When Tsunade said this, Uchiha Xuan turned his head to look at her. Did she just... say she was using Nawaki’s money, right?
"What’s with that look? My money has its uses, you know. I’m treating you to a meal and you’re not even happy about it."
After saying that, Tsunade punched Uchiha Xuan on the head, though it was just an ordinary punch with no real force behind it.
’...Can’t beat her, I’ll endure it.’
"Speaking of which, that Chakra Mode you just used is actually quite suitable for a technique I’m currently perfecting and strengthening. Igniting Chakra to enhance oneself is very dangerous.
But the reason it’s dangerous is because it rapidly exhausts the body to condense Chakra in a short period. If the Chakra being ignited is stored in advance, then naturally there wouldn’t be any danger."
As she spoke, Tsunade removed the forehead protector between her brows, revealing a faint diamond-shaped mark.
"The Yin Seal?"
Looking at the mark on Tsunade’s forehead, Uchiha Xuan couldn’t help but be taken aback.
That’s right. Although Chakra can’t be stored in the body like Qi, the Ninja World does have methods for storing Chakra. And right before his eyes, there happened to be one.
"You even know about this? The Yin Seal was originally created by Grandma to specifically handle the Nine-Tails’ massive Chakra, but its effects far exceeded expectations.
With some clever ideas and incorporating some simple Sealing Formulas into the Yin Seal, Grandma gave it the additional effect of preserving youth forever.
Hmph, kid, do you understand what ’preserving youth forever’ means? It means that decades from now, when you’ve already become a little old man, I’ll still be beautiful and charming. Wahahaha!"
For a moment, Tsunade, pleased with herself, couldn’t help but put her hands on her hips and laugh.
’This woman... is she out of her mind?’
Looking at Tsunade suddenly laughing with her hands on her hips, Uchiha Xuan felt slightly speechless.
At this time, Tsunade, who hadn’t yet experienced the successive deaths of her loved ones, was full of vitality, just like Nawaki.
"Kid, I feel like you’re thinking something very rude. Alright, try to see if you can move now."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes at Uchiha Xuan. Although his face was expressionless, a woman’s intuition told her that this spiky-haired kid was silently criticizing her in his heart.
"Barely."
Lifting his hand and gently clenching his fist, Uchiha Xuan spoke softly.
"Tch, and you call that ’barely’? If anyone else tried what you just did, they’d probably be lying in a hospital bed for two days. Speaking of which, did we make a bit too much of a commotion? How about you explain this."
Tsunade rolled her eyes, then looked at the greatly changed banks of the Naka River and the pairs of red eyes standing not far away. She narrowed her eyes and spoke to Uchiha Xuan.
..............
Uchiha Clan Territory.
Inside Uchiha Setsuna’s home.
"You were too reckless, Xuan. Although Uzumaki Mito won’t take action against you because of the First Hokage, that Senju girl might not be the same.
In close combat, if she had any ill intentions, even Ganghuo would find it difficult to save you."
Uchiha Setsuna looked at Uchiha Xuan and spoke in a low voice.
As someone who had lived through the Warring States period, he knew Uzumaki Mito’s character, but that didn’t mean he trusted anyone associated with her.
From beginning to end, their generation of Uchiha only acknowledged Senju Hashirama, and as Hashirama’s wife, they also acknowledged Uzumaki Mito.
As for others, including that sinister Senju Tobirama, they would never acknowledge them!
"I have my own judgment, and... if I wanted to leave, she couldn’t stop me."
Uchiha Xuan’s expression remained unchanged—this wasn’t arrogance but confidence.
"I know you have your trump cards, but more often than not, you need to think things through. Her identity is ultimately special. Besides being the First Hokage’s granddaughter, she is also Sarutobi Hiruzen’s disciple.
As a young person, you have your own ideas, and we elders won’t interfere, but we must ensure your absolute safety."
Uchiha Setsuna spoke solemnly.
"I understand."
"Good. In that case, go back and rest early. Also, the medicinal herbs for your medicinal bath next year have been collected. The clan doesn’t have a medical ninja of suitable skill, so we can only increase the dosage based on your physical strength.
We old folks don’t know your limits either. Since you’ve chosen to interact with the Senju, you could try making use of that Senju descendant named Tsunade. Her medical skills are likely the highest in Konohagakure at this stage."
Uchiha Setsuna raised a hand, and an Uchiha ninja immediately approached Uchiha Xuan, carrying a large scroll. Looking at the scroll, Uchiha Setsuna spoke softly.
The medicinal bath was an extremely expensive method of tempering the body’s strength. However, due to the scarcity of medicinal herbs and the Uchiha’s primary business being various "military supplies," the clan often had to trade with other ninja clans to obtain herbs.
In the past, the Uchiha would never have bothered with such things, but now, because Uchiha Setsuna wanted to lay a better foundation for Uchiha Xuan, the medicinal baths were arranged.
The largest source of medicinal herbs came from the Nara clan, or rather, the Nara’s covert trading operations.
"Thank you for your trouble, Elder."
"It’s no trouble at all. Besides, I’m only doing this for the future of the Uchiha. I’m old now, and it’s good for an old man to still be of some use."
Watching Uchiha Xuan leave, Uchiha Setsuna remained calm.
As for the golden light that appeared on Uchiha Xuan during his fight with Tsunade—what was it? He didn’t ask, nor would he. The secrets of this child were not something an old man nearing his grave needed to know.
.............
Under the moonlight, Uchiha Xuan walked along the path home through the clan grounds.
’Most of what I excel at now relies on my own speed and the strength tempered through Spirit and Vitality Cultivation to face enemies. The clansmen I usually spar with are all Chunin, and whether it’s Thunder Breathing swordsmanship or relying on Ninjutsu, I can resolve things quickly.
However, as soon as I encounter an enemy with greater strength and faster speed than me, all the abilities I currently possess become useless, and I can only rely on the Golden Light Mantra to defend against attacks.’
Though not everyone is Tsunade, similarly, not everyone will hold back against me. Swordsmanship at its peak can cut through anything, but honing swordsmanship requires time.
And right now, what I lack most and what I have most are both time. To deal with this situation, those two techniques should also be put on the agenda.
Under the moonlight, Uchiha Xuan reviewed his battle with Tsunade—though calling it a battle was more like Tsunade toying with him one-sidedly.
If you cannot break through the defense, no amount of tricks are useful.
Although in this Ninja World, there are very few with such strong defenses, very few does not mean none.
He needed to prepare early.