The Dignity of a Healer

"These... these methods, are they really... something that Yakushi Nonō came up with on her own?"

Tsunade Senju stood where she was, muttering to herself. War had brought too much suffering to the ninja world. Her dream was to complete the ninja medical system, minimizing war casualties and thereby reducing the harm war brought to Konoha.

However, the plan by former Medical Department head Yakushi Nonō to organize medical personnel for the front lines had failed. Due to enemy targeting and ambushes, forty percent of the defenseless medical staff were lost—the greatest casualty count since the establishment of the Konoha Medical Department.

Resistance from Konoha's upper echelons and strong opposition from the Medical Department made the plan to send medical ninjas to the front lines seem like a distant dream. Konoha's medical staff were too far removed from the front lines; those with severe injuries often died before treatment, while those with minor injuries had little need for medical personnel.

The so-called Medical Department was fundamentally incapable of doing anything for the ninjas in combat!

But the methods summarized by Sato Hideaka gave her hope. The standardization of medical training, the popularization of ninjutsu scrolls, and the three principles of medical ninjas would allow medical ninjas to play an immeasurable role on the battlefield.

"This, this is simply reckless! Does Yakushi Nonō think these so-called methods can reduce the casualties of medical staff? She is practically sending them to their deaths!" the middle-aged man said, furious upon hearing these points.

"I actually think this method is worth a try..." the man standing beside him, who wore glasses and had remained silent, suddenly spoke.

"Hattori Horii, how could you... haven't you always opposed Yakushi Nonō's proposal to send medical staff to the front lines? How could you suddenly agree with her ideas??"

The middle-aged man could not believe his eyes. His close friend and ally, Hattori Horii, was actually supporting Yakushi Nonō's proposal. He remembered clearly that when Yakushi Nonō first wanted to take medical staff to the front lines, he was the first to object!

Hattori Horii adjusted his glasses, and through the lenses, one could almost see a hint of tears. "That's right. We rejected Yakushi Nonō's proposal, and the safety of the medical staff was guaranteed, but what was the result??"

"The high mortality rate of front-line ninjas led to all the blame being placed on us. The Medical Department bore the shame of cowardice, and the ninjas felt we were dispensable. Even we ourselves began to doubt the value and meaning of our existence."

"Isn't the duty of medical personnel to uphold kindness, heal the wounded, and save the dying? What are we doing now? We have prioritized benefits over life, bringing shame to the dignity of healers."

"Think back to the past. Even though Yakushi Nonō's proposal put medical staff in dangerous situations, the pure, kind hearts of the healers were never tainted. They didn't just heal the pain of the patients; they healed their spirits and let them know what they were fighting for!"

Hattori Horii shouted at the top of his lungs, as if trying to vent years of humiliation. He collapsed weakly to the ground, covering his face and sobbing.

"The reason I never agreed to send medical staff to the front lines was because I needed to be responsible for their lives... even if I had to bear the greatest humiliation, it was worth it, Fujikawa Yuji."

Fujikawa Yuji was stunned. He remembered when Yakushi Nonō was the head of the Medical Department; that was the period when the department's reputation was at its peak. The villagers of Konoha received treatment, the ninjas on the front lines received care, and everyone spoke highly of the "Konoha Medical Department."

But now, the Konoha Medical Department had been reduced to a mere hospital!

He suddenly understood a little. He understood why, even though Yakushi Nonō had brought huge losses to the "Konoha Medical Department," and even though she had already left, people still remembered her and admired her... because she was a pure healer who upheld a kind heart.

"If it can really be done as Yakushi Nonō said, then we, the Konoha Medical Department, support this decision." Fujikawa Yuji gave a bitter smile and cast his vote in favor.

Although this measure would cause casualties among medical staff, perhaps it would also revitalize the "Konoha Medical Department" and bring it greater power and influence!

Tsunade Senju smiled; she hadn't been this happy in days. The two men before her were high-ranking officials of the current Medical Department. Their nod essentially eliminated the greatest obstacle to sending medical ninjas to the front lines, meaning her ideas and decisions would be supported and implemented.

"Little brat, I didn't expect to get such a big benefit after treating your injuries!"

Once the two middle-aged men left the infirmary, Tsunade Senju could no longer suppress her inner excitement. She gave Sato Hideaka a hearty pat on the shoulder, causing him to let out a cry of pain!

"Tsunade, are you doing that on purpose? Don't you know I'm in a lot of pain right now..."

Tsunade Senju was in such a good mood that she didn't bother arguing with Sato Hideaka. She simply leaned over and said with a smile, "Little guy, didn't you say you were very polite? Remember, you must call me Lady Tsunade, or Big Sister Tsunade, understand??"

With her short, capable blonde hair, exquisite and beautiful face, that bright smile, and the two massive assets on her chest, the unique fragrance of a young woman wafted toward him. This mature aura made Sato Hideaka's heart skip a beat in that instant!

The temperature of his face rose, and his breathing seemed to grow heavier...

As an elite jonin, Tsunade Senju instantly noticed Sato Hideaka's abnormality. She looked at him with a playful expression and said, "Little guy, is Big Sister's chest pretty??"

"Yes, yes."

Sato Hideaka nodded subconsciously, and a fist instantly smashed into his head, causing him to cover his skull and cry out in pain again, tears welling up in his eyes.

As a medical ninja, Tsunade Senju's strikes were extremely precise. Every time, she could accurately gauge the spot, causing intense pain without actually harming his body. Sato Hideaka felt he was a frequent victim of this.

"Being so lecherous at such a young age is not good!"

Tsunade Senju stood with one hand on her hip, while the other extended two slender, scallion-white fingers to pinch Sato Hideaka's nose, shaking it back and forth as she leaned in to lecture him properly.

Sato Hideaka's large blue eyes darted back and forth, and he said as if reminiscing, "I once heard a wandering ascetic say something very philosophical, and I feel it perfectly matches my current state of mind!"

"A wandering ascetic? What did he say?" Tsunade Senju asked out of curiosity, subconsciously.

"Because monks and good children are not allowed to lie, how can I pretend to be detached and empty when my heart loves your beauty? My reactions are all following the most honest thoughts in my heart, so none of this can be blamed on me..."

As soon as he finished speaking, before Tsunade Senju could react, Sato Hideaka suddenly slapped away her right hand that was messing with his nose. He jumped out of a window in the infirmary, landed on the ground, waved his arms at Tsunade Senju by the window, and disappeared into the night...

Tsunade Senju, known as the "Medical Saint," truly possessed the top-tier medical arts of this era. Although the treatment just now had been excruciatingly painful, once the pain subsided, he couldn't feel any side effects at all...

Compared to Yakushi Nonō's medical skills, hers were arguably even better!

Tsunade Senju watched Sato Hideaka's retreating figure, looking completely stunned. Her heart was a mix of emotions; she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Really... had she actually been teased by a five-year-old brat??

"My heart loves your beauty, following the most honest feelings in my heart"—whose kid was this? He really knew how to please a girl!

The evening breeze blew through a strand of her short blonde hair. A smile from the heart suddenly appeared on Tsunade Senju's flawless, exquisite face, like sunlight suddenly bursting through the night sky. Perhaps the innocent words of a child were just the most honest thoughts of the heart!