Tsunade's Resolve to Become a Medical Ninja

The Senju Clan Land.

Little Tsunade was engrossed in a thick book, diligently reading. The cover displayed an anatomical diagram, a treasured medical text of the Senju clan.

In Konoha today, the Bloodline Limit clans monopolized knowledge. Ordinary civilian ninja graduated from the academy with only the basic three ninja tools: the Transformation Technique, the Clone Technique, and the Substitution Technique.

For commoners to learn other ninjutsu, there were few avenues.

They could sell themselves to a Bloodline Limit clan, or earn merits on the battlefield to exchange for ninjutsu.

If they were luckier, their Jonin instructor might teach them a move or two, but such instances were exceedingly rare.

Konoha's Jonin almost all came from ninja families. These families had rules against casually passing down clan ninjutsu. Of course, self-created ninjutsu could be shared freely.

Knowledge related to medical ninjutsu was naturally invaluable, accessible only to the great ninja families.

Mito Uzumaki sat by the doorway, basking in the warm sunlight. Old people enjoyed sunbathing. She was nearing fifty, which was considered quite old in a world where ninja generally had short lifespans.

Seeing Tsunade so quickly emerge from her grief, Mito Uzumaki was genuinely happy. She truly was her granddaughter.

Although she didn't know why Tsunade had suddenly started studying medical ninjutsu, as she had shown no prior interest.

The Senju Clan and the Uzumaki Clan, blessed with vast chakra reserves, were said to have inherited the Yang Release from the Sage of Six Paths. They were naturally suited for learning medical ninjutsu, hence why these two clans possessed the most medical ninjutsu texts.

Mito Uzumaki understood this well. When Tsunade was young, she had planned to teach her a few things, but Tsunade had been uninterested, preferring to learn powerful ninjutsu.

Now, she had a change of heart and was uncharacteristically delving into medical ninjutsu knowledge. Mito Uzumaki couldn't be bothered to inquire about the reasons; as long as her precious granddaughter was happy, that was all that mattered.

As long as Tsunade studied diligently, Mito Uzumaki was confident she could train her to become the most powerful medical ninja in the ninja world.

Tsunade stared at the densely packed text, encountering many obscure technical terms that left her utterly confused, making her want to tear the precious book before her.

It seemed she had encountered trouble.

Mito Uzumaki, still sunbathing, observed Tsunade's expression.

Tsunade was nearing her limit. Mito Uzumaki couldn't just keep sunbathing.

"Little Tsunade, you've run into trouble, haven't you?"

Mito Uzumaki stood up, walked over to Tsunade, and looked at the page. This page discussed Yang Release and human anatomy, which was beyond Tsunade's current knowledge base.

"Grandma, there are so many terms here I've never seen before, and why does the chakra here..."

Asking when you don't understand is a good habit.

Tsunade understood this principle. Her grandmother, Mito Uzumaki, was highly skilled in medical ninjutsu. With an expert by her side, she naturally had to ask for clarification.

"What is known as Yang Release..."

Mito Uzumaki patiently taught Tsunade, guiding her step-by-step. At crucial points, she would pause, wanting to see if Tsunade could figure out the key to the problem with her hints.

The future Tsunade was the world's foremost medical ninja, her talent in medical ninjutsu unquestionable. She didn't disappoint Mito Uzumaki's expectations and naturally answered correctly, even extrapolating further.

This filled Mito Uzumaki with relief. Her legacy in medical ninjutsu would continue.

"I will become Konoha's strongest medical ninja!"

Having just fully grasped the concept, Tsunade immediately regained her confidence and began to "boast." This made Mito Uzumaki a little curious. Tsunade's original goal had been to become Konoha's first female Hokage.

"Little Tsunade, tell Grandma, how did you become interested in medical ninjutsu?"

A flicker of sadness crossed Tsunade's face, but she still managed a smile.

"Grandma, when I was on a mission at the Konoha hospital, I saw many wounded soldiers returning from the front lines. Every one of them looked in pain, and some even died from their injuries."

"If I were an excellent medical ninja, I could have saved them."

"Maybe if my medical ninjutsu were a bit better, and I had followed Second Grandpa, I could have treated him when he was injured, and perhaps he wouldn't have died."

Tsunade's innocent words pained Mito Uzumaki deeply. Tsunade, who had never experienced battle, didn't understand its cruelty. The opponent who could defeat Tobirama Senju was not someone an excellent medical ninja could have saved.

Tsunade's words cast a somber mood over the room. Mito Uzumaki quickly changed the subject and continued to explain medical knowledge to Tsunade.

Outside the gates of the Senju Clan Land, Toma Senju, upon returning to Konoha, was eager to see Mito Uzumaki.

The gates, usually wide open, were unusually shut, adding to Toma Senju's already uneasy feelings.

"Gate of Opening!"

Toma Senju knocked on the door. A head peeked out from a crack, and upon recognizing Toma Senju, the door was immediately opened.

"Young Clan Head has returned."

"What's going on? Why are the gates closed in broad daylight?"

The gates were closed to avoid clan members coming to gather information.

The Young Clan Head should not know yet that Clan Head Tobirama Senju had fallen. He should not mention it; let Mito-sama tell him herself.

The Senju Clan member on guard offered an explanation:

"This is Mito-sama's order. Mito-sama is waiting for you inside the house."

With that, he managed to placate Toma Senju.

Toma Senju nodded and quickly walked towards Mito Uzumaki's room, soon finding her.

"Mother, I'm back."

Mito Uzumaki heard his voice and looked towards Toma Senju outside the room, quickly walking out.

"Good boy, you've grown, and you've gotten darker."

Mito Uzumaki sized up Toma Senju. The originally somewhat tender Toma Senju had, through the baptism of the battlefield, grown into a man capable of handling things on his own.

"Tsunade is here too. Have you been mischievous in the village lately? You haven't been secretly gambling behind Grandma's back again, have you?"

"No way!"

Tsunade threw herself into Toma Senju's arms. She hadn't seen her father in a long time either.

"Mother, why did you call me back in such a hurry? Did something happen in the village?"

"Come with me."

A flicker of sadness crossed Mito Uzumaki's face as she prepared to pull Toma Senju into another room to talk.

"Uncle, where is Tobirama? I haven't seen him in a long time. Is he still in the Hokage's office?"

Toma Senju asked casually. Tsunade, held in his arms, heard this. The already emotional Tsunade immediately lost her composure and burst into tears.

"Great-Uncle, he... he's dead!!"

"Wuwuwu!!!"

Mito Uzumaki shot her son a reproachful look. She had specifically wanted to change rooms to avoid upsetting Tsunade with sad memories.

Now look, she had to comfort her again.

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