"I’ve already agreed."
Faced with Koharu Utatane’s anger, Sarutobi Hiruzen calmly spoke.
"What?!" ×2
"Hiruzen! How could you agree to something like this!"
"Hiruzen, you’re being foolish."
For a moment, both Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane were utterly shocked. They couldn’t understand at all why Sarutobi Hiruzen would agree to such a thing.
Didn’t he know this would allow the Uchiha to try and grasp more power?
"Calm down, Koharu, Homura. The Uchiha are the village’s Uchiha. Those were Madam Mito’s exact words. Besides, it’s just about placing a few Uchiha children in the Medical Department to learn. It has nothing to do with power."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took out his pipe, placed it by his mouth, and spoke with a composed expression.
He understood his two friends’ thoughts perfectly well. However, he had to obey Uzumaki Mito’s ’order.’ Moreover...
He also knew about the matter between Tsunade and that Uchiha Xuan. If... if Tsunade really managed to build a bridge for communication with the Uchiha, he wouldn’t mind giving it a push.
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen’s resolute attitude, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were momentarily at a loss for words. They weren’t like Danzo Shimura; they had no intention of opposing Hiruzen head-on.
After all, Sarutobi Hiruzen was the Hokage.
............
Senju Clan Territory.
’That wicked Senju Tobirama really does understand the Uchiha well.’
Uchiha Xuan sighed in admiration while flipping through Senju Tobirama’s notes.
During this period, aside from studying Medical Ninjutsu, Uchiha Xuan spent his remaining time browsing the Senju’s collection of books, which also included notes left behind by Senju Tobirama.
Throughout this entire notebook, aside from records of Water Style Ninjutsu and the development directions and progress of some other ninjutsu, the remaining sixty percent consisted of various studies on the Uchiha and how to deal with them.
However, the Senju’s collection did not contain records of those Forbidden Jutsu. Thinking about it, it made sense. Senju Tobirama was a pure political monster. If it were anyone else, even after becoming Hokage, they would leave copies or something for their clan. But Senju Tobirama...
For him, the identity of the Kage always took precedence over the clan. This was something Senju Tobirama firmly believed in, after all, the current state of the Senju clan was largely his doing.
"Ha~ Slept really well. Hey, kid, interested in coming with me to the hospital for an internship? Your Medical Ninjutsu should get some practical application now."
Just as Uchiha Xuan was flipping through Senju Tobirama’s notes, the door behind him opened. Tsunade, with her hair a complete mess, walked out yawning. After stretching, she casually tidied her hair and spoke to Uchiha Xuan.
"Not interested."
Flipping through the notes, Uchiha Xuan refused without even looking up.
During this time spent with Tsunade, Uchiha Xuan had come to understand her personality fairly well. When she said something like this, there was a high probability she just wanted a free laborer to help her with her work.
Moreover, he was learning Medical Ninjutsu purely to train his Chakra control, and also...
"The study of Medical Ninjutsu is indeed quite useful. As I suspected, combining the Nature Transformation of Yang Release with my own Yin Release Chakra can, to some extent, influence the cultivation of the Golden Light Mantra. Yin-Yang Release..."
Flipping through Senju Tobirama’s notes and reading his various speculations and experiments regarding the Uchiha’s Yin Release Chakra, Uchiha Xuan couldn’t help but become absorbed.
Unlike other forms of Yin Release Chakra that require special secret techniques to refine, the Uchiha’s Yin Release Chakra is innate due to the Sharingan. Moreover, this unique Yin Release Chakra is quite peculiar—it possesses a "growth" property.
"Tch, what a nasty brat."
Realizing her thoughts had been seen through, Tsunade pouted and then walked over, plopping down beside Uchiha Xuan to look at the notebook that had hardly ever been opened in the Senju household.
"Instead of staring at this all day, you’d be better off reading more of the medical theories I gave you. Oh, right, since you left early yesterday, I forgot to mention—Grandma got you the Flying Thunder God Technique you wanted from Second Grandpa.
But Grandma said the Flying Thunder God Technique isn’t perfected yet, and it requires a certain level of mastery in Sealing Arts. So, she’ll give it to you after she helps you modify it."
After just glancing at the notes for a few moments, Tsunade felt her head starting to itch and immediately averted her gaze. Senju Tobirama’s notes weren’t something just anyone could understand.
As she looked away, Tsunade suddenly remembered Uzumaki Mito’s instructions and spoke up.
"......Please help me thank Madam Mito."
Uchiha Xuan was taken aback by her words, falling silent for a moment before speaking softly.
Uzumaki Mito had been excessively kind to him, and this goodwill left him unsure how to face it now.
"If you want to thank her, go do it yourself. I’m busy. Where’s today’s food?"
Tsunade pouted again, extending her hand toward Uchiha Xuan.
"Let’s eat out. I overslept today......My treat."
Closing the notebook, Uchiha Xuan shook his head gently and stood up.
During the time he had been learning Medical Ninjutsu from Tsunade, Uchiha Xuan had always brought his own meals, mainly because Tsunade’s daily routine was truly unconventional.
Ever since Tsunade had eaten the food he brought once, Uchiha Xuan started bringing two portions every day.
"Really? That’s great! Let’s go, let’s go—I want barbecue!"
Hearing this, Tsunade immediately stood up and headed toward the main entrance. She knew all too well that Uchiha Xuan was incredibly wealthy. Those old Uchiha geezers seemed terrified he might go hungry in the Senju Clan Territory.
Unfortunately, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t swindle any money out of Uchiha Xuan.
"Hey, Xuan, I don’t know what burden you’re carrying that drives you to push yourself so hard, but you really don’t have to exhaust yourself like this. With those old geezers from your clan and my grandma around, you can afford to relax a little. Besides, I’m here too—who would dare bully you with me watching your back?
As for the feud between the Uchiha and the Senju, it ended long ago under First Grandpa’s leadership. As for Second Grandpa, Grandma said that even though he didn’t like the Uchiha, after he became Hokage, he always treated every ninja clan in the village, including the Senju, according to the standards of a Kage.
So, whether it’s me or Grandma, we never expected anything in return for what we’ve given you. That’s why, for today’s barbecue, I plan to eat the best and most expensive cuts."
Standing at the entrance to the Senju Clan Territory, Tsunade suddenly turned back to look at Uchiha Xuan and spoke loudly.
".......Alright."
Watching Tsunade standing at the entrance to the Senju Clan Territory, Uchiha Xuan remained silent for a moment before nodding and following her.