Tsunade raised an eyebrow, apparently not expecting such a direct response.
She leaned back in her seat, picked up her sake cup again, and spoke lightly.
“Oh?
So generous?
Aren’t you afraid I won’t pay you back?” “Of course you can pay me back.” Souji shook his head.
“You just don’t want to.” “Heh.” Tsunade let out a genuine laugh, one that carried a rare hint of amusement.
“Kid, you really do understand me.” “After a year together, I’ve gotten to know you a little.” Souji set down his teacup and turned toward her.
“I can lend you the money, but I have a condition too.” “A condition?” Tsunade narrowed her eyes, her tone turning playful.
“Let’s hear it.
But just so you know, I’m not selling my body.” Selling her body?
Shizune nearly choked on her own saliva.
Souji remained expressionless.
“You’re reading too much into it.
I just want to exchange money for knowledge.” “The knowledge behind medical ninjutsu.” Souji looked at Tsunade, his tone candid.
“I’ve already tested myself.
I possess Wind, Water, and Earth chakra affinities.
But as you’ve probably noticed, I’ve hardly learned any conventional ninjutsu.
In battle, I rely entirely on the Shikotsumyaku, taijutsu, and the cursed techniques I mentioned to you.” “A year ago, you refused to take me as a disciple.
But I thought, if I’m just buying some basic theory, the principles of medical ninjutsu, and techniques for fine chakra control, that shouldn’t violate your principles, should it?” The cabin fell silent.
Only the muffled sound of waves against the hull and the cries of distant seabirds remained.
Tsunade held her sake cup, her golden eyes fixed on him.
Her gaze turned sharp and penetrating.
The lazy charm vanished, replaced by something like appraisal.
“Medical ninjutsu isn’t an ordinary technique.” She spoke slowly.
“It demands extremely fine chakra control.
It requires a deep understanding of human anatomy, chakra pathways, and the mechanisms of cellular regeneration.” “One mistake, and it’s a living person’s life.
What makes a twelve-year-old kid like you think you can learn it?” “Because of these eyes.” Souji raised his hand, fingertips brushing the black cloth over his eyes.
“These eyes can see the flow of chakra.
They can see the pathways of the meridians.
They can see how energy moves through every inch of the body.” “The techniques you taught Shizune-san, every detail of her performing medical ninjutsu on patients, I’ve watched them countless times over the past year.” He paused, his tone still steady.
“I don’t intend to become a medical expert like Shizune-san.
I just want another path to rely on.” “The Shikotsumyaku has its limits.
The source of my cursed energy is unique.
Taijutsu requires close quarters…” “If I could instantly use medical ninjutsu in battle to stop bleeding, heal injuries, or even strengthen parts of my body, my survival odds would increase significantly.” Shizune listened intently.
She knew Souji was telling the truth.
During the past year of treatment, he had indeed been able to precisely describe every detail of his bone regeneration, even pointing out subtle flaws in some of her techniques.
That level of perception was truly frightening, and it was exactly the kind of talent suited for learning medical ninjutsu.
Tsunade remained silent for a long time.
The sake cup slowly rotated between her fingers, the liquid inside rippling in tiny waves.
“Dan…” She suddenly spoke a single name.
Shizune froze.
Tsunade’s gaze lost its focus, as though it had passed through the cabin and drifted toward somewhere far away.
Her voice grew slightly hoarse, carrying the looseness brought on by alcohol and a deeply buried weariness.
“Dan’s philosophy of ninjutsu was different from that of traditional shinobi.
He didn’t pursue powerful offensive techniques.
He devoted himself to studying how ninjutsu could save people, strengthen allies, and create opportunities for survival on the battlefield.” “That’s why the Spiritualization Technique, a top-tier assassination technique, was able to display its true brilliance in his hands.” She paused, then tilted her head back and drained the sake in her cup.
“Later, he died on the battlefield.
He died right in front of me.
I wanted to save him, but I couldn’t.” She set down the sake cup, staring at its empty bottom.
“Medical ninjutsu can save many people.
But it can’t save the people who truly need saving.” Souji remained silent.
He knew that, at a moment like this, any words of comfort would be meaningless.
“Kid!” Tsunade suddenly looked up at him, her golden eyes shining brilliantly beneath the afternoon sunlight.
“You want to learn medical ninjutsu?
Fine.
But I have conditions too.” “Name them.” “First, I’ll only teach you basic theory, fine chakra control, and simple healing techniques.
I won’t teach advanced techniques involving organ repair or limb regeneration.
You haven’t earned that qualification yet.” She raised one finger.
“Second, after you’ve learned it, you’re not allowed to use it to kill.
Medical ninjutsu is meant to save lives, not to help you fight and throw your weight around.” She raised a second finger.
“Third…” She suddenly leaned forward and reached out, her slender finger hooking beneath Souji’s chin, forcing him to tilt his head up slightly.
The distance between them vanished in an instant, close enough for them to feel each other’s breath.
The laziness had disappeared from her eyes, replaced by a dangerous sharpness and an almost imperceptible trace of tenderness.
“Don’t die.
Shizune and I barely managed to save your life.
If I ever hear that you died in some forgotten corner, I’ll consider everything we’ve done this past year to have been for nothing.” Souji could feel the warmth of that finger beneath his chin.
It was pleasantly warm, tinged with the haze of alcohol, and carried an indescribably complicated emotion.
“…Understood.” He answered softly.
Tsunade withdrew her hand, leaned back in her chair, and waved toward Shizune.
“Shizune, bring him the notes.” “Start with the thirty-six pairs of chakra pathway coordination points.
Once you’re done, I’ll test you.
If you can’t memorize them, then you can forget about borrowing the money.” Shizune stood frozen for a moment before quickly coming back to her senses, a bright smile spreading across her face.
“Yes!” Having another junior disciple, especially such a wealthy one, made her absolutely delighted.
At least they wouldn’t have to sleep out on the streets anymore.
She quickly jumped to her feet, rummaged through her luggage for paper and pens, then carried over another pile of the notes and hand-drawn chakra pathway diagrams from when she was studying medical ninjutsu.
Tonton was startled awake and let out a confused “Puyo.” It waddled in a circle once on the cabin floor before flopping back down.
Outside the window, the sea and sky blended into one.
The waves rose and fell as the merchant ship sliced steadily through the azure sea, sailing toward the Land of Iron.
Souji accepted the pen Shizune handed him, his fingertips gently tracing the surface of the paper.
Beneath the black cloth covering his eyes, though they remained hidden from view, it felt as though he had already seen that slightly opened door, a doorway leading into an unfamiliar field.
Tsunade lounged lazily by the window and poured herself another cup of sake.
The golden sunlight bathed her face, cloaking it in a soft glow.
The vulnerability, teasing, sharpness, and tenderness she had revealed moments ago had all been tucked away once again, leaving only her usual laziness and carefree demeanor.
Yet she was indeed watching the boy with his head lowered as he took notes.
Watching the line of his jaw that occasionally peeked out beneath the black cloth.
Watching his long, steady fingers holding the pen, yet concealing the killing intent to unleash bone blades at any moment.
Watching the stillness that came over him as he listened intently to Shizune’s explanations, his concentration so deep it was almost frozen…
Now that’s an interesting kid.
She took a sip of sake, her gaze drifting toward the boundless ocean beyond the window.
The waves rose and fell without end, like the passage of time, like the things that should have been forgotten yet could never truly be forgotten.
But at this moment, aboard this gently swaying merchant ship, there was sake, the ocean breeze, the noisy Shizune, that chubby pig, and this silver-haired kid…
A kid who was clearly up to something, yet somehow impossible to truly dislike.
She suddenly felt that this journey didn’t seem nearly as boring as she had expected.