Tsunade, I am the Hokage!

His entire arm was stained red with blood.

Kyohiko hadn't expected this at all.

The entry-level of this technique consumed so much chakra, and it caused an unimaginable backlash on his arm, to the point that in the final moments, he didn't even have the ability to escape.

Shizune examined the wound and urgently said, "We need to get you to the hospital right away!"

"We can't go to the hospital!" Kyohiko gritted his teeth through the pain. "If we go, Tsunade-sama's situation will be exposed. Treat the surface wounds here first."

"That..."

Shizune hesitated for a moment after hearing this, but then understood.

On the side, Tsunade was still trembling in fear.

Shizune gritted her teeth and said, "Fine! I'll do it!"

But her forehead was already covered in cold sweat.

Shizune had learned a lot about medical ninjutsu, but her chakra reserves were limited, and her practical experience was not enough.

Performing this kind of surgery was extremely difficult for her.

Kurenai spoke up, "I've studied for over half a month and know the basics of medical ninjutsu. Can I help?"

"Yes!"

Shizune was overjoyed.

Kakashi, standing by, said nothing. He hadn't practiced enough; there was no way he could help.

Shizune began to explain how the treatment would go, and how Kurenai could assist—

Kurenai didn't need to do much.

All she needed to do was use medical chakra to stimulate cell activity and help alleviate some of the pressure.

Time ticked by.

Kyohiko's arm slowly began to heal.

Meanwhile—

Shizune's forehead became even sweatier.

After a long while.

"Kakashi, I need your help."

"What is it?"

Kakashi quickly approached.

Kyohiko extended his uninjured hand and made half of the necessary hand seals.

Kakashi understood.

He drew chakra and completed the hand seals.

"Boar, Rabbit."

"Water Release: Water Chaos Waves."

Both of them performed the technique, but it was unstable, and only a small amount of water was released, nowhere near a complete technique. However—

Kyohiko only intended to use it to wash his hands.

The blood was washed away.

His arm was mostly healed.

"We should move to another location."

"Alright."

Shizune understood his intention and helped Tsunade up, pulling her to a nearby place where the blood could not be seen.

After quite a while.

Tsunade recovered and looked grim. She first treated the internal injuries on Kyohiko's hand.

Then, there was a long silence.

After a while, she said, "As you can see, right now, I can't even complete basic treatments."

Everyone fell silent.

Tsunade's condition was likely a form of post-battle psychological syndrome, and it was quite severe. It would require more self-adjustment.

As for psychological counseling?

In Tsunade's case, a few words wouldn't resolve it.

If it could be solved so easily, Jiraiya and the others would have done so long ago.

Kyohiko silently sighed to himself.

But Tsunade had recovered.

Or rather, she had already recovered; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to treat Kyohiko's hand. She had remained silent earlier simply because Kyohiko's situation had reminded her of her past.

Tsunade shook her head and said sternly, "Enough about that. Kyohiko, how did you learn that technique?"

"Your power itself isn't that terrifying, so I kept observing, and I thought it might be a chakra-based explosive technique."

"I couldn't reach your level of power to force you out of the circle, but if I could simulate a similar effect to attract attention, I could use an explosive tag to achieve the same result."

Kyohiko explained, lowering his head in a guilty expression.

At this moment, even Kakashi's mask couldn't hide his astonished expression.

And you learned it just like that?

Oh no.

Strictly speaking, Kyohiko had just tried it out. If it had failed, he would've used it to draw attention, but the key was the explosive tag.

Indeed, an explosion had occurred earlier.

After hearing this, Tsunade couldn't help but say, "Your idea was good, but it was reckless. A technique that gathers chakra at such high speed carries a huge risk if it fails. You can't just casually learn or imitate it. Fortunately, you succeeded this time."

Of course, Kyohiko thought to himself, I only used it after I had learned it.

But outwardly, he wore a posture of regret.

"I was wrong!"

Tsunade glared at him but didn't lecture him further. After all—

To be able to deduce a technique's direction just by observing and then succeed in using it—such a talent was indeed monstrous!

This kid had an exceptionally high aptitude.

Tsunade recalled someone she could compare him to.

Orochimaru!

She became lost in her memories.

Kakashi was also reflecting on the battle they had just had.

Sometimes, he suspected that he was the new Genin and not the Chuunin who had graduated a year or two ago.

The atmosphere fell into silence.

"Kyohiko-kun is amazing! I could never learn something like that," Shizune exclaimed with envy.

Tsunade said, "Your body is too weak, and your chakra control isn't very good. If you try to learn it forcefully, you might end up in an even worse condition than him."

Shizune stuck out her tongue.

Tsunade began another round of lecturing.

Such a technique was something everyone would want to learn, but the entry requirement was very high, and not everyone could master it.

Finally, Tsunade looked at Kurenai.

"Do you want to try?"

"I'm very sorry, my strength is far too lacking, but I would still like to ask Tsunade-sama for some guidance."

Kurenai bowed.

Tsunade nodded. "It's not a problem."

She immediately began drawing a circle on the ground.

Kurenai first used genjutsu, but Tsunade easily dispelled it. Then, she attempted to combine shadow clone jutsu with genjutsu and explosive tags to interfere with the fight.

However, Tsunade was able to see through it and counter quickly.

Before long, Kurenai was defeated.

"Alright, one at a time," Tsunade said, sitting cross-legged.

After the battle, the blood from earlier had been completely forgotten, and she had returned to her carefree attitude.

"Kakashi, your speed is faster than Kyohiko's, but Kyohiko can skillfully control and utilize his speed. You're lacking in this area, and this is something you need to work on."

Tsunade paused, adjusting her words. "If you want to pursue an assassination or one-hit kill route, I suggest you learn a technique with a stronger single-point destructive power."

"Yes, thank you, Tsunade-sama."

Kakashi thanked her quickly.

Tsunade turned her gaze to Kyohiko, her expression becoming serious.

"Kid, your ideas and talent are impressive. But many techniques come with significant risks during the learning and development process. You need to improve your foundation and expand your knowledge."

"Yes, I will do my best."

Kyohiko responded.

Knowledge is valuable, and some teachings are kept as secret techniques by various families. It's not something he could just learn whenever he wanted.

Tsunade nodded and said no more.

She looked at Kurenai, and her expression softened.

"Kurenai, you have the same problem as Shizune: your physical foundation is too weak. But your chakra control talent is better than hers. If you truly want to pursue the path of a medical ninja, you need to strengthen your medical ninjutsu fundamentals."

Being a medical ninja isn't just about being able to use ninjutsu.

Kurenai nodded. "I've been learning recently."

"Good. I'll have Shizune share her notes with you. You two can study together."

After saying this, Tsunade stretched.

"I haven't loosened my muscles in a while. Sparring with you three has really worn me out!"

"Go ahead, keep practicing on your own."

With that, she vanished with a shunshin.

Not long after, at the Hokage office, Tsunade slammed the door open.

"Tsunade?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was a little surprised but quickly calmed down and smiled as he invited her to sit.

Tsunade slammed her hand on the table, not bothering with pleasantries, as if coming to collect a debt.

"Old man, you didn't take all my grandfather's notes, did you?"

"Uh..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's lips twitched before he cleared his throat. "Those books were sealed away."

"Some of them involve forbidden techniques, I understand that. But why are so many of the regular notes gone? Were they sealed, or did someone take them to keep for themselves?"

Tsunade spoke bluntly, without directly accusing the Third Hokage but targeting Danzo instead.

Hiruzen Sarutobi struggled to respond.

Although he had been a disciple of the Second Hokage, Tsunade was more qualified to inherit the Second Hokage's legacy.

"That's not the case. Danzo just thought those notes were too valuable, so they were sealed in the Anbu for safekeeping. If you need them, I can have him retrieve them. Which ones do you need?"

"Just bring me the basic ones, since you guys don't use them anyway."

Tsunade was direct.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face became serious as he nodded. "Alright. I'll send someone to get them tomorrow."

"Okay."

Tsunade stood up and turned to leave.

Then, she paused and turned back. "One more thing."

"Huh?"

Tsunade narrowed her eyes and said, "You promised me, old man."

The Third Hokage was taken aback, but before he could react—

Tsunade left the room.

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