At the ninja hospital, several medical staff were adjusting the nutrient solution.
Uzumaki Ashina had fallen into a deep coma from excessive chakra consumption.
Uzumaki Muto, captain of the Fifth Division, looked at the Uzukage lying in the hospital bed.
He frowned to himself. All they could do was administer nutrient solution and let the Uzukage's body repair itself.
Uzumaki Jiro led Tsunade into the hospital, a building that had stood since the Land of Whirlpools was founded.
The enormous hospital now stood empty. Everyone was fighting for the Uzumaki Clan.
It seemed the entire Uzumaki Clan had been mobilized.
"Muto, where are you? Come out and take me to see the Uzukage!"
As a member of the Uzumaki Clan and the hospital's chief physician, Muto hurriedly stopped Jiro from shouting.
"Can't you see I'm treating Lord Uzukage? Shouting and disturbing his rest is a grave offense!"
Uzumaki Muto ignored Jiro's attempt to stop him. Instead, he smiled faintly and stepped aside as Tsunade came forward.
"The Second Uzukage has invited Lady Tsunade to treat our First Uzukage. Take us to the ward at once."
Uzumaki Jiro watched Tsunade step forward. He knew she was a medical ninja.
But Tsunade had yet to make a name for herself in medical ninjutsu. Most people knew her as the granddaughter of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
Age was also a major advantage for a medical ninja. Seeing someone so young treat the Uzukage—
The Second Uzukage was young too. Wasn't this just fooling around?
Still, she was from the Senju Clan. Perhaps she really could do it. Jiro's expression darkened.
Tsunade entered and examined the medicine being used on the Uzukage.
She stepped closer to examine Uzumaki Ashina carefully, watching as he furrowed his brow.
His whole body was drenched in cold sweat, and his breathing was labored. This kind of injury was fairly common among the Senju Clan.
The Senju Clan also had powerful life force. When they exhausted their chakra in battle,
they could force their life force to produce a tremendous surge of chakra.
Afterward, they would fall into a deep coma, and their lifespan would be shortened. The battle must have been fierce.
Tsunade opened Uzumaki Ashina's mouth and took a specially made Military Ration Pill from her ninja pouch.
Ordinary Military Ration Pills were nutritional supplements that ninjas ate during battle. They could instantly boost chakra and restore it.
But this was a Military Ration Pill specially made by Tsunade. It could effectively replenish physical strength and speed recovery from chakra exhaustion.
She placed it under his tongue to let it dissolve slowly, then formed Hand Seals.
"Medical Ninjutsu: Mystical Palm Technique!"
She placed both hands over his heart and released chakra to dramatically accelerate his recovery, restoring Uzumaki Ashina.
As the chakra grew stronger, his metabolism sped up, and the Military Ration Pill tucked beneath his tongue was gradually absorbed.
His brow slowly relaxed, the cold sweat began to stop, and his breathing steadied. The effect was immediate.
Uzumaki Jiro understood now. Her healing ability was more than a match for his.
No wonder the Second Uzukage had invited her to treat the First Uzukage. He hurriedly asked the question that mattered most to a medical ninja.
"Lady Tsunade, how did you do that?"
He wanted to know how Tsunade had treated the Uzukage. Even as the most skilled healer in the Land of Whirlpools, he couldn't have done it himself.
"The Second Uzukage fell into a coma because he overused his chakra. You already knew that. Administering nutrient solution could have achieved the same effect as my treatment."
"Chakra is created by combining physical energy from the body's cells with spiritual energy. When his cells ran low on energy, the Uzukage could only keep his body moving through sheer willpower."
"Once his will weakened, he fell into a coma. The specially made Military Ration Pill I used gently replenishes the energy in his body's cells."
"The Mystical Palm Technique stimulates the patient's heart and boosts the body's vitality. It precisely directs chakra into the bloodstream, circulating it through the body to replenish the chakra missing from his cells."
"Once recovered, the cells can produce new chakra, allowing the Uzukage to recover a hundred times faster."
Shaken by the flood of medical theory, Uzumaki Jiro marveled to himself. As expected, she was Hashirama Senju's granddaughter.
Under Tsunade's treatment, Uzumaki Ashina opened his eyes. It felt as if he had sunk ten thousand meters beneath the ocean, the water pressing down until he couldn't move.
Then a warm current lifted him up from the ocean floor.
"How long was I unconscious? Is the battle with Kirigakure over?"
Hearing the Uzukage speak, Tsunade continued treating him without changing her expression.
A Chunin ran in and saw that the Uzukage had regained consciousness.
"Congratulations, First Uzukage, on your recovery! Lord Muto, the Second Uzukage is test-firing a Rocket Launcher at the training ground to fight Kirigakure. I've come to deliver the message."
Uzumaki Ashina sighed to himself. It seemed there was another battle ahead. A Rocket Launcher? It looked like his son had already found a way to fight Kirigakure.
He hurriedly got up. He wanted to see this so-called Rocket Launcher.
"Uzukage, your injuries haven't healed yet. You should keep resting," Tsunade said.
"It's fine. Your treatment was excellent. My body already feels much better. I know my own body."
"I still want to see this Rocket Launcher you mentioned. Then I'll be able to rest easy."
Uzumaki Jiro and Uzumaki Muto started to protest, but they knew the Uzukage's personality. They could only let him get up.
Uzumaki Ashina got to his feet and moved around. He still had little strength, but one good night's sleep would be enough to fix that.
He beckoned to everyone and strode out ahead of them.
With the treatment over, Tsunade could only shake her head to herself.
As they looked toward the training ground, a sudden BOOM rang out.
A Rocket Launcher soared through the sky, then BOOMED again in midair.
So this was the new weapon? It looked like an arrow from a bow, yet it could spew fire. No wonder it was called a Rocket Launcher.
Watching the Rocket Launcher fire from the training ground, Uzumaki Ashina felt new hope for the coming battle. He felt a little better, too.
He hurried over to Uzumaki Shori. Inside, he saw the Rocket Launcher's barrel, long and slender, a full meter in length. A closer look showed that it was made with Earth Release.
So that was how it was fired.
Uzumaki Shori noticed his father arrive at the training ground and immediately went to him.
"Father, your injuries haven't healed. How can you be up and about?"
Before Uzumaki Shori could finish, Uzumaki Ashina pointed at the launcher and cut him off.
"Tsunade's Medical Ninjutsu is impressive. Aside from feeling a little weak, I've recovered. All I need now is a good night's sleep."
"I'll be in peak condition for the battle in three days. Uzumaki Shori, tell me: how many Rocket Launchers can we produce by then?"
Uzumaki Shori glanced at Uzumaki Sasuke. Understanding the cue, Uzumaki Sasuke stepped forward to answer.
"First Uzukage, one of our factories is producing them today. It can make around one hundred and seventy a day. Two more factories will start operating tomorrow. By the decisive battle in three days, we'll have twelve hundred."
Tsunade looked toward the targets, stunned by the power of the Rocket Launchers, which had a range of nine kilometers.
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