Asuma, Unit of Currency

Chapter 43: Monetary Unit of Measurement, Asuma

Hikawa watched Tsunade holding the knife and couldn't help but freeze inwardly—was she about to use him as the subject of her technique?

Small eyes stared at big eyes. A few seconds later, he gritted his teeth and extended his arm.

"Relax. It won't hurt."

Tsunade spoke as she drew a thin, long cut across the back of his hand with the fruit knife.

A faint trace of blood seeped out.

It stung a little, but not much.

After all, she was the finest Medical Ninja.

Hikawa suddenly recalled a news story from his past life about a medical student who slashed someone over twenty times and only caused minor injuries.

"Look with your eyes. Feel with your heart."

Tsunade raised her hand, and a pale green Chakra surged from her palm.

An aura brimming with vitality and life spread through the air.

The wound on the back of Hikawa's hand slowly healed.

"How does it feel?"

Tsunade asked.

"The wound is a little itchy."

Hikawa answered honestly.

"That's because your cells are accelerating their division."

Tsunade gently pinched Hikawa's small hand and said, "It may look no different from before, but you've already consumed a fair number of cells."

"I see."

Hikawa nodded seriously.

"But cell division and proliferation have their limits."

Tsunade's tone turned grave. "The more you use it, the faster you age."

Hikawa thought of her Yin Seal.

Once the Yin Seal was released and combined with the Strength of a Hundred Sealings Technique, any damage suffered would trigger high-speed automatic regeneration and recovery.

But overuse would cause her to take on an aged appearance.

In other words, Medical Ninja had their limits.

The only way to break past those limits was to stop being a Medical Ninja—like Hashirama Senju, who had completely abandoned being human.

He could perform Signless Healing without needing Hand Seals, had no side effects, and easily achieved the effects of the Strength of a Hundred Sealings Technique.

"Do you know the three tenets of a Medical Ninja?"

Tsunade changed the subject and asked.

"I do."

Hikawa explained, "They taught us at the academy."

First—never act on impulse; more precisely, never charge to the front.

Second—never give up treatment, unless you've confirmed the team member is dead.

Third—protect yourself and survive until the end.

Hikawa felt it sounded like the rules for a bush-camper in a battle royale game.

"No matter what happens, you must live."

Tsunade reached out, patted his head, and urged him.

Hikawa found it a bit strange—like that classic line from anime: "Come back alive, and we'll get married."

"Come on. Let's go to the hospital."

Tsunade withdrew her hand and said.

"What for?"

Hikawa was momentarily stunned, not quite following.

"What? Are you willing to be a patient?"

Tsunade chuckled lightly. "If you're ready to sacrifice yourself, then study at home."

"Then I'd rather go to the hospital."

Hikawa quickly shook his head. "It hurts too much."

"What do you mean?"

Tsunade shot him a glare and asked, "Did I hurt you just now?"

"Now's not the time to be so good at picking out the key points!"

Hikawa coughed, changing the subject. "Will the hospital patients let me treat them?"

"With just you alone? Of course not."

Tsunade said smugly, "But with me added, they'll be more than willing to be lab... receive treatment."

You were about to say lab rats, weren't you?

Hikawa followed her to Konoha Hospital.

Just as she'd said, when the patients heard it was Tsunade treating them, they were overjoyed and gladly served as teaching material.

The day passed quickly.

Hikawa finally understood the power of the C-Rank Entry 'Innate Full Soul'.

With the boost from his Yin Style talent, learning genjutsu only took him a few minutes.

But when it came to Medical Ninjutsu, he couldn't learn a single one in a whole day.

Aside from Medical Ninjutsu being harder to learn, the main reason was that he had no Yang Style talent boost.

But that was fine—he had plenty of time.

He only needed to learn three Medical Ninjutsu to synthesize the C-Rank Entry 'Heavenly Strength'.

"Let's call it a day here."

Tsunade glanced at the sunset on the horizon, then looked at Hikawa, who was sitting in a chair, panting from exhaustion.

Chakra consumption meant physical fatigue.

After studying all day, he was naturally worn out.

"Can you still walk?"

Tsunade unconsciously rubbed her fingers together.

A day without gambling—she was itching for it.

"I'll rest a bit."

Hikawa waved his hand. "Teacher, you can head back first."

"No, can't rest yet."

Tsunade walked over and directly scooped him up. "We're going to the casino."

Really... not surprising at all.

Hikawa buried his face in her embrace, breathing in the rich fragrance, and continued resting.

The soft, warm time flew by in an instant.

Another new day dawned.

Hikawa woke up early.

After jogging two laps around the streets, he made a turn and walked into the Konoha Knowledge Bookstore.

"Number 9527, you've done well!"

Tsuchihashi was as excited as if he'd seen a long-lost relative the moment he spotted him.

Hikawa thought for a moment and understood the reason—Tsunade.

Over the past two days, news that he had become Tsunade's student had spread to everyone, and Tsuchihashi was no exception.

Besides, as a spy Kumogakure had planted in Konoha, he definitely had other intelligence channels.

"Uncle Tsuchihashi."

Hikawa didn't stand on ceremony and asked directly, "Any reward?"

"Absolutely!"

Tsuchihashi couldn't contain his excitement. "Do you know? You're the highest-ranking spy since the founding of Kumogakure!"

Hikawa was taken aback. Were the others really that bad?

But thinking it over, it wasn't that they were bad—it was that the system was too powerful.

Other spies could never escape detection by various sensory and intelligence ninjutsu.

Just the Yamanaka Clan's memory extraction alone was enough to cut off their path to promotion, let alone infiltrating Konoha's high-ranking.

Of course, there was another reason: geniuses were never sent to be spies.

Oh, except for Shimura Danzō.

"I sent word back to Kumogakure yesterday. There should be news in a couple of days—come by again then."

Tsuchihashi calmed himself down. "Keep up the good work. The future is yours."

Hikawa was his subordinate; the higher he climbed, the more Tsuchihashi would benefit from Kumogakure's rewards.

"Got it."

Hikawa said firmly, "For Kumogakure!"

"For Kumogakure!"

Tsuchihashi echoed.

"Can the royalties for Taimanin be settled now?" Hikawa cleared his throat and asked.

"Of course."

Tsuchihashi smiled and pulled out a bankbook. "This is the royalties from publication up to now."

Hikawa opened the bankbook with anticipation.

Twelve million Ryo!

We're rich!

He hadn't expected the royalties to reach a third of Sarutobi Asuma's bounty.

"I plan to release the middle volume of Taimanin this week. You can look forward to next month's royalties." Tsuchihashi patted his shoulder and asked, "Does your... your friend have any other ideas?"

"I'll ask when I get back." Hikawa put away the bankbook. "I don't know right now."

That was the truth.

He had no idea what to write next.