Inside Training Ground Four, sunlight filtered through dense foliage, scattering mottled, shifting patches of light.
Shinichi's original body stood outside the field together with Tsunade, while inside, two of his clones were guiding Kurenai and Shizune.
One clone faced Kurenai and went straight to the point: "Kurenai, you're proficient in swordsmanship and also well-versed in genjutsu. Today, I'll teach you a combat method that combines the two—Konoha Style: Willow."
"Konoha Style: Willow?" Kurenai blinked, somewhat curious.
"This is a technique created by a very formidable senpai. It's a composite attack that fuses genjutsu and swordsmanship," the clone explained. "In combat, you begin with Konoha-style swordsmanship while simultaneously activating a specific genjutsu. It makes it seem as if your body has vanished among leaves drifting in the wind, causing the enemy's body to be temporarily restrained by the genjutsu, unable to move. Then you launch a sudden strike and pierce through in a single blow. It's a swift sword technique that pursues a one-hit kill and is extremely difficult to evade."
After a moment's thought, he added, "In terms of overall learning difficulty, it's rated S-rank."
"S-rank?!" Kurenai couldn't help but exclaim, her eyes widening. That was already at the level of an ultimate technique.
"I… can I really do it?" she asked, instinctively doubting herself.
"Of course you can," the clone said firmly, encouraging her. "It's precisely because you have foundations in both areas that you're the best candidate to learn it. And it doesn't require perfection from the start. We can break it down into steps—begin with coordinating basic sword movements and the timing of genjutsu activation. The so-called S-rank refers to its fully integrated, perfected form. What we need to do now is lay that foundation."
The hesitation in Kurenai's eyes was gradually replaced by determination. She nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Shinichi."
"Alright, let's begin. First, try to use your sword while—"
At the same time, the other clone stepped in front of Shizune and spoke just as directly: "Shizune, today we'll continue deepening the transition between the Mystical Palm Technique and the chakra scalpel."
The clone extended his hand, palm facing upward.
First, a gentle, life-filled green glow lit up, symbolizing the healing Mystical Palm Technique. Then the nature of the glow subtly shifted, its edges taking on a sharp, pale-blue sheen—clearly the chakra scalpel.
"You see, both are essentially the fine control of chakra concentrated in the hand. The key differences lie in output frequency, condensation form, and the intent when acting on biological tissue," the clone explained in detail. He went on to describe the micro-adjustments in chakra control, the gradation of output intensity, and how to switch seamlessly between "repair" and "cutting" modes depending on the injury or surgical need.
Shizune listened with great focus, occasionally raising various questions.
The clone answered each one clearly and guided her through targeted practice.
At the edge of the training ground, Tsunade leaned against a thick tree trunk, arms crossed over her chest. The shade obscured her expression, making it hard to read her eyes.
She watched silently.
Under the clone's guidance, Kurenai repeatedly attempted to integrate genjutsu into her swordsmanship. Though still unrefined, her direction was clear.
Shizune concentrated fully on the precise transformation of medical chakra in her palm. Fine sweat formed at her temples, yet her gaze remained bright, her progress visible to the naked eye.
Both students were working hard—and both were making tangible progress.
And the one guiding them was not her, their teacher, but that boy on their team—young in age, yet seemingly capable of anything.
Is this kid really that good at teaching?
I've been teaching them seriously too… so why are those two girls improving so quickly under his guidance?
Tsunade tilted her head slightly and, with a hint of dejection, complained to Shinichi beside her, "Tch. Watching your clones teach so well, and seeing how much Kurenai and Shizune have improved… it makes me, the actual instructor, seem pretty useless."
Hearing this, Shinichi turned his head, a clean smile appearing on his face as he said naturally, "How could that be? The reason I can think of these things is because I'm Tsunade-sensei's student. Watching how you guide us and analyze cases, I picked up some methods over time. In the end, I'm just putting into practice what you've taught."
"You brat." Tsunade was amused by his words and let out a half-laughing scold. The bit of gloom in her heart eased somewhat. "All you do is say nice things all day. No idea who you learned that slick tongue from."
Her gaze returned to Kurenai and Shizune training diligently. The smile on her face gradually faded, replaced by a deeper, heavier silence.
After quite a while, she spoke again, her voice much lower than before: "The two of them… actually have quite a bit of talent in medical ninjutsu. Especially Shizune—she's had a solid foundation under my guidance since she was young, and she's meticulous. Kurenai may focus on something different, but she picks it up quickly too." Tsunade paused briefly, as if choosing her words. "I'm planning, in a few days, to arrange for them to go to the Konoha Hospital for more systematic study and internship training, to cultivate them toward becoming professional medical-nin. What do you think?"
Shinichi did not hesitate at all and nodded in agreement. "I think Tsunade-sensei's idea is very good. A structured hospital internship can solidify their foundation, and exposure to more cases will help them accumulate experience quickly. Even if they don't become full-time medical-nin in the future, this experience will still be extremely valuable for their development."
"And you?"
Tsunade suddenly turned her head, her gaze fixed directly on Shinichi, a rare seriousness appearing in her eyes.
"Your talent and progress in medical ninjutsu—everyone can see it. Quite a few senior medical-nin in the hospital have told me privately that your current level has already surpassed many of them." Her tone softened, carrying a hint of persuasion. "You could also go to the hospital and take on a more professional role as a medical-nin. With your talent, you'd quickly become a core member—even a top one. And besides…"
She paused, as if searching for a more convincing reason.
"Medical-nin also serve the village. They're an indispensable part of Konoha. Treating comrades in the rear, ensuring their survival, providing solid support to the front-line shinobi—this kind of meaning and contribution is no less than charging into battle. In some ways, it's even more important. It can truly save lives and reduce tragedies."
After speaking, she looked at Shinichi quietly, waiting for his answer.
For a moment, the edge of the field fell silent, with only distant training sounds and the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Hearing this, Shinichi simply remained silent. After a long while, he finally spoke: "Tsunade-sensei… thank you."
"Heh! I knew it."
Tsunade let out a cold laugh—whether in disappointment or understanding, it was unclear—and turned her head away, saying nothing more.
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