"Lord Tsunade!"
Qingshui and Mikoto greeted Tsunade.
When Mikoto looked at Tsunade, admiration involuntarily showed on her face.
Given Tsunade's status and reputation, few kunoichi in Konoha didn't admire her.
"Oh, it's you two. When did you get back?"
"We just got back today."
"You just got back and already asked someone out on a date? You move fast, Qingshui."
After teasing them for a couple of lines, Tsunade turned serious and looked at Qingshui. "I heard you fought Hanzo in the Land of Rain, and even won?"
"We only won thanks to Lord Jiraiya."
Seeing how modest he was, Tsunade couldn't help clicking her tongue.
"Do you want to become a summoning contract holder of Shikkotsu Forest?"
The sudden question caught Qingshui off guard. He clearly hadn't expected Tsunade to ask him that.
Shikkotsu Forest was one of the Three Great Sage Lands of the Summoning Realm, as renowned as Mount Myōboku. If they could, everyone would want to make a contract with it.
Qingshui was no exception.
That way, he could not only gain a powerful Summoned Beast, but also learn Senjutsu.
As it happened, he had gained the ability to sense Nature Energy from Jiraiya.
So Qingshui gave her an affirmative answer.
"Good. Then we might as well take care of it right now."
After Hiruzen Sarutobi's earlier assignment, Tsunade had thought it over and realized she could offer Qingshui very little help.
After all, when it came to Medical Ninjutsu, Qingshui was already nearly her equal.
He just lacked her experience.
So the only help she could offer was in combat, and making him a contract holder of Shikkotsu Forest was undoubtedly the most effective and easiest way to do so.
Tsunade wasted no time. She closed her eyes, bit her finger, and performed the Summoning Jutsu, summoning a slug half her size.
It was a fragment of the Katsuyu Sage of Shikkotsu Forest.
The Katsuyu Sage was the only living being in all of Shikkotsu Forest.
"Lord Tsunade, it's been a long time."
As soon as Katsuyu appeared, she greeted Tsunade in a soft voice.
After wiping away the blood, Tsunade opened her eyes and looked at Katsuyu.
"This is Qingshui. He wants to become a contract holder of Shikkotsu Forest."
"Of course, Lord Qingshui. Please write your name in blood on the Summoning Scroll, then press your fingerprint onto it."
Although Katsuyu was a sage, she never put on airs. She addressed all her contract holders as "Lord."
After following Katsuyu's instructions, Qingshui immediately sensed a faint connection between himself and Katsuyu.
"Lord Qingshui, if you ever need help, you can summon me at any time."
"Sorry for the trouble, Katsuyu Sage."
Katsuyu then released the Summoning Jutsu on her own and returned to Shikkotsu Forest. Tsunade also prepared to leave.
"All right, I won't disturb your date. Have fun together."
Hearing the suggestive note in Tsunade's words, Mikoto felt a little embarrassed. Tsunade's image in her eyes had also taken a bit of a hit.
Tsunade, of course, had no idea what Mikoto was thinking.
And even if she had, she wouldn't have cared.
By then, Tsunade had returned to the Senju Clan Compound, only to discover that Hiruzen Sarutobi was there too.
"Old man, it's so late. Why aren't you home in bed? What are you doing here?"
Hearing Tsunade speak with such little respect, Hiruzen Sarutobi could only feel exhausted.
All three of his students were like this.
And that wasn't all. Orochimaru's thinking had gone astray, and he was obsessed with living forever.
Jiraiya seemed to have forgotten he was a Konoha Ninja, wandering all over the Ninja World in search of the so-called "Child of Prophecy" foretold by Mount Myōboku.
He had thought Tsunade, the most sensible of the three, was the normal one. Then she'd developed Hemophobia and started slacking off.
The greatest Medical Ninja in the Ninja World was afraid of blood?
How absurd!
"I came to visit Lord Mito."
During the First Shinobi World War, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been appointed Third Hokage in a time of crisis.
But he had been young then, with little standing in Konoha. Even as a student of the Second Hokage, he had struggled to secure the Hokage Position.
Fortunately, Uzumaki Mito had supported him, allowing him to take the position smoothly and assume power.
So Hiruzen Sarutobi genuinely respected Uzumaki Mito and visited her from time to time.
"Then you two talk."
Tsunade started to leave, but Uzumaki Mito called after her.
"Tsunade, I'm tired and getting ready to rest. See your teacher off for me."
Tsunade dared to disrespect Hiruzen Sarutobi, but she wouldn't disobey her grandmother. She could only stay behind obediently.
Once Mito had left, Tsunade said to Hiruzen Sarutobi irritably,
"Enough, old man. What do you really want from me?"
She could see perfectly well that visiting Mito was just an excuse. He had come because he wanted something from her.
Even Mito had realized as much, which was why she'd deliberately given them space to talk.
After all, Mito was old and no longer involved herself in Konoha's affairs. These days, she only wanted to raise Kushina well.
After taking a deep drag on his pipe, Hiruzen Sarutobi produced a Sealing Scroll and opened it. Inside was the White Zetsu Corpse Qingshui had brought back from the Land of Rain.
That was why Hiruzen Sarutobi had come to see Tsunade. He wanted her to study the White Zetsu Corpse.
"Why not ask Orochimaru? He could study it too."
Tsunade, who only wanted to slack off, immediately tried to refuse.
"Orochimaru won't do."
Hiruzen Sarutobi had deliberately waited until after work to visit Tsunade at the Senju Clan Compound under the pretext of visiting Mito, so that no one would find out about this matter.
Especially Orochimaru and Danzo.
"Tsunade, don't forget who you are. You're a Konoha Ninja!"
Since Hiruzen Sarutobi had put it that way, Tsunade had no choice but to agree, however reluctant she was.
"Remember, this must be kept strictly confidential. You absolutely cannot let this get out. In a few days, I'll prepare a dedicated research facility for you."
The White Zetsu Corpse was sure to conceal a major secret, so Hiruzen Sarutobi had to warn Tsunade.
Seeing how serious he was, Tsunade quickly promised to keep it quiet.
After discussing business, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't leave right away. Instead, he brought up the upcoming Joint Chunin Exam.
He had received replies from the various Ninja Villages. Sunagakure and Kumogakure had both said they would send participants.
Even more Small Ninja Villages planned to take part, including Amegakure, Kusagakure, and Takigakure.
So, after discussions that day, they had officially set the Joint Chunin Exam for a month later.
Many Ninja from other villages would be arriving by then, so Konoha needed time to make thorough preparations and prevent any mishaps during the Joint Chunin Exam.
"Kushina should take the Chunin Ninja Exams too. Let her team up with Qingshui."
The Chunin Ninja Exams required participants to register in Ninja Squads.
But ever since Kushina had graduated, Mito had kept her by her side to teach her Sealing Technique, so she had no teammates to form a squad with.
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