At the Senju Clan training ground, Mei Senju looked at the five children standing before her.
The Senju Clan had graduated eleven new Genin this year.
In just a few months, five had died. Only the gravely injured young clan leader, Nawaki, and the five children before her, including Shingu Senju, remained.
Mei Senju said, "I'm sure you've heard about Shingu's new role. He's my student.
"Starting today, the five of you will learn Medical Ninjutsu from us.
"We need you to demonstrate your Medical Ninjutsu at the Chunin Ninja Exams in three months, so everyone will recognize you as medical ninjas.
"After the Chunin Ninja Exams, I'll transfer you to Konoha Hospital and have you leave your current teams."
"I've also found five mentors for you. If you have any questions, you can ask me or your mentor."
Behind Mei Senju stood five young medical ninjas, including Seigetsu Senju.
Seigetsu Senju led away one of the girls, Arashi Senju.
"Arashi, I'll supervise your Medical Ninjutsu practice every day for the next three months. Don't think I'm nagging you. We don't have much time."
"Big Sister Seigetsu, how could I ever think you're nagging me? I can't wait to start learning Medical Ninjutsu from you!"
As a member of the Senju Clan, Arashi Senju lived in constant fear.
She was willing to die fighting for Konoha, but she had no idea how she would meet her end.
Shingu had brought back news of Mitsuki. Mitsuki hadn't even left behind a body, only a lock of hair.
Mitsuki had once been so beautiful. She would be happy for a whole month just because she got a hairpin.
Arashi Senju went to Seigetsu Senju's home and received three scrolls on Medical Ninjutsu theory. Then she went with Seigetsu Senju to Konoha Hospital to buy a medical kit.
On the way, Arashi Senju listened as her teacher Seigetsu explained how to identify medical instruments and refine medical chakra. Suddenly, she saw a Uchiha step out from a street corner.
She whispered, "Oh no, Teacher! There's a Uchiha blocking the road!"
She was a little nervous. She didn't know why a Uchiha was here.
The Uchiha rarely came to Konoha Hospital. Most of the time, they stayed in the village, and even when they fought, the battles weren't usually intense enough for them to get injured.
But then she saw Teacher Seigetsu walk over and lean close to the Uchiha's shoulder to whisper something.
"Oh! So this is your student, Arashi. Arashi, make sure you study Medical Ninjutsu hard," Kawadera Uchiha said.
"I don't have anything to give you, so how about I give you one of my own Shrapnel Explosive Tags as a welcome gift?"
Arashi Senju was utterly confused. Why was a Uchiha giving her a gift right off the bat?
When she saw the slender iron tube, about as long as a hand and as thick as a finger, its surface dimpled like a tortoise shell, Arashi Senju looked to Teacher Seigetsu for help.
Seigetsu Senju smiled. "Arashi, take it. This is Kawadera's improved Shrapnel Explosive Tag. It's made for throwing and packs quite a punch."
After Arashi Senju accepted it, Teacher Seigetsu told her to return to the clan compound.
Everything seemed so strange to Arashi Senju. Why was Teacher Seigetsu so friendly with a Uchiha?
On a street in the distance, Seigetsu Senju said quietly:
"Kawadera, after Mei Senju returned to the village, she found several allies at Konoha Hospital.
"Every Senju who's heard our plan agrees with what we're doing!
"We'll preserve the clan's last remnants by developing Medical Ninjutsu.
"Eleven Genin graduated this year, and five have died in just a few months.
"We can't delay. If we don't act now, the Senju Clan will slowly die out."
Kawadera Uchiha added, "It's not just the Genin who need to change. The Senju children still studying at the Ninja Academy should start training in precise chakra control and Medical Ninjutsu as early as possible."
Seigetsu Senju nodded repeatedly. "That's right. We have to plan carefully. I'll talk to Mei Senju tonight."
As the two discussed the details, someone suddenly appeared ahead and blocked their way.
"Brother?"
Seiei Senju stood in front of them.
Seeing his brother-in-law, Kawadera Uchiha felt a little uneasy.
Fathers-in-law and brothers-in-law naturally assumed the young man was up to no good.
The three of them went to a park at the street corner.
Seiei Senju said coldly, "Your plan is too obvious. Neither the clan leadership nor the village leadership will let you turn the Senju Clan's great ship around."
Seigetsu Senju hurriedly explained, "Brother, training clan ninjas to join the medical corps is only part of our plan.
"The other part is to publicize Princess Tsunade's achievements on the front lines. The wider the news spreads, the better. We need to show that the Senju Clan is still fighting for the village.
"But propaganda takes time to work.
"The people in the village, even the clan leadership, certainly haven't realized what we're doing.
"Kawadera said this is a spontaneous change rising from the grassroots."
Seiei Senju nodded. "There's a propaganda war too? I didn't realize you'd planned things so thoroughly.
"But at the Chunin Ninja Exams in three months, having all five Senju Genin become medical ninjas will draw too much attention."
Seigetsu Senju said, "Yes, it'll be a little obvious. If young clan leader Nawaki weren't injured, that would be ideal. He could play the role of a combat powerhouse among the next generation."
Seiei Senju said, "I approve of your plan, but I'll take charge of Shingu Senju and train him to take young clan leader Nawaki's place.
"One of the five must be a combat ninja in the Chunin Ninja Exams."
Seigetsu Senju couldn't bear it. They had just given Shingu hope, and now her brother was going to take that hope away.
That night, Seiei Senju went to Konoha Hospital and found Shingu Senju learning how to read his first medical record.
Shingu looked up and saw Seiei Senju, a Jonin, standing in the doorway.
Seiei Senju had recently become famous for bringing the leaders of three affiliated ninja clans to see Lady Mito.
Mei Senju came out of the next examination room and looked at Seiei Senju.
Seiei Senju said, "At the Chunin Ninja Exams, all five Genin can't be medical ninjas. One of them has to keep shouldering the responsibility of fighting, or the others will stir up public pressure and doom your plan before it can get off the ground.
"That role was originally meant for young clan leader Nawaki. He's gravely injured, so the strongest one, Shingu, has to step forward."
After hesitating, Mei Senju looked at Shingu Senju.
Shingu Senju only said, "I'll follow the seniors' arrangements. I'll do anything for the clan."
Guilt flashed in Mei Senju's eyes.
Shingu Senju wouldn't be able to become a medical ninja. That meant he would still have to fight on the front lines in the future.
Mei Senju said, "Shingu, you can come to me every day. I'll repair your muscles myself."
Seiei Senju led Shingu Senju away from Konoha Hospital.
Shingu Senju looked back at Konoha Hospital several times, reluctant to leave. It seemed his fate had changed once again.
Back at the clan compound, they entered the basement of a building, where a vast space opened up before them.
There was a secret underground laboratory here, more than a hundred square meters in size.
Seiei Senju turned around. The fluorescent light shone on his forehead, leaving his sunken eye sockets in shadow.
"Shingu! I inherited one of Lord Tobirama's research facilities!
"Unlike Seigetsu's passive strategy of preserving our strength, what we need to do is restore the Senju Clan to its former glory!
"Restore Wood Release!
"The first step toward restoring Wood Release is improving your physique.
"Lord Tobirama left behind notes, experiment records, and many reagents.
"In his notes, he wrote that his method had failed, but he believed it was because the test subjects were too weak.
"We need to continue Lord Tobirama's research!
"We'll start by strengthening your muscles. To unleash the true power of Wood Release, you need a body like a Sage's."
Shingu Senju looked at the various cultivation tanks and syringes on the walls, his heart filled with both fear and anticipation.
Wood Release?
The Senju Clan's legacy was truly astonishing!
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