What a Disaster

Despite the distance of over a hundred meters, Tsunade felt her legs go weak, realizing she had overexerted her Body Flicker Technique.

A critically injured patient had been brought to the medical ward: it was her younger brother, Nawaki!

Rushing into the tent, she found assistants already prepared with sterile surgical gowns.

"Lady Tsunade!

Bilateral comminuted pelvic fractures!

Multiple comminuted fractures of both femoral shafts!

Multiple comminuted fractures of both feet, with total bone destruction!

Severe open comminuted fractures of both lower limbs with bone loss!"

Hearing the medical jonin's report, Tsunade swept her gaze over the injuries and immediately grasped the severity of the situation.

She summoned Katsuyu without delay and began the surgery on Nawaki.

It was the next morning, sixteen hours later, before the surgery finally concluded.

Orochimaru had waited outside the medical tent all night.

Tsunade walked out of the tent, her face etched with exhaustion, and removed her mask.

The mask left deep indentations on her face; perhaps she had forgotten about them, or perhaps, even with Tsunade's regenerative capabilities, they were too deep to fade for the moment.

"What happened, Orochimaru?" Tsunade asked in a calm tone.

"Ninja combat inevitably leads to death and injury, and Nawaki is a ninja; that is unavoidable.

But his injuries are strange. Given Nawaki's strength, he shouldn't have allowed such a massive explosion to occur right next to him.

The Explosive Tags detonated uniformly all around his feet, as if he had stepped into a pre-arranged encirclement."

"Your intuition is sharp," Orochimaru said. "Nawaki stepped into a trap meticulously prepared by someone else.

The assassin knew the details of Nawaki's mission, was skilled in genjutsu and the Body Flicker Technique, and knew how to bypass my sensory ninjutsu. They designed countermeasures specifically against my perception, leaving me completely unaware."

"Your sensory ninjutsu?" Tsunade asked, puzzled. "We've been in the same class for six years and partners for ten; I didn't even know you had a sensory technique."

"Exactly, which is why I say Nawaki stepped into a trap prepared by someone else," Orochimaru said.

"I have undergone partial modifications to my body, losing the ability to sweat, yet I feel as if I am drenched in cold sweat right now.

I haven't felt this kind of lingering fear in years. It feels like back when we first graduated, when that idiot Jiraiya almost died due to his recklessness—you cried quite miserably that time.

If it weren't for the Uchiha in Seigetsu Senju's squad, who spotted the assassin in the air ahead of time, Nawaki would already be dead."

"Are you trying to scare me? With your strength, how could you let Nawaki die right in front of you?"

"My description is not the least bit exaggerated. The squad you sent to protect Nawaki played a major role, especially that Uchiha," Orochimaru asked.

"When can Nawaki start training? His genjutsu is a weak point, and he suffered because of it this time; it must be reinforced with targeted training."

"When can he start training?"

Orochimaru continued, "Next week, or when? I have already formulated a genjutsu reinforcement plan for Nawaki."

"Forget next week, try next year. To avoid affecting his future taijutsu and chakra extraction, he cannot leave his bed for a month, cannot leave his wheelchair for three months, cannot extract chakra for six months, and will only recover his full strength in nine months."

Orochimaru frowned. "Even with your medical ninjutsu, it will take nine months to fully recover?"

"And that is only because of Nawaki's naturally robust constitution. If any other ninja suffered those injuries, they wouldn't be able to extract chakra for at least a year and a half."

After a moment of contemplation, Orochimaru's voice drifted, "At the most critical period of his growth, he has been forced to hit the pause button.

The impact on Nawaki is too great; those people went too far.

I feel I have been too benevolent, not cold-blooded enough. The hesitation that often arises in my heart makes me as weak as Jiraiya once or twice a year. It seems my judgment was correct."

Tsunade remained noncommittal.

Both of her teammates suffered from mental disorders.

Jiraiya had histrionic personality disorder, with a particular obsession for attracting attention. He also suffered from hypersexuality, unable to resist peeping even on the front lines.

Orochimaru, on the other hand, had antisocial personality disorder and sadistic personality syndrome.

Tsunade felt a lingering terror, unable to dwell on Orochimaru's latest descent into darkness.

According to Orochimaru's account, Nawaki had narrowly escaped a certain-death scenario.

Seeing Seigetsu Senju approaching, she hurriedly cut off the conversation with Orochimaru.

Seigetsu's performance this time was astonishing; first, he warned Tsunade that Nawaki was in danger, then he took the initiative to secretly protect him. Nawaki's survival was entirely due to Seigetsu's timely intervention.

"Princess Tsunade, how is Master Nawaki?"

"He's alright, no longer in life-threatening danger. He'll be set back by nearly a year, but he will be able to continue as a ninja in the future."

Hearing this, Seigetsu Senju let out a sigh of relief. She then added:

"Princess Tsunade, Lord Orochimaru, I believe you both know by now that Kawadera Uchiha from my squad interfered with the assassin's genjutsu at the most critical moment, buying Master Nawaki a sliver of reaction time.

I believe we should keep Kawadera's involvement a secret."

His surname is Uchiha, and his identity is sensitive, so it is not appropriate to publicize it too much.

Tsunade nodded repeatedly and said, "Of course, we should keep it a secret for him. I didn't expect an Uchiha to save Nawaki at such a critical moment; the Second Grandfather's policies are indeed suitable for Konoha."

Seigetsu Senju thought to himself that he had already instructed the other two members of the squad, Ken Aburame and Kureya Inuzuka, so Kawadera would not be exposed for the time being.

Tsunade suddenly said, "Seigetsu, would you like to follow me and learn medical ninjutsu?"

Seigetsu Senju suddenly looked up, staring at Princess Tsunade with excitement.

Princess Tsunade was four years his senior and an elite jonin; her invitation was equivalent to being willing to take Seigetsu on as a semi-disciple or assistant.

Knowledge is not easily imparted; even within the Senju clan, Princess Tsunade only offered guidance to a few medical ninjas and rarely took on disciples.

No, it wasn't a discipleship yet; it was entering the assessment phase.

If he had a talent for medical arts, and if his chakra control was sufficiently precise, he might be able to become Princess Tsunade's disciple!

"I am willing! I am very willing, Princess Tsunade!"

"Don't call me Princess from now on; just call me Teacher."

"Understood, Teacher!"

Tsunade turned to Orochimaru and said, "Seigetsu said that you should keep the matter of that Uchiha a secret for now."

"I know."

Tsunade took Seigetsu into the medical tent.

The medical ninjas had also prepared a sterile surgical gown for Seigetsu Senju. Wearing this kind of surgical gown for the first time, Seigetsu Senju felt fresh and excited; even the sound of the fabric rubbing together was incredibly pleasant.

The anesthesia wore off, and Nawaki woke up.

The first thing he saw was his sister, and he stammered:

"I'm sorry, Sister. In that illusion, I learned the Wood Release I had always dreamed of, and for a moment, I didn't realize it was an illusion. That illusion was actually Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death."

Tsunade said, "You don't need to apologize. Every ninja must face death and injury; even the Second Grandfather, didn't he calmly stay behind to cover the retreat and die for Konoha? Don't be anxious; if you don't want your future strength to be affected, you must rest for at least nine months."

"But this is the Ninja World War, and I still want to fight for the village. Sister, can't even you help me get back on my feet quickly?"

"Nawaki, if it weren't for the secret protection of Seigetsu Squad, you would already be a corpse. Remember this lesson. Once you recover, don't let illusions become your weakness."

Nawaki Senju felt very ashamed. He had thought that he was exceptionally brave, always charging to the front in every battle, never imagining that there was a squad protecting him from the shadows.

If it were the version of himself from before the severe injury, he would have certainly scoffed and vehemently opposed it. But now... he knew he still had a long way to go.

Tsunade said, "For this month, stay in the tent with peace of mind, and I will treat you every day. After a month, I will send you back to the village to recuperate and continue treatment there."

After leaving the tent, Tsunade took Seigetsu to a secluded spot and said:

"Seigetsu, tell me in detail about that Kawadera Uchiha. Orochimaru has repeatedly said that the Uchiha played a key role. Can he be trusted?"