One was Jimo, who had a powerful system cheat; the other was Sakura, who was exceptionally talented in her own right. In just a few short days, the two of them had learned all the complicated, profound theory and smoothly moved on to practical training.
Jimo was especially remarkable. With the help of his incredible proficiency system, he learned basic Medical Ninjutsu at an astonishing pace. He seemed able to master every technique with ease, and before long, he was already proficient in a variety of basic Medical Ninjutsu.
Sakura was no less impressive. With her innate intelligence and hard work, she quickly learned how to use the Chakra required for Medical Ninjutsu. Watching her two outstanding students progress so rapidly left Tsunade both pleased and a little puzzled.
After observing him for a while, Tsunade keenly realized that, although Jimo showed considerable promise in Medical Ninjutsu, his heart didn't seem entirely set on becoming a dedicated medical ninja.
Knowing how important it was to teach students according to their strengths, Tsunade decided to give Jimo some special assignments in his spare time: she had him lead Konoha's Genin on a variety of missions. That way, he could make better use of his talents while gaining more well-rounded training and experience in the field.
Asuma and Yuhi Kurenai were both happy to let Jimo take his team members out. With every mission, they could clearly see their students growing.
Time flew by, and three months passed in the blink of an eye.
The sun was bright and a gentle breeze stirred the air that day. Naruto had finally recovered and walked out of the hospital. His radiant smile was like the warm spring sunshine, full of life and energy.
"Jimo! While I'm away from the village, please look after Sakura for me! Sasuke leaving hit her pretty hard!"
Grinning, Naruto waved energetically at Jimo. Then he turned and followed close behind Jiraiya, growing smaller in the distance until he disappeared at the gates of Konoha.
Meanwhile, Jimo strode purposefully toward the Hokage Building. He was going to meet the Fifth Hokage, Lady Tsunade, and receive a new mission. When he entered her office, he found Tsunade sitting at her desk, looking at him with a helpless, slightly exasperated expression.
"Honestly, you little brat, can't you stop pushing yourself so hard?" Tsunade complained. "The pressure Orochimaru's brought is certainly no small thing, but how can your body take it if you work so relentlessly?"
But faced with Tsunade's scolding, Jimo merely smiled, not backing down in the slightest.
"Lady Tsunade, as a ninja of Konoha, it's my duty to complete missions and protect the village and my comrades. Besides, none of this is particularly difficult for me."
Jimo answered firmly. Tsunade shook her head, silently marveling at the young man's determination and resilience.
Then Tsunade pointed at Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki, who were standing nearby looking rather uneasy, and said with a wry smile, "Look at them. They haven't even had a chance to do a simple job like catching cats, while you've taken every cat-catching assignment for yourself and even snatched up all the tedious paperwork! I don't even know what to say to you..."
Just then, Tsunade seemed to think of something, and her eyes lit up. "Oh, right! Why don't I get Anko to keep an eye on you? Maybe she can get you to ease up a little."
She couldn't help laughing at her own suggestion. Jimo, however, looked a little awkward and scratched his head, thinking that this could be trouble.
In the afternoon, sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting a soft golden glow over all of Konoha. Anko breezed into the room and quickly changed into a simple set of casual clothes.
Anko eagerly tugged Jimo out of the house, laughing and chatting all the way. She claimed she was helping him ease the physical burden of carrying around a heavy wallet, but in reality, they were going shopping—and Jimo was paying.
After changing into casual clothes, Anko seemed like a different person. The boldness and confidence she usually carried had given way to a more playful, adorable side.
"Goodness, Lady Tsunade finally approved some time off! We have to make the most of it and relax!" Anko said excitedly. She raised a slender finger and gently shaped Jimo's mouth into a smile. Seeing his awkward, helpless expression, she burst into giggles.
"Tehehe, just look at that silly face!" Anko grinned, showing two pearly little canine teeth. Her eyes narrowed into crescent moons, and her laughter rang through the air like silver bells, drawing curious glances from passersby.
They walked along side by side, without any particular destination. As they strolled, their eyes wandered wherever they pleased. Suddenly, they spotted a group of children playing and laughing. The children ran about innocently, chasing one another, their laughter rising and falling as if their pure joy filled the whole world.
A few steps farther on, they spotted a shop. The shopkeeper cheerfully handed goods to one customer after another, offering thanks and well-wishes all the while. His genuine, contented smile warmed the heart.
As they continued their stroll, villagers came and went, each wearing a simple, heartfelt smile. Perhaps those smiles came from life's little joys, or perhaps they reflected their love and affection for this peaceful village.
Just then, Anko stopped and turned to face Jimo. She looked up into his eyes and said softly, "See? You really don't have to push yourself so hard!" Her voice held both concern and sympathy.
"So what if you can't beat Orochimaru? You're only fifteen, you little pervert! You've still got a long road ahead of you." Anko raised her voice, as if she wanted the words to sink deep into Jimo's heart.
Hearing that nickname, Jimo felt instantly embarrassed. He frowned and said helplessly, "Come on, can you stop giving me these weird nicknames?"
Anko's voice was loud, and passersby turned to look curiously. Their eyes converged on Jimo, making him feel even more self-conscious.
"Sorry, sorry!"
Laughing, Anko quickly grabbed Jimo and hurried away with him.
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