuyu was a gentle summoning beast, very kind to people, unlike the violent snake and rogue toad it was often compared to. Because of Tsunade, it saw Yuto as a kohai.

It swallowed the jade pendant and vanished with a bang.

After Katsuyu left, Yuto breathed a sigh of relief. Being Tsunade's disciple was crucial; just her protection and connections provided him with great convenience.

(End of Chapter)

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