Konoha Camp
When Shirou and Tsunade returned to the camp from the back mountain, many ninjas who saw them began whispering among themselves.
"Wow, I heard it was at the waterfall in the back mountain."
"Hmph! And they say the Uchiha are supposed to be prideful!"
"Sounds like someone's jealous!"
With her exceptional strength, Tsunade's senses were naturally sharp. Especially after what had just happened, she deliberately heightened her awareness to eavesdrop.
Given Tsunade's current abilities, it was nearly impossible for any ninja in the camp to have a private conversation without her noticing.
Sure enough!
Hearing the gossip, Tsunade couldn't help but feel irritated. While her straightforward personality made her dismiss such rumors as mere idle talk, she couldn't help but glance at Shirou, who was walking alongside her.
Shirou, however, maintained a calm demeanor and a gentle smile, as if the rumors didn't affect him at all.
But in Tsunade's mind, could that be true?
For an ordinary ninja, perhaps. But this was a Uchiha Pride and stubbornness were practically etched into their bones.
Inside the tent, as Tsunade carefully examined Shirou's injuries, she spoke in her usual commanding tone:
"Hey, considering you've already mastered the Mystical Palm Technique, that's commendable. But what about your Summoning Jutsu?"
It was as if she were saying, "My slug summon is one of the great beasts of the Three Sage Lands. Don't you dare slack off!"
Faced with Tsunade's stern reprimands, Shirou, seemingly accustomed to her teacherly, sisterly, or commanding officer-like demeanor, responded with a soft smile.
"Captain Tsunade, are you referring to Lady Katsuyu?"
With a light laugh, Shirou clapped his palm on the bedside. Instantly, a puff of white smoke appeared, about the size of a watermelon.
As the smoke cleared, a squishy, pale blue-and-white slug appeared—it was none other than Katsuyu.
"Lady Tsunade."
The slug's soft, gentle voice resonated, bringing a smile to Shirou's face. Bowing slightly, he greeted,
"Lady Katsuyu, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Tsunade, however, twitched at the sight, scoffing in annoyance.
"Shirou, you've been recklessly overusing Shadow Clones these past three months."
As Tsunade reprimanded him, Katsuyu noticed the injuries on Shirou's palm. Gently squirming forward, she began tending to his wounds.
The icy, soft sensation against his arm and palm, like being enveloped in jelly, brought a look of comfort to Shirou's face.
"Thank you, Lady Katsuyu."
Shirou smiled sincerely. He knew the gentle temperament of this sage summon, who had lived for untold years and was considered the most humble of sages, even in Tsunade's presence.
Watching this scene, Tsunade let out a "tch" and plopped onto a nearby chair, crossing her arms as she scolded:
"You're reckless! Using high-density chakra techniques like this is extremely dangerous, especially with high-speed rotation and friction. It causes severe damage to your palms.
And after three months of continuous high-intensity chakra release, your right arm's meridians are severely fatigued. Keep this up, and you'll ruin your arm!"
Tsunade seemed to relish lecturing Shirou, her tone like that of a superior officer or a veteran instructing a rookie.
Shirou, adopting a calm and sincere demeanor, listened attentively, only speaking once she finished:
"Thank you for your concern, Captain Tsunade. But this technique has already been mastered."
Concern?
Those words caught Tsunade off guard, and she let out a scoff.
Shirou, meanwhile, maintained his obedient demeanor, appearing ready for further reprimands. He intended for Tsunade to get used to—or rather, acknowledge—her concern for him, instead of brushing it off as instinctive.
From a psychological perspective, Tsunade's concern had been unconscious and habitual, stemming from her nature. But when verbalized by Shirou, combined with the earlier gossip, it created a different perception.
This planted a subtle notion in Tsunade's mind—Was she truly starting to care for Shirou?
Instinctual and unintentional actions, once recognized, often evolve into something deeper.
"Tch! Self-centered brat!"
Realizing her unusual level of concern, Tsunade huffed, masking her thoughts by shifting the topic.
"Shirou, how did you even come up with this jutsu?"
Inventing original jutsu wasn't unheard of in the ninja world, as all existing techniques were created by someone. But an A-rank jutsu? That was nearly an ultimate-level technique for most Jonin—a trump card for any ninja.
The value of an A-rank jutsu couldn't be overstated.
Shirou, noticing Tsunade's curiosity, gladly took the opportunity to explain:
"Captain Tsunade, the inspiration for this jutsu came from Kushina."
"Kushina?"
This piqued Tsunade's interest, and Shirou nodded.
"Yes. Three months ago, when Kushina lost control, the destructive power of a Tailed Beast Bomb left a deep impression on me. My jutsu is nowhere near that level, but the Tailed Beast Bomb's formation and release are essentially pure chakra compression without complex hand signs."
"So, I thought—could a ninja achieve such a pure chakra technique?
After some experimentation, I concluded there are three keys: rotation, compression, and stabilization. If a ninja can maintain a stable and continuous chakra output, it results in this seal-less A-rank jutsu."
Hearing this, Tsunade finally understood, nodding in realization.
"Imitating a Tailed Beast Bomb, huh? But you said it involves pure chakra with no hand seals?"
As a skilled ninja, Tsunade's curiosity was piqued. Techniques related to Tailed Beasts and chakra manipulation were rare and fascinating.
"Exactly. It's purely about chakra form, without nature transformation or hand seals."
Pleased by her interest, Shirou demonstrated. Holding out his hand, a bright blue orb of compressed chakra formed, spinning rapidly.
"A... seal-less jutsu!"
Tsunade's eyes widened in shock.
A seal-less A-rank jutsu was almost unheard of. Given her extensive knowledge, she immediately grasped its potential.
In close combat, such a technique would be devastating. With no hand seals needed, it could be unleashed instantly, catching opponents off guard.
At that moment, a faint hissing sound echoed, causing Tsunade's expression to darken.
"Orochimaru! Since when did you become like Jiraiya?"
A moment later, Orochimaru's raspy, magnetic chuckle echoed through the tent.