"My illness can still be treated, but is there something wrong with my swordsmanship?" Zixu sheathed Yubashiri, its trembling blade finally settling, and asked humbly.
"It's not a major issue. In fact, it's a unique skill. You can harness the properties of vibration and impact in the future. There's potential in that..."
Ryuma had indeed seen much of the world. Unlike Tenzo and Gekko Hayate, who previously taught Zixu and constantly advised him to give up the sword, Ryuma was different. He thought, Look, even seasoned swordsmen say I have potential. That means there's no problem—I just need to keep practicing.
"So, what are you going to teach me next?" Zixu looked at Ryuma with anticipation, but the latter was sweating for some reason.
"...…"
Ryuma was momentarily speechless. His own swordsmanship was entirely different from Zixu's, and he had no idea what kind of techniques the young swordsman was even practicing. It seemed like he had nothing to teach.
"In that case, I'll teach you about mentality," Ryuma decided. Since there was nothing to impart in terms of technique, guiding him on the right mindset was a good alternative. That was much easier.
"A swordsman must first have a heart as firm as a rock, unaffected by external temptations..." Ryuma began his lesson, explaining the importance of cultivating a strong mental state. Zixu listened intently.
Learning is a process. Only by remaining humble and eager to learn can one become a great teacher in the future. Everything learned today becomes a resource for future students.
---
Meanwhile, in Konoha, Zixu's clone had nearly completed his observation of the village's situation. There was no point in staying much longer.
Over the past two days, he had noticed that Root operatives were secretly investigating him. He was under surveillance for most of the day.
Naturally, this was Danzo's doing. That old bastard was insidious, cunning, and shameless, but he was undeniably effective when it came to Konoha's security.
Danzo, who upheld his belief in the "Greater Konoha" ideology, wished that all non-Konoha shinobi would simply disappear. He had always been extremely wary of outsiders, and it had taken years for him to finally ease his suspicions about Zixu.
So when this mysterious, oddly dressed figure appeared, it was only natural for Danzo to scrutinize him. Adding to that, Tenzo had also reported his presence, making it clear that it was time for Zixu to make his exit.
As for Sakura, her injuries had been handled effortlessly. With Tsunade treating her, external wounds like hers were nothing. As long as a person wasn't outright decapitated, she could save them.
The mixed chakra inside Naruto was also purified by Tsunade. Before, whenever Naruto got emotionally charged, his seal would weaken, allowing him to tap into the Nine-Tails' chakra.
However, ever since his battle with Zixu and the others, the seal had loosened further. The Nine-Tails' chakra was leaking out uncontrollably, making him increasingly violent and extreme.
Although Jiraiya had reinforced the seal afterward, the chakra that had already escaped had merged with Naruto's own. If left unchecked, this could gradually erode his will, ultimately leading to the Nine-Tails breaking free.
Fortunately, Tsunade had resolved the issue.
---
As for Sasuke, he had made an unexpected request.
"How is your memory?" Tsunade asked, catching him off guard.
"My memory? It's fine. With my Sharingan, I can remember everything I see..." Sasuke replied truthfully. Even without it, his memory was sharp.
Tsunade leaned back in her rocking chair, lazily resting her hand on Sakura's forehead. She gestured to Shizune, who had just returned from outside.
"I forgot you're an Uchiha. You can learn from me, but what's your real goal?" Tsunade asked, her curiosity piqued. She had always found the last remaining Uchiha survivor intriguing.
"My goal is obvious. I want to kill Uchiha Itachi."
The hatred in Sasuke's eyes burned fiercely, veins throbbing on his forehead.
"Uchiha Itachi… Then why do you want to train under me? Medical ninjutsu and taijutsu aren't exactly the strongest forms of combat. And if it's taijutsu you're after, there's someone far better than me."
Tsunade's implication was clear—she was referring to Might Guy. Even she couldn't compare to Konoha's "Blue Beast" when it came to raw taijutsu.
"I'm not looking to master taijutsu alone," Sasuke clarified. "I've already asked Guy Sensei about it. He told me I'm not suited for the Eight Gates, but he's still willing to teach me other forms of taijutsu. However, intense taijutsu training puts extreme stress on the body. Without medical knowledge, those injuries will build up over time. Eventually, they'll accumulate... and when they finally erupt, it could mean death."
His words were resolute. Sasuke had thought this through carefully.
He knew ninjutsu alone wouldn't be enough to defeat Itachi. No matter how much he trained, Itachi wouldn't stagnate. He was already a renowned prodigy, so there was no way Sasuke could surpass him in a straight fight by simply getting stronger at what Itachi excelled in.
Instead, he chose an unconventional path.
"If Itachi is a master of ninjutsu and genjutsu, then I'll beat him in ways he doesn't understand. By combining medical ninjutsu with combat, I'll attack from angles he won't expect."
In truth, this shift in mindset was thanks to Zixu.
Before, Sasuke dismissed taijutsu as a dead-end—a ridiculous way to fight in a world dominated by ninjutsu. There were few famous taijutsu specialists in history, and the path seemed uncertain.
But after witnessing Zixu and Rock Lee's battles, his perspective changed.
Those who truly mastered taijutsu were beyond ordinary comprehension. Before an enemy could even react, they were already dead.
"...Fine," Tsunade finally said, meeting his determined gaze. "If you're that set on it, I'll teach you. But don't expect it to be easy."
She glanced at Shizune, giving her a subtle nod. Understanding, Shizune pulled in several large boxes from outside.
The moment they were opened, a massive pile of books spilled out. Titles like "Studying Medicine—From Entry to Death", "Sun Tzu's Classic of Internal Medicine", and "Pathophysiology" filled the room. Among them, Tsunade discreetly removed "Icha Icha Paradise" before anyone noticed.
Sasuke's expression darkened as he stared at the sheer volume of texts.
"These are the books you'll be studying. You have two days to memorize them all. I'll be conducting random checks when the time comes," Tsunade said nonchalantly.
Sasuke's hands shook slightly as he processed the insane amount of reading ahead.
Meanwhile, Rosinante, who had just returned, took one look at the pile of books and secretly thanked every deity he knew that he hadn't chosen medical ninjutsu.
Because if he had... he'd still be reading these damn books.
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