Taking a Disciple!

Tsunade's eyes flared with a sharp light, a flicker of excitement at finding a potential prospect.

The ninja world placed immense importance on the master-disciple relationship; almost every ninja who had developed their own system sought a suitable successor to inherit their mantle.

Take Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato, for instance—a classic example of a master seeking a genius to carry on their legacy.

Tsunade was renowned throughout the ninja world for her medical ninjutsu and taijutsu. While she already had Shizune to inherit her medical skills, Shizune was a specialist in that field alone. To pass on her "Yin Seal" and "Strength of a Hundred" would be a different matter entirely, as those were two distinct disciplines.

Tsunade had always kept an eye out for a suitable candidate, but the "Yin Seal" and "Strength of a Hundred" were highly specialized techniques. They demanded precise chakra control, and in terms of complexity, they were no less difficult than medical ninjutsu—perhaps even more so.

Tsunade had only succeeded in mastering the "Strength of a Hundred" and the "Strength of a Hundred Technique" because her foundation in medical ninjutsu had provided her with the necessary chakra control.

An average taijutsu ninja simply lacked that level of precision in chakra manipulation...

Recalling that green-clad contemporary of hers who did nothing but shout about "youth," Tsunade couldn't help but rub her forehead. Better not to mention him.

If it were him...

Looking at the young Akimichi Denji, Tsunade was inexplicably reminded of her late brother...

Looking closely, he even resembled Nawaki a little...

Akimichi Denji watched as Tsunade drifted into a daze again, unaware of what might be running through her mind.

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

"Not bad," Akimichi Denji replied modestly, glancing at his own status panel.

"Have you begun to touch upon the secret techniques of the Akimichi Clan?" After asking this, Tsunade seemed to realize it was a redundant question.

The secret techniques of the Akimichi Clan were famous; they involved the Butterfly Transformation, which consumed the fat accumulated during daily life in exchange for a burst of power.

It was very similar to her "Yin Seal"—both involved storing chakra over time to unleash a powerful surge during combat.

But Akimichi Denji's constitution was unique; he didn't have a single ounce of fat. How could he possibly practice the Akimichi secret techniques?

This was surely the reason Akimichi Choza had gone to such great lengths and expense to commission her for a medical examination—to enable his son to practice their family's secret arts.

Tsunade pondered this, but the boy's response left her stunned.

"I have already succeeded in practicing it," Akimichi Denji said slowly.

Looking at the boy's earnest expression, Tsunade remained half-skeptical.

Akimichi Denji gestured for Tsunade to place her hand on his lower abdomen, and the glow of her medical diagnostic jutsu flared to life.

This time, Tsunade finally detected it: the peristalsis of his stomach was highly abnormal, and the speed at which it digested was unlike that of an ordinary person.

She realized: "Is this a secret technique to assist the Butterfly Transformation?"

Akimichi Denji nodded.

At such a young age... he had already succeeded in practicing it...

A certain realization grew stronger in Tsunade's heart; she vaguely sensed that this boy's talent was exceptional.

After thinking for a moment, she spoke:

"There is nothing wrong with your body. As it stands, not producing fat is actually a positive influence. The only drawback is that you are an Akimichi; their secret techniques must be fueled by fat, and you likely cannot practice them."

Akimichi Denji was not shocked by this conclusion; he had expected it. But there was always a trade-off. As it stood, the energy points on his panel benefited him far more—how could the Multi-Size Technique ever compare to the joy of infinite stat points?

In just three more days, he would be able to add points to his constitution again.

It couldn't be considered a disadvantage.

Besides... it didn't necessarily mean he couldn't practice the Multi-Size Technique.

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

My peerless wisdom will find a way.

Watching the dazed expression on Akimichi Denji's face, Tsunade assumed he was feeling down.

After all, he was only a six-year-old child; he would surely be upset by such news.

She had already made up her mind and spoke: "But I have a solution."

Akimichi Denji looked at her, puzzled.

"I possess a ninjutsu whose effect is not much different from the Akimichi Clan's Butterfly Transformation. Both can significantly boost combat power, and the principle is similar, though the difficulty of mastering it is higher than the Butterfly Transformation."

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

Tsunade looked smug, seemingly waiting for Akimichi Denji's praise and awe.

But to her surprise, Akimichi Denji remained calm.

In that regard, he was different from Nawaki—he was much more composed.

She simply assumed Denji didn't realize the value of this technique.

She emphasized again: "This is a secret art of the Senju Clan. It is extremely precious and priceless. Therefore, it will cost extra."

Akimichi Denji nodded. He naturally knew of 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, Princess Tsunade felt a flash of annoyed embarrassment. A devious idea sprouted in her mind, and she said slyly:

"If you can master the entry level of this secret technique within a month, I won't charge you a single cent."

Akimichi Denji looked at the scroll being handed over, not expecting this turn of events. He opened it to find the training method for the Strength of a Hundred.

The Strength of a Hundred is essentially a high-level taijutsu, yet it is notoriously difficult to master. The difficulty lies in the need to compress chakra, refined in an instant, into a single point in one's limbs. It demands an incredibly high level of chakra control; the flow of chakra must be as precise as an embroidery needle, yet every strike must be as violent as a collapsing mountain.

In the original Shippuden, Haruno Sakura spent two years training the Strength of a Hundred Technique, and it took her a full year just to master the Strength of a Hundred.

Although she was often called a "mascot," Sakura was still a genius among civilian ninjas, and her talent was by no means poor.

Therefore, without the exquisite chakra control provided by the Strength of a Hundred Technique, it was absolutely impossible for Akimichi Denji to successfully master the Strength of a Hundred.

Even if it were just the entry level, it was still impossible.

Princess Tsunade didn't actually expect Akimichi Denji to succeed within a month; she simply saw his cold demeanor and wanted to give the little brat a reality check.

When he eventually came crying to beg for another chance, she would reluctantly accept him as a student, and then...

Princess Tsunade fantasized about that scene, the corners of her mouth curling into a smile she couldn't suppress.

"It shouldn't take that long."

Akimichi Denji spoke slowly.

Princess Tsunade wore a look of disdain, dismissing it as the arrogant talk of a brat who had never seen the cruelty of the world and didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth. She didn't believe him at all.

She said casually: "If you can master it in a month, I'll even take you as my disciple."

Akimichi Denji said calmly: "What if I master it in a week?"

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

Having received his answer, the corners of Akimichi Denji's mouth curved upward as he opened the scroll to study the training method in detail.

The operating principle of the Strength of a Hundred requires the user to condense a massive amount of chakra refined within the body into a single part of the body, instantly and with high density, then cause that chakra to erupt violently to generate astonishing destructive power.

The precision control required for this and the meticulous chakra manipulation necessary for practicing medical ninjutsu are interchangeable.

This is precisely why, in the original work, only Princess Tsunade and Sakura were able to master it.