Tobirama and Tsunade Meet, That Familiar Sense of Déjà Vu

Big and beautiful.

That was Seisui's first impression of Tsunade.

It wasn't that Seisui was shallow; it was just that her physical features were rather conspicuous. Even the Sharingan found it hard to resist such a powerful illusion.

"I'm very interested. Medical Ninjutsu can help comrades, allowing companions to better fulfill their potential and survive on the battlefield..." Seisui met Tsunade's beautiful brown eyes and spoke slowly.

"Brat, the battlefield only turns everyone's fate into tragedy. Medical Ninjutsu can't save anyone either..."

A trace of disdain and sorrow lingered in Tsunade's eyes as she said coldly, "You look fifteen or sixteen. Why are you still so naive? Don't tell me you're another idiot who wants to become Hokage?"

"And you're an Uchiha. I really don't know what to say about you..."

After the Second Shinobi World War, following the successive tragic deaths of her younger brother Nawaki and Dan Katō, Tsunade had not only developed Hemophobia, but also a strong aversion to becoming Hokage. She believed only fools would become Hokage.

Tobirama Senju silently watched his beloved granddaughter. The joy in his heart from moments ago instantly turned cold.

What had she gone through to make Tsunade speak such sorrowful words and harbor such deep prejudice against the Hokage?

What unsettled Tobirama Senju even more was that he saw a trace of world-weariness in Tsunade's eyes...

After Tsunade finished speaking, Might Guy, Might Duy, Rin Nohara, and Shisui stared at her in shock. None of them had expected one of Konoha's Sannin, the Third Hokage's disciple, to say something so rebellious.

This truly didn't fit the Will of Fire!

"I don't want to become Hokage. I just want to protect the people around me." Seisui shook his head and spoke slowly.

"Hmph, naive brat..." Tsunade snorted noncommittally. She stared openly at Seisui's Sharingan, then glanced at Rin Nohara beside him, a flash of shock crossing her heart.

Could the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan really be used this way?

A little girl who didn't even have a ninja forehead protector had mastered the Mystical Palm Technique so easily with the Sharingan's help...

Tsunade recalled the proposal she had made back then—to add a medical ninja to every squad in order to ensure the survival rate of shinobi.

If there had been the Sharingan's help...

But as soon as the thought arose, Tsunade cast it from her mind. From Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju to Nawaki, the people important to her had died one after another. She was too exhausted to think anymore.

"What's your name?" After receiving Seisui's answer, Tsunade said slowly, "Use your Mystical Palm Technique. Medical Ninjutsu isn't some simple technique. Crude mastery will only worsen a patient's injuries."

"His name is Seisui, and he's my Lifelong Rival!" Might Guy frowned and shouted at Tsunade, "Seisui's green ninjutsu isn't crude at all! He's very good at it!"

"How could an auntie like you understand the bonds of youth between us!"

Auntie—

Tsunade narrowed her eyes slightly, a rather unfriendly killing intent leaking from them.

"Sister Tsunade, please guide me. Sorry to trouble you." Seisui discreetly kicked Might Guy, stepped in front of him, and gathered exquisite medical chakra in his hand.

"At least this brat knows how to speak properly..." Tsunade snorted. She shot a vicious glare at the bewildered Might Guy, then began seriously examining Seisui's Mystical Palm Technique.

But in the next moment, Tsunade grew increasingly serious as she watched. Even the flush on her face gradually faded, and she froze in place.

Even when using the same technique, different people produced vastly different results. This was especially true for a technique like the Mystical Palm Technique, which required extremely precise chakra control; everyone had their own method.

Yet Seisui's Mystical Palm Technique felt both incredibly familiar and unfamiliar to Tsunade, drawing her into thought.

Seisui smiled at Tsunade, and there was even a trace of fatherly affection in his eyes.

Tsunade stared blankly into Seisui's eyes, and an image from thirty years ago surfaced within them.

Back then, she had still been a little girl, even younger than Rin Nohara.

She would sit on her Great-Grandfather's desk and make a huge fuss, while the helpless Tobirama Senju could only coax her gently and teach Tsunade, hand in hand, the Mystical Palm Technique she had longed to learn.

It could be said that those were the most carefree days of Tsunade's life.

But then, the nightmare began.

Her relatives died in battle one after another, while her childhood companions and teachers became strangers. Some followed the Toad's prophecy, some pursued immortality, and some became obsessed with the power politics of balance...

Only Tsunade remained, wandering through this unfamiliar shinobi world.

"You..." Only after a long while did Tsunade come back to herself. She looked complicatedly at Seisui's Sharingan and his caring gaze, and could not help sighing inwardly:

"Similar... so similar."

But Seisui's Sharingan reminded Tsunade of the difference between them, making her feel a burst of absurdity and amusement.

If her Great-Grandfather knew that she thought an Uchiha brat resembled him, would he get so angry that he returned from the Pure Land just to scold her?

But if it could come true, Tsunade wouldn't mind doing it.

"You've learned the Mystical Palm Technique well. You're very talented..." Tsunade sighed weakly. Fluorescent light appeared in her hand as well, and she spoke slowly.

"But you can improve further. I'll demonstrate the nature transformation of Yang Release Chakra once. Watch carefully."

Tsunade's Mystical Palm Technique changed shape. When it came to the use of Medical Ninjutsu, she was confident that even Tobirama Senju, who had taught her back then, would not surpass her.

Seisui nodded. The Tomoe in his eyes spun as he carefully observed the flow of chakra throughout Tsunade's body.

This was the Uchiha's talent.

Ninjutsu Inventor (Tobirama Senju Version): For the vast majority of ninjutsu, you possessed an extremely strong ability to learn and modify them.

This was the Senju's talent.

With their abilities combined, Seisui easily replicated Tsunade's unique Mystical Palm Technique. Smiling, he asked, "Like this?"

Tsunade, who had only just broken free from the illusion, fell into confusion once more.

When she was little, whenever Tsunade came up with some little trick and proudly showed it off to Tobirama Senju, she would experience this exact scene.

Her extraordinarily gifted Great-Grandfather could always replicate her ninjutsu in the very next moment, then gently pat her on the head.

"...There's nothing I can teach you, Seisui brat."

Tsunade let out a long breath. Somewhat rudely yet seriously, she stared at Seisui's face, then suddenly turned and left. For some reason, a glimmer of tears appeared in her eyes.

It was both the effect of the alcohol and a true reflection of the loneliness in her heart.

Seisui silently watched her departing back.

Tobirama Senju could no longer hold himself back. "Seisui, tell me—what happened to Tsunade?"

First update!

There's a second update too, though it might be a little later...

Tracking missed updates owed after release (0/22)! (ORZ...)