Chương 13: Chapter 13: Proud Genius
"Bang... Bang..."
In the wide training ground.
A heavily bruised Lee let out a pained scream.
He was struck hard and sent flying, landing in a battered heap.
Across from him stood a young man with a proud stance, wearing a training outfit and bearing pale, piercing eyes.
"It's useless, Lee..."
Looking down at the defeated Lee before him, Neji spoke coldly, "No matter how many times you try, you'll never be my match!"
"The gap between an ordinary person and a genius can't be bridged with just a few passionate slogans!"
"Damn it... I won't give up, Neji..."
Though bruised and bloodied, Lee clenched his fists, filled with determination rather than despair.
With a face full of resolve, he stared up at the arrogant Neji and shouted, "Someday, I'll prove that hard work can overcome talent!"
"Neji, you went too hard on him..."
Kiyoshi, who had predicted the outcome, walked over with a hint of exasperation.
Seeing Lee's battered state, he sighed, "After all, Lee is still our friend."
Neji remained indifferent, snorting, "He brought it upon himself!"
Anyone would get annoyed being constantly challenged, and the proud Neji was no exception.
He wasn't here to be someone's training tool.
If they wanted to challenge him, they had better be prepared to suffer for it.
As far as he was concerned, he'd already gone easy on Lee, only giving him a taste of what defeat felt like.
If he'd been serious and used the full extent of his Gentle Fist Jutsu, the injuries would've been more than just superficial.
"Lee, you're being reckless..."
Kiyoshi didn't think Neji had overstepped.
Raising his right hand to his chest, he calmly formed a one-handed seal.
A gentle green light glowed from his palm as he placed it on Lee, healing the external wounds from his battle with Neji and the inevitable scrapes of his usual training.
Watching Lee lying there in exhaustion but otherwise unharmed, Kiyoshi cautioned him once again.
"Training has to be balanced. Pushing your body to the limit all the time will only lead to setbacks, maybe even lasting injuries."
"One-handed seals?"
Neji's eyes widened in shock at the sight.
Coming from a prestigious clan, Neji understood the implications of one-handed seals better than Lee.
Some powerful Jonin, after countless hours of practice, could simplify hand seals for basic jutsus, but only few could perform seals with only one hand.
And what Kiyoshi was using wasn't just any jutsu—Healing Jutsu was an A-rank medical ninjutsu, far more challenging than the basic Jutsus.
"Kiyoshi, have you really reached this level?"
Neji couldn't hide his astonishment.
For Kiyoshi to pull off such a feat meant he could likely perform advanced jutsu with a single hand.
In battle, this was akin to having an extra hand compared to one's opponent.
Especially in a tense standoff, the sudden use of one-handed jutsu could catch an opponent off guard, an unpredictable trump card.
Then again, Neji thought Kiyoshi's absurdly impressive chakra control was so far beyond that perhaps he shouldn't be surprised.
"Yeah, with constant practice, I can just about manage it."
Kiyoshi shrugged casually, showing no pride.
In truth, with his precise chakra control, he could even perform this level of Healing Jutsu without any hand seals.
He simply didn't want to appear too abnormal.
"Incredible!"
"Unbelievable…"
Both Lee and Neji couldn't help but gaze at Kiyoshi in admiration.
But at that moment, Kiyoshi's eyebrows furrowed.
Sensing something, he turned to look in the direction of Konoha's main gate.
"Hmm?" He detected a fairly strong chakra signature suddenly appearing there.
Clearly, it wasn't an intruder.
It was someone walking right through the front gate.
"That chakra... It feels strangely familiar, yet distant..."
Kiyoshi's eyes flashed thoughtfully.
"Could it be..."
---
Meanwhile—
In the Hokage's office on the top floor of the Hokage Building—
"Hokage-sama..."
An Anbu member wearing a cat mask appeared suddenly.
Kneeling on one knee before Hiruzen, he reported, "The gate guards just reported that... Tsunade-sama has returned!"
"Oh?"
Hiruzen, puffing on his pipe as he reviewed confidential files, immediately stood up, visibly surprised.
"Tsunade? She's come back?"
"Yes!"
The Anbu member confirmed.
Hiruzen frowned, full of questions.
Back during the Third Great Ninja War.
Dissatisfied with Konoha's leadership, Tsunade had left the village, taking her disciple, Shizune, with her.
In the years since, she had completely distanced herself from village matters, and even from him, her former mentor.
Not even the death of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had brought her back.
So why now, so suddenly?
Could she have changed her mind and decided to stay in the village?
Having such a skilled medic and powerful shinobi would undoubtedly be a boon for the village.
At the same time, the return of Tsunade, who once held high status and popularity, also made Hiruzen wary.
Long ago, in the wake of the Third Great Ninja War, Konoha was left weakened. To end the drawn-out conflict, they'd refrained from demanding reparations from Iwagakure.
To appease dissent, Hiruzen had once resigned, stepping down for Minato, a disciple of Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin.
But after the Nine-Tails incident eight years ago, the Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself.
Konoha, devastated and leaderless, fell into chaos.
Other shinobi nations began eyeing the village hungrily, the threat of war looming once again.
Hiruzen took advantage of the situation, resuming his role as Hokage.
Yet power, once tasted, is as addictive as any drug.
Even during Minato's tenure, Hiruzen had retained much of the Hokage's authority, resulting in Konoha essentially having two Hokages at the time.
As a young Hokage, Minato had struggled under these constraints, never able to lead freely.
Now—
The once-respected "Strongest Hokage," adored by countless in Konoha, was more reluctant than ever to release his hold on power.
Over the years, his three disciples had all left the village in one way or another.
The return of Tsunade both pleased and unnerved the aging Hiruzen, whose grip on power had gradually eroded his former strength and ideals, turning him into a calculated politician.
After all, this particular disciple of his was unlike the others.
As the granddaughter of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and personally appointed as "Princess of Konoha" by the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, Tsunade held significant influence in the village.
Her impressive record in battle and her exceptional medical skills earned her deep respect among the villagers.
Many of Konoha's shinobi, including clan leaders, had benefited from her healing abilities at one point or another.
In the right circumstances, she might actually rally a significant following.
Hiruzen couldn't help but weigh the implications carefully.
Why had she returned now, and what was her intent?
---------------
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Chương 14: Chapter 14: Tsunade's Shock
Currently, at the gate of the Ishikawa residence.
Azumi, whose health had been declining in recent days, stood there unsteadily, leaning on a cane.
Seeing the visitor before her, her lips trembled with excitement.
Her face, wrinkled, sallow, and thin, flushed unnaturally with a hint of red.
She struggled to bow to the visitor. "Lady Tsunade…"
"Azumi, you've aged too…"
Looking at the elderly woman in front of her, whose life seemed near its end, Tsunade's gaze was filled with nostalgia.
She stepped forward to support her and said in a low voice, "Enough, the Senju Clan is no more. You don't need to be so formal."
Tsunade was familiar with Azumi.
In her youth, Azumi had been her maid, responsible for looking after her and staying by her side.
Moreover, Azumi's mother, Senju Toka, had been a trusted confidant of her grandfather, the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
She was an elite kunoichi within the Senju Clan, renowned for her Genjutsu skills, known even among shinobi from other countries.
But time had eroded the past.
The once-glorious Senju Clan had vanished.
Its powerful members had perished one by one in the harsh wars of previous years.
Fortunately, many of them, under the arrangements of the First Hokage, had married civilians or other ninja clans, blending Senju blood into the heart of Konoha.
Thus, though Tsunade knew of Konoha's darker side and harbored disdain for its higher-ups, she reluctantly set aside her grievances to return when she received Azumi's letter asking to see her one last time.
She had come to say goodbye.
"I'm sorry Tsunade-sama I wouldn't be able to do that… cough, cough. Please, come inside!"
Yet Azumi, stubborn as always, insisted on completing her greeting.
In her heart, although she had taken her husband's surname, she would always consider herself a part of the Senju Clan.
Looking at Tsunade, whose beauty and figure made her appear no older than twenty, Azumi couldn't help but marvel.
Lady Tsunade, indeed a master of medical Jutsus, had the means to keep her youthful.
Though she was in her forties, she looked like a young woman.
"Cough, cough, and this is…?" Azumi's weary eyes turned to the slender young woman behind Tsunade, short-haired and holding a pink piglet.
Surprised, she asked about the woman following Tsunade.
"She is my disciple, Shizune," Tsunade replied directly.
"Azumi-sama, pleased to meet you!"
Shizune, a bit shy, smiled politely, lifting the piglet in her arms. "This is Tonton!"
"Tontonnn~~"
The cute little pig greeted them, playfully squealing.
"I see… Lady Tsunade and Shizune don't just stand there. Please, come in!"
As Azumi spoke, Tsunade nodded, not bothering with pleasantries.
Supporting Azumi, who was struggling to move, she guided her into the living room.
She didn't immediately ask why Azumi had sent for her but instead began a medical examination.
Her face quickly turned serious, her brows furrowing deeply.
As she examined Azumi, it became clear that Azumi's life was hanging by a thread.
The fact that she had survived this long was, in itself, a miracle.
It was evident that a skilled medical-nin had been using their chakra daily to sustain Azumi's body.
Whoever that ninja was, they possessed considerable talent.
"Your body…"
"Cough, cough, don't worry, Lady Tsunade…"
Azumi coughed continuously. "I know my own condition."
"If it weren't for my grandson, Kiyoshi, continuously healing me with his chakra, I would have been in the ground long ago! Cough, cough..."
Tsunade looked surprised. "Your grandson? Son of Masato, that medic-nin from the Medic Corps?"
She recalled that when she left Konoha, Masato had only just married and had no children.
If Azumi's grandson was that young, he could be no more than ten years old at most.
And if she remembered correctly, Masato had sacrificed himself during the Nine-Tails' attack a few years back.
"Yes, Kiyoshi is only eight years old,, but his talent far surpasses his father's…"
Thinking of her prodigious grandson, pride filled Azumi's heart.
"That boy, with only Masato's old scrolls and notes, taught himself. He's already mastered the Mystical Palm Jutsu, an A-rank medical jutsu!"
"He's the one who's been caring for me!"
"What?!"
"Mastered the Mystical Palm Jutsu at eight years old?"
Both Shizune and Tsunade were stunned.
Tsunade's eyes contracted sharply, her expression one of disbelief as she looked at Azumi.
The Mystical Palm Jutsu was no ordinary jutsu.
Its difficulty was a solid A-rank, and medical ninjutsu was far harder to learn than regular jutsu.
But mastering the Jutsu was only the first step; using it effectively was what truly mattered.
After examining Azumi, Tsunade knew precisely how challenging it was to use the Mystical Palm Jutsu for long-term care.
Her grandson's skill was nothing short of extraordinary.
"Cough, cough, it's true. When Kiyoshi returns, you can test him yourself, Lady Tsunade!" Azumi said with a smile.
Azumi knew her own body well.
Seeing Kiyoshi's exceptional talent had strengthened her resolve to pave a better future for him before her time was up.
So, when she saw him awaken the First Hokage's Wood Release, she was determined.
Half a month ago, when Shikaku came by for a visit, she asked him to send word to Tsunade, the last Senju princess, hoping she could meet Tsunade one last time.
But Tsunade was known for being hard to locate.
Even the Nara Clan had gone to great lengths to deliver Azumi's letter.
"You specifically asked the Nara Clan to bring me back just for his sake, didn't you?"
Tsunade realized her intention, a solemn look spreading across her face.
She thought she understood Azumi's wish.
Azumi likely hoped she would take her grandson as a student.
If Kiyoshi truly possessed such talent, it would be worth considering.
In recent years, Tsunade had been disappointed by the realization that, despite her dedicated teaching, Shizune's potential was limited.
Now in her twenties, Shizune's medical skills were only a bit stronger than Masato's had been back in the day.
She could not inherit Tsunade's full legacy.
"Cough, cough, as an old woman, that is indeed my wish, but there's something even more important to discuss with you…"
Azumi said, glancing at Shizune and hesitating.
"Lady Tsunade, Azumi-sama, I'll take Tonton for a little walk so you can talk!"
Sensing the moment, Shizune smiled, bowing out with the pig in her arms.
"It's fine…" Tsunade waved her hand, speaking frankly. "Shizune is my disciple, loyal and discreet. You can speak freely."
"Well… alright!"
Azumi hesitated but seeing Tsunade's assurance, she took a deep breath, as if gathering her resolve.
"Kiyoshi has awakened Lord Hashirama's Wood Release!"
"What?!"
Tsunade's eyes widened in shock, and she immediately stood up, unable to contain herself.
---------------
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