Chapter 40

"Heh, what kind of excuse is that supposed to be?"

Tsunade set down her wine cup, her eyes full of provocation. "Who at Konoha Hospital doesn't know that my Yan learned every bit of my Medical Ninjutsu in just three months? His medical skills are practically on par with mine now."

She raised a finger and tapped the table. "You're just burying your head in the sand. If you can't accept defeat, just say so. I look down on you."

Seeing that Jiraiya remained unmoved, Tsunade jerked her chin toward Orochimaru, who was watching from the side. "If you don't believe me, you should at least believe Orochimaru, right? He wouldn't lie about something like this."

She turned and lifted her chin. "Ask him whether my Yan really has that kind of ability."

Jiraiya's gaze followed hers.

The corners of Orochimaru's lips curled up as he nodded. "I've heard a little about Uchiha Yan as well. He truly is a rare little monster."

His voice was unhurried. "He learned seventy to eighty percent of Tsunade's medical skills in three months. As for exactly how far he has progressed, I haven't looked closely, so I can't draw a conclusion."

Then he gave Tsunade a curious look. "But I did hear something else. The various medicines sold by the Uchiha Secret Medicine Shop were supposedly all made by your precious disciple?"

"Oh?"

Jiraiya spoke first, raising his brows high. "That shop that sells delicious Military Ration Pills and Body-Tempering Pills?"

"Are you kidding? Even Lady Tsunade couldn't figure out secret medicines of that level. That brat can?"

Jiraiya looked utterly unconvinced.

If that were true, wouldn't that brat be even more impressive than Tsunade?

At least when it came to making medicine, he really was.

Minato had also mentioned that the boy's heartbreak had come from Uchiha Yan cutting in halfway.

Jiraiya had mocked Minato plenty over that, saying he was far too cowardly. He had known Kushina first, yet he still couldn't win his girlfriend back.

"Yan really did make them."

Tsunade nodded, her tone certain.

The news had long since spread throughout Konoha, so there was nothing to hide.

Orochimaru's eyes lit up as he pondered, Looks like I underestimated him before. I need to find a chance to talk to that kid.

He vaguely felt that Uchiha Yan might be able to help with his research.

"But that isn't even the most impressive thing."

Tsunade shifted the topic and continued, "The Medical Talisman that Yan and I are working on now—that is the truly good stuff."

"Medical Talisman?"

Both Jiraiya and Orochimaru were intrigued. They asked in unison, "What is that? Is it related to Medical Ninjutsu?"

"Mm."

Tsunade nodded and briefly explained the Medical Talisman's effects.

"What?!"

Jiraiya shot to his feet, bracing both hands against the table, his face full of shock. "Really? You can seal the Mystical Palm Technique inside a talisman?"

If they had possessed something like that back then, many dangerous situations would never have happened.

Many of their comrades would not have died either.

"Oh my, oh my."

Orochimaru was equally astonished. "This truly is an incredible invention. With this, casualties during future missions can be reduced considerably."

After all, even Konoha currently lacked medical ninja, let alone other villages.

Tsunade had proposed expanding the training of medical ninja two years ago, assigning one medical ninja to every squad.

But the old man, the Third Hokage, had said there was not enough money and refused to approve it.

Tsunade had put in a great deal of effort over the past two years, and Konoha's medical corps had finally grown somewhat, but it was still not enough.

Orochimaru was now even more interested in Uchiha Yan and valued him even more highly.

He knew perfectly well that Tsunade had never mentioned any Medical Talisman before.

Yet only a few months after taking Uchiha Yan as her disciple, she had developed something as strategically valuable as the Medical Talisman with the boy.

He did not believe the two of them had developed it together.

Considering the monstrous talent Uchiha Yan had displayed in Medical Ninjutsu, Orochimaru was more inclined to believe that Uchiha Yan had proposed it from beginning to end and created it himself.

At most, Tsunade had participated a little during the process and offered some assistance.

To put it bluntly, Tsunade was doing this to protect Uchiha Yan while also securing more benefits for him.

Since she had made it clear in public, the Third Hokage must have known about it long ago.

Perhaps they had even already negotiated the price.

Whether Tsunade was involved or not would absolutely affect the quality of what the village offered.

Orochimaru noticed the look Tsunade gave him and met her eyes.

Both of them understood.

Tsunade was hinting to him: even if he had figured it out, he should not say it aloud.

Orochimaru naturally nodded, indicating that he could keep his mouth shut.

He had never been one to talk too much anyway.

"When will this thing be ready? Can it be mass-produced? How many can be made in a day?"

Jiraiya immediately pressed on, sounding rather anxious.

Tsunade frowned as soon as she heard that. "Is this because of Sunagakure? Are they really going to make a move? Why?"

She truly could not understand it.

"It's still uncertain for now."

Jiraiya shook his head. "I went to the old man's office this morning. He said the spies we planted in Sunagakure hadn't sent back any accurate intelligence. All we know is that the Third Kazekage seems to have disappeared."

"It's probably related to that."

"I have to leave for the Land of Wind tomorrow to investigate the situation."

After saying that, Jiraiya sighed. "Sigh, why does there have to be war? Can't everyone sit down, talk things out properly, and live in peace?"

He had spent his entire life searching for the road to peace.

He had always believed that as long as he found the Child of Prophecy mentioned by the Great Toad Sage, the Ninja World could finally welcome true tranquility.

"Tch!"

Tsunade rolled her eyes. "You're still as childish as ever. Your understanding isn't even as good as Yan's."

"What he said makes sense—so long as people exist and there are benefits to fight over, this world can never truly be peaceful."

"The most we can do is change the way we fight and keep the fighting from getting too brutal."

"Expecting the world to remain peaceful forever, without any more wars, is nothing but a dream."

Anyone who thought temporary success could bring eternal peace was a complete fool.

How could there possibly be such a good thing in this world?

Not even gods could accomplish that.

"Oh? Uchiha Yan can say something like that? Interesting."

Orochimaru's eyes lit up. Looking at Jiraiya mockingly, he said, "This idiot really has always been unbelievably naive."

"War has always been only the surface. In the end, it is nothing more than a struggle for benefits."

A cold sneer tugged at Orochimaru's lips as his gaze bore into Jiraiya.

"Do you not understand at all? Those people of Sunagakure are **desperate. The Third Kazekage has disappeared, and they're afraid other ninja villages will think they're easy prey. That's why they're so eager to start a war with Konoha—to divert attention, that's all."

He paused, his tone turning even more mocking.

"You can't even see through something this obvious, yet you go around shouting about bringing peace to the Ninja World? Is something wrong with your brain?"

Jiraiya's face instantly flushed red. His fists clenched as his entire body trembled with rage.

He had always disliked Orochimaru's notion of placing his hopes on the Child of Destiny.

It was too hollow.

Betting the entire future on the prophecy of a giant toad that had lived for a thousand years was nothing but gambling.

If he truly wanted to achieve peace, he should do it himself. Jiraiya could at least respect him as a man then.

But Orochimaru had never done that.

Instead, he was wholeheartedly searching for some illusory Child of Prophecy.

How ridiculous.

After speaking, Orochimaru lifted his wine cup and drained it in one gulp.

Jiraiya suddenly rose to his feet, his eyes blazing as he wanted to fire back.

But his mouth opened and closed, while not a single word could squeeze out of his throat.

In the end, he could only sit back down with a bang, seize the wine bottle, and drink in silence. His face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.

A doubt stirred in his heart. Could it be that I really chose wrong?

But the moment that thought surfaced, he violently shook his head and threw it away.

"No! The Great Toad Sage cannot be wrong! Its prophecy must be true!"

He gripped the wine bottle tightly, silently encouraging himself.