Research Materials of the Two Generations of Hokage

Unfortunately, Jiraiya was a talent-based ninja like Hashirama Senju and Naruto Uzumaki. Perhaps once he grew up, he would take an interest in studying the principles behind ninjutsu, but for now, Jiraiya was still at the level of simply using whatever he could use.

Thus, Sarutobi Toru's lesson on the Shadow Clone Jutsu was like winking at a blind man. Aside from the hand seals and the flow of Chakra through the meridians, Jiraiya heard everything else without understanding any of it.

However, not understanding the principles did not prevent Jiraiya from using the ninjutsu. Other than its Chakra requirements, the Shadow Clone Jutsu demanded very little technique. Otherwise, even Naruto Uzumaki would not have been able to learn it in one go. Jiraiya possessed extraordinary physical constitution, and his Chakra reserves even exceeded Orochimaru's. He mastered it with ease.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Poof! As he looked at the shadow clone that had appeared, the two smug Jiraiyas simultaneously shot Orochimaru a provocative look.

Orochimaru held back a laugh and did not respond to Jiraiya, thinking to himself, The sensations from a destroyed shadow clone return to the original body. When it comes time to test ninjutsu... hehehe.

Naturally, Sarutobi Toru had mentioned this while explaining it, but he had made light of it. Coupled with Jiraiya's carefree personality, Jiraiya had yet to truly grasp its significance.

By the time Jiraiya had finished learning, the sky had already darkened, and everyone left the Training Ground separately.

Under the night sky, little Tsunade chirped away as she chatted with Sarutobi Toru. Her golden hair fluttered, her voice was crisp and bright, and she was as cheerful as a little bird.

Even little Tsunade herself did not know why. Whenever she saw Sarutobi Toru, she felt inexplicably happy. He seemed to possess some mysterious attraction; even someone as aloof as Orochimaru was very close to him.

However, Sarutobi Toru's attention was not on the little girl. Today, little Tsunade had promised to take him to see the Medical Ninjutsu research materials left behind by the First and Second Hokage.

The earliest Medical Ninjutsu had emerged through research into Hashirama Senju's Sage Body. However, Hashirama Senju's Medical Ninjutsu relied almost entirely on the innate gifts of his Sage Body, making it impossible for ordinary people to learn.

It was not until the research fanatic Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage, emerged that Medical Ninjutsu truly learnable by ordinary people—such as the Healing Technique and Hemostasis Technique—appeared.

However, at this time, Medical Ninjutsu was still a form of battlefield first aid, closer to a Secret Technique than an independent category of ninjutsu.

Looking at little Tsunade's beaming face, Sarutobi Toru knew that in the future timeline without him, this little girl before him would single-handedly develop Medical Ninjutsu, establish a Medical Ninjutsu system, and elevate its status to a level no less than that of the Five Elements Ninjutsu.

But now that he was here, the list of Medical Ninjutsu's founders would probably have to include his name as well.

"Are we there?" Before long, Sarutobi Toru followed Tsunade to the entrance of her home.

As the residence of Two Generations of Hokage, the Senju Estate covered a vast area and possessed an imposing grandeur. Most of its buildings were wooden, towering and spacious. Anyone entering them could not help but feel small, utterly unlike the delicate, compact style of ordinary Japanese architecture.

Sarutobi Toru casually pressed a hand against one of the wooden gateposts. It felt incomparably hard, and even absorbed a trace of the Chakra in his hand. He immediately understood that most of the Senju Estate had likely been created with Wood Release.

Not long after entering, they saw a couple in their thirties walking out.

"Hello, Uncle Yusuke. Hello, Aunt Miki!"

Sarutobi Toru hurriedly stood up and greeted them.

To be honest, Sarutobi Toru had not expected to run into Tsunade's parents. After all, this couple was usually not in Konoha, but at the Daimyo's Mansion.

Senju Yusuke was Hashirama Senju's son. Yet he was not a Konoha ninja, but the leader of the Land of Fire's Twelve Guardian Ninja.

When Konoha had just been established, Senju Yusuke had joined the Land of Fire's Twelve Guardian Ninja. He did not even have a Konoha ninja registration number, having come purely from the Guardian Ninja.

Of course, there were certainly political factors involved. Senju Yusuke could not truly sever ties with Konoha, and even his joining the Daimyo's Mansion carried some of the meaning of Konoha sending a hostage.

As for Senju Miki, she was the younger sister of the current daimyo and had once been a genuine princess. Needless to say, their marriage had also been a political union, though their life together after marriage had been fairly happy.

Sarutobi Toru had learned all this from Tsunade. Only then did he realize that Hokage sons becoming Guardian Ninja was apparently quite the tradition.

Unfortunately, Asuma had not brought home a princess. Maybe it was because he was not handsome enough?

Senju Yusuke truly was a handsome man. People often said the Uchiha produced handsome men, but the Senju Clan was no worse. Both generations of Hokage had been quite good-looking.

Well, except for his uncle, every Hokage throughout history had been handsome.

Senju Miki was also a Yamato Nadeshiko-style beauty. No wonder Tsunade was so pretty.

"You must be Toru! I've heard Tsunade talk about you for a long time. I'll have to rely on you to take care of our Tsunade!"

Senju Yusuke said warmly, his face full of smiles.

"Tsunade and I are classmates. Classmates help each other study—how could that count as taking care of her?"

"Haha, don't be modest. Tsunade's rapid improvement has a great deal to do with your help. I also heard about your ambition. You want to become a medical ninja, right?"

"That's right. Using Chakra solely for fighting and killing is far too wasteful. Saving lives and healing the injured is its true purpose!"

Upon hearing that, Senju Yusuke's expression turned solemn, as though he was greatly surprised by Sarutobi Toru's words.

After a moment, he sighed. "I never expected that a child like you would see things more clearly than so many adults."

"You want Father and Uncle Tobirama's research? Have Tsunade take you there, then!"

Little Tsunade, who had been standing to the side pretending to be a proper young lady, hurriedly gave him a meaningful look and led Sarutobi Toru out.

After the two left, Senju Yusuke seemed somewhat downcast. Senju Miki, who had remained silent all along, wrapped her arms around him and comforted him. "Alright, it happened so long ago."

Senju Yusuke sighed. "You don't understand. Father said the same thing back then. But unfortunately, saving lives and healing the injured alone cannot bring true peace!"

"Yusuke, do you think he has the breadth of heart of the First Hokage?"

Senju Yusuke hesitated. "He's still too young. We can't be sure whether he'll change."

Yet inwardly, he silently thought, Though he is so young, his affinity for others is already no less than Father's. But why do I still feel that he is more like Uncle Tobirama?

Naturally, Sarutobi Toru had no idea what happened after he left. Right now, he was flipping through the research materials of Two Generations of Hokage.

The Medical Ninjutsu researched by Hashirama Senju was of an extremely high level and absurdly effective, starting at least at A-rank Ninjutsu. But as for the research results, they were basically just superficial fragments. To develop a complete ninjutsu from these materials, either you needed a Sage Body too, or you might as well wash up and go to bed.

By comparison, although the Medical Ninjutsu researched by Tobirama Senju was not especially powerful, it contained everything: principles, formulas, hand seals, and future directions for development. As long as an ordinary person possessed Yang Release affinity, they could basically learn it. He truly deserved his titles of ninjutsu master and research fanatic.