Tsunade cracked open one eye. "The Medical Division?"
"That's right. Separate medical ninjas from the regular ninja system and establish a dedicated division.
"You'll be the director, with your own dedicated funding and training system.
"The Medical Division will decide for itself how to recruit, train, and allocate resources. It won't have to answer to the other departments anymore."
Tsunade fell silent for several seconds, then slowly sat up straight.
Hot water ran down her collarbone. She wiped the mist from her face and looked at Mirai seriously. "I've thought of this idea before... but the proposal would never pass.
"The old man wouldn't approve it, and those two old geezers, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, wouldn't agree either."
"I'll go talk to them."
"It won't help even if you do. Those three—"
"Big Sis Tsunade," Mirai cut her off, "don't forget, we have the three hundred million ryo paid by Hidden Cloud now."
"And you're you, while I'm me. Maybe Lord Hokage will be willing to do me a favor?" The corner of Mirai's mouth curled upward.
Tsunade froze for a moment, then her eyes gradually lit up.
"Three hundred million ryo... If we use that money as the Medical Division's startup fund..."
"That's right." Mirai nodded. "Officially, that money was compensation paid to Konoha, but everyone knows I won that wager.
"It's only right that I use it to establish the Medical Division.
"I'll handle the Hokage, and I'll handle the Council of Elders too. You just need to be a good director."
Tsunade looked at him, the curve of her lips growing wider and wider.
She suddenly reached out, wrapped an arm around Mirai's neck, and kissed his cheek. "Brat, you've finally done something decent."
Mirai was a little dazed from the kiss. Between the hot steam