Moving House

Though he had said he would look after Naruto, Sandaime had no intention of caring for him personally.

He decided to simply move, finding a place near Konoha Orphanage, where Nonō lived. The area happened to be rather remote and quiet, making it a good spot for someone like Sandaime, who was passionate about training.

As for whether this would make certain rumors spread even more wildly? Forget it. It had long been beyond saving. Sandaime no longer cared about those rumors, and his heart remained utterly unmoved by them.

And so, the blond-haired, whisker-faced baby Naruto was placed into Nonō's hands by Sandaime.

Nonō gently accepted Naruto and lightly stroked his cheek. Sandaime had to admit, the sight looked truly maternal.

"Why does he have whiskers like this? Is it because the Nine-Tails is sealed inside him?" Nonō asked Sandaime curiously.

Sandaime looked at the whiskers on the baby's face as well. That feature was indeed rather strange. Yondaime had not had whiskers like that.

"Perhaps it's because... he was born to a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?" Sandaime guessed, rubbing his chin.

"You mean Kushina was affected by the Nine-Tails' Chakra sealed within her while she was carrying him?"

"Perhaps that's it."

After all, that was the only explanation that made sense. A Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's child being affected in the womb by the Nine-Tails' Chakra within the Jinchuriki did not seem all that strange.

"In that case." Nonō tilted her head and said, "Does that mean he counts as the Nine-Tails' child too?"

"..."

Sandaime nearly spat.

Yondaime and the Nine-Tails' child? Was Kushina being cuckolded?

Or rather, Minato, Kushina, and the Nine-Tails—a child shared by two people and one beast?

What the hell was that supposed to mean? Sandaime could not help shaking his head.

He was too old to accept the shock of such new ideas.

"Regardless, take good care of him, Tenshin."

"Yes."

With a firm reply, Nonō lovingly stroked Naruto's face again.

Sandaime sat some distance away and lit a cigarette.

At Konoha Hospital, Tsunade felt as though she had been tricked into being stuck there.

"Damn Orochimaru! Damn old man!"

Originally, the hospital had been managed by Yakushi Tenshin, Konoha's second-best Medical Ninja after Tsunade. Yet Orochimaru clearly had no intention of letting go of Tsunade, the undisputed leader among Medical Ninjas. On top of that, a certain Third Hokage wanted Nonō to cooperate with him more effectively.

Thus, Sandaime and Fifth had conspired to shove Tsunade back into her post at Konoha Hospital.

She became the director of Konoha Hospital, as well as the head of Konoha's entire medical system.

Tsunade was now reorganizing Konoha's medical system, because the Joint Security Plan also had a subproject called the Joint Medical Security Plan.

That was, by making use of the established Joint Security Company and the Security Operation that was currently being prepared, they would construct a vast medical system centered around Konoha, spread across various regions, and attached to the Joint Security Company.

Konoha would provide the core medical technology, while the Security System recruited medical talent from all regions, building a medical force that could systematically cover the entire country.

This was an enormous undertaking.

Only Konoha had the capability to lead such a massive project, and only Tsunade—the Medical Saint of the Ninja World, with her lofty prestige in the medical field—could shoulder the central role of reorganizing it.

To say nothing else, once word spread that Tsunade was the core person in charge of this plan, countless doctors from the Land of Fire would come for her name alone, willing to join the system.

Not just the Land of Fire—people from all over the ninja world would probably come for her name.

It could be said that Tsunade's reputation in the medical field was undoubtedly an immense asset. If that wealth of prestige was put to good use, it could leverage enormous public support and benefits.

She was one of Konoha's finest, most elite top-tier assets.

Of course, Tsunade did not think that much about it. She only considered the future prospects of this medical system, felt the weight of responsibility upon her, and did not dare slack off in the slightest.

Of course, that did not stop her from cursing that damn Orochimaru and that damn old man!

"Lady Tsunade."

Kabuto had arrived.

Tsunade looked up from her paperwork, sparing a moment to look at Kabuto.

"Have you completed the practical assignment I gave you?"

"Yes."

"If there's anything you don't understand, ask."

"Yes."

Kabuto proceeded to ask a great many questions about things he did not understand. Tsunade gave him pointers one by one, causing Kabuto to frequently see the light. Many of the points that had confused him received clear answers.

Seeing Kabuto's powerful ability to comprehend Medical Ninjutsu, Tsunade could not help nodding. Orochimaru had been right—Kabuto was indeed a satisfying student.

Besides, he had studied under such an outstanding Medical Ninja as Yakushi Nonō for three years. His fundamentals were truly solid, and teaching him was effortless.

"Alright, what I've said is enough for you to absorb over the next week."

Tsunade stopped there and did not say too much. If she said too much, it would exceed Kabuto's current capacity for understanding.

He only needed to digest it properly over the next few days.

It could be said that every weekend, Kabuto came to the hospital to help with practical work and seek her guidance. After that, he attended school, gradually digesting and understanding Tsunade's teachings in the course of his studies.

This teaching arrangement was already quite reasonable.

After all, haste made waste.

Even geniuses had limits to what they could absorb.

"Thank you for your guidance, Lady Tsunade," Kabuto said gratefully.

Tsunade's instruction had truly benefited him greatly. He could not help marveling that she was indeed Princess Tsunade, one of the Konoha Sannin and one of the Ninja World's foremost Medical Saints.

"Mm."

Tsunade nodded.

Suddenly, she stretched, wanting to slack off for a moment.

Just then, the door was flung open.

"Lady Tsunade!" Shizune shouted.

Tsunade jolted, immediately putting on an appearance of being utterly absorbed in work, as though she had forgotten food and sleep. Pretending to be puzzled, she asked, "Shizune, what is it?"

"Lady Tsunade, didn't you say I was to notify you immediately whenever a letter from Jiraiya-sama arrived? The moment I received it, I hurried right over!"

"I know. No need to shout so loudly. You've already interrupted my work."

Tsunade muttered as though she did not care at all. Yet after Shizune handed over the letter, she immediately took it—then seemed to feel that she had looked a little too eager, so she clenched her fist before her mouth and coughed.

Then, slowly but seriously, she opened the letter and read its contents.

It had to be said that although Jiraiya was often terribly unserious when they were together, he was a literary young man at heart.

The letter was mostly about what he had seen and heard during his journey, along with various reflections and sentiments.

At the end, however, the topic abruptly changed, and he began complaining about Anko, Orochimaru's student.

He said that brat had tormented him terribly all along the way!

"Pfft! Serves you right."

Tsunade laughed aloud.

"Wasn't it your own fault? You just had to insist on teaching Orochimaru's student."