For the next while, Kagetsu and Anko trained every day under Orochimaru's guidance. Thanks to the Third Hokage's notice, the Ninja Academy in Konoha turned a blind eye to Kagetsu's frequent absences.
Anko focused on learning ninjutsu and completing missions under Orochimaru's supervision.
As for Kagetsu, after Orochimaru learned about his plans, he took him to visit Tsunade of the Senju Clan, asking her to personally teach Kagetsu some medical ninjutsu for a period of time.
Orochimaru didn't decide for Kagetsu what ninjutsu he should learn. Kagetsu had a clear head and a set path for his future skills. Orochimaru admired that, seeing a bit of himself in Kagetsu.
This made him value Kagetsu even more and gave him the willingness to support his growth while watching from the sidelines to see how far Kagetsu could go.
Although Tsunade was too depressed to perform surgeries and use medical ninjutsu anymore, she was still more than capable of teaching the theory and offering guidance.
It was only because Orochimaru asked that she agreed. If it had been someone else, even the Nara clan leader, the disillusioned Tsunade would've ignored the request entirely.
"I'll leave the kid in your hands," Orochimaru said to Tsunade inside her residence, dressed in his full Jonin attire.
"Let me be clear, I'll teach him, but if he can't keep up or doesn't learn anything from me, that's not my problem!" Tsunade, slightly drunk with flushed cheeks, burped but remained alert enough to negotiate with Orochimaru.
"Of course. If Kagetsu can't keep up or fails to learn from you, then it just means his talent is limited." Orochimaru agreed to her terms without hesitation. "I'll take him away when the time comes."
"Fine. He can stay, but I'll only teach him for two months. How much he learns depends on him. Also, my lessons don't come cheap." Tsunade leaned forward, bracing her hands on the table, staring intently at Orochimaru with a determined expression.
"We agreed on the terms." Seeing his teammate obsessed with money, Orochimaru felt a slight headache. However, he still pushed a box full of money towards her.
Does Tsunade need money?
Technically, she doesn't.
Does Tsunade need money?
When it comes to entertainment, she absolutely does!
Among the Sannin, only Jiraiya was truly wealthy. His mission fees and the earnings from his books made him a rich man.
On the other hand, despite inheriting the assets of the Senju clan, Tsunade had the least money. During her years of despair, she had gambled away all her mission earnings and inheritance in casinos and bars.
If it weren't for her status as Konoha's Senju princess, Tsunade might've already needed to consider running away with Shizune. It's hard to say whether she accepted Orochimaru's request purely out of old friendship, or if the generous payment played a role.
"You can leave now," Tsunade said, closing the box after a quick glance inside. She suddenly seemed in high spirits and gave Orochimaru an abrupt dismissal.
"Tsunade…"
"I know! I'll teach him properly, and I'll also teach Shizune while I'm at it," Tsunade interrupted, waving her hand impatiently. "You staying here is just going to interfere with my teaching!"
Orochimaru's eyes showed a hint of helplessness. For a moment, he wasn't sure if giving Kagetsu to Tsunade for training was a mistake.
However, under Tsunade's piercing gaze, Orochimaru finally stepped back, let go of Kagetsu's hand, and left the Senju clan's grounds.
"A kid from the Nara clan, huh?"
After Orochimaru left, the slightly drunk Tsunade stared at Kagetsu for a moment. Then, she grabbed her box of money, staggered to her feet, and after wobbling for a second, steadied herself as if her feet were glued to the floor.
"Go read and study on your own first! Shizune will take care of you! When I get back, I'll start training you." As she passed by Kagetsu, Tsunade patted him on the shoulder and eagerly rushed towards the gate.
Watching as Tsunade disappeared in an instant, Kagetsu shifted his gaze to the girl standing nearby, who was about his age.
Noticing Kagetsu looking at her, Shizune, who was being stared at, almost felt like crying. She didn't dare complain about her guardian, Tsunade, so she tried her best to look calm and composed.
"F-follow me!" Shizune's voice trembled a little at first, but she quickly led the way, signaling Kagetsu to follow.
They stopped in front of an old-looking house. Inside, they pushed open a door, revealing boxes and scrolls messily scattered around.
The room was filled with shelves, clearly meant for storing scrolls and books. Many of them were collecting dust in the corners, looking like they hadn't been touched in years.
Some scrolls were already opened. Shizune, who wasn't much taller than Kagetsu, walked around the room, picking up scrolls or books now and then. Eventually, she gathered a large pile of scrolls and books, carrying them outside to where Kagetsu was sitting under the eaves, and put them down beside him.
"These are the books Lady Tsunade asked me to study. I think you'll need them too," Shizune said, catching her breath. She began sorting the scrolls and books, her face serious, as she carefully explained them to Kagetsu.
"This is the full set of information on the Mystical Palm Technique, along with all of Lady Tsunade's notes on it," Shizune handed the sorted scrolls and notes to Kagetsu. "If you don't understand something, you can ask me. If I can't answer, you'll have to wait for Lady Tsunade to come back."
"You started learning with the Mystical Palm Technique?" Kagetsu asked, surprised.
The Mystical Palm Technique, an A-rank jutsu, rapidly heals wounds by activating the cells in the injured area.
It sounded simple, but seeing that it was an A-rank technique meant its difficulty and control requirements were extremely high.
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