The Returning Storm

News that Tsunade, burning with towering rage, had mounted a horse and ridden straight for Konoha Village spread through the medical station like a stone dropped into a pond, causing quite a stir. Worry, speculation, and sympathy for Duanmu Ci's ordeal filled the air. Duanmu Ci himself remained unusually calm. He handed the three still-shaken genin over to Shizune for comfort, then returned to his assigned tent and silently regulated his breathing, recovering from the exhaustion and injuries caused by forcibly activating the embryonic form of Sage Mode.

Toward evening, when the setting sun dyed the horizon orange-red, Tsunade returned.

There was no earth-shattering commotion, nor any explosive news that Root had been torn apart. She rode back on horseback, her shadow stretching long beneath the sunset. Her golden hair was somewhat disheveled, and her face remained cold, but the rage that had soared to the heavens seemed to have settled, transforming into a deeper, more restrained chill.

She walked straight into the medical station, ignoring the ninja who greeted her along the way, and headed directly for Duanmu Ci's tent.

"Duanmu." Tsunade lifted the curtain and entered. There was a trace of fatigue in her voice that was difficult to detect, but her eyes remained as sharp as ever.

"Sensei." Duanmu Ci immediately rose to his feet.

Tsunade said nothing. She merely examined him carefully from head to toe, her gaze lingering on his scorched sleeve and the burn marks faintly visible beneath the skin of his right arm. It was as though she wanted to see through his flesh and check for hidden internal injuries. Only after confirming that he was not seriously hurt did she slowly speak, her voice low and cold.

"That old dog Danzo... has tucked his tail for now." Her words carried intense disdain and suppressed fury. "The old man—the Third Hokage—stepped in. He warned Danzo and gave me his assurance: Root's hands, at least openly, will not reach for you again. Otherwise..." Tsunade snorted and did not continue, but the threat in those unfinished words made even Duanmu Ci's heart tighten. Clearly, Tsunade had put tremendous pressure on the Third Hokage, perhaps even invoking certain "privileges" of the Sannin.

Duanmu Ci understood. Danzo's temporary retreat was due to the combined pressure of the Third Hokage and Tsunade, but it did not mean he had given up. His covetousness and schemes would only become more concealed and dangerous. Still, securing open protection was already the best outcome at this stage.

"Thank you for going to such trouble, Sensei," Duanmu Ci said sincerely. He could imagine Tsunade arguing her case before the Third Hokage and Danzo, perhaps even willing to completely fall out with them.

"Hmph, spare me the useless words." Tsunade waved a hand, then her tone turned serious. "This attack was disgusting, but it also let me see the limits of your strength and... your potential." Her burning gaze fixed on Duanmu Ci. "Your taijutsu foundation, reaction speed, and judgment in battle all surpass those of ordinary chunin. You're even better than many jonin! But the way you use your strength... is far too crude! You're relying entirely on talent and instinct to smash through everything!"

Duanmu Ci's heart tightened. He knew Tsunade was about to get serious.

"Starting tomorrow," Tsunade said with unquestionable decisiveness, "your status as an 'apprentice' ends here! I'll personally give you specialized training! You need to learn Medical Ninjutsu, but more importantly, you need to learn how to turn that bull-like strength in your body into a real skill for killing enemies and saving your own life!"

"Specialized training?" A flash of surprise and anticipation appeared in Duanmu Ci's eyes. This was exactly what he had dreamed of! As one of the Sannin, Tsunade stood at the pinnacle in taijutsu—Monster Strength Punch—Medical Ninjutsu, and combat experience! Receiving her personal guidance would be hundreds, even thousands of times better than fumbling around on his own!

"That's right!" A faintly "cruel" curve lifted at Tsunade's lips. "First, we'll start with the basics! Let me see just how much weight that monstrous strength of yours really carries!"

Early the next morning, at an abandoned training ground near the edge of the Forest of Death. The ground there was relatively open and hard as iron.

Duanmu Ci stood in the center of the field while Tsunade stood ten meters away with her arms folded, looking entirely at ease.

"Hit me with your strongest punch." Tsunade tilted up her chin, speaking as though she were asking for something utterly trivial.

Duanmu Ci knew this was a test. He took a deep breath and drew upon the tremendous power granted by his Sage Body. His muscles instantly tensed! He used no technique at all—just the purest, most savage straight punch, blasting it toward Tsunade! His fist tore through the air with a dull howl!

Facing a terrifying punch powerful enough to blow apart a Fireball Jutsu, Tsunade's expression did not change in the slightest! She did not even move her feet!

Just as the fist was about to strike her, Tsunade casually raised her fair right hand, spread her fingers, and lightly met it head-on!

Bang—!!!

A muffled explosion rang out like a heavy hammer striking solid rubber! A shockwave burst outward from the two of them, sweeping up dust from the ground!

Duanmu Ci felt as if his fist had struck an immovable iron mountain! His violent force vanished like mud sinking into the sea, completely absorbed and dispersed by that seemingly slender palm! The enormous recoil numbed his arm, forcing him to stumble back two steps!

Tsunade, meanwhile, did not move an inch! Even the hem of her clothes did not flutter!

"Your strength... is decent." Tsunade withdrew her hand and shook her wrist, her tone flat. "But the way you exert it... is complete dog shit! You're wasting your strength!" Her criticism was merciless.

Duanmu Ci: "..."

"Watch closely!" Tsunade walked up to a hard granite boulder half the height of a person. She did not gather power, nor did her muscles visibly swell. She simply threw a seemingly casual punch!

Boom—!!!

The solid granite exploded as though high explosives had detonated inside it, instantly shattering into countless tiny fragments! Dust filled the air!

Duanmu Ci's pupils contracted sharply! The Rinnegan's dynamic vision allowed him to clearly catch the secret behind that punch! It was not mere brute force! The instant her fist touched the rock, an extremely condensed burst of chakra erupted, like countless tiny impact drills precisely destroying every structural point inside the stone! This was the product of a perfect combination of strength and chakra control—the true essence of Monster Strength Punch!

"Strength must be focused! Chakra must be condensed! Your bursts must be precise!" Tsunade's voice struck Duanmu Ci's heart like a heavy hammer. "Your body is the container, chakra is the fuel, and the technique of exerting force is the most precise fuse for igniting that fuel and directing your power toward the target! With brute strength alone, you'll be a living target when you face a true expert!"

The training that followed could only be described as "hell." Tsunade transformed into the strictest instructor, tempering Duanmu Ci in the most direct and brutal manner.

"Your footing is unstable! Root yourself to the ground! Feel how the earth transmits force!"

"Wrong point of force! Waist and abdomen! Core! Drive the whole body!"

"Condense your chakra at the edge of your fist! Not your entire arm! Focus! More!"

"Too slow! Again!"

"Pathetic! Didn't you eat?!"

Again and again, Duanmu Ci was knocked back and thrown to the ground by Tsunade's more refined methods of exerting force. His body was soon covered in purple bruises. Yet every failure, under the Rinnegan's extraordinary perception, gave him a deeper understanding of strength and chakra condensation. The Sage Body's powerful recovery supported him, allowing him to quickly rise and throw himself back into training.

During breaks, Tsunade also taught him the essentials of advanced Medical Ninjutsu, especially skills requiring extreme fine control, such as the Chakra Scalpel and the Art of Subtle Illness Extraction. With the Rinnegan's perception and the Sage Body's control, Duanmu Ci learned at an astonishing speed. Often, after Tsunade demonstrated something once, he could imitate it seven or eight parts out of ten, though he still needed extensive practice to improve his precision and proficiency.

"What a monster in the making..." Tsunade muttered under her breath as she watched Duanmu Ci steadily control a Chakra Scalpel and carve intricate veins into a leaf after only a short time. Yet her eyes were filled with praise.

Duanmu Ci knew that Tsunade had opened a personal stairway for him—a path leading to true strength! He had to seize every second and climb it with everything he had!