Time flew by, and two months passed just like that.
After explaining the situation to Granny, she readily agreed when she learned the other party was Tsunade of the Senju clan. If Shangguan Yue hadn't been reluctant to leave her, Tsunade would have taken him straight to live at the Senju Mansion.
So, for the past two months, Shangguan Yue had been going back and forth between home and the Senju Compound.
Aburame Torune hadn't gained a thing over these two months, but Danzo still insisted that he keep watch. So he recorded Shangguan Yue's daily activities every day, and ended up knowing more about Shangguan Yue than Shangguan Yue knew about himself.
"Hm? Someone's watching me?"
Shangguan Yue sensed the familiar chakra around him. He couldn't pinpoint its exact location, but it was definitely there.
"Time to take the dog for a walk."
Shangguan Yue channeled chakra into his feet and shot up onto a branch like a cannonball. After a few steps, his figure blurred as he sped away.
It wasn't long before he vanished from sight. "Damn it, not again."
After losing track of Shangguan Yue several times, Aburame Torune had gotten smarter. He stopped trying to follow him and headed straight for the Senju Mansion instead.
Shangguan Yue looked back. "Tch, boring. I just developed this Void Step, and my training partner's already gone."
Shangguan Yue focused and stepped forward. Before long, he was bounding through the air, using each step to propel himself forward at high speed like a bird dancing in the sky.
But he soon stopped. "Sigh, showing off is hard. I don't have enough chakra, and my mental energy is lacking too."
"Still, my mental energy's growth from the God-Slaying Art is starting to slow. Each time I use it outside my body, I can only keep flying for half an hour.
"If I had enough mental energy, I'd even try flying on my sword."
Shangguan Yue entered the Senju Compound and made his way to the training ground at Tsunade's house.
"You're here. Let's begin."
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Shangguan Yue casually flung out several kunai, then used Void Step to rocket forward. Holding a kunai, he thrust it at Tsunade.
Tsunade stayed where she was, dodging with a few sidesteps. The kunai grazed past her, and she stopped Shangguan Yue's flying thrust with just two fingers.
Unwilling to give up, Shangguan Yue dropped the kunai and extended his hand. The Great Xia Dragon Sparrow appeared. He swung it in a horizontal slash, but Tsunade ducked and dodged. Shangguan Yue kicked at her stomach, and she evaded to the side.
Shangguan Yue leaped up and brought his blade down again and again. Tsunade strolled through the attacks as if wandering through a field of flowers, untouched by even a single leaf.
When Shangguan Yue suddenly used his mental energy to propel himself forward in a burst, Tsunade's hands glowed with chakra blades as she blocked him with their backs.
Following through, she lowered her arm and pressed a knee against him, then landed a level punch to his stomach. Shangguan Yue flew several meters into the air and used his mental energy to guide himself safely back down.
"I'm done! You're cheating. You said you'd only use a Genin's strength."
"Aw, don't be mad. I just changed clothes, and I have something to do later. I can't get them dirty." Tsunade gripped Shangguan Yue by the head and lifted him into the air.
"It's just that your Void Step is so ridiculous. Honestly, your strength has already reached Genin level, but your chakra control is a bit... pathetic.
"You passed the stage assessment. Tell me what reward you want. I'll teach you how to train your chakra control later."
Only then did Shangguan Yue remember chakra control training.
"I miscalculated. Looks like my Void Step still has room to improve. My mental energy is growing too slowly, so I'll have to make one portion do the work of two."
Shangguan Yue rested his chin in his hand and thought for a long while. He had no idea what reward to ask for.
"Hmm... How about making me a scabbard? My Dragon Sparrow doesn't have one."
"What do you need one for? Can't you turn it into mental energy and store it away?"
"I've been thinking of nurturing the blade. I want to make it tangible and carry it with me all the time."
"Fine, we'll do that. I'll give you some useful materials. Come with me."
Tsunade led Shangguan Yue to her medical room. At the sight of what was inside, Shangguan Yue shuddered.
"Why do you have so many plant and animal specimens?"
"For experiments."
Tsunade didn't explain further. She went to the workbench, took out a scroll, and tossed it to Shangguan Yue.
"This contains the training method for the Chakra Blade. There's also some knowledge about medical ninjas in there. Learn that too."
"Medical ninjas? I don't want to be a healer. Can I skip it?"
"It'll improve your chakra control. Whether you learn it is up to you. I have something to take care of, so take this Three Body Technique and practice until I get back."
"Poof!"
"So it was a Shadow Clone."
Watching Tsunade disappear, Shangguan Yue looked around. "Gulp. Creepy. I'd better get out of here."
When he reached the training ground, Shangguan Yue finally relaxed. He hadn't even looked at the scroll.
With a light step, Shangguan Yue floated into the air, drifting upward with an ease that made it clear this was no ordinary feat.
He landed on a fork in a tree and leaned back against the trunk.
"This Void Step is still too crude. Directly stepping on the air with my mental energy costs too much. What should I do?
"Chakra really is amazing. Using it can enhance every aspect of the body. This supernatural power is intoxicating.
"Without chakra, even if I could extend my mental energy outside my body and step on it, I still couldn't stay airborne or do anything like flying.
"But who exactly is watching me? With my level of perception, I should be able to find him.
"Why does it always feel like his chakra is everywhere, scattered all around?
"There!"
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