Naruto: Wood-Wood Fruit

Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Summer Festival



Time flew by.

In a blink, half a month had passed since Kiyoshi and Karin reunited with Tsunade and Shizune in the Land of Hot Water.

Finally, the eagerly anticipated summer festival in the Land of Hot Water had arrived, drawing countless visitors and travelers.

"Boom! Boom!" 

Fireworks exploded one after another in the night sky, casting radiant colors across the darkness.

"Wow."

Karin, dressed in a white yukata adorned with a delicate flower pattern and wearing flat wooden sandals, hopped out of the inn.

Her excitement was boundless.

Her youthful energy shone with liveliness and charm as her eyes sparkled, gazing up at the fireworks bursting overhead.

"So beautiful." She exclaimed in awe.

"Hurry up, Lady Tsunade, Shizune-senpai. and Kiyoshi, come on." 

She couldn't contain her impatience, calling out to Tsunade, Shizune, and Kiyoshi, who were still lingering inside the inn.

By now, the streets were bustling with crowds. 

Many people wore yukatas, some even donning oni masks, while others carried their children along with various types of lanterns. It was a vibrant celebration.

"What's the rush?"

Kiyoshi rolled his eyes.

Instead of traditional attire, he sported a stylish white cloak with an intricate pattern of his personal Mangekyo emblem embroidered on it. 

The entire look made him appear composed and charming.

Karin, momentarily dazed, couldn't help but blush.

Several young women on the street, their eyes fixed on Kiyoshi, watched with admiration and threw flirtatious glances in his direction, some even openly ogling.

"You're practically drooling," Kiyoshi teased as he glanced at the starstruck Karin.

Karin snapped back, rubbing her forehead where he'd tapped her. 

"Ouch... you're so mean, Kiyoshi." She pouted, her face flushed red. "It's not because of you. This fruit is just too sweet, that's all."

"Shizune-senpai, come on out already."

After several rounds of urging, Shizune finally emerged from the inn, shyly stepping forward in a bright red yukata.

Though it was called a yukata, it differed significantly from the traditional, conservative style. 

Designed by Kiyoshi himself, the outfit had a butterfly-like sash at the back and reached just enough to cover her hips, paired with black shorts underneath.

Her long, slender legs, wrapped in white stockings and red wooden sandals, caught everyone's attention.

"This outfit suits you perfectly, Shizune-senpai." 

Kiyoshi remarked with a warm smile, his gaze brushing over her figure that had developed gracefully over the past days due to his persistence.

Shizune's cheeks reddened as she spun around, exclaiming, "All thanks to you, Kiyoshi."

Although she had grown accustomed to wearing Kiyoshi's bold designs daily, tonight's festive red yukata, both chic and cheerful, made her feel particularly elated. 

She had already admired herself in it countless times before the mirror in her room.

And just as Kiyoshi had said, her figure had changed significantly, accentuating curves that hadn't been there before. She could hardly recognize herself.

"It's so lively tonight. shall we go?"

Tsunade stepped forward, her golden hair tied back, wearing a green yukata with a white flower design. 

Although not as striking as Shizune's bright red, her outfit still drew plenty of attention. Even the loose yukata couldn't hide her graceful form.

Several tourists stopped to gawk, much to the dismay of their jealous partners. 

Others saw their girlfriends fixating on Kiyoshi's dashing figure with starry eyes, which triggered pangs of envy and frustration.

Some couples even began quarreling right then and there, accusing each other of staring too much.

"Heh." 

Kiyoshi and Tsunade exchanged an amused glance and chuckled in unison.

"If Jiraiya could see this, he'd definitely regret leaving early." 

Tsunade said with a grin, crossing her arms as she watched the young women around them in colorful yukatas.

"Lady Tsunade, can we please go now? I heard there's an acrobatics show on the other side." Karin tugged at Shizune, eager to dive into the festivities.

Kiyoshi and Tsunade exchanged a look, smiling helplessly as they followed.

"Hmm?" 

Tsunade suddenly raised an eyebrow.

Ever since she had consumed the devil fruit grown from the First Hokage's cells, not only had she acquired Wood Release, but her sensory abilities had also heightened considerably. 

Tonight, she noticed several unfamiliar chakra signatures in the town, and one of them was particularly ominous.

"Probably some ninja drawn here by the festival."

Noticing her change in expression, Kiyoshi guessed what was on her mind and shrugged, smiling calmly. 

"There's no need to pay much attention to it."

"You're right," Tsunade nodded with a soft smile. Aside from Uchiha Madara, if he was even still alive, what threat could possibly concern their group of four?

Even the mysterious Akatsuki that Jiraiya had warned her about, rumored to be targeting tailed beasts, didn't seem to be a threat. 

Thanks to Kiyoshi's guidance in the Spirit Transformation Jutsu, she had mastered Wood Release to the point of flawlessly wielding various Wood-Style techniques.

Tsunade, once considered the weaker of the Sannin in terms of raw combat, now stood as the strongest among them. 

Kiyoshi had assured her that she could easily subdue a rampaging tailed beast with her Wood Release powers.

Watching Karin bouncing excitedly ahead, and Shizune smiling brightly, her lively personality fully on display, Tsunade crossed her arms and said with certainty, "That strong chakra presence is likely a Jinchuriki, isn't it?"

She hadn't expected to encounter a Jinchuriki in the Land of Hot Water. Typically, villages would not allow these strategic "living weapons" to roam freely.

In the direction of that formidable chakra, a figure clad in a loose, blue haori and a demonic mask slipped through the crowd.

"Looks familiar." 

With a flash of red in his eyes, Kiyoshi adjusted his gaze to examine the individual's chakra.

After a moment, he pulled out his black-market bounty booklet, casually flipping through until he found a matching photo. "Here."

Tsunade's eyes widened. "The S-class rogue ninja from Kirigakure... the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata."

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