Tsunade's Laboratory

Early the next morning, in order to avoid attracting attention, Uchiha You arrived at Konoha Hospital while there were few people around.

Thanks to Tsunade's vigorous promotion, Konoha Hospital had not only ordinary doctors, but also medical teams in training.

However, this was not a time of war, and few people were injured while carrying out missions. To obtain more volunteers, the Hokage had specifically arranged for some ninja to undergo regular physical examinations at set intervals.

"Aaaah! Help!"

"You medical teams are going too far! We're cooperating with you, not letting you use our bodies for experiments."

"It hurts, it hurts! What is that syringe for? Why are you stabbing it into my kidney?!"

The moment he reached the medical team's section of the hospital, he saw two ninja rush out in a panic. Their faces were filled with terror, as though they had seen the most horrifying thing in the world.

One of them even had a needle stuck in his kidney area and was frantically running outside. But at that moment, a capable-looking woman suddenly appeared at the door.

Dressed in a white lab coat, she caught the two escapees and dragged them back, speaking in the gentlest tone she could manage.

"The Will of Fire teaches you to devote yourselves. To advance medical ninjutsu and help more injured people save their lives, this small sacrifice is necessary!"

"You can make sacrifices for the village, can't you?"

Like chicks in her grasp, Tsunade firmly seized the two men, lifted them up, pressed them against the wall, and continued.

"If you aren't willing, that's fine too."

Those words gave the two men hope. They looked up at Tsunade and tentatively asked,

"Really? Then we'll be leaving..."

"You misunderstood what I meant."

Tsunade gave a light squeeze, then struck the wall behind them with a heavy blow, spreading cracks across its surface.

"I mean, since you aren't volunteering, I'll make it a reality for you. Don't worry, with me personally handling it, it won't affect your ninja careers."

Amid their struggles, they were dragged back into the operating room.

Uchiha You, who had just pushed open the door and entered, happened to witness the entire scene.

His thoughts were a complete mess. He had thought entering Tsunade's laboratory would already be miserable enough, but now he realized he had underestimated just how ruthless Tsunade could be.

What if she stabbed a syringe into my kidney...

He could not help but shudder.

Run! I have to run! I absolutely can't fall into Tsunade's hands.

Unfortunately, Tsunade spotted You the moment he entered the experimental area. A figure appeared behind him and blocked his wheelchair, hands resting on his shoulders as she lowered her head to face him.

From his lower position, You's view was completely blocked by a pair of towering peaks. There was only one person with such a magnificent figure; even without seeing her face, he knew who she was.

"Good morning, Lady Tsunade!"

"Good morning. I'm sorry you had to see that."

Without asking for his permission, Tsunade directly pushed his wheelchair forward. Perhaps feeling that what had just happened was far too violent and did not suit her image as a doctor, she forcibly explained herself.

"But they all volunteered. To promote the development of medical ninjutsu in the village, necessary sacrifices must be made. Besides, medical ninjutsu can stimulate cells and make them stronger."

"Don't overthink it."

She lightly patted his shoulder. If he had not witnessed that scene just now, he might have believed Tsunade was merely conducting ordinary experiments.

Now, even though Uchiha You knew he had boarded a pirate ship, there was no escaping Tsunade's experimental area.

"Lady Tsunade! I hope you'll be a little gentler with the next experiment!"

The only response he received was the rapidly retreating scenery. Afraid that something else might happen, Tsunade immediately brought him to the experimental zone.

What he saw upon entering was different from what he had imagined. He had expected bloodstained operating tables, but instead found a spotless white corridor, with rooms lining each side and ninja patrolling at regular intervals.

The security measures here could be said to be among the best in the village. Even an elite ninja would not be able to force their way through.

Just as Tsunade had said, even when conducting human experiments, she would ensure the ninja's lives and futures were protected.

Passing through the corridor, they arrived at a concealed door. Beyond it lay Tsunade's laboratory, the most important place in the entire area. Two elite ninja stood guard outside the door alone.

"Lady Tsunade!"

"Lady Tsunade!"

Only after a series of inspections were they allowed inside. Konoha's most precious medical ninjutsu was stored here.

Looking at Uchiha You lying on the operating table, Tsunade guiltily closed the door. Now there was absolutely no chance of him escaping. With a trace of apology, she said,

"Ahem, let me explain this beforehand."

"This ninjutsu is still in its developmental stage. Although it has already shown obvious results, it comes with pain. You need to endure it."

Before You had a chance to say much, a mass of green chakra appeared in Tsunade's hand.

"Advanced medical ninjutsu! Mystical Palm Technique!"

Her chakra control was practically monstrous. Despite having trained so many medical ninja, only a handful could master the Mystical Palm Technique.

Layer by layer, the bandages were removed. Compared to several days ago, the skin had improved somewhat. Now, only below his knees did traces of flesh and blood remain tangled with the bandages.

Uchiha You could feel warm chakra coursing through his body. The chakra was stimulating his cells, using stimulation to promote their recovery.

However, because he had not absorbed enough sunlight, the newly generated cells were destroyed by the tyrannical radioactive elements within his body.

Throughout this process, he also had to carefully keep them contained. Radioactive elements were extremely harmful to ninja; even an elite Jonin would undergo genetic mutations if exposed to them.

To allow Tsunade to carry out the procedure smoothly, he had gone to great lengths.

However, one thing was certain: the Mystical Palm Technique did help his body to some extent, because it contained Yang-nature chakra. Unfortunately, there was still a certain gap between it and the Yang-nature energy found in nature.

That was why his recovery remained so slow.

"What a strange condition."

Tsunade lowered her head and looked at the shedding flesh. This flesh had all been contaminated by radioactive elements. It visibly darkened, eventually turning into a puddle of rotten sludge.

She placed it beneath a special instrument. With all its assistance, the flesh was magnified, revealing the utterly destroyed cells within. Her brows drew tightly together.

"It can be confirmed that there is a strange element in your body, but further research is needed before I can determine what it is."

The radioactive elements contained in the flesh destroyed by the You element had already been absorbed back by him, so Tsunade could not detect them.

Unfortunately, Tsunade's research focused on the human body. If it had been Orochimaru instead, he might actually have been able to figure it out.