However, Qingshui only used this method to compensate for his own shortcomings, not as a primary means of livelihood, so a basic understanding of Swordplay was sufficient.
"I had no idea you'd pick up Swordplay. Adding that to your Medical Ninjutsu, if you spread yourself too thin, I'll eventually surpass you in Puppetry."
In the training ground, Sasori leaned against Salamander, watching Qingshui practice his swings against a wooden dummy and spoke.
"Whether it's Medical Ninjutsu or Swordplay, they're just ways to improve my ability to survive."
Qingshui put down his wooden sword and replied to Sasori.
"You have a point there."
Sasori wiped a stone near the training ground and sat down.
"But can you really avoid death just with those? Is there no way for someone to live forever, to exist eternally?"
Qingshui, who was wiping sweat with a cloth strip, paused.
Could this be why he turned himself into a Puppet in the original timeline?
And once you become a Puppet, your thought processes must be different from normal humans. At the very least, without a brain and without hormonal regulation in the body, human emotions would only grow increasingly indifferent.
"Perhaps, but there's a prerequisite."
Qingshui pretended nothing was amiss, leaning his wooden sword against the wooden dummy.
"What is it?"
Sasori tilted his head and asked.
"You have to become very strong, so strong that no one can kill you. Otherwise, even if you had infinite lifespans, you'd still be killed by someone stronger than you."
At this, Qingshui suddenly thought of Orochimaru.
That guy is very strong, but certainly not strong enough to be superior to everyone else. However, his survival ability is definitely the strongest in the Naruto World.
Sasori was silent for a while, lost in thought, then after a moment, he spoke:
"I heard you and Grandma are going to the front lines in two days?"
"Yes, but Elder Chiyo assigned me to the reserve unit, and there are top Jonin from the village leading the way. Unless the entire army is wiped out, it's highly unlikely I'll die. Of course, to prevent any accidents, I'm currently trying my best to strengthen my life-saving abilities."
Sasori's eyes flickered. His usually calm and indifferent expression was uncharacteristically complex at that moment.
"Alright then, try your best to come back alive. Don't make me wait for you."
Why does that not sound like a good thing to say?
"Okay, I'll try."
Qingshui knew that for Sasori, saying something like that was already a remarkable feat.
Sasori hated waiting more than anything, because he had never waited for his "traveling" parents to return home.
It was clear that the current Sasori truly considered Qingshui a friend.
At the very least, he considered him different from others, someone worth waiting for.
"I've said too much, I'm afraid I've jinxed myself. Anyway, the main reason I came today was to say goodbye, and also…"
Qingshui turned and walked towards the ninja tool pouch hanging on the railing, pulling out a photograph.
"I need you to investigate this woman for me."
Qingshui handed the photo to Sasori. The person in it was none other than Reina from the Medical Squad.
"This woman is pretty, and she looks gentle. What, are you trying to pursue her? But isn't the age gap a bit big?"
Sasori looked at the blonde woman in the photo, wearing glasses and a gentle smile, and asked Qingshui curiously.
Perhaps because he lost both parents at a young age, his first impression of this woman, who smiled with such maternal warmth in the picture, was quite good.
"No, I just have a bad feeling about her."
Qingshui shook his head.
"You suspect she's a spy from another village? Then why not just tell Grandma and have her investigate? Or… I see. She's already gained Grandma's trust and has a certain standing in the village, so it's not easy to investigate her openly?"
A look of understanding dawned on Sasori's face.
"Aren't you going to ask me why I suspect her?"
"I trust you, because you're the only person my age I don't consider completely stupid."
Sasori said with a serious expression.
"Well, thank you for the compliment."
Qingshui said, speechless.
"You're welcome."
Qingshui: …
"I'll tell you anyway. Although an official investigation isn't convenient, I did some simple digging on my own during this time. This woman's parents both moved to Sand Village from the border regions of the Land of Wind during the Second Kazekage's time. Neither of them were ninjas; her father was a doctor. Both passed away a year ago."
"And a year ago, she was just an average Genin. It wasn't until a year ago that she accumulated enough battle merits to learn high-level Ninjutsu and become a Chunin. In this Medical Squad training, she showed learning abilities far exceeding other Medical Ninja. Perhaps her talent was mediocre in other Ninjutsu, but she's highly gifted in Medical Ninjutsu."
"But I suspect even more that she learned Medical Ninjutsu in another ninja village."
Sasori spoke up, "Are you talking about Konoha?"
Qingshui nodded and continued, "Yes, it seems you guessed it too. Only Konoha and Sand Hidden's Medical Ninjutsu foundations could cultivate such a Medical Ninja. However, the village only put the training of Medical Ninjas on the agenda last year, after Princess Tsunade turned the tide of the war in the Land of Rain. The training plan for the Medical Squad wasn't even finalized until this year."
"Konoha's medical system was established earlier than Sand Hidden. And to establish a complete system, sufficient specialized personnel are needed. Although Konoha hadn't established a medical system before that, given Princess Tsunade's status and reputation in Konoha, it wouldn't be difficult to try and train an initial batch of talent. She would be fully capable of training an excellent Medical Ninja."
Sasori lowered his head slightly and asked, "Do you think... Konoha would be crazy enough to send an excellent and rare Medical Ninja out as a spy?"
You'd have to ask Danzō and the Third Hokage, those two idiots, about that.
"It's precisely because no one would believe it that she has the opportunity, isn't it? And I'm sure you're well aware of the benefits of doing so. If a Konoha ninja truly infiltrated the high ranks of the Medical Squad, it would be enough to silently assassinate the village's ninjas under the guise of 'treatment failure' and also relay a series of intelligence. Isn't that something to be wary of?"
Sasori pursed his lips. "I see. You're about to leave for the front lines and can't continue investigating in the village, so you need someone capable enough to help you continue the investigation and expose the true identity of this woman?"
"So please, Sasori." Qingshui patted Sasori's shoulder, instructing him.
Even if Sasori's covert investigation were discovered, it wouldn't affect him. After all, he was Elder Chiyo's grandson.
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