Chapter 0052: A Formal Request to Become a Disciple
Ugh.
I opened my eyes groggily, feeling a sharp pain in my head, as if it was being torn apart. A low groan escaped my lips. Fortunately, the pain faded quickly as soon as I woke up, allowing me to gather my strength and take in my surroundings.
A dimly lit oil lamp, wooden chairs with no armrests, a low table, and walls made of felt—this must be a makeshift tent, judging by the setting.
Through a gap in the entrance, I could clearly see several Konoha ninjas dressed in dark green vests moving back and forth. It seems that, during the time I was unconscious, the mission to escort the medical team had been completed successfully.
Phew! At least no more incidents occurred.
Relieved, I prepared to sit up. But just then, the tent flap was abruptly pushed open.
Tsunade, with her signature blonde hair, stepped inside. When she saw me awake, a flicker of joy crossed her eyes, but it quickly faded as she spoke calmly, "Awake? How do you feel?"
"Like I've been reborn," I said, moving my body slightly. "Were my injuries healed by you, sensei?"
"It had nothing to do with me," Tsunade replied nonchalantly, sitting down in front of me with her legs crossed. "Shizune did some emergency treatment, but the rest... that was all your body healing itself."
"My body... healed itself?" I blinked in confusion.
"That's what I wanted to ask you."
Tsunade shook her leg and continued, "During that battle, what happened to your body? Forget the incredible healing ability. Your bone strength, muscle density, and even your chakra capacity—everything was several times greater than that of an ordinary jonin! And that final attack, the one that resembled a Wind Release technique—what was that?"
Her barrage of questions left me stunned for a while. I realized that all these changes must have been a result of the "complete inheritance of the Dragon King" I had received.
But saying that out loud would sound too fantastical and totally out of place in the world of Naruto. So, I could only offer a vague explanation. "Honestly, I don't know the exact answer. In that life-or-death moment, something just... clicked in my head, and my body acted on its own."
"Is that... some kind of special bloodline limit?" Tsunade frowned.
Awakening a long-hidden kekkei genkai in the heat of battle and making a comeback wasn't unheard of in the ninja world.
But she had never heard of any bloodline like this.
Not only could it devour ninjutsu and unleash immense power, but it also enhanced the body and granted super-fast healing. A bloodline limit this powerful should be famous, right?
Seeing her deep in thought, I started to feel uneasy. I didn't want her to dwell on this topic. Otherwise, I'd have no way to explain things clearly. I quickly changed the subject, asking, "Tsunade-sensei, where are my sister and Shizune?"
Tsunade snapped out of her thoughts and said lightly, "They went on a mission. After knowing you were fine, they were relieved and couldn't wait to ask me how to get stronger."
Uh.
I opened my mouth as if to say something, but ultimately remained silent.
"You know why they made that decision, don't you?" Tsunade folded her arms and looked at me calmly.
They didn't want to be a burden. They wanted to keep up with me—that was probably their reason.
I thought about it but didn't say anything, simply lowering my head.
"This time, you really acted recklessly." Tsunade sighed. "As a ninja, what you did was far from qualified. You couldn't save your comrades, and you nearly threw your own life away."
"Yes, I understand."
I raised my head and said seriously, "It wasn't something a proper ninja would do. But if the same thing happened again, I would still do it. I would rather die with the people I care about than watch them be killed in front of me."
"You're going against the rules of being a ninja!" Tsunade's tone suddenly turned sharp.
I didn't back down either. "Compared to what I hold dear in my heart, those rules mean nothing."
Tsunade seemed angered by my response, her brow furrowing as she stared at me coldly. I met her gaze calmly, not backing down.
For several tense seconds, we locked eyes in silence.
Then, suddenly, the corner of Tsunade's mouth curved upward. "You really don't act like a kid sometimes. More like some old, stubborn geezer who's lived for decades. With that kind of stubbornness, you're definitely not winning any popularity contests. But... I like it. So, tell me, would you like to become my student?"
After this whole ordeal and witnessing my unyielding attitude, Tsunade had made up her mind about taking me as a disciple.
In her eyes, I had everything—a rare combination of talent, character, and strong will. Well, except for the fact that I sometimes acted a bit... weird. Otherwise, I was practically perfect.
Stunned.
I never expected this sudden turn of events. Even more surprising was the system, which decided to join in on the fun at this very moment.
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