"I can't save people by studying medicine."
Tsunade murmured, and memories that still pained her drifted into her mind.
Gong Yi spoke to himself. "On my first mission, my captain lost a hand. I thought that if I knew Medical Ninjutsu, maybe I could have reattached his arm instead of letting him become a cripple who couldn't fight."
"On my last mission to Sunagakure, eight shinobi died, including my closest teammate. If I knew Medical Ninjutsu, he wouldn't have been buried in that merciless desert."
"I'm still young. I can contribute more to the village and take on many more missions."
"But how many teammates will I lose along the way? How many times will I have to watch my comrades in the village writhe and cry out in pain because they're injured?"
"I don't want to see that again! I don't!"
As he spoke, two streams of tears naturally ran down Gong Yi's face.
Tsunade stared at Gong Yi, stunned. The heart she had once frozen suddenly stirred.
She remembered the hand Gong Yi had laid on her head. It had been so warm.
If he could use that hand to bring warmth to other shinobi in the village, how wonderful that would be.
"My teacher said Gong Yi practices the Eight Inner Gates, a Taijutsu technique that puts a tremendous strain on the body. He's so young, too. If he knew Medical Ninjutsu, perhaps it could ease his suffering."
Tsunade thought that since she couldn't be his teacher and couldn't treat the villagers' injuries, she might as well pass on everything she knew to Gong Yi.
"The village still needs a powerful medical ninja."
Tsunade composed herself and said simply, "Come see me in two days."
Gong Yi was delighted, but he still asked in confusion, "Why in