Saving Rock Lee

10:00 a.m., Konoha Hospital.

Operating room.

Tsunade, dressed in sterile surgical attire, carefully operated on Rock Lee.

Her technique was both nimble and steady. She separated nerve after nerve, broke apart misaligned bones, then used Medical Ninjutsu to set them back into place.

No one spoke.

This was an operation waged against the Grim Reaper.

Standing in the second assistant's position, Hikari watched Tsunade's rapid hands and nodded to himself.

Not bad. Really not bad.

Tsunade's medical skills were unexpectedly exceptional.

The operation had begun at 9:30. By 10:00, more than half of it was complete, and the remaining portions were effortless for Tsunade.

Ten more minutes passed, and Tsunade finished the suturing.

With the use of the Mystical Palm Technique, Rock Lee's skin was initially joined together.

Head nurse Da Ju gently wiped the sweat from Tsunade's face. Director Kira, standing as the first assistant, had eyes shining as though he had seen God.

A nerve-racking operation had ended just like that.

"Lady Tsunade, since you used Medical Ninjutsu, why use sutures as well? Isn't that redundant?"

Tsunade set down the suturing instrument, took a step back, and began rotating her wrists.

"Medical Ninjutsu can indeed speed up Rock Lee's recovery. But that is under normal circumstances. You need to understand that when Medical Ninjutsu is used, it stimulates cell division to repair the body."

"When I reset his bones just now, I had already used Medical Ninjutsu. The most dangerous stage has passed. Under these circumstances, I used basic Medical Ninjutsu to assist the sutures and reduce cell division, allowing Rock Lee's body to recover gradually."

Da Ju looked at Tsunade with reverence.

"In other words, Lady Tsunade not only treated Rock Lee, but also protected his body and ensured that his future potential would not be wasted."

"Lady Tsunade is amazing!"

Director Kira also looked at Tsunade with deep admiration.

"To think of what others cannot, Lady Tsunade's medical prowess truly is incredible."

"But only Lady Tsunade could use such methods!"

"For us, the priority is still ensuring the patient's recovery. As for potential, we can only take it into consideration as best we can."

There was no helping it. In the ninja world, there was only one Tsunade.

Her skill alone was worth an entire Konoha Hospital.

Tsunade glanced at the equipment beside her and took a deep breath.

The main reason she had completed this operation so easily was that Rock Lee's body had not suffered any adverse reactions during surgery, reducing its difficulty.

Others would think it was because her medical skills were so extraordinary, but only Tsunade knew that it was all because Hikari had silently used Yang Release energy to help Rock Lee.

Wonderful. Rock Lee was saved by Tsunade.

With this favor, wouldn't Might Guy be completely devoted to Tsunade?

His best friend and the inheritor of his legacy—he could only repay this debt with his life.

Hikari did not think there was anything wrong with plotting against Might Guy this way.

First, he had not inflicted Kakashi's and Rock Lee's injuries.

Second, Tsunade had truly saved them. Although his secret assistance had maximized the effects of their treatment.

But that did not diminish Tsunade's importance in the slightest.

Besides, Tsunade was not the kind of scheming old fox who casually used human lives in her plots. Might Guy's safety was still well assured.

"The operation is complete. Da Ju, move Rock Lee to the intensive care unit. He cannot receive visitors until twenty-four hours after he regains consciousness. Remember to give him nutrient solution."

Da Ju answered, "Yes, I guarantee the mission will be completed."

After this operation, Tsunade's prestige in the hospital rose without limit once more.

This was what it meant to be a pillar of stability—accomplishing what others could not.

With her here, Konoha Hospital could be that much more confident when receiving patients.

That was the importance of strength.

"All right, everyone else return to your duties. Hikari, come back with me!"

As Hokage, Tsunade was busy beyond measure. If not for Shizune acting as her useful assistant, Tsunade would probably have to sleep in the Hokage's Office.

After taking off his sterile attire, Hikari followed Tsunade out of the operating room.

Bang! Bang!

Might Guy, wearing his green breathable outfit, dropped to his knees directly before Tsunade. Two solid kowtows conveyed the sincerity in his heart.

"Thank you, Lady Tsunade!"

Might Guy, who was never good with flowery words, did not know what to say at this moment.

Tsunade rolled her neck. After maintaining intense concentration for nearly an hour, even she was feeling worn out.

"It's nothing, Guy. You do not need to be so polite. Rock Lee is part of the Hidden Leaf Village, and I am the Hokage. Of course I had to do everything I could to save him. To be honest, the operation was extremely dangerous. Even I am surprised it succeeded."

Might Guy rose to his feet and looked at Tsunade with shining eyes.

They shone with the light of worshipful faith.

That earnest gaze made Tsunade a little uncomfortable instead.

"You and Hikari talk first. I'm heading back to the Hokage's Office. I'm exhausted."

"Farewell, Lord Hokage." Might Guy bowed at ninety degrees and watched Tsunade leave.

Finally, that woman's gone. Now I can get some proper rest. I kept channeling Yang Release Chakra just now, and my body feels exhausted.

Tsunade, walking ahead of him, curled her lips into a smile, feeling extremely pleased.

I really want a beautiful, young, wealthy woman who can see through the strength I put on, tell me I never need to struggle again, and say all I need to do is lose myself in her tender embrace.

Tsunade: Sure enough, I was too young.

I knew someone like him could not possibly stay depressed so easily.

Forget it. He looks so tired, so I won't make him follow me today.

After watching Tsunade go downstairs, Might Guy hurriedly grabbed Hikari's arm and ran upstairs with him.

Under Hikari's puzzled gaze, Might Guy pulled him into Kakashi Hatake's hospital room and shut the door.

"Hikari, I heard you accompanied Lady Tsunade for afternoon drinks yesterday, and you even paid the bill. By the time you left, it was already very late."

"You really worked hard!"

Hikari: That sounds all right, but why does it feel like something is off?

Kakashi, lying in the hospital bed, spoke up. "Hikari, as a young man, you need to take care of your body. Lady Tsunade may occasionally pull you along for some indulgence, but she will not keep clinging to you forever. How about this? For your safety, should I introduce Anko to you? Once you get married, Lady Tsunade will be too embarrassed to use you so ruthlessly."

Damn it, ruthless!

Hikari finally understood why Might Guy had said that.

Recently, ever since Tsunade had kept him by her side, rumors about certain unspoken workplace rules had been spreading like wildfire.

Tsunade had tried to suppress them, but it ultimately came to nothing.

There was no helping it. Everyone only wanted to see what they wanted to see.

A handsome young man like Hikari and a newly appointed Fifth Hokage like Tsunade—everyone was delighted to imagine something happening between them.

Once there was such a story, even if it was false, it would eventually become true.

Because that was what the masses liked to see.