Dong Dong Dong
The knocking had barely been heard when they heard movement inside.
Creak!
The door opened quickly, and instead of Nawaki as expected, Tsunade-sensei, whom we hadn't seen in a long time, came into view.
At this moment, Tsunade-sensei was dressed in cool and convenient home clothes, her eyes sparkling with doubt, until her gaze focused on Araki, at which point a faint smile appeared in her eyes.
" Araki, it's you! Come in."
Tsunade's words carried a hint of heat, and Araki realized that she seemed to have drunk alcohol, and quite a bit at that.
Chapter 9: A Proposal Regarding medical-nin
Konoha: Nobody knew I could use Wood Release! Chapter 9: A Proposal Regarding medical-nin
" Tsunade-sensei, what's wrong?"
Araki was taken aback. In his memory, Tsunade-sensei drank quite rarely. After all, Tsunade hadn't experienced the shock of Nawaki's death yet, and wasn't the alcoholic she would become in the future.
This doesn't mean Tsunade is completely abstaining from alcohol at this moment, but rather that she won't easily resort to drinking to relieve her inner emotions unless it reaches a certain point.
"Hey... come in and talk."
Tsunade's slightly dazed gaze fixed on Araki. After she recognized Araki, her face remained unchanged, showing almost no emotional fluctuation. However, even so, one could sense that he was an acquaintance.
"Yes."
Araki responded, stepped into the room, took off his shoes and neatly arranged them in the shoe cabinet by the door. He then skillfully took out a pair of slippers and followed Tsunade forward.
Not far ahead, Tsunade, silhouetted against the light and shadow, presented a graceful figure, her movements creating a pleasing effect.
This is a rare visual feast.
Araki stared blankly for a few moments, then shifted his gaze to the other side, looking around the room. He noticed many empty bottles lying scattered about, unsure whether they were from the recent drinking or from a few days ago.
The room reeked of alcohol.
It looked as if it had been soaking in a wine jar for a long time.
" Tsunade-sensei, where's Nawaki?" Araki started the conversation, noticing that he hadn't seen Nawaki and asked in confusion.
"On a mission," Tsunade replied casually. After speaking, she picked up the half-empty bottle of sake on the table, opened her small mouth, and put it to the bottle opening. Her throat gurgled as she gulped down large mouthfuls of sake.
"I see!" Araki nodded silently. He was a little surprised that Nawaki was able to go on a mission, but after thinking about it carefully, it didn't bother him. After all, Nawaki had mastered the Ninja Art: Creation Rebirth: Strength of a Hundred Technique, which could definitely save lives in an emergency.
"What brings you here?" Tsunade glanced sideways at Araki, asking the question without interrupting her drinking.
"Can't you just chat with Tsunade-sensei if you have nothing to do?" Araki said with a smile.
"Come on!" Tsunade said irritably, "Do you think I don't know your personality? You never have a moment of peace. Even going on a mission feels like it takes up your training time. You wish you could use all your time for eating, drinking, and using the toilet for training. I've known you for years and I've never seen you sleep. How could you possibly have a moment of idle chatter?"
"Hehehe..." Araki laughed awkwardly, there really was no way to explain it, Tsunade-sensei said was indeed true.
"What exactly happened?" Tsunade asked directly, as if she had seen through everything.
"It's not important, it's not important at all, Tsunade-sensei, what's wrong?" Araki waved his hand. He had indeed come to ask Tsunade about something, but this matter involved the cells of the First Hokage Hashirama Senju. Given Tsunade's emotional state, he absolutely couldn't ask so easily. He then said, "Since we're here, we must keep Tsunade-sensei. We can't let you drink alone like this!"
"You can't even drink, so what can you do for me?" Tsunade said irritably.
"I'm not here to drink with you, I'm here to chat with you, Tsunade-sensei. You're drinking alone like this, you must be having some problems. Tell me about it, maybe I can help you relieve some of your stress." From the moment Araki saw Tsunade, he knew that the latter had something on her mind. Until he resolved Tsunade's issue, all his inquiries about matters related to Hashirama Cells would be in vain.
"You?"
Tsunade frowned deeply, but after a moment, her expression relaxed, and she said, "Actually, telling you isn't a problem, since this matter is somewhat related to you."
"What does this have to do with me?" This time it was Araki's turn to be surprised.
"Sigh, it's the same suggestion about medical-nin again. It's been rejected so many times. There was even a Jonin supported me once, but he disappeared afterward. Now, whenever I bring up a suggestion involving medical-nin Tsunade, it's almost always seen as something impossible to achieve. They won't even make the slightest attempt, even though it could reduce the sacrifices!" After just a few words on this topic, Tsunade's grievances began to flow like a river.
" Tsunade-sensei, what kind of proposal did you make?" Araki inquired further, his expression becoming serious. He roughly understood what it was about. His impression of the original Naruto anime wasn't that deep anymore, mainly because many things had changed after he transmigrated here. However, he still vaguely remembered that the reform of the medical-nin was rejected, which was one of the reasons Tsunade left Konoha.
"You're interested?" Tsunade was taken aback.
"Of course! As you said, Tsunade-sensei, I'm also medical-nin, so of course I'm very interested!" Araki's eyes suddenly lit up. The opportunity to please her had arrived, which was also an important method that Dan Katō used to get close to Tsunade.
"I had quite a few suggestions for the village, too many to list here. The main one was to equip each ninja team with a medical-nin. The Third Lord Hokage rejected it without even thinking about it. I said this to increase the safety of the ninja teams and reduce casualties. Araki, you know..." Tsunade paused, her gaze suddenly turning intently to Araki, her eyes filled with seriousness and gravity. She continued, "I participated in the Second Shinobi World War, and it was in that war that I earned the title of Konoha Sannin. It was an extremely brutal war. Countless ninjas, both from Konoha and other villages, died. It was incredibly tragic. However, the vast majority of ninjas weren't killed directly on the battlefield, but rather died after being wounded and not receiving timely medical treatment. If each ninja team were equipped with a medical-nin, it would greatly alleviate this problem."
" Tsunade-sensei, have you ever thought about why the Third Lord Hokage rejected your proposal?" After patiently listening to Tsunade's words, Araki suddenly had a new realization.
Why...?
Tsunade was taken aback. She hadn't thought about this question before, and instinctively felt that the Third was targeting her, or rather, targeting medical-nin. However, when she thought about the specific reasons, she was speechless for a moment.
Chapter 10 So-called Demand
Konoha: Nobody knew I could Wood Release! Chapter 10: The So-Called Need
Tsunade was suddenly drawn in by Araki's words.
At first, she hadn't thought about all the circumstances and was still immersed in the feeling of being rejected.
Although it's a proposal, the moment it's put forward, there are only two possibilities: it will be approved or it will be rejected. Everyone knows this and is mentally prepared for rejection. However, when it is actually rejected, it is still very painful.
After all, anyone who makes a proposal essentially hopes it will be adopted, not rejected.
Araki's sudden question made Tsunade subconsciously feel as if she had touched on a corner she had never thought of before. She even stopped drinking and stared intently at Araki.
" Araki, do you know something?"
"I don't know anything." Araki shook his head and said with a smile, "My biggest backer is you, Tsunade-sensei. How could I know things that even you don't know? However, I don't have any definite information, but I can deduce a few things."
"Tell me your theory!" Tsunade suddenly leaned closer, her breath, carrying the scent of alcohol mixed with heat, tickling Araki's face.
" Tsunade-sensei, if I'm not mistaken, the reason the Third Lord Hokage publicly gave for refusing was probably that there weren't enough medical-nin!" Araki said with a smile.
"That's it." Tsunade nodded, then realized the meaning behind Araki's words, and asked, "What does it actually mean?"
"That's for that reason too," Araki said.
"Huh?" Tsunade paused for a moment, then raised her right index finger and poked Araki's forehead hard, saying, "What's the difference?"
"There's no difference. I think that's the reason, the official explanation, and that's the real problem. The village doesn't have enough medical-nin. I've been to Konoha Hospital before. Don't be fooled by the large number of ninjas who are there for internships; there are actually very few who can truly be called medical-nin —those who not only possess medical knowledge but can also use Medical Ninjutsu. It's simply impossible to assign one to each team, and we can't even muster a few Medical Team," Araki explained.
"It is indeed difficult, but it is not insurmountable. Moreover, this difficulty is not a reason to reject the proposal. Even if only a few squads have such a configuration, or if such a configuration is used during wartime, it is still feasible!" Tsunade said somewhat unconvinced.
" Tsunade-sensei, think about it. If only a few teams are selected for the pilot program, then which teams to choose? The strong ones might not be used, while the weak ones might be killed before they even get a chance to be used. What standards should be used for the pilot program? There are many problems here. Who goes first and who goes last could affect the balance within the village. This is destined to be a decision that cannot be made impartially." Araki's expression became serious as he said, "For the Hokage of Konoha, he needs to grasp the overall situation of the village and try to maintain a balance of power within the village. He may not be ready yet, or he may not know how to handle it better, but at least he should understand that handling this kind of proposal will only bring him harm, not benefit."
"This will reduce the mortality rate!" Tsunade continued to argue from the perspective of medical-nin.
"Every time he returns safely from a mission, he doesn't express gratitude for the Hokage's wise decisions. So no matter how much he does behind the scenes, it's not something people can see. If I'm not mistaken, what the Third Lord Hokage wants most right now is for everyone to see, and what they can't see isn't that important," Araki said Danzo. This wasn't actually a guess, but rather his deepest realization after watching the Naruto anime. The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, was determined to stand in the light of Konoha and maintain his image, so he naturally wouldn't care too much about what happened behind the scenes. He even turned a blind eye to Danzo's actions, let alone this obviously thankless medical-nin reform.
"This suggestion may not have an immediate effect, but if another Shinobi World War were to occur, the ninja teams participating in the war would ultimately have a lower mortality rate after a long period of training and coordination," Tsunade discussed.
" Tsunade-sensei, have you ever considered that from the Hokage's perspective, the concern isn't how many people will die in the Fourth Shinobi World Shinobi World War, but rather how to prevent it from happening in the first place? If war can be avoided by taking a step back, why bother with this thankless and potentially useless medical-nin reform?" Araki spoke from the Third Hokage's perspective to help Tsunade understand the true nature of the matter more clearly.
"So... according to you, medical-nin reform is simply impossible?" Tsunade's eyes darkened slightly, then she stared at Araki and said, "What are you thinking?"
"Of course I support you Tsunade-sensei!" Araki said with a meaningful smile, "Furthermore, I believe that reform of medical-nin is urgent and imperative. However, we can take a different approach to ensure its smooth passage."
"Do you have other methods?" Tsunade's breathing became rapid, and the rabbit that had been jumping around suddenly stopped.
" Tsunade-sensei, I just explained the essence of the matter to you. Once we understand the core issue, there's a corresponding solution. As long as we follow the Third Lord Hokage's needs and fulfill our own ideas, we'll naturally gain his support," Araki said.
"What do you mean?" Tsunade seemed to understand but not quite.
"Simply put..." Araki deliberately drew out his words, "The proposals that the Third Lord Hokage approved seemed very constructive, but in reality, they were proposals that met his needs. Similarly, the proposals he rejected weren't necessarily bad proposals, but rather didn't meet his needs. So, as long as we make proposals that resonate with him, there's absolutely no chance they won't be approved."
"This..." Tsunade felt like she understood, yet also like she didn't.
"It's like me cooking for you, going through a lot of trouble, and then making something you don't like. In your eyes, all I've done is waste ingredients. But conversely, if it happens to be a dish you like, then it's a good dish. The same principle applies to suggestions; whether they're good or bad depends on the person making the decision," Araki explained again.
"I think I understand a little." Tsunade nodded silently, staring at Araki as she asked, "According to you, how should we propose it?"
Chapter 11 Studying Medicine is Too Difficult
Konoha: Nobody knew I could use Wood Release! Chapter 11: Studying Medicine is Too Difficult
"At the next Jonin meeting, Tsunade-sensei, perhaps you could try a different approach, like..." Araki deliberately drew out his words to create suspense, then continued, "I suggest adding a Medical Ninjutsu course to the Konoha Ninja Academy. This would provide a dedicated training path for medical-nin, allowing students to choose whether they want to become a ninja or medical-nin during their school years. Or, to broaden the scope further, students could choose from other areas besides medical-nin, adding more specialized pathways to the Ninja Academy."
"This..."
Upon hearing Tsunade 'Araki words, Tsunade's eyes widened in shock, a shock she had never anticipated. Now, after hearing Araki's words, she fell into deep thought, realizing that this might be a valid point.
But no one had ever thought of this principle before.
Just as Tsunade was lost in thought, Araki did not stop, but continued speaking.
"Right now, the village only has the Ninja Academy, which trains ninjas, but there's no further specialization within the ninja profession. This means that for the village's children, after entering the Ninja Academy, they only have two choices: either graduate and become a ninja, or fail the graduation exam and return to being ordinary people," Araki said. "We might as well try to provide the children with more options. The world isn't black and white. There are many children in the village who aren't suited to be ninjas, but might be better suited to be medical-nin, Genjutsu ninjas, or other more specialized possibilities."
"Your suggestion is quite good." Tsunade's expression turned serious, as if the effects of the alcohol she had just drunk had worn off, and she began to patiently and carefully consider Araki's suggestion.
"We shouldn't directly state our purpose when discussing things with the Third Lord Hokage. This forces him to juggle other matters, and if we can't manage that, we'll inevitably be rejected. I don't think the Third Lord Hokage Third Lord Hokage targeting you, but he's definitely not using the right approach with this suggestion," Araki continued. "We should propose suggestions that seem helpful for the village's development, suggestions that will elevate the Third Lord Hokage's image in the villagers' eyes, and suggestions that might ensure our names are remembered in Konoha for posterity. This way, the Third Lord Hokage will readily agree to our request."
"Hiss..."
Upon hearing Araki's words, Tsunade gasped, her eyes fixed on Araki with a meaningful glint in them.
He had known for a long time that Araki was a very idealistic person, because he had heard Araki's speech during the Araki for becoming medical-nin. But now, thinking about it, wasn't he just pandering to Araki's ideals back then?
but...
Tsunade had no intention of pursuing the matter from back then.
Ultimately, judging from the results, she did indeed gain a very good disciple, and she was very satisfied with Araki in every aspect. However, now there was an even bigger surprise.
In an instant.
Tsunade's gaze towards Araki also changed.
" Araki, you mean to say..."
When Tsunade said this, her eyes became even more serious, and she was deeply moved. After all, the fact that she was able to drink here was largely due to the suggestion from the medical-nin, and Araki's words were like opening another door for her.
"Is there still a chance regarding my suggestion of medical-nin?"
"Of course there's a chance!" Araki immediately nodded and said, "Not only is there a chance, but there's a huge chance. The Third can certainly see the benefits you mentioned, but realizing these benefits requires step-by-step effort. It's not something that can be achieved immediately. So, the most urgent thing to do is to see results first, while things that can't be seen immediately will be delayed indefinitely. Therefore, without the previous groundwork, no matter how many times you, Tsunade-sensei, make this suggestion, the final result will always be rejection."
"Is the groundwork you're referring to about adding Medical Ninjutsu to the curriculum at the Ninja Academy?" Tsunade frowned, lost in thought. She understood what Araki was saying, but she couldn't quite find a suitable way to express and apply it herself.
Theory is theory.
The reality is quite different.
Tsunade seemed to have grasped some of the ideas Araki was saying, but from a practical point of view, she didn't know how to put them into practice.
"Adding Medical Ninjutsu training to the Ninja Academy is just our goal, but it can't be considered a suggestion, because it's a series of interconnected steps," Araki explained.