Studying Medicine Couldn't Save the Ninja World

"Whose pretty child is this?"

Tsunade asked with a faint smile. "Is he yours, Nonō?"

She paid no attention to Hikawa's gaze.

He was just a child.

There was no need for her to get angry.

If it had been Jiraiya, she would have punched him directly.

"His name is Hikawa. He's a child from the orphanage."

Yakushi Nonō explained gently.

"Hikawa?"

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "The Hikawa who defeated Asuma?"

Yakushi Nonō instinctively looked at Hikawa.

Although Sarutobi Asuma was the Hokage's son, a duel between children could not possibly have spread far and wide, so she had not known about it.

"I was just lucky."

Hikawa revealed a modest smile.

Sarutobi Asuma: Aminos!

Surprise appeared on Yakushi Nonō's face.

She now understood why Sarutobi Hiruzen had snatched Hikawa from Shimura Danzō's hands.

He was indeed worth it.

But at the same time, she felt somewhat worried.

The more outstanding Hikawa was, the less likely Shimura Danzō would be to give up.

"What did you bring this little guy to see me for?"

Tsunade asked with a light laugh.

"Hikawa is your fan, so he wanted to meet you."

Yakushi Nonō said, patting Hikawa on the head.

"You're a genjutsu ninja. Why are you my fan?"

Tsunade asked curiously.

I'm a fan of your balls.

But he definitely could not say that out loud.

Hikawa said, "Because I think Medical Ninjas are amazing. They can save lives and heal the wounded."

"Is that so?"

Tsunade paused slightly, as if recalling something. She sighed and said, "Studying medicine can't save the Ninja World."

Are you Senju Tree Person?

Hikawa wanted to complain, but he did not know how.

"Anything else you want to say, little guy?"

Tsunade stood up and stretched lazily. "It's about time. I need to see a patient."

Hikawa hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

What could he say?

Could he kneel like Lu Bu and ask her to become his adoptive mother?

Only because of Yakushi Nonō did he even have the qualifications to exchange a few words with Tsunade.

Though Hikawa wanted to learn Medical Ninjutsu, asking to become her disciple would be pure overreach.

To make it in this world, you needed power and connections.

Right now, he only had two options.

Either he possessed exceptional Yang Style talent, or he had money and could do whatever he wanted by becoming her creditor.

But at present, he could do neither.

"Then, see you next time."

Tsunade waved her hand and turned to leave.

"Director."

Pretending to be interested, Hikawa asked, "Does Tsunade-sama usually perform surgeries?"

"She does."

Yakushi Nonō nodded slightly. "But she generally won't step in for minor injuries."

Hikawa's heart stirred.

It seemed she really did not have hemophobia.

In the original story, Tsunade developed hemophobia only after witnessing Dan Katō's death.

That part had not happened now.

The course of fate had changed.

Though he did not know why, as he grew stronger, he would surely learn more secrets that differed from those of the Sage of Six Paths.

For Hikawa, that was a good thing.

With Tsunade remaining in Konoha, he only needed to display his Yang Style talent to draw her attention.

If she were wandering everywhere like in the original story, he would have no opportunity at all.

Hikawa was so determined to take Tsunade as his master not because he was her fan, but to protect himself and live more safely in Konoha.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had taken notice of him, but not enough.

What if Shimura Danzō one day abandoned all restraint and launched a sneak attack? How could he stop him?

He needed another safeguard.

Other than Sarutobi Hiruzen, only the Konoha Three Ninjas were unafraid of Shimura Danzō.

Orochimaru was a dangerous yet charming villain. If Hikawa became his disciple, he might end up as an experiment someday.

Jiraiya only accepted the Child of Prophecy as a disciple, and he already had a disciple like Namikaze Minato.

By comparison, Tsunade was the best choice. Her status was noble, and she was alone.

"Director, can you teach me Medical Ninjutsu?"

Hikawa looked at Yakushi Nonō and asked.

"Medical Ninjutsu?"

Yakushi Nonō revealed a surprised expression.

Was it because he admired Tsunade?

"You're still young. You should focus your efforts on learning genjutsu."

Yakushi Nonō advised.

"Genjutsu doesn't require much effort."

Hikawa shook his head. "I can learn three genjutsu in a day."

"...?"

Yakushi Nonō was stunned.

Was he even human?

She knew Hikawa's Yin Style talent was excellent, but she had not expected it to be this good.

In that case, his defeat of Sarutobi Asuma was indeed understandable.

"Being a Medical Ninja isn't as simple as being a genjutsu ninja. Before learning Medical Ninjutsu, you need sufficient foundational knowledge."

Yakushi Nonō took out a scroll. "Since you want to learn, give it a try."

Geniuses always received special treatment.

If he could learn it, that would naturally be for the best.

And if he could not, it was fine. He could still become a genjutsu ninja.

"Thank you, Director!"

Hikawa subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

There were still more good people than bad in the Ninja World.

Hikawa opened the scroll, and the first thing he saw was a table of contents.

He flipped through several pages and found that they were still tables of contents. Unable to help himself, he wondered where the actual text was.

"This is a catalog of the medical texts you need to study."

Yakushi Nonō explained.

"Huh?"

Hikawa instinctively looked up.

This was not one book? It was a list of a whole pile of books?

And this counted as basic introductory material?

He finally understood the true weight behind the saying, "Encouraging someone to study medicine is deserving of a lightning strike."

"Whenever you have time in the future, you can come to Konoha Hospital to read, or borrow a few books to take out with you."

Yakushi Nonō said with a smile, patting his head.

"..."

Tsunade's earlier words echoed in Hikawa's mind.

Studying medicine couldn't save the Ninja World.

Forget it. He would treat it as being for the children.

After saying goodbye to Yakushi Nonō, Hikawa borrowed two medical texts and left Konoha Hospital.

With so many books to read, there was no need for him to rush.

He would start with the simplest ones.

E-Rank Talent Entry: Nimble Steps (Not Acquired).

Trigger Condition: Reach the highest speed level of an ordinary genin.

Current Progress: 30%.

The E-Rank Entry "Nimble Steps" was a necessary Entry for synthesizing the C-Rank Entry "Heavenly Strength."

Moreover, its trigger condition was very simple: run.

Because Hikawa had persisted in running for two weeks, his progress had already reached 30%.

Combined with the Body Energy recovery effect of the E-Rank Entry "Strong Physique," he estimated that he would meet the condition very soon.

Hikawa loosened up and prepared to run.

There were already quite a few pedestrians on the streets, making them unsuitable for running.

After thinking briefly, he headed north and arrived at Konoha's Fourth Training Ground.

The training ground was open to the public.

Hikawa swept his gaze around and spotted someone familiar: Hatake Kakashi.

Rather than practicing ninjutsu or exercising, he was sparring with a white-haired young man.

Hatake Sakumo?

Hikawa fell into thought.

In Konoha, there was actually another ninja who was not afraid of Shimura Danzō: Hatake Sakumo.

At this time, his reputation surpassed that of the Konoha Three Ninjas. Second only to Sarutobi Hiruzen, he had shaken the Ninja World and was known as the Konoha White Fang.

But in another two or three years, he would commit suicide because of a failed mission.

Hikawa did not disturb them and began running around the edge of the field.