Facing the Sannin at once was still too taxing. Kano had imagined having to deal with two of the Sannin by herself, but she never thought it would be a one-against-three!
"Jiraiya! I didn't kill them! I just went to collect a shadow!"
"Kano, surrender. If you truly have a clear conscience, I will make compensation after we return to Konoha and verify your memories. As long as you agree to return to Konoha with me, I will help you subdue them!"
It was impossible for her to agree. Her memories held more than just this one secret; even if she had a clear conscience, she wouldn't let anyone search her memories.
Currently, the strongest among the Sannin was Jiraiya, but he wouldn't use Sage Mode. Next was Tsunade, who was filled with guilt and wouldn't use her full strength, not to mention her major weakness. Finally, there was Orochimaru; the current Orochimaru could be chased and slashed at even by a Shadow Zabuza.
But Kano knew they weren't the real enemies and couldn't use lethal force. If she really wanted to kill them, she would have used blood to blind Tsunade and then focused fire on Jiraiya to prevent him from summoning toads to enter Sage Mode. Orochimaru was too hard to kill, so she'd ignore him for now; he didn't have much impact anyway. A piece of trash like Rasa couldn't turn the tides either.
"Shadow Hiruzen, go deal with Jiraiya. Shadow Deer Tube, go deal with Orochimaru and the unsealed Rasa. I will personally deal with Master Tsunade."
Sometimes she really envied Naruto's mouth, but she couldn't learn it. Her way of talking only made people's blood pressure rise. After all, in this world where the average number of parents per person might not even reach 1.0, the fact that both her parents were alive made her far too happy.
She was destined to be unable to empathize with those in misery, nor could she truly enter their hearts.
Because of this, her song was stuck at the final step: what is sinking happiness? In the Genjutsu she designed, the imagined scenario was like a person falling into honey, unwilling to struggle, allowing themselves to sink into the sweet illusion.
She had already chosen a name for the Genjutsu—Technique of Sinking into Happiness. Now only the final step remained.
Now wasn't the time to obsess over the song; she needed to focus on the battle.
By now, Kano was already engaged in close combat with Tsunade, wielding her hunting flute. Kano had already learned to swing the hunting flute using Monstrous Strength. Although she was still not as powerful as Tsunade, with the indestructible nature of the hunting flute, she could still trade blows with her.
Every strike would produce a shockwave of sound. Kano swung rhythmically; whether she hit or not, each strike had to be carried out.
Tearful Ballad!
This was the first time Kano had played a tune while swinging her hunting flute in battle. It wasn't a Marching Tune to boost morale, nor was it a damaging Requiem, but the Tearful Ballad that lowered one's spirits.
"Master Tsunade, wake up! They are already dead. Is disturbing their peaceful sleep really what they would want? Besides, Edo Tensei requires living sacrifices; would they be willing to sacrifice others to resurrect themselves?"
"I'm sorry, Kano. I know I'm wrong, but... but I really want to see them again so much..."
Tsunade, whose heart was already suppressed, had an emotional breakdown under the influence of the Tearful Ballad. Tears splattered continuously along with her punches.
"I really, really want to see them one more time..."
"Just one more look, and I'll be able to let go..."
Kano defended, parried, defended, parried. She fell into deep thought.
She remembered asking Tsunade before about her imagined moment of happiness. Her answer had been to win a big bet. At that time, her eyes were full of light as she laughed heartily.
But now, she was thinking of her dead boyfriend and brother, the people she would do anything to see again. She was weeping bitterly, with only the shimmer of tears in her eyes and not a single smile to be seen.
At this moment, she understood.
This was a world full of tragedy, and true happiness was always buried in the deepest part of the heart. People didn't even dare to look at it on ordinary days, for fear of stimulating their fragile hearts.
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