Learning Medical Ninjutsu

Considering she was Sarutobi Hiruzen's wife, she was most likely the head of the Medical Ninja department.

Biwako wore a smile as she hurried forward to greet him. "You're finally here. To be honest, I was surprised when your clan first said they wanted you to learn Medical Ninjutsu."

Just as Aokiji was about to respond, a blonde twin-tailed girl with a stick-thin figure in the room caught his attention.

She was diligently working on a salted fish, her overlapping hands emitting a faint green glow.

Unless Aokiji had gone blind, this girl should be Tsunade.

"Shh."

Aokiji pressed a finger to his lips and made a quiet gesture.

Jonin Biwako tilted her head, looking puzzled.

Aokiji quietly crept closer. Perhaps because she was too focused, Tsunade did not notice Aokiji approaching at all. At that moment, she was working hard to save a salted fish lying flat on its back.

In the end, after Tsunade's long and arduous efforts, the salted fish that had been lying flat had no choice but to start flopping around again.

This showed that Tsunade had become a qualified Medical Ninja.

Having passed the Medical Ninja examination, the excited Tsunade immediately threw back her head and laughed wildly. "I really am a genius..."

Aokiji silently nodded beside her. "I see. That truly is excellent Medical Ninjutsu."

"Hehe, of course it is. Who do you think this Princess is?"

Neither of them paused in their respective directions.

"Uh..."

Now they did.

A teasing smile curled at Aokiji's lips. "Yo, yo, who did I think it was? Isn't this the Konoha Princess, Lady Tsunade Hime?"

For some reason, Tsunade was a little embarrassed right now. "Uh... uh... Aokiji, why are you here?"

Aokiji crossed his hands behind his head. "Nothing much. Food hasn't tasted very good lately, so I came to the hospital to see if I'm sick. More importantly, why are you here?"

Tsunade felt guilty. "I-I'm not doing anything. Just playing around."

Biwako, utterly lacking in tact, suddenly said, "Tsunade is learning Medical Ninjutsu. She officially passed the examination just now and is now a formal Medical Ninja."

Tsunade: (#°Д°)(ω): "It smells so good?"

(╯‵□′)╯╧╧: "Die."

After being forced into a scuffle, Aokiji was left covered in bruises. "You really hit hard. Aren't you going to heal me a couple of times?"

Tsunade spat. "Who wants to heal you?"

"Didn't you say you didn't want to be a Medical Ninja? Why did you suddenly come here to become one?"

Aokiji no longer wanted to tease her, nor did he dare to. He was simply curious about Tsunade's reasons for becoming a Medical Ninja.

"Hmph, I wanted to. Is that any of your business?"

Tsunade gave a textbook tsundere toss of her head.

Of course, she could not say that she was learning Medical Ninjutsu just to make that part a tiny bit bigger.

It was said that advanced Medical Ninjutsu could regenerate cells. By that logic, making that part grow a little more flesh was perfectly reasonable and normal, right?

Besides, it also had to do with the Summoned Beast she had contracted.

Her Summoned Beast belonged to one of the Three Great Sacred Lands and possessed profound expertise in healing. With this Summoned Beast, Tsunade could become a Medical Ninja unlike ordinary ones.

After considering all these factors, Tsunade had decided to become a Medical Ninja.

Aokiji shrugged.

Tsunade turned the tables. "What about you? Why did you suddenly come to learn Medical Ninjutsu?"

Aokiji poked the fish on the scroll with his finger and casually said, "You know me. I became a Medical Ninja so I wouldn't have to go to the front lines."

From what he knew, Medical Ninjas seemed to begin practicing Medical Ninjutsu on animals, especially Marine Life.

It was not that Marine Life was superior to land animals. Rather, once revived, Marine Life would not run around. Leave them on land for a while, and they would quickly weaken from lack of oxygen, allowing Medical Ninjas to use them for healing practice again and again, harvesting them like leeks.

"Oh, that makes sense."

Tsunade knew Aokiji inside out. "You're a cowardly little rat."

It was not mockery, merely teasing between friends.

Aokiji was utterly shameless. "Thanks for the compliment. Rats are the most adaptable and tenacious creatures in this world."

"Alright, alright, that's enough." Biwako clapped her hands, making the two stop bickering.

Tsunade and Aokiji wisely did not continue arguing.

Biwako gave Aokiji a detailed explanation of Medical Ninjutsu, then demonstrated it once more. She patiently asked, "That's how it works. Is there anything you don't understand?"

Aokiji did not pretend to understand. He honestly said what he felt. "I don't know whether I understand it or not. I'll only know after trying."

"Alright, then give it a try."

No amount of talking could compare to hands-on practice.

Biwako brought over another fish she had prepared beforehand, half-dead and barely alive, for Aokiji to train on.

Aokiji stepped forward and copied the movements Biwako had taught him. He placed his overlapping hands over the fish's faintly moving body, released Chakra from his palms, stimulated the meridians throughout its body, and restored vitality to its cells.

Aokiji had good comprehension. On his very first attempt, the fish that had just been half-dead reacted. Its body, which had been lying flat, curled into an arch and looked quite lively.

Tsunade and Biwako could not help glancing at it twice. Before long, the fish was flopping around energetically.

"Looks pretty simple." Aokiji tugged at the corner of his mouth and casually showed off.

Tsunade clicked her tongue.

Damn it, he actually got to show off.

"There really isn't any difficulty at all. I wish it could be a little harder."

Just after Aokiji finished that boast, the fish that had been flopping around moments ago gave him absolutely no face. Its eyes instantly rolled white, and it dropped dead on the spot.

That was rather awkward...

"Uh, why isn't this fish moving...?"

Aokiji poked the motionless fish, feeling depressed.

Tsunade clutched her stomach and mocked him. "Idiot, you healed that fish to death."

Aokiji lowered his head, wondering whether his chances of success would have been greatly improved if he had used his Sharingan just now.

Seeing him remain silent, Biwako thought he had been discouraged and comforted him. "Don't lose heart. Most people fail on their first try."

Aokiji was not discouraged at all. Clenching his fist, he solemnly declared that he would continue working hard.

Tsunade froze at the sight. "Eh?"

Aokiji looked confused. "What is it?"

Tsunade shook her head. "It's just that seeing you serious like this is really rare."

Aokiji laughed heartily. "Can't be helped. If I don't work hard at Medical Ninjutsu, I'll probably be called in to become a combat ninja."

Tsunade smiled. "True. With your personality, you really would do that."

After Aokiji healed one fish to death, Biwako frowned slightly and muttered, "We need to deal with this fish quickly. It would be a shame if it started to stink..."

Aokiji waved a hand, completely calm. "There's no need to worry over such a small matter. Leave it to me."

"Leave it to you?"

The two looked at Aokiji curiously. They saw him rapidly form several hand seals before pressing down with one hand. In an instant, the dead fish was frozen solid from head to tail.

Aokiji said blandly, "There. This fish should keep for a while now."