Konoha Hospital.
Natsuki raised his hand and knocked on the door.
After receiving permission, he entered Tsunade's office.
"What do you need from me?"
When Tsunade saw him, she set down the documents in her hands and casually stretched.
Her movements made her clothes stand out even more, accentuating her figure.
Natsuki was half her student, as well as Nawaki's friend and future teammate, so there was no need for her to act overly proper around him.
With her personality, it was difficult for her to stay serious all the time.
Unless something drastic happened.
"Tsunade-sensei."
Natsuki immediately explained why he had come.
"Kushina shouldn't go out on missions."
Tsunade thought for a moment before refusing.
Doing missions and visiting relatives were not the same thing.
Even a C-Rank Mission could encounter unexpected circumstances and be upgraded to an A-Rank Mission.
"If Tsunade-sensei is worried, you can come along with us."
Natsuki was not surprised and continued.
"Me too?"
Tsunade could not help but freeze slightly.
"Tsunade-sensei."
Natsuki gave his reason. "I've recently been researching a new healing potion. Its effects far surpass those of the Blue Healing Potion."
"Do you have a formula?"
Tsunade's expression immediately turned serious.
After the Blue Healing Potion had been widely distributed, it had already proven tremendously useful.
According to rough statistics, Konoha's ninja death rate during missions had fallen considerably.
If another healing potion with even better effects appeared, its significance was self-evident.
Moreover, the Ninja World had been quite unstable lately. After Hanzo of Amegakure declared war, Konoha could be dragged into war at any moment.
One more healing potion would increase Konoha's chances of victory in war.
"I do, but it isn't complete."
Natsuki stepped forward and took out the formula for the Red Healing Potion: Blood of God. "I've tried it several times, but none of them succeeded."
Tsunade accepted the formula and began reading it.
Very quickly, she furrowed her brows and fell into deep thought.
Although she did not know the exact effects of the Red Healing Potion: Blood of God, she still knew what these medicinal ingredients were used for.
Simply putting medicinal ingredients together would not necessarily bring out their full effects. She needed to find the connection or reaction between them.
"Come on. Follow me to the Laboratory."
Tsunade abruptly stood up.
Standing in front of her, Natsuki felt a shadow fall over him.
He subconsciously looked up and saw Tsunade's clothes struggling under their burden.
Unable to wait any longer, Tsunade grabbed him and headed for Konoha Hospital's Laboratory.
Natsuki was still young and could not match her long strides, so he could only jog to keep up.
Once they arrived at the Laboratory, Tsunade began making the potion according to the formula.
After an unknown amount of time, a vial of potion appeared in her hand.
She took a sip and closed her eyes.
"It really is missing something."
Tsunade spoke slowly. "Logically speaking, extracts from so many precious medicinal ingredients should have excellent effects, yet it has no effect at all."
"I think it's missing a catalyst, or rather, a medicinal ingredient with vitality."
Natsuki said meaningfully.
"Vitality? That's quite an apt word."
Tsunade agreed.
"Tsunade-sensei, I'm about to head out on a mission."
Natsuki coughed lightly and changed the subject.
"I'll go with you."
Tsunade glanced at him. "You little brat, you're really slippery. Much smarter than Nawaki."
"I'll take that as praise from Tsunade-sensei."
Natsuki said with a smile.
"It is praise."
Tsunade took off her gloves, flicked his forehead, and asked, "When are you leaving?"
"We're gathering at the village gate at nine tomorrow morning."
Natsuki replied.
"I'll bring Kushina and Nawaki there on time."
Tsunade nodded, then asked, "Do you have anything else to do today?"
"No."
Natsuki paused before asking, "Tsunade-sensei, do you need something from me?"
"Naturally, we're continuing to test your formula."
Tsunade smiled. "Let's study which medicinal ingredients can be added to it."
"Yes, Tsunade-sensei."
Natsuki nodded.
The next day arrived.
Although Natsuki and Tsunade had worked hard all day yesterday, without question, every experiment had ended in failure.
"Natsuki!"
Uzumaki Kushina jogged all the way up to Natsuki.
She caught her breath as quite a few strands of red hair fluttered in the wind.
"Orochimaru."
Tsunade, dressed in a jonin vest, stepped forward with a smile. "It's rare for us to have a chance to do a mission together."
Once the three ninja in a ninja team became jonin, they would automatically split up.
Unless it was a difficult S-Rank Mission, there was no need for three jonin to act together.
Besides, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru were no ordinary jonin.
"The last time we did a mission together was three years ago."
Orochimaru nodded.
"What a shame. With Sensei and my sister here, we should have taken an S-Rank Mission!"
Nawaki said regretfully.
"You're the ones doing the mission, not us."
Tsunade glared at him. "Don't aim too high."
"Got it!"
Nawaki pouted.
"Let's go."
After the small talk ended, Orochimaru was the first to head out.
Tsunade stepped forward and came to Natsuki's side.
She had two reasons for agreeing to go out on the mission: one was to protect Uzumaki Kushina, and the other was to study the Red Healing Potion: Blood of God.
At this point, she was not yet the woman from the original story who drank, gambled, and fought. She was still highly motivated and deeply concerned about Konoha.
Uzumaki Kushina hesitated as if she wanted to say something.
She had originally wanted to chat with Natsuki while they traveled, but Tsunade had unexpectedly taken that spot.
She could not understand the formula they were discussing and could only follow behind them glumly.
As Orochimaru listened to their conversation, an interested expression quickly appeared on his face.
Although he was not yet the mad scientist from the original story, he already had a deep understanding of the human body, medicine, and related subjects.
But he was not a talkative person. He merely listened and pondered.
A day passed quickly.
Night fell.
Two tents were set up.
Sleeping during a mission naturally could not be as comfortable as sleeping in the village.
To deal with unexpected situations and enemies that could appear at any moment, they slept fully clothed in sleeping bags.
After dinner, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Natsuki began discussing the Red Healing Potion: Blood of God again.
Uzumaki Kushina sat beside Natsuki, feeling that going out on missions was not all that great.
"Perhaps what it's missing isn't a medicinal ingredient."
Orochimaru suddenly said.
"Then what is it missing?"
Tsunade asked in confusion.
"In the Ninja World, what possesses the greatest vitality?"
Orochimaru asked in return.
Tsunade fell into thought at his words.
"Yang Release Chakra."
Orochimaru quickly gave the answer.
Tsunade's heart jolted, and she suddenly felt enlightened.
Natsuki could not help but think that Orochimaru truly lived up to his reputation. He had easily found the heart of the problem.
Hashirama Cells or White Zetsu cells, as parts of a body, were indeed Yang Release Chakra in essence.
They were simply an exceptionally special kind of Yang Release Chakra.
"Then I can give it a try."
Tsunade immediately said.
As a medical ninja, she naturally did not lack Yang Release Chakra.
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