Taking a Disciple!

Tsunade's eyes flashed with excitement. Her interest had been piqued.

The Shinobi World placed enormous importance on master-disciple relationships. Almost every ninja who had formed their own system wanted to find a suitable candidate to inherit their legacy.

Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato, for example, were a typical case of a genius being chosen to inherit a legacy.

Tsunade was renowned throughout the Shinobi World for her Medical Ninjutsu and taijutsu. Shizune had already inherited her Medical Ninjutsu, but Shizune specialized in healing techniques. She was not quite suited to inherit Tsunade's Yin Seal and Strength of a Hundred. Those were two different techniques.

Tsunade had always kept an eye out for suitable candidates. Unfortunately, the Yin Seal and Strength of a Hundred were highly unusual techniques that demanded precise chakra control. Their complexity was no less than that of Medical Ninjutsu—if anything, they were even more complex.

Tsunade had only been able to successfully cultivate Strength of a Hundred and the Strength of a Hundred Technique because her Medical Ninjutsu training had given her a foundation in chakra control.

Ordinary taijutsu ninja simply did not possess that degree of chakra control...

Thinking of that green-skinned classmate who only knew how to shout about "youth," Tsunade could not help rubbing her forehead. Better not mention him.

If it were him...

Looking at the young Akimichi Denji, Tsunade inexplicably thought of her deceased younger brother again...

On closer inspection, he did look a little like Nawaki...

Akimichi Denji watched Tsunade suddenly space out again, unable to guess what she had thought of this time.

"How is your talent for ninjutsu?" Tsunade asked.

"Not bad." Akimichi Denji glanced at his panel and answered modestly.

"Have you begun learning the Akimichi Clan's secret techniques?" As soon as she asked, Tsunade seemed to realize that the question was unnecessary.

The Akimichi Clan's secret technique was famous. It consumed the fat accumulated in daily life in exchange for the explosive power of the Butterfly Transformation Technique.

It was very similar to her Yin Seal, which also stored chakra accumulated in daily life for a powerful burst during battle.

But Akimichi Denji's physique was unusual. He did not even have a trace of body fat, so how could he possibly cultivate the Akimichi Clan's secret technique?

That was presumably why Akimichi Choza had gone to such lengths and spent so much money to hire her to treat him: so his son could cultivate the clan's inherited secret technique.

Tsunade pondered this, but the answer from the boy before her left her stunned.

"I've already cultivated it successfully," Akimichi Denji said slowly.

Seeing the serious expression on his face, Tsunade remained half-convinced.

Akimichi Denji gestured for Tsunade to place her hand on his lower abdomen. The glow of medical examination chakra lit up.

This time, Tsunade finally detected it. The movements of his stomach were abnormal, digesting at a rate far beyond that of an ordinary person.

She realized, "This is a secret technique that supports the Butterfly Transformation Technique?"

Akimichi Denji nodded.

At such a young age... he had already cultivated it successfully...

Something in Tsunade's heart grew increasingly certain. She vaguely sensed that this boy had considerable talent.

After thinking for a while, she spoke.

"There is nothing wrong with your body. At present, not producing fat is actually a positive trait.

"The only flaw may be that you are from the Akimichi Clan. The Akimichi Clan's secret techniques must be powered by fat, so you may be unable to cultivate them."

Akimichi Denji was not shocked by the conclusion. He had expected it. But every gain came with a loss. For now, the energy points on his panel had benefited him greatly. What was the point of the Multi-Size Technique compared to unlimited stat points?

He only needed three more days before he could add points to his physique again.

It was not exactly a disadvantage.

Besides... perhaps he truly could still cultivate the Multi-Size Technique.

Akimichi Denji stared at the Wish Points on his panel, deep in thought.

My astonishing wisdom will find a way.

Seeing Akimichi Denji's dazed expression, Tsunade thought he was saddened.

After all, he was only six years old. He was bound to be upset by something like this.

She had already made up her mind and said, "But I have a solution."

Akimichi Denji looked at her in confusion.

"I have a ninjutsu whose effect is not much different from the Akimichi Clan's Butterfly Mode. Both can greatly increase one's strength in battle, and their principles are similar. It is simply much harder to cultivate than Butterfly Mode."

"It is called the Strength of a Hundred Technique!"

Tsunade looked immensely pleased with herself, as if waiting for Akimichi Denji's praise and amazement.

Yet to her surprise, Akimichi Denji's expression remained calm.

In that regard, he was unlike Nawaki. He was a little more composed.

She merely assumed that Denji did not understand how precious the technique was.

She emphasized again, "This is a secret art of the Senju Clan. It is extremely precious and cannot be bought with money. So, you'll have to pay more."

Akimichi Denji nodded. Of course he knew about the Strength of a Hundred Technique. As for the money, he would leave that for Akimichi Choza to worry about.

Seeing the boy's indifferent reaction, Tsunade became a little embarrassed and angry. An idea sprang to mind, and she said slyly,

"If you can achieve the beginner level in this secret technique within one month, I will waive the fee."

Akimichi Denji looked at the scroll she handed him. He had not expected things to develop this way. Opening it, he found the cultivation method for Strength of a Hundred.

Strength of a Hundred was essentially an advanced taijutsu technique, but getting started was exceptionally difficult. The challenge lay in compressing chakra extracted in an instant into a single point on one's fists or feet in the same instant. It demanded extremely precise chakra control. Chakra had to flow with the delicacy of an embroidery needle, while every punch and kick had to erupt with the violence of a mountain collapse.

In the original story, Haruno Sakura had spent two years cultivating the Strength of a Hundred Technique and only succeeded in learning Strength of a Hundred after one year.

Though Sakura was usually called a mascot, she was still a talented ninja among civilians. Her aptitude was not bad.

Therefore, without the foundation of the Strength of a Hundred Technique's refined chakra control, Akimichi Denji could never possibly achieve the beginner level of Strength of a Hundred.

Even if she was only asking him to get started, it was still impossible.

Tsunade had never expected Akimichi Denji to succeed within a month. She had merely seen his cold, aloof demeanor and wanted to put this brat in his place.

When he came crying and begged her for a chance, she would reluctantly take him as her disciple, and then...

Princess Tsunade imagined the scene, and the corner of her lips could not help curling into a faint smile.

"It probably won't take that long," Akimichi Denji said slowly.

Tsunade revealed a disdainful expression, assuming the brat had never seen how harsh the world could be and was simply making an ignorant, overconfident declaration. She did not believe him at all.

She casually said, "If you can reach the beginner level within a month, I'll even take you as my disciple."

Akimichi Denji said calmly, "What if I achieve the beginner level within a week?"

"Hmph?" Tsunade looked down at Akimichi Denji. "Then I'll become your disciple!"

Having received her answer, Akimichi Denji's lips curved slightly. He opened the scroll and carefully examined the cultivation method.

The principle behind Strength of a Hundred was that the user had to instantly gather a massive amount of chakra extracted within the body at high density into one part of the body, then make the chakra erupt violently to produce astonishing destructive power.

Its precision down to the smallest detail was interconnected with the delicate chakra manipulation required to cultivate Medical Ninjutsu.

That was why only Tsunade and Sakura had successfully cultivated it in the original story.