Qingyu's growing renown (fourth and fifth updates)

Kirigakure Frontline Camp.

The fog over the sea was thicker than it had been a few days before, and the gray-white fog walls almost completely swallowed up the entire campsite.

Mei Terumi followed Jūzō Biwa and lifted the curtain.

Suikazan Fuguki frowned as he looked at Jūzō Biwa and Mei Terumi who had entered.

His face was painted with red stripes, making him look very Yamato and imposing.

As one of the strongest members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist of the Mist, he has never liked defeat.

What happened?

"Have we run into a tough opponent?"

Jūzō Biwa Kubikiribōchō into the ground, the blade making a loud thud as it embedded itself in the soil.

He reached up and wiped the seawater off his face.

Minato Namikaze is here.

He uttered the name with a hint of apprehension.

"Konoha's Yellow Flash personally led the escort of that group of medical-nin. We intercepted them halfway, thinking it was a sure thing, but that guy's 'Flying Thunder God Technique' was even more troublesome than described in the intelligence."

Suikazan Fuguki's brows furrowed even more.

The red stripes on his face were distorted by this expression, making him look extremely ferocious.

"Flying Thunder God ----"

He repeated the name.

As a veteran ninja who participated in the Second Shinobi World War, Suikazan Fuguki was no stranger to this technique.

The "Flying Thunder God Technique" is known as the fastest Body Flicker Technique in the Shinobi World. Back then, Senju Tobirama used this technique to appear and disappear like a ghost on the battlefield, and countless Kirigakure Ninja died at his hands.

Minato Namikaze, that young blond brat, not only mastered this technique, but it's rumored that he's even faster than the Second Hokage.

Of course, whether this is true or not, Suikazan Fuguki doesn't know, because he has never fought against Minato Namikaze.

"It's not just Minato Namikaze who's difficult to deal with."

Mei Terumi's voice came from behind Jūzō Biwa.

"And then there's Qingyu, this Konoha Ninja."

"Qingyu?"

Suikazan Fuguki turned to look at her.

He remembered this name; when Xue Binglian was carried back severely injured, she was muttering about this guy.

"That's him."

Mei Terumi bit her lower lip.

She glanced down at her torn stockings; the black fishnet stockings on her long, slender legs had several irregular holes torn in them, revealing her fair skin underneath.

This was a high-end item she bought for a lot of money, and it was torn to shreds by that wretched Qingyu after she only wore it once!

He used his Sharingan Genjutsu to freeze me in place, and then—

Mei Terumi recounted what had happened.

Jūzō Biwa picked up the conversation, his tone tinged with helplessness. "That brat is indeed not simple. Not only can he use Tsunade's 'Strength of a Hundred,' but his recovery ability is also extremely strong. Mei Terumi's Boil Release hit him, he recovered in just a few breaths."

"That regeneration speed is beyond the scope of ordinary Medical Ninjutsu."

Suikazan Fuguki was silent for a moment, then turned around and took a few steps inside the Camp Tent.

"Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God, combined with Qingyu's regenerative abilities and sensory perception—"

He stopped and turned to look at Jūzō Biwa.

"Yagura is still coordinating forces in the rear, Munashi Jinpachi and Raiga Kurosuki are carrying out missions on the other side, and Kushimaru Kuriarare and Jinin Akebino are not here either. Right now, the only ones we can send out are you and me."

He paused, then turned to look at Jūzō Biwa again.

"Juzo, take them down to rest first. The intelligence was flawed this time, it wasn't your fault. I'll report to Lord Yagura, and we'll make further arrangements after he makes his decision."

Jūzō Biwa nodded, picked up the Kubikiribōchō from the ground, and hoisted it back onto his shoulder.

"That's the only way."

Jūzō Biwa nodded.

"Let's go, Mei Terumi."

"----yes."

Mei Terumi lowered her head and followed Jūzō Biwa out of the Camp Tent.

The curtains closed behind them, Suikazan Fuguki stood alone, his expression shifting between light and dark.

Outside the Camp Tent.

Mei Terumi followed Jūzō Biwa through the camp, the sea breeze ruffling her long, loose brown curls.

On the way, Mei Terumi occasionally overheard the Kirigakure ninjas discussing Minato Namikaze.

At the same time, Qingyu is also a topic of discussion.

This guy's reputation is steadily rising.

Mei Terumi thought to herself.

Jūzō Biwa paused at the fork in the road and glanced at her sideways.

"Qingyu's strength did exceed expectations. It's not shameful for you to lose to him. Go back and rest well; there will be other opportunities next time."

Jūzō Biwa, fearing that Mei Terumi wouldn't be able to accept the defeat, offered a word of comfort.

After saying that, he shouldered the Kubikiribōchō and walked towards his Camp Tent, his tall figure quickly disappearing into the mist.

Mei Terumi clenched her fists.

Next time, I'll make you kneel before me and beg for mercy.

Mei Terumi returned to her Camp Tent and found a new pair of stockings. She took off the old stockings and tossed them aside.

As she lay in bed with her eyes closed, Mei Terumi mentally reviewed the day's battle.

Qingyu's speed was too fast. His Body Flicker Technique, combined with the Sharingan's dynamic vision, allowed him to react and counterattack in an extremely short time.

Although he could barely keep up with the other's pace using Water Release, he was still lacking in speed and explosiveness.

Moreover, his recovery ability is too abnormal.

The corrosive power of Boil Release can melt even steel; if it hits him, he can recover in just a few breaths.

This level of regenerative ability is terrifying.

Mei Terumi rolled over, buried her face in the pillow, and let out a muffled groan.

In any case, she won't make the same mistake again next time.

She's going to use both of her Kekkei Genkai together.

This time, he was defeated by Qingyu Kekkei Genkai.

It was entirely her carelessness; she didn't dodge.

If I had known, I would have used my ultimate move right from the start.

"Just you wait—"

Mei Terumi closed her eyes, thinking of Qingyu face in the darkness, and then mentally punched him hard.

Several days later, Konoha.

On the rooftop of the Hokage Building, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood by the railing, a pipe in his hand.

Smoke curled from his pipe as he looked down at the frontline battle report in his hand, his brow furrowed.

The office door was pushed open from the outside, and Mitokado Homura Utatane Koharu, and Shimura Danzō walked in.

"Hiruzen, why did you call us here so late? Has something happened at the front?"

Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses and sat down in the chair opposite Sarutobi Hiruzen.

He looked tired, clearly having just come from his office.

Utatane Koharu, also sat down.

"Is this the situation with the Kirigakure Village?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head, placed the battle report on the table, and tapped the table with his pipe.

"On the Kirigakure side, the front lines are generally in the lead. Jiraiya's defenses are very solid, and Tsunade's medical support units have greatly reduced the mortality rate of the wounded. Minato Namikaze and Qingyu repelled a Kirigakure raid during their escort mission and even killed several Kirigakure Jonin."

He paused, then picked up another scroll and unfolded it.

"But the problem now isn't Kirigakure, it's the Land of Grass."

"The Land of Grass"

Mitokado Homura frowned.

"Kusagakure has recently begun testing the waters at the border."

Sarutobi Hiruzen pushed the scroll in front of the two of them.

The scroll records the activities of the Grass Ninja along the border over the past week.

The patrol team went missing, the outpost was attacked, and several farmlands were burned down by unknown ninjas.

"The ninjas of Kusagakure are disguised as bandits and are creating friction on the border. Although the scale is small, the frequency is high, clearly a test of our attitude."

"Kusagakure ----"

Utatane Koharu, picked up the scroll, looked at it carefully, and then put it down, her brows furrowed.

"A bunch of opportunists. Their probing at this time is simply to see if we have the capacity to deal with the Kirigakure while also taking care of the northern front. If we show weakness, they will take advantage of us."

"Good."

Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses.

"Although the Land of Grass is a small country, its geographical location is too important. If the Kusagakure is allowed to side with the Iwagakure Village or the Sunagakure, Konoha's northwestern border will face the risk of having its Supply Line cut off. It must be severely punished."

"That's what I think too."

Sarutobi Hiruzen a deep drag on his pipe and then exhaled a long puff of smoke.

"I've already transferred a group of ninjas from the reserve forces, led by Orochimaru, to the border of the Land of Grass. For a small country like the Kusagakure, we don't need a full-scale war. We just need to fight a fierce battle on the border to let them know that Konoha is not to be trifled with, and they will retreat on their own."

"If Orochimaru leads the team, there shouldn't be any problems."

Mitokado Homura nodded.

Although Orochimaru is the most unpredictable of the Sannin, his personal abilities are indeed trustworthy.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing."

"I've heard about Qingyu's performance on the front lines. He single-handedly suppressed Kirigakure Mei Terumi. It's said that Mei Terumi possesses both Boil Release and Lava Release Kekkei Genkai."

"That's true."

A rare smile appeared on Utatane Koharu's face.

After all, her teacher was Senju Tobirama.

Therefore, Utatane Koharu also has a high level of affection for the Senju Clan.

"That kid Qingyu has certainly lived up to your expectations. Not only has he demonstrated Chunin or even Jonin- level strength in battle, but he also shows remarkable talent in medicine and the Secret Medicine Development."

She paused, then added, "I heard that he and Tsunade have recently been researching a new secret medicine formula and have already conducted some preliminary experiments. Although there are no results yet, with his talent and Tsunade's experience, it's only a matter of time before they develop a new secret medicine."

"Secret medicine?"

Mitokado Homura raised an eyebrow.

"With Tsunade's guidance, Qingyu's expertise in pharmacology is indeed quite high. If he can develop a new secret medicine, it will be another piece of good news for the village."

"Hmph, how easy is it to develop a secret medicine?"

Shimura Danzō, who had been sitting silently in the corner, suddenly spoke. He leaned back in his chair, his single exposed eye slightly narrowed, and a dismissive sneer appeared on his face.

"Tsunade is the most skilled in Medical Ninjutsu among the Sannin, but the number of secret medicines she developed is also very limited."

"Qingyu has only been studying for a short time, and you already want to develop a new secret medicine? It's good for young people to have ambition, but if they waste their energy on things that are impossible, then they are just wasting their time."

Upon Utatane Koharu turned to look at Shimura Danzō, a hint of displeasure on her face.

"Danzo, Tsunade made several outstanding suggestions about Medical Ninjutsu at his age, why can't Qingyu do the same?"

Shimura Danzō speechless after hearing her words.

He knew, of course, that Tsunade had already inherited a great deal of medical skill at his age, but he was unwilling to admit that Qingyu also possessed Tsunade's talent in the medical field.

So he just snorted coldly and didn't say anything more.

If Qingyu actually succeeds, wouldn't that be a slap in his face?

Two weeks have passed.

Frontline camp.

Qingyu lifted the curtain of Tsunade's Camp Tent, holding a bowl of steaming soup in her hand.

For the past few days, Tsunade has been complaining about the excessive humidity in the camp, feeling soaked by the damp sea breeze from morning till night.

Inside the Camp Tent, Tsunade was lazily leaning against her bedding, reading a report on injuries.

She casually draped her coat over the back of the chair next to her, wearing only a gray sleeveless fitted short-sleeved shirt.

The neckline of the short-sleeved shirt wasn't high, but even so, it couldn't completely conceal the deep cleavage.

As she subtly flipped through the injury report, the outlines of her two full, voluptuous breasts swayed gently beneath her short shirt, creating an alluring curve that drew the eye.

Because of the dampness of the camp, her skin was covered with a thin layer of sweat, which shimmered with a warm glow in the candlelight.

--

Beads of sweat on his collarbone slid slowly down his skin, disappearing into the shadows deep within the collar of his short-sleeved shirt.

"Sister Tsunade, have a bowl of hot soup to warm yourself up."

Qingyu placed the soup bowl on the low table in front of Tsunade, his gaze naturally shifting away from the swaying view at her neckline.

Tsunade raised her eyes.

She saw the bowl of soup still steaming on the low table, then looked up at Qingyu, a smile appearing on her bright face.

"Not bad, at least you know how to care for your older sister."

She casually set the injury report aside, picked up the soup bowl, blew on it, and then took a sip.

The hot soup slid down my throat, spreading a warm current in my stomach and then along my veins to my limbs.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes slightly and let out a satisfied sigh.

"Delicious—it's so humid here, a cup of hot wine would be even better."

As she said this, a look of nostalgia flashed in her eyes.

"Konoha is so much better. Konoha's sake, Konoha's casinos, Konoha's hot springs—unlike here, where you have to be careful even when you drink a sip of sake."

"Lady Tsunade, don't forget the Three Ninja Prohibitions!"

A Shizune sound came from the corner of the Camp Tent.

She was squatting in front of the medicine cabinet organizing medicines when she heard this, so she turned around with a look of helplessness on her face.

"This is wartime; drinking could lead to trouble."

Upon hearing Tsunade pursed her lips and placed the soup bowl on her lap.

"Okay, okay, I understand."

She waved to Shizune, then turned back to Qingyu.

"By the way, kid, how's your Secret Medicine Development going? You were going to the Medical Unit all the time lately."

Qingyu sat cross-legged on the bedding opposite Tsunade and shook his head upon hearing this.

"It's still under development, Sister Tsunade. Several directions are being pursued simultaneously, but so far, we haven't produced any results that will satisfy Sister Tsunade."

Tsunade leaned against the low table, her chin resting on her hand, while she poked at the food in her plate a few times with chopsticks in her other hand.

"You need to understand that the most important thing in developing a secret medicine is not its effectiveness, but its stability. Your current pharmacological foundation is sufficient. Spend more time on stability testing, and don't rush to produce results."

"I understand, Sister Tsunade."

Qingyu nodded.

He possessed the original formulas for over twenty forbidden drugs, along with reference formulas given to him by Tsunade and Orochimaru, and the special stat bonuses associated with these secret medicines.

Developing a more controllable and less side-effect-prone secret drug wouldn't be difficult for him.

The challenge lies in minimizing side effects while ensuring the efficacy of the medication.

However, Qingyu was not in a hurry.

With the A-Rank Trait of [Drug Tolerance] as a foundation, his control over his body is far beyond that of ordinary ninjas.

As long as he can develop a secret medicine that satisfies him, it's only a matter of time before it passes Tsunade's approval.

What about "Body Pathway Derangement"?

Tsunade asked.

I've mastered it in the last few days.

Qingyu spoke.

The "Body Pathway Derangement" technique took a lot of Qingyu's energy, but fortunately, she finally mastered it.

This Ninjutsu is easy to learn, but difficult to master.

Qingyu's current thought is to successfully cultivate the "Sage Mode" as soon as possible.

After mastering "Body Pathway Derangement," Qingyu devoted all her time to "Senjutsu."

After all, "Senjutsu" is a rather versatile ability.

Qingyu was very curious: if he added "Senjutsu Chakra" to the Yin Release projection, could it achieve an effect comparable to, or even surpassing, the original?