"Sensei, there is one more thing I want to tell you. Kushina and I plan to graduate early."
Minato told Tsunade about his decision to graduate early.
"Graduate early? Sure!"
Tsunade agreed without even thinking.
Before, Minato was too young and needed to interact more with peers.
But with Minato's current strength, staying in school would be a waste of time.
In case of a conflict with a teacher, killing the teacher in one move, how awkward would that be?
Kushina's strength also met the graduation standards.
Usually following Minato, she had nothing to worry about.
"In addition, I just met Nawaki's leading Jonin and had a little conflict."
Minato briefly explained the situation: "I planned to let Nawaki withdraw from the team temporarily and train with me for a while, but that guy was a bit difficult to deal with, so I beat him up and plan to let Nawaki withdraw from the team completely."
Tsunade nodded: "I understand. I'll go talk to the old man."
No questions, no doubts.
Tsunade had absolute trust in Minato.
Although curious about the reason why Minato hit someone, since Minato didn't elaborate, she wouldn't ask at this time.
"After that, I will form a team with Nawaki, Kushina, and Sister Mikoto."
Minato continued: "The current situation is becoming more and more tense. I plan to give everyone special training for a while."
"Mmh..."
Although feeling a bit tangled, Tsunade still nodded in agreement.
The situation in the Land of Rain was very bad. This could be seen from the number of patients in the hospital recently.
War could break out at any time. She also felt that compared to doing missions, they should seize the time to improve their strength.
"In that case, I'll leave Nawaki to you."
Tsunade looked at Minato deeply, a trace of indescribable emotion flashing in her eyes.
At this moment, she did not say this from the standpoint of a teacher. She believed Minato could understand her meaning.
And Minato indeed understood her meaning. He didn't say anything, just smiled gently.
The two looked at each other briefly, then tacitly looked away. Tsunade felt completely relieved.
Then she slapped the table cheerfully: "Alright, to celebrate the establishment of your squad, my treat at noon, let's go eat Sukiyaki!"
"Yay!"
"Long live Sister!"
Kushina and Nawaki cheered.
The group came to a restaurant. The Sukiyaki was steaming, and the atmosphere at the table was relaxed and lively.
Minato, Kushina, and Mikoto sat on one side. Of course, Kushina sat in the middle. If Minato sat in the middle, the atmosphere might not be so lively.
The soup base of Sukiyaki was thin, and not many pieces of meat could be boiled at once. Minato controlled his speed of picking up meat so that others wouldn't be unable to eat.
Although Tsunade had a smile on her face, she wasn't in the mood to eat. She observed Mikoto opposite her out of the corner of her eye without leaving a trace.
With smooth black hair and decent behavior, just the intellectual feeling of gently tucking her hair when eating was enough for Kushina to learn for half a lifetime.
Tsunade glanced at Kushina. The other party was stirring a chopstick full of meat wildly in the sterile egg liquid, and then ate it in one bite, with a heartless satisfied smile on her face.
Sigh...
A meal cost 15,000 ryo, of which 10,000 ryo went into Minato's stomach.
Mikoto, who saw Minato's appetite for the first time, was shocked.
She didn't expect Minato to be able to eat so much!
No wonder he was so strong!
Although there was no necessary connection between the two, she just felt it was amazing.
After eating, Tsunade used the excuse of applying to the Third Hokage for Minato's early withdrawal from the team to separate from them temporarily.
Then she went all the way to the eastern forest and kicked open the gate of the Root base.
"Who is it?!"
Swish swish swish—
Four figures appeared, blocking Tsunade's path.
"Lord Tsunade?"
Seeing the person clearly, the leader's momentum instantly weakened.
The four were the garrison squad of the Root base and knew that Minato had close contact with Orochimaru.
And Tsunade was not only Minato's teacher but also Orochimaru's teammate. Even if the other party had a bad attitude, they dared not be too offensive.
Tsunade's almond eyes contained evil spirits. She didn't make things difficult for them, just asked coldly: "Take me to see Orochimaru!"
The squad leader breathed a sigh of relief instantly: "Wait a moment, I'll go report."
Soon, following the winding underground corridor, Tsunade finally met Orochimaru who was doing experiments.
The other party stood under the light of the operating table, dissecting a corpse with skilled techniques.
Seeing this, Tsunade frowned, disregarding Mikoto's matter, and questioned: "You are doing human experiments?"
"You are still the same, Tsunade, as impatient as ever."
Hearing the movement behind him, Orochimaru unhurriedly put down the scalpel, took off his gloves, and turned around slowly.
With an inexplicable smile on his face, he waved his hand to signal his subordinates to retreat, his tone indifferent and casual: "This is Root, the darkest place in Konoha. Isn't human experimentation very normal?"
"Besides, it's just a dispensable criminal. You don't think the Second Hokage used his own body to experiment with so many forbidden jutsu, do you?"
"..."
Hearing this, Tsunade's face softened slightly, but thinking of the close contact between the other party and Minato, she was a little worried: "You didn't drag Minato into this, did you?"
Orochimaru's face suddenly became interesting: "What if I say that this experiment was proposed by Minato-kun?"
"What do you mean?"
Tsunade's face changed. Although she trusted Minato very much, things like human experimentation were still somewhat beyond her expectations.
"We are exploring the connection between the body and the soul based on Impure World Reincarnation and Spirit Transformation Technique, creating a jutsu that can transfer the soul to a young body even if the flesh decays."
Orochimaru said lightly: "From a secular point of view, this is indeed a forbidden jutsu, but it gives life another possibility."
"The price?"
Tsunade frowned tightly: "It won't be by means of seizing others' bodies, right?"
"I originally thought so, but Minato-kun insisted on the path of cloning."
Orochimaru smiled: "I think what he said makes sense. How can a stolen body be as suitable as a self-cultivated body? But don't worry, I never let Minato-kun intervene in experiments."
Tsunade's face softened slightly, then remembered her purpose here: "That Mikoto Uchiha is the disciple you accepted?"
Orochimaru nodded: "Yes, how is she? Very pretty, right?"
"Cut the crap!"
Tsunade's face darkened: "What do you mean? Do you also want to interfere with that child's life like the old man?"
"Otherwise?"
Orochimaru tilted his head, his tone very innocent: "I can't possibly enter the game personally like you, right?"
"?!!!"
Tsunade was stunned for a moment. After reacting, her face instantly turned red: "Bastard, what nonsense are you talking about?!"
"Look, getting anxious again~"
Orochimaru spread his hands, looking like he really couldn't do anything with her: "I just introduced a disciple to him. If this is considered interfering with life, then what are blind dates?"
"And if you really count, I am helping you..."
---
(PS: I remember someone mentioning in the original work that Hanzo attacked Konoha half a year before the Second Great Ninja War? But I can't find it no matter how hard I look. Hundreds of episodes of content, simply like looking for a needle in a haystack. If anyone has clues, please let me know.)