The Key Item, Hashirama Cells

Konoha Hospital.

Natsuki raised his hand and knocked on the door.

After receiving permission, he walked into Tsunade's office.

"What do you need?"

Seeing him, Tsunade set down the documents in her hand and stretched lazily.

Her movements caused her clothes to cling to her body, accentuating her silhouette.

Natsuki was half her student, as well as Nawaki's friend and future teammate, so there was no need to be overly formal in front of him.

Given her personality, it was difficult for her to remain serious for long.

Unless she encountered a major tragedy.

"Tsunade-sensei."

Natsuki immediately stated his purpose.

"It is not suitable for Kushina to go out on missions."

Tsunade thought for a moment and refused.

Going on a mission and visiting family were not the same thing.

Even a C-rank mission could encounter unexpected circumstances and escalate into an A-rank mission.

"If Tsunade-sensei is worried, you could come along."

Natsuki was not surprised and continued.

"I should go too?"

Tsunade couldn't help but be slightly stunned.

"Tsunade-sensei."

Natsuki presented his reasoning, "I have recently been researching a new healing potion, and its effects far surpass the Blue Healing Potion."

"Do you have the formula?"

Tsunade's expression immediately turned serious.

Since its promotion, the Blue Healing Potion had already played a significant role.

According to rough statistics, the mortality rate of Ninja from Konoha on missions had dropped considerably.

If another healing potion with even better effects appeared, the significance was self-evident.

Moreover, the Ninja World was currently unstable; after Hanzo of Amegakure declared war, Konoha could be dragged into the conflict at any moment.

Having one more type of healing potion would increase Konoha's chances of winning the war.

"I do, but it is not yet complete."

Natsuki stepped forward, took out the formula for the Red Healing Potion: Blood of God, and said, "I have tried several times, but none were successful."

Tsunade took the formula and began to look it over.

Her brows soon furrowed, and she fell into deep thought.

Although she did not know the specific effects of the Red Healing Potion: Blood of God, she was well aware of the functions of these medicinal ingredients.

Simply putting the ingredients together did not guarantee they would exert their full effect; one needed to find the connections or reactions between them.

"Come, follow me to the Laboratory."

Tsunade suddenly stood up and said.

Standing before her, Natsuki felt a shadow loom over him.

He instinctively looked up and could see the heavy burden beneath Tsunade's clothes.

Tsunade couldn't wait and dragged him off to the Konoha Hospital Laboratory.

Natsuki was still young and couldn't match her long strides, so he had to jog to keep up.

Upon arriving at the Laboratory, Tsunade began preparing the medicine according to the formula.

It was unknown how much time had passed before a vial of potion appeared in her hand.

She took a sip and closed her eyes.

"It is indeed missing something."

Tsunade said slowly, "Logically, with so many precious ingredients extracted, the effect shouldn't be bad, yet it has no effect at all."

"I believe it is missing a catalyst, or perhaps a medicinal ingredient with active properties."

Natsuki said, hinting at something.

"Active? That is an apt term."

Tsunade agreed.

"Tsunade-sensei, I am about to go out on a mission."

Natsuki gave a light cough, changed the subject, and said.

"I'll go with you."

Tsunade glanced at him and said, "You brat, you're really slippery, much sharper than Nawaki."

"I'll take that as a compliment, Tsunade-sensei."

Natsuki said with a smile.

"It is a compliment."

Tsunade took off her gloves, flicked him on the forehead, and asked, "When are we leaving?"

"Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, meeting at the village gate."

Natsuki replied.

"I'll bring Uzumaki Kushina and Nawaki there on time."

Tsunade nodded and asked again, "Do you have anything else to do today?"

"No."

Natsuki paused and asked, "Tsunade-sensei, do you need me for something?"

"Naturally, to continue testing your prescription."

Tsunade said with a smile, "Let's research which medicinal herbs can be added to it."

"Yes, Tsunade-sensei."

Natsuki nodded and said.

Time arrived at the next day.

Although Natsuki and Tsunade had worked hard all day yesterday, there was no doubt that all the experiments had ended in failure.

"Natsuki!"

Uzumaki Kushina jogged all the way to Natsuki.

She caught her breath, her red hair fluttering in the wind.

"Orochimaru."

Tsunade, wearing a Jonin vest, stepped forward and said with a smile, "It's rare that we have the chance to go on a mission together again."

If the three members of a Ninja squad all reach the rank of Jonin, they are usually separated.

Unless it is a high-difficulty S-rank mission, there is no need for three Jonin to act together.

Moreover, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru were not ordinary Jonin.

"The last time we went on a mission together was three years ago."

Orochimaru nodded and said.

"What a pity, with Sensei and my sister here, we should have taken an S-rank mission!"

Nawaki said with great regret.

"It's you who are doing the mission, not us."

Tsunade glared at him and said, "Don't aim too high."

"I know!"

Nawaki pouted and said.

"Let's go."

Once the pleasantries were over, Orochimaru was the first to start walking outward.

Tsunade stepped forward and came to Natsuki's side.

She had two reasons for agreeing to go on this mission: first, to protect Uzumaki Kushina, and second, to study the Red Healing Potion: Blood of God.

At this time, she was not the version of herself from the original story who drank, gambled, and fought; she was still very proactive and deeply committed to Konoha.

Uzumaki Kushina wanted to say something but hesitated.

She had originally wanted to chat with Natsuki while they traveled, but who would have thought that Tsunade would occupy that spot.

She couldn't understand the prescription the two were discussing, so she could only follow behind them, feeling stifled.

Orochimaru listened to their conversation and soon showed an interested expression.

Although he was not the mad scientist from the original story, he already had a deep understanding of the human body and medicine.

But he was not a talkative person, so he just listened while pondering.

The day passed quickly.

Night fell.

Two tents were set up.

Sleeping during a mission was naturally not as comfortable as sleeping in the village.

To prepare for any unexpected accidents or enemies that might appear at any moment, they all slept inside their sleeping bags while fully clothed.

After finishing dinner, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Natsuki discussed the Red Healing Potion: Blood of God once more.

Uzumaki Kushina sat down beside Natsuki, feeling that going out on missions wasn't all that bad.

"Perhaps it isn't the medicinal ingredients that are missing."

Orochimaru suddenly said.

"Then what is missing?"

Tsunade asked, puzzled.

"In the Ninja World, what substance possesses the greatest vitality?"

Orochimaru asked in return.

Upon hearing this, Tsunade wore a thoughtful expression.

"It is Yang Release Chakra."

Orochimaru provided the answer quickly.

Tsunade felt a jolt in her heart, and suddenly, everything became clear to her.

Natsuki couldn't help but think to himself that as expected of Orochimaru, he had easily identified the root of the problem.

Hashirama Cells or White Zetsu cells, as parts of a body, were essentially Yang Release Chakra in their nature.

It was just a very special type of Yang Release Chakra.

"Then I can give it a try."

Tsunade said immediately.

When it came to Yang Release Chakra, as a medical Ninja, she naturally had no shortage of it.