The One Tsunade Recognized Was One of Her Own

With Tsunade's support, Jingyi no longer needed to follow others around as an assistant. He could stay in the break room every day and study in peace.

With ample time and Tsunade personally guiding him, Jingyi learned the Chakra Scalpel in just two days.

For some time afterward, Jingyi was like a dried-out sponge, rapidly absorbing all kinds of relevant knowledge and learning various Medical Ninjutsu.

Tsunade went from being shocked at first, to gradually getting used to it, and finally becoming numb.

She felt like she was about to be drained dry, without a single drop left.

Jingyi had already extracted nearly all the Medical Ninjutsu she knew.

Two months later, Tsunade personally took Jingyi to the assessment.

As expected, Jingyi passed with outstanding results, successfully obtained his medical ninja certificate, and submitted an application to work at the hospital.

Inside an elegant little tavern.

Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya, the three members of the team, reunited.

"Tsunade, I heard you took in an apprentice. And he's from the Hyuga clan."

Jiraiya had forgotten the pain once his wounds healed, tossing aside the fact that he had nearly been beaten to death. The moment they met, he waggled his brows at Tsunade.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Orochimaru paused with his wine cup raised.

Only after Tsunade shot Jiraiya a vicious glare that made him shudder did she withdraw her gaze in satisfaction.

"I didn't take an apprentice. I just saw that the kid had talent, and since I happened to have time, I gave him some guidance. Turns out I misjudged him. That kid Jingyi Hyuga has exceptional talent for medical ninjutsu."

"Enough about that."

Shaking her head, Tsunade changed the subject. "What have you two been up to lately?"

Since the Jonin assessment, the three of them had completely left their team and gone their separate ways.

Tsunade worked at Konoha Hospital, Orochimaru conducted all sorts of strange research, and Jiraiya was either carrying out missions or sneaking... collecting material.

"I recently ran into a troublesome mission. It took up some time."

Orochimaru answered casually.

"Hehe, I've been rather busy too. I..."

Jiraiya rubbed his hands together, but Tsunade cut him off as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Enough. You don't need to say it. You're either peeping at girls bathing or writing that messy nonsense of yours."

As she spoke, Tsunade set down her wine cup and slapped the table as she warned him:

"If I catch Nawaki bringing home any more strange books, I swear I'll beat you to death!"

Couldn't you teach him something else? Did you have to make a child read dirty books?

"Cough, cough, it's a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding. Nawaki secretly brought them back himself. It had nothing to do with me." Jiraiya nervously defended himself.

"Hehe."

Watching the fierce-looking Tsunade and the cowering Jiraiya, Orochimaru's lips curled slightly.

This was one of the few times he could relax. Orochimaru cherished days like this, even though he usually just sat quietly to the side and watched.

They drank, ate, and shared amusing stories from their work and missions.

Before long, after eating and drinking their fill, the three went their separate ways.

Tsunade had left, but Jiraiya remained in his seat, holding a wine bottle and grinning foolishly. Tsunade seemed to have forgiven him and was no longer angry at him.

"..."

Giving the endlessly grinning Jiraiya a disdainful look, Orochimaru silently rose and left.

When Tsunade returned home, reeking of alcohol, she had barely entered when she ran into Kushina, who was sitting all alone in the courtyard.

"Lady Tsunade."

Hearing someone arrive, Kushina looked up and hurriedly stood to greet her.

"Call me big sister. Or are those two words too hot for your mouth?"

Tsunade pressed a hand onto Kushina's head in displeasure and tousled her red hair.

"Big Sister Tsunade!!"

Her hair had been messed up. Kushina froze for a few seconds before letting out a shriek. After all, few girls liked looking as if they had a bird's nest on their heads.

"Don't cry, don't cry. Big sister was wrong. How about I take you shopping later?"

Tsunade had not expected Kushina to be so fragile inside. A little teasing had made her cry in distress.

It took quite some effort to soothe Kushina, along with a promise to take her shopping.

Watching the little girl's smile return, Tsunade's shoulders slumped helplessly. She felt that coaxing children was even more exhausting than working at the hospital.

"Big Sister Tsunade, someone delivered a letter for you just now."

Having received Tsunade's promise, Kushina eagerly pulled out a letter as though presenting a treasure.

"A letter? For me?"

Who would write a letter to me?

Tsunade took the envelope in confusion and opened it. After scanning the contents of the letter twice, her expression turned grave.

Putting the letter away, Tsunade patted Kushina's little head.

"Kushina, Big Sister Tsunade needs to go take care of something. How about I take you shopping another day?"

"Can't I come?"

Kushina looked at Tsunade pleadingly.

Tsunade's head began to ache. Why did you have to mess with a child? Feeling miserable now, aren't you?

After hesitating for a while, Tsunade was ultimately defeated.

"You can... I suppose? But you have to behave and listen to me, understand?"

Kushina was a pitiful child, and Jingyi's situation was much the same.

If the two of them got together, perhaps they would have something to talk about. Kushina might even make a new friend.

Although the village strictly forbade anyone from approaching Kushina, Jingyi was someone Tsunade recognized. That made him one of her own.

With Tsunade around, what was wrong with him having contact with Kushina?

Anyone who disagreed could come argue with Lady Tsunade.

Thus, Tsunade took Kushina from the Senju ancestral residence and headed toward the Hyuga Clan Grounds. Remembering something along the way, she bought quite a bit of food from shops by the roadside.

Lady Tsunade had taken Kushina to the Hyuga Clan Grounds.

The Anbu ninja assigned to monitor Kushina immediately reported the news to the Third Hokage.

In the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage stood by the window and looked toward the Hyuga Clan Grounds.

"Is it because of Jingyi Hyuga?"

Jingyi had applied to study in the medical department. In just over two months, he had mastered more Medical Ninjutsu than many medical ninjas and successfully passed the medical ninja assessment.

On the day the assessment ended, all kinds of information had been delivered to the Third Hokage's desk.

After being injured, his bloodline ability had deteriorated. He was then coldly neglected by his clan and subjected to much unfair treatment. So he applied to study in the medical department, only to accidentally reveal his talent.

The scarcity of medical ninjas, along with Jingyi's own talent, had earned the Third Hokage's attention.

Most importantly, Jingyi was someone Tsunade recognized, and Tsunade was the Hokage's disciple. By that logic, Jingyi counted as half one of their own.

The Third Hokage took out Jingyi's file and studied it carefully. Afterward, he fell silent for a moment. "What a pity."

Jingyi's circumstances were rather special, meaning he could at most be considered half one of their own.