In the two days leading up to their departure, Tatsuma threw himself into constant training. He wasn't trying to cram a last-minute stat-boost; he was simply trying to adjust to the newfound weight of his left hand.
Tatsuma was genuinely baffled by the heaviness. He had even gone so far as to weigh himself on a scale, but the number hadn't changed. Yet, his left hand felt leaden, as if it possessed... the weight of chakra.
This was a sensation Tatsuma had never even imagined. To him, chakra had always felt weightless—something fleeting that could be exhausted in a single breath. Even though his current reserves weren't exactly weak compared to an average Chunin, they still couldn't sustain many high-level techniques. It made sense that such "light" energy wouldn't have physical mass.
Tsunade had been busy as well. She spent her time coordinating with the village consultant, Koharu Utatane, to requisition medical ninja, supplies, and equipment. Because she was so preoccupied, she didn't notice Tatsuma's peculiar behavior, which saved him the trouble of coming up with an explanation.
On the final night, the thought of heading to the border with Tsunade the next morning made sleep impossible. Restless, Tatsuma changed into his gear and headed out to Training Ground 3.
As he was warming up, a dark green blur streaked across the field and skidded to a halt in front of him. Tatsuma blinked in surprise. "Duy-san? Training this late?"
"I heard the village is clashing with another nation, but I'm not allowed on the battlefield. Just thinking about it keeps me awake!" Might Duy exclaimed, striking a pose. "I'm so envious of you, Tatsuma-kun! To be so young and already heading out to spill your hot blood on the field of battle!"
While they weren't exactly close friends, their frequent encounters during late-night training over the years had made them well-acquainted. Tatsuma's mouth twitched at the phrasing.
"Duy-san, please don't say such ominous things. Even if you want to say I'm going to 'embody the flame of youth,' why would you call it 'spilling hot blood'?"
"Er... ah? Haha! My mistake!" Duy immediately corrected himself, realizing the grim double meaning. "What I meant to say was... embody your youth!"
Duy then looked at him curiously. "Aren't you guys moving out tomorrow morning? Why aren't you resting?"
"I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd come for a run to clear my head."
"Then let's have a youthful competition! Let's see who finishes a hundred laps first!"
Duy gave Tatsuma a thumbs-up, his teeth flashing like a "White Fang" in the dead of night. Tatsuma nodded. "That's so like you, Duy-san..."
He realized Duy had effectively stolen his "challenge" shtick, but he didn't mind. It didn't matter who initiated the match as long as there were stats to be gained.
"Haha! The Hokage himself praised me as a cat-catching expert! I won't lose this race!" Duy laughed and took off. Tatsuma refused to be left behind and sprinted after him.
They circled the training ground. Ten laps, twenty... gradually, Tatsuma noticed Duy's pace beginning to flag. He wasn't surprised; when he arrived, Duy's green jumpsuit had already been soaked a dark, muddy emerald with sweat. The man had clearly been at it for hours.
Tatsuma didn't hold back. He kept a steady, rigorous pace. By midnight, he had completed his hundredth lap, lapping Duy twice in the process. He didn't stop immediately, instead slowing to a light jog for a few more rotations to let his heart rate settle.
[Ding! STR +2, PHY +2. Would you like to pick them up?]
[Pick up.]
After banking the attributes from his victory, Tatsuma turned to the panting Duy. "By the way, Duy-san, I saw you walking through town with a pretty lady a few days ago. Is there some good news on the horizon?"
Duy, who had been looking disappointed and was preparing to run another hundred laps as a penalty, froze. His face instantly turned a deep shade of crimson.
"Tatsuma! You... you... don't go slandering people's innocence! Koharu has plenty of suitors. Why would she ever be interested in someone like me?"
"Then why were you shopping together?" Tatsuma asked, his voice full of gossip and curiosity. "I saw you both, and you were both smiling quite a lot."
Duy's face grew even redder. Finally, he muttered with very little conviction, "Maybe... maybe she just wanted me to help her carry her bags."
"Duy-san, don't sell yourself short. I can tell—you two look great together!"
Tatsuma thumped his chest encouragingly. A glimmer of hope appeared in Duy's eyes. "You really think so? A genius like you must be very popular with the girls at school. You must understand the heart of a lady perfectly. I believe you!"
"Er..."
Suddenly, the gloom that had been in Duy's eyes transferred directly into Tatsuma's. Duy watched as Tatsuma's head slumped in dejection. "Wait... have you never... actually been with a girl either?"
"Let's call it a night. I'm tired. I'm going home to sleep."
Tatsuma turned and waved a hand dismissively as he trudged toward his house. Duy realized he had struck a nerve and started to go after him to apologize, but then a realization hit him.
If Tatsuma was in the same boat... was his judgment actually reliable?
A moment later, under the lonely moonlight of Training Ground 3, there were now two dejected figures.
The next morning, looking less than refreshed and with his natural perm looking like a chaotic bird's nest, Tatsuma arrived at the village gates carrying his own supplies.
A large number of shinobi had already gathered—the vanguard for the upcoming operation. Tatsuma scanned the crowd and noticed the distinct social circles.
One group, fully geared with flak jackets stuffed with extra scrolls, were clearly the combat specialists. Another group, carrying oversized medical rucksacks and looking pristine, was the medical team.
There were also various clansmen chatting in small clusters, marked by their family crests. A smaller, more tight-knit group—a mix of Hyuga, Inuzuka, and Aburame—formed the scouting and reconnaissance units.
Tatsuma's arrival drew several stares. Aside from him, the youngest people there were at least fifteen or sixteen. An eight-year-old child stood out like a sore thumb.
However, they all knew his identity as Tsunade's student, so no one complained. Even if they had, it wouldn't have mattered; the roster was finalized. Until the mission ended, they would only be receiving reinforcements, not cutting staff.
Tatsuma didn't know these middle-ranking shinobi well, and he wasn't social enough to start schmoozing on sight. He simply stood to the side and waited.
Before long, Orochimaru and Tsunade arrived. Orochimaru immediately began a roll call, while Tsunade just yawned, looking lazy and unbothered even on the brink of war.
A small crowd had gathered to see them off. Tatsuma spotted Might Duy waving frantically from the sidelines and gave him a return wave. There was no sign of Jiraiya or Minato; they likely hadn't returned from their own mission yet.
Once the count was finished, Orochimaru handed the mission scroll to the gate guards. The guards verified the documents and signaled for them to pass.
Tatsuma felt a light pat on his shoulder. He turned to see the column beginning to move. Giving up on finding any more familiar faces, he fell into step with the army and left the village behind.