The Konoha temporary medical-ninja training program was progressing even more smoothly than expected.
With the joint efforts of Tsunade and Uchiha Chiya, the trainees studied medical theory during the day and underwent practical battlefield simulations at night.
In just one week, seven or eight experienced medical ninjas had completed their training and graduated.
They were immediately dispatched to the front lines, bringing much-needed hope to the increasingly desperate battlefield in the Land of Rain.
That evening, at the training grounds, the setting sun stretched the shadows of Chiya and Tsunade across the ground.
Chiya looked at the latest assessment results in his hands.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
Looks like our method is working.
These trainees are improving much faster than expected.
Tsunade stood beside him with her arms crossed, watching the trainees currently undergoing drills.
She gave a soft snort.
“They still have a long way to go.”
“There won’t be this much time on the battlefield for them to slowly adjust their chakra.”
Despite her words, a trace of satisfaction flashed through her eyes.
Several of the trainees had shown considerable talent.
Given enough time, some of them might genuinely become capable medical ninjas who could operate independently.
Chiya turned his head toward Tsunade.
The setting sun bathed her profile in a soft golden glow.
Almost without thinking, he reached out and gently rubbed her hair.
“You’ve worked hard, Lady Tsunade.”
Tsunade suddenly turned around.
Her eyes widened.
A blush instantly spread across her fair cheeks.
“You brat!”
“You’re getting more and more outrageous!”
“Who gave you permission to touch my hair?!”
She raised her hand as though she were about to hit him.
Chiya hurriedly stepped back and raised both hands in surrender.
“Sorry, sorry.”
“I couldn’t help myself.”
Tsunade bit her lower lip.
A mixture of embarrassment and irritation flashed through her light-brown eyes.
But in the end, she merely snorted and turned her face away.
“If you do that again, I’ll throw you onto the furthest training post!”
Chiya looked at her slightly reddened ears and secretly laughed.
He knew she was all bark and no real anger.
After spending so much time together, he had gradually figured out Tsunade’s personality.
Beneath her proud and prickly exterior was a surprisingly gentle heart.
“Yes, yes.”
“Lady Tsunade is the greatest.”
Chiya smiled as he played along, a hint of affection in his eyes.
Tsunade glanced at him.
The corners of her mouth unconsciously lifted.
But she quickly straightened her expression again.
“Enough sweet-talking.”
“There will be another group of trainees tomorrow.”
“Get everything ready.”
“The shinobi who failed previously will also be given another chance to take the assessment.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Chiya deliberately gave her an exaggeratedly serious salute.
Tsunade couldn’t help laughing.
Their interaction did not escape the eyes of the trainees practicing in the distance.
Several of them looked astonished.
The terrifyingly strict Lady Tsunade actually has a side like this?
Just as the medical-ninja training program was settling into a stable rhythm, an urgent intelligence report shattered the calm.
Anbu shinobi began rushing through the village.
That afternoon.
Inside the conference room of the Hokage Tower, all the key members of Hiruzen’s administration had gathered.
The atmosphere was so tense it was almost suffocating.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at the head of the table.
His brow was tightly furrowed.
The pipe in his hand had already gone out, but he hadn’t even noticed.
“The Eight-Tails jinchūriki of Kumogakure has appeared near the border of the Land of Rain.”
“Our defensive line near Amegakure has already been breached.”
Homura Mitokado adjusted his glasses.
His voice was low.
“Kumogakure?”
“Are they planning to join this war as well?”
“We don’t know yet.”
“Their position isn’t clear.”
“But we can’t control what Kumogakure chooses to do.”
“The situation at the front lines is extremely tense, and we urgently need reinforcements.”
“A jinchūriki has suddenly appeared on the battlefield.”
“This is no ordinary enemy.”
“Sending ordinary shinobi against one would simply be sending them to their deaths.”
The others in the conference room exchanged glances.
The air seemed to freeze.
A tailed beast was a strategic-level weapon.
Even experienced Jōnin would have difficulty dealing with one.
Why had Kumogakure sent its jinchūriki here?
Weren’t they afraid of losing control of the tailed beast?
Or…
Was this deliberate?
At that moment, a hoarse voice broke the silence.
“Let me go.”
Orochimaru slowly stood.
His golden slit pupils glimmered with a dangerous light.
His gaze swept across everyone in the room, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.
“However, I’ll need an assistant.”
“That assistant should be Uchiha Chiya.”
“What?”
Tsunade slammed her hand against the table and stood.
Anger burned in her light-brown eyes.
“Orochimaru, have you lost your mind?”
“How can Chiya, an ordinary shinobi, possibly deal with a jinchūriki?!”
Orochimaru remained completely unhurried.
“Sensei once spoke about the strategic principles used by the First Hokage when the village was first established.”
“At its core, the strategy relied on balancing the power of the Uchiha and Senju clans to control the tailed beasts.”
“Now that no one can awaken Wood Release, we can only rely on the Uchiha’s Sharingan.”
“As far as I know, Chiya’s genjutsu ability is among the best in the entire Uchiha clan.”
“Especially his application of Sharingan genjutsu.”
“That should be enough to temporarily control a tailed beast.”
“Besides…”
Orochimaru paused.
His eyes flickered.
“Chiya-kun’s recent performance doesn’t exactly resemble that of an ordinary shinobi.”
“You…”
Tsunade trembled with anger.
“I disagree!”
“The medical-ninja training program can’t do without him!”
Orochimaru chuckled softly.
“Tsunade…”
“When did you become so emotional?”
“Or perhaps…”
His voice suddenly turned cold.
“You have some special…”
“…concern for this Uchiha brat?”
“Orochimaru!”
Tsunade practically spat his name through clenched teeth.
Her fair face reddened with anger.
“If you keep talking nonsense, I won’t mind showing you exactly what my fist can do.”
The tension between the two became almost explosive.
Hiruzen coughed heavily.
“Enough!”
He looked toward Homura.
“Homura, what do you think of Orochimaru’s proposal?”
Homura remained silent for a moment.
He glanced between Orochimaru and Tsunade.
“At present, no one in Konoha can use Wood Release to suppress a tailed beast or jinchūriki.”
“Lady Mito is also getting older.”
“At this point, the only reliable option we have is the Uchiha’s Sharingan.”
“Uchiha Chiya’s development of the Sharingan is considerably more advanced than that of the average Uchiha.”
“So I don’t think Orochimaru’s proposal is without merit.”
A cold smile appeared on Orochimaru’s face.
Tsunade glared at him furiously.
Hiruzen listened carefully.
Then he turned toward the Anbu standing by the door.
“Bring Uchiha Chiya here.”
“We still need to hear his opinion.”
“Yes!”
The Anbu vanished instantly.
It wasn’t long before Uchiha Chiya arrived.
Seeing the entire group of senior Konoha officials gathered inside, Chiya immediately became wary.
“Chiya.”
“Our defensive line has come under attack from a jinchūriki.”
“Orochimaru will lead a team to the front lines.”
“He wants to take you with him.”
“Are you willing?”
The front lines?
And I’m supposed to confront a jinchūriki?
Is this because of my Sharingan?
A jinchūriki was basically a walking time bomb.
One mistake could cost him his life.
The difference in power was enormous.
Chiya was just about to refuse.
Then—
[Mission triggered: Eliminate the Eight-Tails’ jinchūriki.]
[Mission Reward: One Bloodline Limit.]
[Upon acquisition, the Bloodline Limit will perfectly integrate with the host without causing rejection.]
Chiya froze.
The mission triggered now?
And the reward is a Bloodline Limit?!
He took a deep breath.
A resolute light appeared in his eyes.
Bloodline abilities were among the most valuable powers in this world.
This was a Bloodline Limit.
Aside from artificially creating one through forbidden techniques or scientific experimentation, most Bloodline Limits could only be inherited through bloodlines.
Chiya made up his mind.
I can’t pass this up.
I’ll accept.
A jinchūriki was powerful, but there were always weaknesses and restrictions.
He could find a way to deal with it.
And after spending the past few days with Tsunade, their relationship had gradually grown closer.
Perhaps it’s time to push the Steal Tsunade mission forward.
If I can obtain its reward before leaving the village…
Then dealing with a jinchūriki—or even Hanzō—might not be impossible.
Chiya looked toward Hiruzen.
“Lord Hokage.”
“I’m willing to go to the front lines and support the village.”
His voice was calm.
He then looked toward Tsunade.
His eyes carried a reassuring warmth.
“The medical-ninja training program has already entered a stable phase.”
“I believe Lady Tsunade can handle it on her own.”
Tsunade opened her mouth as though she wanted to say something.
But in the end, she merely glared fiercely at Orochimaru before sitting back down.
Hiruzen thought for a moment before nodding.
“Very well.”
“Then it’s settled.”
“Orochimaru, Chiya.”
“Make your preparations immediately.”
“Try to depart tomorrow.”
After the meeting ended, Tsunade grabbed Chiya by the wrist and pulled him into an empty corridor.
“Are you crazy?”
Her voice was low, but the anger and worry within it were unmistakable.
“That is a jinchūriki!”
“A strategic-level weapon that even Jōnin would struggle to deal with!”
Chiya looked at her tightly furrowed brows and slightly reddened eyes.
His heart softened.
He gently held her hand.
“Don’t worry.”
“I won’t fight recklessly.”
“With Lord Orochimaru there…”
“It should be fine.”
“Fine?”
Tsunade’s expression changed.
“Rope Tree followed Orochimaru…”
“And in the end…”
She immediately forced the terrifying thought out of her mind.
She had already lost Nawaki.
She didn’t want to lose Chiya as well.
“That guy Orochimaru…”
“He’s been acting stranger and stranger lately!”
Tsunade bit her lower lip.
“I have a feeling he’s hiding something.”
Chiya actually had the same suspicion.
But he couldn’t show it now.
Instead, he deliberately smiled casually.
“What?”
“Is Lady Tsunade worried about me?”
“W-Who’s worried about you?!”
Tsunade abruptly pulled her hand away.
“I just…”
“I just don’t want my partner in the medical-ninja training program to throw his life away for nothing!”
Chiya looked at her obviously contradictory behavior.
He couldn’t help smiling.
He reached out and rubbed her hair again.
Then he leaned slightly closer and lowered his voice.
“It’s still early.”
“Lady Tsunade…”
“Would you have a drink with me?”