Ninjutsu Scroll Launcher!

"Haha, so all I have to do is beat you, and I get this Ninjutsu Scroll Launcher, right?"

Takizawa Dan gazed at the thing in Shizune's hand, a fiery gleam flashing in his eyes.

This was a great item!

With it, he could use the Ninjutsu Scroll Launcher to disguise the source of any ninjutsu he used from now on.

As for the money he'd need to buy scrolls... He was Tsunade's personal disciple, and she gave him her salary every month. Did he really need to worry about not having enough money for scrolls?

This was the perfect cover-up tool!

"Sure. But I've already put up this launcher. What are you going to offer as the stakes?"

Shizune looked at Takizawa Dan with keen interest. She wanted to know what kind of surprise this exceptionally handsome little guy could give her.

"Well..."

A look of embarrassment immediately appeared on Takizawa Dan's face.

It was true that he wanted Shizune's Ninjutsu Scroll Launcher, but the problem was that he didn't have anything of equal value to trade for it.

Whether it was his Wood Release or anything else, they were all closely guarded secrets. Besides, he didn't even know how any of those techniques worked. The system simply let him use them.

Just as Takizawa Dan was at a loss, Tsunade suddenly spoke from the side.

"Shizune, just give it your all. If you can beat Takizawa Dan today, I'll quit gambling for good! I won't gamble ever again."

Shizune, who had looked half-hearted just a moment earlier, widened her eyes.

"L-Lady Tsunade, are you serious? If... I win this match, you'll never gamble again?"

Shizune was so excited her voice trembled.

"Of course I'm serious. When have I ever gone back on my word?" Tsunade shrugged, her expression earnest.

Takizawa Dan looked at Tsunade, speechless.

That woman really knew how to play things. She'd already promised him she wouldn't gamble, and now she was putting that promise up as a stake.

That way, whether he won or lost, she wouldn't be losing anything.

What a cunning woman, Takizawa Dan thought with a sigh.

Tsunade clearly noticed him looking at her. She smiled at him and then made a shushing gesture.

"Fine! For Lady Tsunade's future, and so I can save up enough money to find myself a handsome boyfriend, I accept this fight! I'll definitely beat Takizawa Dan!"

Shizune loudly declared.

For years, Shizune had wanted to persuade Tsunade to quit gambling. Unfortunately, Tsunade was utterly stubborn about it, and no matter how many times Shizune tried, it had never worked.

Eventually, Shizune had been forced to give up.

She had already accepted Tsunade as her master. There was no way she could just walk away, so she could only keep following her.

But today, Tsunade had actually said for the first time that she would quit gambling!

Tsunade's word was her bond. Shizune had followed her for nearly twenty years and had never once seen her go back on a promise.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Shizune swore she'd beat Takizawa Dan as soon as possible and seize this sure thing.

Across from her, Takizawa Dan saw the blazing battle spirit in Shizune's eyes and couldn't help feeling utterly helpless.

Tsunade, you're throwing me straight into the fire!

Shizune was already one of the foremost medical ninja in the entire Shinobi World. Now that she was giving it her all, she might even be as strong as half of Tsunade.

If he hadn't inherited medical skills from the system, he'd probably be in real trouble today.

Tsunade only smiled at Takizawa Dan's look, then turned away.

Takizawa Dan wanted to compete in medical ninjutsu?

Fine. She'd let Shizune go all out and put an end to his arrogant attitude once and for all.

She had everything under control—or at least, that was what Tsunade thought.

And so, the medical skills contest between Takizawa Dan and Shizune began.

The two stood facing each other, their eyes fixed on one another.

As for the judge, that was naturally Tsunade. Given her ability and experience, she was the only one present qualified to oversee the match.

"For the first round, I'll test your understanding of medical ninjutsu. This will be a purely theoretical exam." Tsunade smiled.

That was right: a purely theoretical exam. The first test.

Practical skills were important for a medical ninja, but they usually came second.

First, they needed to prepare themselves mentally and learn all kinds of medical theory. Only then could they apply that theory in practice. Someone who could only handle practical work, without a solid foundation in medical theory, wouldn't get far. They might even botch a treatment, leaving a patient worse off than before.

That was what Tsunade relied on most to make herself the only master healer in the Shinobi World. Her medical knowledge was unmatched!

"Okay, Lady Tsunade, I'm ready. Please give us the question!"

Shizune spoke with a confident, eager expression.

"Not so fast. Takizawa Dan, are you ready?"

Rather than asking the first question right away, Tsunade looked at Takizawa Dan first.

Ultimately, this contest was meant to temper Takizawa Dan's character, so Tsunade was more concerned about her newly accepted disciple.

"Don't worry, I'm ready, Sister Tsunade. Go ahead."

Takizawa Dan nodded, perfectly calm.

With medical skills among the very best in the Shinobi World, Takizawa Dan wasn't the least bit worried about this little medical contest.

If he could somehow lose here, he might as well forget about having a system, let alone making a name for himself in the Shinobi World. He might as well go bash his head against a block of tofu and die!

"Good. Tell me: if a patient has injured their leg, how should they be treated?"

Tsunade nodded slightly before asking.

Shizune immediately answered without hesitation. "Lady Tsunade, isn't that question a little too easy? It's something from the beginner's exam. Even a seven- or eight-year-old would know the answer!"

"Oh? Then go ahead and tell us," Tsunade replied impassively.

"It's simple. Apply pressure to the blood vessels above the wound, use a bandage or a branch to stop the bleeding in an emergency, then use chakra to press the acupoints and supplement that with medicine. The patient will be able to walk again in just three days," Shizune said.

"Mm. That's correct, if a little by the book."

Tsunade nodded. It was a textbook answer. Shizune had recited the standard response for emergency wound treatment without missing a word.

The answer certainly wasn't wrong. In fact, plenty of people would consider it absolutely correct.

However, in Tsunade's eyes, it still wasn't quite enough.