Tsunade's Awakening and Persistence

Qingguang picked up a dead leaf from the ground.

"Do you know the difference between cutting dead leaves and fresh leaves with wind-style chakra?"

Minato frowned and shook his head slightly.

"Dead leaves have less moisture, are more brittle, and are easier to cut."

"But if the chakra is not concentrated enough, it won't be cut, it will be shattered by the chakra."

"Reduce the amount of chakra used, concentrate it more, and then practice. We'll stop here for today. It's getting late, and you have school tomorrow."

Minato lowered his head in thought after hearing this. These things sounded familiar, as if he had seen them on a scroll.

He had read and remembered them during his rest, but he hadn't quite understood them. After Qingguang's explanation, he suddenly understood.

"Yes, senior!"

Seeing Minato leave, Qingguang used his chakra to gather the leaves on the ground and put them into the trash can before heading to Tsunade's house.

"Big Sister, I'm here. Where are Nawaki and Kushina?"

Tsunade sat alone at the table in the living room, wearing only a sleeveless vest. Her fair, delicate arms rested on the table, her wrists swaying as her fingers twirled a wine glass.

"Nawaki is on a mission. That girl Kushina had too much fun with Mikoto today and fell asleep as soon as she got back."

"Take a look. Do you think Teacher Sarutobi will agree to my reforms this time?" Tsunade tapped the documents in front of her with her bright red nails.

This was the medical ninja reform plan she had compiled after months of field research.

There were three core principles.

First: Medical ninjas must not give up treatment before the injured person dies.

Second: Medical ninjas must absolutely not be at the front lines of battle.

Third: Medical ninjas must absolutely not die before any other member of their squad.

These three points were the most straightforward and would be necessary conditions for all medical ninjas to abide by. Below them were detailed plans concerning the training of medical ninjas, the collection of medicines, and a series of related plans.

After a general review, Qingguang met Tsunade's gaze and gave a forced smile.

"Big Sister, the plan is fine, but it might not be implementable."

"Why do you say that?" Tsunade's wine glass stopped swaying, and she asked with some confusion.

"It's simple, there's no money."

Some of the wine spilled out and landed on the table.

Tsunade felt a sense of absurdity. She had considered every aspect of the relevant issues, but she had completely forgotten to consider the financial aspect.

"Even if it's a bit difficult, this plan must still be implemented."

"Once successful, every squad will have a medical ninja, which will greatly reduce the casualties of the village's ninjas."

"Most ninjas who die in battle die because they don't receive timely treatment. Lives cannot be measured by money."

Tsunade's expression was solemn, and her words were very serious.

Qingguang deeply agreed with this.

"Big Sister, you're right."

"Today, I was guiding a civilian child in training. His name is Minato Namikaze."

"Minato? That sissy classmate Kushina was talking about?" Tsunade didn't quite understand why Qingguang suddenly brought up Minato.

Was this related to what they were discussing?

"This morning, he ate more than a dozen drawers of steamed buns in one go. I visited his home while he was training."

"It's on the very edge of the village, a small wooden hut about ten square meters, with no electricity. He only has a few thin sets of clothes in his wardrobe."

"His parents both died on a mission."

"They were all heroes of the village, but Minato and I, as descendants of heroes, I have clan members to look after me, and Lord Hokage personally found a ninja to mentor me..."

Qingguang spoke at length, and Tsunade's brow furrowed deeper and deeper.

These words made Tsunade increasingly uncomfortable, and she could only drink glass after glass of wine.

"Big Sister, I've discovered something recently. Sometimes, even a detailed and perfect plan isn't necessarily useful, because plans need people to execute them."

"People have selfish desires, just like Danzo..." At this point, Qingguang thought of what Orochimaru had told him and his expression turned bitter.

"Dan? Danzo?" Tsunade asked again, confused.

"It's nothing, I just got distracted."

"Let's continue talking about the medical ninja reform."

"I suggest that we can propose this plan first, but not rush to implement it. You know the village's current situation. Let's start with smaller aspects first, so they can accept it."

"As for other proposals, I'm afraid they'll have to wait until after the war."

Qingguang's reasoning was sound. Although he slowed down the pace of reform, it still allowed the reform to continue.

"Sigh... you're right, but I still want to try."

"If a few more arguments and a few more drinks alone can save more people, then it's worth it."

Tsunade downed the rest of the wine in the pot in one gulp.

With things having reached this point, Qingguang understood Tsunade's persistence and left not long after.

Leaving Tsunade alone, she sat before the table and chairs, beginning to recall what Qingguang had just said.

Her fists clenched, the anger she had hidden in her heart surfaced on her face at this moment.

After taking over the Medical Department, she discovered countless signs of tampering in its accounts.

On paper, there were no issues, but beneath the surface, too many people had meddled.

Initially, she thought such things only happened in the Medical Department, but after Qingguang's words, she realized.

It wasn't just the Medical Department; the entire village was engaged in this, and the source of it all could ultimately be traced back to one person.

The Hokage, who was above ten thousand people in Konoha, her teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

She began to gradually understand why Qingguang had brought up the matter of money.

Because that Hokage used profit, the interests of the entire village, to bind all of Konoha's ninja clans together.

This method was different from his grandfather Hashirama and his second grandfather Tobirama.

She was indignant, but at the same time, she felt helpless, as if she alone couldn't possibly stand against such a colossal entity.

"Heh heh, I'm afraid it will end up like Qingguang said, starting small..."

With a long sigh, Tsunade leaned back.

Of all the things on the proposal, only the one concerning the Ninja Academy was the easiest to implement and didn't cost much.

Ninja Academy...

"Ninja Academy!?"

Tsunade suddenly sat up straight, as if she had discovered something.

"Qingguang wants me to... cultivate my own faction of ninjas, to become Hokage in the future?"

Only then did she realize why Qingguang had mentioned mentoring Minato, why he had brought up so many things she thought were irrelevant.

These scattered threads, woven together, had pointed Tsunade down a path.

Though it might be incredibly difficult, fraught with thorns, and require her to make many enemies...

"I knew you were sharp, kid. I definitely didn't misjudge you, old woman."

"So what if it's difficult? Medical ninjutsu was so hard, and I learned it. This won't stump me..."

Tsunade stood up, pushed open the window, and looked at the bright full moon outside.

On the road, Qingguang was also looking at the full moon in the sky.

"I wonder if Big Sister understood the hints in my words..."