After questioning the debt collector's identity, Tsunade firmly said:
"If it's the Akagi family, then I already paid them back!"
"You're sure?"
Shinju looked doubtful.
Tsunade nodded. "Because of all my gambling debts, the Akagi family is the only one I've ever actually repaid. That's why I remember it so clearly! ୧⍢⃝୨"
Shinju: "(||๐_๐)"
"Hey, when you become Hokage, you're not planning to use the village's money to pay off your gambling debts, are you? (ー_ー)!!"
Tsunade shook her head, then gave Shinju a mischievous look.
"By the way, I heard last time you captured over ten jōnin from Kumogakure, and then ransomed them back for one million ryo each."
"When that money goes into the village account, I can use it to pay off my debts! ( ˝ᗢ̈˝ )"
Shinju: "No way! (ꐦ ಠ皿ಠ)"
...
After settling the Akagi family's theft issue, the group lingered in the small town for a few more days, playing around with various things before preparing to head back to the village.
On the road, Naruto looked curiously at the diamond-shaped mark on Tsunade's forehead.
"Granny Tsunade, what's that mark on your head for? And why do you look so much younger than Pervy Sage, even though you're the same age as him?"
Tsunade had no reason to hide things from the younger generation of the village, so she explained openly.
"This is a type of sealing technique. I store chakra in this mark on my forehead, then stimulate cell division. By controlling chakra, it can change my outward appearance."
Shinju understood, but then frowned.
"But a person's cells can only divide so many times in their lifetime. Wouldn't this kind of technique shorten your future lifespan…?"
Tsunade nodded. "Maybe. But as a woman, I can't stand the thought of letting myself grow old and wrinkled.
"And besides, I'm already over fifty. Compared to the shinobi who die on the battlefield in their teens or twenties, I've lived long enough."
As she spoke, a trace of sorrow flickered in her eyes.
She was a medical ninja. She had seen too much death on the battlefield. The thought came from the heart.
If only there could be a day when the ninja world had no more wars… when peace truly reigned.
Shinju nodded slowly, half understanding, but his curiosity was piqued. He quickly formed a hand seal and tried to imitate Tsunade's sealing technique, focusing chakra into his forehead.
A moment later—
A small, red, diamond-shaped mark appeared at the center of Shinju's brow, looking quite similar to the markings of his Sage Mode!
And beneath that little mark—was sealed Shinju's immense chakra reserves!
But because Shinju was still young, his appearance could only shift forward in age.
His Strength of a Hundred Seal couldn't let him alter his appearance freely like Tsunade, between her teenage years and her fifties.
"Doesn't seem all that difficult… and honestly, it doesn't feel that practical either."
Having succeeded, Shinju muttered with a pout.
Tsunade and Shizune both glanced back casually and froze when they saw the Strength of a Hundred Seal already formed on Shinju's forehead!
(꒪⌓꒪) !
ヽ( ຶ▮ ຶ)ﾉ!!!
Shizune: "Th-this fast?!"
"Tsunade-sama's Strength of a Hundred Seal is an S-rank technique! It took me ages to learn it!"
"When did you even figure it out?!"
Her pupils dilated, eyes full of disbelief!
It had taken her months to master the seal—and that was with her foundation as a medical ninja. Without it, it would've taken much longer!
But this red-haired boy? From the moment Tsunade explained it, to when he formed it himself—not even a minute passed!!
What kind of monster was this?!
This wasn't just talent. This was reincarnation-of-the-Sage-of-Six-Paths level absurd!
Tsunade was equally stunned.
The Strength of a Hundred Seal might sound simple, but it required precise chakra control and a solid foundation in sealing arts.
Yet Shinju had learned it just from her brief explanation!
A natural-born medical ninja!
No…
With this terrifying learning ability a natural-born all-rounder ninja!!
"Jiraiya, this boy really is a genius."
It took Tsunade a while to calm down. She smiled faintly, then leaned toward Jiraiya and whispered so Shinju wouldn't get arrogant.
Jiraiya's eyes gleamed with pride.
"Of course. Shinju is my prized disciple. He inherited his master's talent for jutsu—and my handsome face!"
Tsunade immediately rolled her eyes at him.
"Look at you, gloating like a fool. →_→"
Meanwhile, Naruto, after seeing Shinju form the Strength of a Hundred Seal, also tried copying it.
But after fumbling for ages with no success, he complained:
"Shinju, am I doing something wrong? Why can't I make that mark on my forehead? (´இ皿இ｀)"
Shinju didn't hold back and shared his insights generously.
"Don't rush. First do this… then this… and finally, this…"
Naruto's eyes lit up in realization. (〃∇〃)
"Let me try again!"
With Shinju's guidance, Naruto quickly managed to form a crude prototype of the Strength of a Hundred Seal on his forehead!
Shizune: !!!∑(°Д°ノ)ノ
Wha—?!
How did the Strength of a Hundred Seal turn into something anyone could just grow?!
All the effort she had poured into learning it—it suddenly felt worthless!
Tsunade, however, only looked at Shinju with even greater admiration.
This boy wasn't just a genius at ninjutsu. He could also explain techniques clearly and teach others with ease!
If he ever became a teacher at the Academy, in the foreseeable future the overall level of Konoha's shinobi would rise to unprecedented heights!
Suddenly, Tsunade spoke up:
"Shinju, come study medical ninjutsu with me."
"Medical ninjutsu?"
Shinju asked, "Can it make money?"
"Of course! ╭︎( ˙º˙)╯︎" Tsunade said proudly. "No matter the era, doctors are always the most profitable profession!"
Shinju nodded with the simple philosophy of "more skills never hurt."
"Alright, I'll learn!"
Tsunade had Shizune toss him two medical books and explained:
"These are basic pharmacology and human anatomy charts. Memorize them first. After that, I'll teach you more."
Shinju nodded. "Got it!"
As an ordinary grade-schooler back, memorization was his specialty!
Though these medical texts were a bit thick…
Still, give him two or three days, and he could finish one easily.
Seeing Shinju already learning medicine, Naruto couldn't sit still.
"What about me?! Granny Tsunade, what about me?!"
Tsunade: "You focus on mastering the Strength of a Hundred Seal first."
Naruto: "…"
...
After several more days of travel, the group finally reached the village gates.
By then, Shinju had already memorized all the medical foundations he needed to learn.
"Whummm—"
The great gates of Konoha stood wide open.
And behind them—a crowd was waiting.
Despite her gambling addiction, Tsunade was the "Red Princess" of the Legendary Sannin, with unparalleled status in the medical field. Shinobi from any village would respectfully address her as "Princess Tsunade" or "Tsunade-sama."
So once word spread of her return, plenty of people gathered at the gate to welcome her.
Among them were Tenten, Ino, and Sakura—girls who had admired Tsunade-sama since childhood.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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