Becoming Tsunade's apprentice!

In the end, Ye Chuan did not pursue Sasuke any further.

After dealing with Kimimaro, he met up with Hinata and the others, then returned to Konoha.

He knew very well that even if he caught up now, he would not change anything.

Sasuke Uchiha had his own power to pursue.

Nothing could shake that obsession.

Even if they forcibly brought him back, he would only defect again.

When the news reached Konoha, the outcome was exactly as Ye Chuan remembered.

At the Valley of the End, Naruto had narrowly lost, failing to bring Sasuke back to Konoha.

Sasuke had defected for good, turning to Orochimaru in the darkness.

Fortunately, all of Konoha's young shinobi who had taken part in the pursuit had survived.

From the corridor outside at Konoha Hospital, Ye Chuan looked through a glass window at his classmates lying in their hospital beds, confirming the news from a distance.

He also happened to see Temari and Shikamaru outside a hospital room.

Ye Chuan did not go in to visit or greet anyone. After confirming the situation, he simply turned and left in silence.

To him, whether other people lived or died had little to do with him. He was more concerned about his own circumstances.

Walking through Konoha's streets, Ye Chuan fell deep into thought.

Sasuke defected, Naruto failed... The plot of the first part of Naruto was essentially over at this point.

According to the original story, next came a two-and-a-half-year time skip, leading straight into the plot of "Naruto: Shippuden."

Two and a half years...

Ye Chuan frowned slightly.

This meant that his knowledge of the plot would become completely useless during that period.

What would happen over the next two and a half years? What specific moves would the Akatsuki make? What new schemes would Orochimaru devise? What changes would take place within the village?

He knew none of it!

"Two and a half years without information... That's hardly good news." His gaze grew grave.

In this dangerous world, losing his foresight meant exposing himself to unknown risks.

Although his strength had now reached the Elite Jonin level, he still fell short before the truly powerful.

There were plenty of people who could kill him with certainty in this world alone, never mind beyond the Shinobi World.

The Kage Level fighters of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, the Akatsuki gathering tailed beasts everywhere, Shimura Danzō of Root hidden in Konoha's deepest recesses, and Orochimaru, who constantly coveted the bodies of prodigies.

And even... that mysterious Masked Man manipulating everything from behind the scenes...

If any one of these figures intended to kill him, he could end up beyond salvation.

He had originally wondered whether he could use this time to leave Konoha, travel, and seek battles to increase his strength more quickly.

But Ye Chuan soon rejected that idea.

He already had a bit of a reputation. If he rashly left Konoha's protection and attracted the attention of forces like the Akatsuki or Orochimaru, the consequences would be unthinkable.

"Looks like... the best choice is still to lie low in Konoha for now." He made his decision.

He would use these two and a half years to devote himself to hard training and improve his strength as much as possible.

Once Naruto returned two and a half years later and the plot of Naruto: Shippuden began, he would regain his information advantage and decide what to do then.

As long as he knew the direction of the plot, the risks would be manageable. Quietly growing stronger was the way to go.

Then how could he improve himself as much as possible during these two and a half years in Konoha?

Daily missions and basic training could not stop, but relying on those alone would be too inefficient.

He also needed to accumulate combat experience, but he could not go out of his way to provoke overly dangerous enemies.

"Maybe... I could find someone powerful to lean on?" A thought surfaced in Ye Chuan's mind.

Konoha's surviving Sannin were undoubtedly figures at the pinnacle of the Shinobi World.

If he could learn their core abilities...

"Orochimaru is out, first of all." Ye Chuan ruled him out without hesitation.

Go to him? He would probably end up on an operating table within days, sliced up for research.

"That leaves Jiraiya and Tsunade..."

Jiraiya was proficient in Senjutsu, and his intelligence-gathering abilities were also top-notch.

But he would spend the next two and a half years training Naruto, leaving Ye Chuan no chance to approach him.

Even if he had the chance, Ye Chuan wanted no part of his whole theory about searching for the Child of Prophecy.

That left only Tsunade.

Ye Chuan turned his gaze toward the Hokage Building.

The newly appointed Fifth Hokage, one of the legendary Sannin, a master of Medical Ninjutsu, and the foremost practitioner of Chakra Enhanced Strength...

Tsunade... was indeed the most suitable choice at present.

First, she was the Hokage. Staying by her side would be relatively safe, and he could also receive preferential access to some resources.

Second, and most importantly-survival!

He urgently needed to improve his ability to stay alive!

Although swordsmanship and haki were powerful, they ultimately had their limitations. Against bizarre ninjutsu and forbidden techniques, they might not be enough.

If he could learn Tsunade's [Creation Rebirth], or even the [Strength of a Hundred Technique], that would practically give him an extra life-or several!

Tsunade had survived being cut in half by Madara in the original story... He could not go wrong learning medicine from her.

And... if he could learn that Chakra Enhanced Strength, which precisely released chakra in bursts, and incorporate it into his swordsmanship, it would definitely take his explosive power up a level!

Swordsmanship for primary offense, the Six Powers for mobility and support, haki for perception and enhanced offense and defense, Medical Ninjutsu and the Strength of a Hundred Technique for endurance and survival, and Chakra Enhanced Strength for explosive power...

The outline of a combat system with almost no weaknesses gradually took shape in Ye Chuan's mind!

At that thought, he hesitated no longer, changed direction, and headed toward the Hokage Building.

Unexpectedly, as Ye Chuan approached the Hokage Building, he happened to see a pink-haired figure emerge, her face filled with indescribable excitement.

It was Sakura Haruno.

Judging by her appearance, she had presumably just succeeded in becoming Tsunade's apprentice.

Ye Chuan entered the Hokage Building and explained his purpose to the shinobi at reception.

Soon, Tsunade's assistant Shizune came out with a message.

"Lady Tsunade says you may come in, Ye Chuan."

Shizune looked somewhat curious. She had clearly heard about the boy's deeds from Tsunade.

"Thank you." Ye Chuan nodded and followed Shizune into the Hokage's office.

Inside the office, Tsunade sat in her chair handling documents, though her posture still held a certain casual air.

She looked up at Ye Chuan as he entered, set down her pen, and leaned back in her chair, her astonishing curves faintly visible.

As expected of Tsunade. This overwhelming presence... really was extraordinary.

Tsunade studied Ye Chuan with interest and asked, "What brings you here?"

Ye Chuan steadied himself, looked Tsunade straight in the eye, and said calmly:

"Lord Hokage, I didn't come here about a mission."

"Oh?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Then what is it? I hear you're used to doing everything on your own. You don't seem like the type to come chat with me of your own accord."

"I want to become stronger," Ye Chuan said succinctly.

"Wanting to become stronger is a good thing." Tsunade smiled. "And? Are there some special resources you want?"

"I want to become your apprentice." Ye Chuan's tone was resolute.