Special CG?

Akiyama Shun realized that Tsunade really had no sense of boundaries.

After he'd helped Tsunade win money gambling last time, she'd taken her drunken promise seriously. Whenever she ran short on cash, she came to him for help getting money to gamble with.

After a while, Shizune caught on and gave her an earful.

After that, Tsunade became more discreet. At least she stopped coming to him openly, and only sought him out when she could avoid Shizune.

In just one month, Akiyama Shun had cleaned out a third of Konoha's casinos!

The casinos of Konoha had even started calling him the God of Gamblers of Konoha.

Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally knew all about it.

However, he didn't say much. For one thing, there was Tsunade's status to consider. For another, even while helping Tsunade gamble, Akiyama Shun hadn't let his own studies slip.

He still ranked near the top!

In the four months since Akiyama Shun enrolled, he'd claimed every first-place spot at the Ninja Academy!

What was wrong with a student like that having a little hobby? Couldn't he relax once in a while?

Besides, he was spending time with Tsunade, one of the Sannin!

That was a good thing!

At Tsunade's house.

Akiyama Shun carried a large bag of money over and set it by the door.

"Lady Tsunade, I brought you some more money. Try not to lose it all too quickly. Last time, I gave you three million, and you'd blown through it by the time I got back from a meal."

Akiyama Shun sighed. He'd expected Tsunade to lose quickly, but not that quickly.

But this time, after he finished speaking, Tsunade didn't come rushing out to hug him in gratitude, promise that "this time will be different," and dash off with the money.

Instead, she looked anxious. She hastily threw on a green shirt and said, "You little brat, perfect timing! Come with me!"

"Are you hiding from debt collectors? I've already paid off the ones around here."

Akiyama Shun regarded Tsunade calmly.

At his tone, Tsunade clenched her fists and glared at him. "You little brat! Do you think everything I do has something to do with gambling?"

"Doesn't it?"

Seeing the distrust all over Akiyama Shun's young face, Tsunade couldn't take it anymore.

"There are too many injured patients at the hospital, and we can't keep up. I'm going to help. Shizune's already gone. Come lend a hand!"

!

Akiyama Shun had thought it would take a long time to build a relationship with Tsunade, but he'd unexpectedly triggered an affection-boosting event!

Tsk...

Why did this feel so much like the special events you triggered in a dating sim once your affection level got high enough?

Would there be a special CG later, too?

While Akiyama Shun's thoughts wandered, the two had already reached the hospital entrance.

With Tsunade leading the way, they passed through without a hitch. No one even stopped Akiyama Shun, a little kid, from entering some of the intensive care units.

The hospital staff didn't know him, but they knew Tsunade. Their reasoning was simple: anyone with Tsunade had to be fine!

Tsunade led Akiyama Shun up to the hospital's top floor. At the ward entrance, her expression changed at once. She wasn't her usual carefree self; instead, she looked serious. Then she gently pushed the door open.

Inside, several nurses had gathered to care for the three patients in the beds.

The three patients groaned in pain, their entire bodies wrapped up like mummies.

"Lady Tsunade, you're finally here! These three aren't the only ones—we have several others with similar injuries. We don't have the skill to treat them, so we don't dare try. The few people who know the Mystical Palm Technique are busy elsewhere!"

A young nurse saw Tsunade arrive and hurriedly explained the situation.

Tsunade didn't have time to say anything more. She quickly stepped forward and began using the Mystical Palm Technique, pressing her glowing green palms against two of the patients to treat their wounds.

Akiyama Shun watched Tsunade's expression, full of concern.

He wasn't only worried about the two patients; he was even more worried about her.

After Nawaki and Kato Dan died, Tsunade had developed hemophobia. Even the sight of a small amount of blood could leave her unable to think or move.

In the original story, Kabuto, an elite jonin at the time, managed to incapacitate Tsunade by slashing his own palm, then sent her flying with a punch.

The three patients in the beds were wrapped up like mummies, so there was no immediate risk of her seeing blood. But what about later?

There were so many severely injured people in the hospital. It was impossible for every one of them to be free of blood. If even one had visible blood, Tsunade would be unable to act for a while.

But that worked out perfectly.

Remove [Uchiha Itachi]!

Deploy [Yakushi Nonō]!

"Lady Tsunade, would you like me to help?"

Hearing Akiyama Shun's voice, Tsunade turned to look at him. "I almost forgot about you, brat. Go find Shizune. She should be helping with the bandages and treating wounds. She'll tell you what to do!"

"No, Lady Tsunade, I mean..."

As he spoke, Akiyama Shun raised his right hand. Green chakra enveloped his palm.

"The Mystical Palm Technique?!"

Even Tsunade, who had seen plenty in her day, couldn't help exclaiming when Akiyama Shun used the Mystical Palm Technique.

As a medical ninja, Tsunade understood better than anyone how difficult the Mystical Palm Technique was to learn. It was an A-rank medical ninjutsu!

Even the most talented medical ninjas she'd met needed years to master it!

How old was Akiyama Shun?

Five?

Even if he had a gift for medical ninjutsu and learned it in just two years, when could he have started?

At three?

What kind of joke was that?

The issue wasn't whether he should have learned it. The issue was that even if Akiyama Shun wanted to learn it, there was no one to teach him!

What powerful medical ninja would go out of their way to teach an A-rank medical ninjutsu to a three-year-old?

"Who taught you?"

"Lady Tsunade," Akiyama Shun answered calmly.

"Me?"

Tsunade stared at him, baffled. Ever since she'd met Akiyama Shun, she'd been chasing after him for money.

She couldn't remember ever teaching him any ninjutsu.

"Of course. Aren't you using the Mystical Palm Technique right now?"

Akiyama Shun nodded and answered as if it were obvious.

"..."

Tsunade fell silent.

Shizune often told her how terrifying Akiyama Shun's talent was, and Tsunade knew a little about it herself.

The things he'd done before—throwing weapons and the like—were impressive without training, so he was clearly a prodigy. But medical ninjutsu was different!

The difficulty of the two wasn't even remotely comparable!

Wait!

Shizune had also told her that this brat knew the Shadow Clone Technique!

At the time, she'd thought Shizune had mistaken the Clone Technique for the Shadow Clone Technique. But looking at things now...

Tsunade's mind was a jumble, but the hospital was too busy for her to think about it. She could only force herself to set those questions aside.

"In that case, go help treat patients elsewhere. I'll have someone who knows the Chakra Scalpel join you. She can remove the debris left in the wounds, and you can repair them."

"No need to trouble anyone, Lady Tsunade. I can do that, too."

As he spoke, Akiyama Shun raised his other hand. Blue chakra formed a Chakra Scalpel around his palm.

"...I haven't used the Chakra Scalpel just now."

"I know. When you brought me here, we passed some wards, didn't we? I saw a few big sisters using the technique."

"..."