Tsunade's Change (Seeking Follow-up and Monthly Votes)

Clang!

Metal clashed against metal, sending sparks flying in every direction.

Two figures crossed paths, then immediately spun around to charge back at each other, their blades swinging in a rapid, continuous rhythm of clanging strikes.

Shita Genichi and Kakashi brandished their short blades, launching full-force attacks at one another.

Fast, precise, and ruthless!

Both were disciples of the same master, so the outcome now depended on their individual reaction speeds and combat instincts.

Yet, the more they fought, the more alarmed Kakashi became.

He... seemed to be losing the upper hand.

How had this guy improved so quickly?

Kakashi gritted his teeth, his blade speed quickening as he sought out increasingly tricky angles of attack.

Shita Genichi responded with composure.

When it came to raw talent, he knew he was inferior to Kakashi in Kenjutsu.

But in terms of experience, he currently held the edge, allowing him to suppress Kakashi throughout their exchange.

After dozens of rounds, the two combatants, locked in a fierce struggle, suddenly broke apart.

Shita Genichi sheathed his blade, though his right hand remained resting on the hilt: "Kakashi, watch out!"

Kakashi's gaze sharpened; he knew that the move Shita Genichi practiced most was the Draw-Sword Strike, a move of extreme lethality.

"Come on!"

Kakashi spoke in a low voice as wisps of electricity began to bloom across his body.

Shita Genichi was startled, then smiled: "Lightning Release, using it to boost your speed?"

Kakashi replied: "I haven't found a way to apply Lightning Release to my blade yet."

"In that case, I'll be using my full strength as well."

Shita Genichi formed hand seals, activating the Soldier Mantra.

The next moment, both men bolted toward each other, moving so fast they left afterimages in their wake.

His speed has increased...

Kakashi was shocked, realizing it must be related to the hand seals Shita Genichi had just performed, and his vigilance spiked.

In the blink of an eye, the two collided.

With a loud clang, their forms crossed and passed each other.

Kakashi stopped after rushing forward a short distance, staring at the broken blade in his hand.

On the other side, Shita Genichi looked at his own short blade, which now had a notch in it, with a sense of helplessness.

Time for a new blade.

And he would need a Tachi, paired with a Wakizashi.

The Draw-Sword Strike was much better suited for a Tachi.

"You win!"

Kakashi turned around.

Shita Genichi sheathed his blade and laughed: "This was just a spar. If it were a life-or-death battle, the outcome wouldn't be certain."

That last strike had carried twenty-six years of cultivation!

Kakashi shook his head: "If it were a life-or-death battle, I would have already died from that strike."

"Your reaction speed is faster than mine."

His Lightning Release was only in the preliminary stages of boosting speed; he couldn't delve deeper, making it difficult to enhance his neural reaction time.

Shita Genichi's Soldier Mantra, however, provided an all-encompassing boost.

Naturally, Shita Genichi also held the advantage in raw power, which was why he was able to snap Kakashi's short blade in one strike.

Of course, this short blade of Kakashi's wasn't the one that had belonged to Hatake Sakumo.

After sheathing their weapons, the two sat down to exchange insights.

At the end of their talk, Kakashi asked: "Genichi, that seal is the secret to your increased speed, isn't it?"

Shita Genichi nodded: "I call it the Soldier Mantra."

"What do you think? Not bad, right? It's no less effective than the enhancements from Lightning Release nature transformation. If you want to learn it, I can teach you!"

Kakashi shook his head: "I've studied it, but I didn't gain anything. Forget it, Lightning Release isn't bad either."

Shita Genichi nodded.

Everyone had different talents; focusing on what one excelled at was the most correct choice.

If not for his cheats, he would never have spent so much time delving into the nature transformation of Wind Release.

A day of training passed by in a flash.

That evening, Shita Genichi dragged Shizune to Konoha Hospital again, with Tsunade following behind.

However, he felt that Tsunade seemed a bit different today.

She wasn't drinking.

She didn't look listless or devoid of interest in life, either.

It seemed that what he said yesterday had some effect?

After a brief thought, Shita Genichi put it out of his mind and earnestly continued his research, conducting various experiments.

"The rejection of cell transplantation might be solved through medication."

As Shita Genichi was busy, Tsunade's voice came from behind him.

Shita Genichi turned his head and smiled. "That is indeed one way to solve it."

"However, I lack the conditions and the depth of knowledge to carry that out."

Tsunade was noncommittal. "Your talent is very high; you could try to develop your own Kekkei Genkai. You don't necessarily have to rely on transplanting cells."

"You must know, the more powerful the strength, the harder it is to control, and it is extremely dangerous."

Tsunade knew all too well how heavily Konoha had suffered during the original experiments involving Hashirama Cells.

Especially the Senju Clan...

If not for that experiment, perhaps the Land of Whirlpools would not have been destroyed.

Facing Tsunade's suggestion, Shita Genichi followed her advice readily. "I do have thoughts of developing my own."

"However, cell transplantation isn't just for acquiring a Kekkei Genkai; it can also be used to treat diseases."

"For instance, blood production issues or immune problems can be addressed through bone marrow transplants to restore hematopoietic and immune functions."

"Aside from matching with blood relatives, there is a certain probability of a successful match without blood relations, though that requires a massive database."

Tsunade listened, looking thoughtful. "This is indeed a massive undertaking, but if one truly wanted to do it, it wouldn't be impossible."

Shita Genichi's eyes lit up.

The discussion continued.

As they delved deeper, Tsunade found herself getting involved before she even realized it.

Compared to this top medical ninja of Konoha, Shita Genichi was no different from an elementary school student.

He began to obsessively absorb the rich, delicious knowledge from Tsunade.

Of course, don't misunderstand—not those two spheres.

Before they knew it, it was eleven o'clock.

Shita Genichi had to finish up, returning home with great reluctance.

The next day.

Shita Genichi arrived at Kakashi's house, only to find that Kakashi had already left to execute a mission.

"Genichi, this is the ninjutsu you wanted."

Hatake Sakumo handed over a scroll.

"Thank you, Teacher!"

Shita Genichi took it with a smile.

Hatake Sakumo said, "Inside, aside from the village's rewards, there are also techniques obtained from that Ice Release ninja, though they are incomplete."

Shita Genichi opened the scroll, his gaze sweeping over it rapidly.

Water Severing Wave—this was an A-rank ninjutsu, clearly the reward for capturing the Ice Release ninja.

Then there was Water Release: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death, Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique, Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals, Ice Release: Ice Armor, and Ice Release: Ice Senbon.

There were quite a few ninjutsu, but not a single one was complete.

"They were unexpected gains to begin with; they'll be good for research."

Shita Genichi didn't mind, then put the scroll away. "Teacher, I want to learn a Wind Release ninjutsu."

Hatake Sakumo asked, "To deal with techniques like the Hidden Mist Technique?"

"No problem. Let's start by teaching you the C-rank ninjutsu, Wind Release: Great Breakthrough."

"You have already mastered the basics of Wind Release nature transformation, so it shouldn't be difficult to master."

A C-rank ninjutsu represented the difficulty level of a Chunin.

Being able to master Wind Release nature transformation, even if it was only enough to shred leaves, was sufficient to master this.

The Wind Release: Great Breakthrough technique didn't rely on the cutting power of the wind, but rather on blowing people away, so the requirements for nature transformation were not actually that high.

After receiving the ninjutsu, Shita Genichi headed out to train.

There was still a long time before his next chance to overdraw the future, so naturally, he couldn't just wait around to use the future for his training.

He needed to master Water Severing Wave as soon as possible.