"Jingyi, have you ever considered becoming an affiliated instructor at the hospital? You wouldn't need to come in every day just give occasional lectures. The pay is excellent."
"That's… probably not necessary."
Jingyi smiled, somewhat embarrassed.
He wasn't part of the hospital circle nor did he aspire to be. Still, Lady Biwako Sarutobi was persistent, and it was clear she'd been waiting for an opportunity to recruit him.
There were definite benefits to having his name on the hospital roster, but it would mean a significant increase in obligations.
Right now, he had a good rhythm: training, research, the occasional mission. He had just unlocked deeper proficiency with Shōsen Jutsu, but medical ninjutsu was never meant to be his core focus.
His goal was to understand the foundations of techniques like Creation Rebirth and the Strength of a Hundred Seal, not to become a full-time medic.
Biwako seemed a little disappointed, though she understood. As a Jōnin team leader, Jingyi already had his hands full mentoring three students and taking on missions. Time was a limited resource.
Tsunade accompanied him out of the hospital, her expression unreadable.
"I didn't think you'd turn it down. Long-term, it could've earned you a solid reputation in Konoha."
"I'm not aiming for the Hokage's chair. What use is reputation to me?"
Jingyi shook his head.
Strength is what ruled the ninja world not titles or fame.
Even the Hokage would fall short if someone like Madara Uchiha returned. Stacking all Five Kage might not be enough.
Tsunade silently agreed with that sentiment. Still, she was curious.
"So what do you want, then?"
"To teach. To raise the next generation. That's how Konoha becomes stronger from the ground up."
He answered without hesitation. It wasn't the first time he'd said this and he meant every word.
Tsunade allowed herself a smile.
It was a beautiful ideal. But she knew too well that such goals, without backing, were fragile. If the Hokage didn't support it, it could all be swept away in an instant.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was a good Hokage, most of the time.
But good wasn't always enough.
"Master Jingyi," Shizune is still young, still quiet,spoke up. "Do you have any advice for improving medical ninjutsu?"
"Advice? Watch more. Practice more. Train your chakra control until your hands are steady enough to make a single clean cut, no matter the circumstance."
He didn't say the rest aloud, but thought it: And make sure your chakra reserves and stamina can keep up. Otherwise, you'll collapse before the surgery is done.
Shizune hesitated.
"Lady Tsunade says I have decent control, but not enough to learn her more advanced techniques..."
"Becoming a good medic-nin is already no small feat," Jingyi said gently, tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear.
Shizune flinched.
"M-Master Jing!"
"Alright, alright, I won't touch your hair anymore," he laughed. "If you want to improve, try something like sustaining two chakra natures or jutsu at the same time."
He demonstrated: activating Earth Spear to harden his body, then coating it with Wind Chakra Flow. A nearby rock shattered with one punch.
Tsunade blinked.
"If she could do that, she wouldn't need your help!"
"It's not about doing it now it's about learning to control two non-conflicting chakra systems in tandem. Then step up to three, and so on."
"Understood!" Shizune nodded seriously.
Even just listening to him gave her hope.
"Shizune, help clean up later. We're moving back to my place."
"Huh?" she paused.
Didn't they live in a big estate?
"Why so many questions? You want to stay at his place permanently?" Tsunade snapped, glancing at Jingyi.
"I-I don't mind..." Shizune said quietly.
"Really?"
Tsunade glanced at her house.
It was empty more often than not.
Jingyi was rarely alone always studying or training. And now... a shadow clone?
"Good grief," she muttered. "Fine. We're not moving."
But Jingyi understood.
If she was considering moving back, it meant something had changed. Maybe he was the reason.
Could it be... she's starting to care about me? he wondered.
Then he brushed the thought aside.
If Tsunade stayed, it would be good for Konoha. And if she ever overcame her hemophobia, she'd be the best possible candidate for Hokage.
Minato was brilliant, no doubt but he lacked the political strength to stand up to the elders. With Danzo, Homura, and Koharu circling, only Tsunade had the sheer weight to hold them back.
But her weakness her trauma was a problem.
Jingyi flipped through medical texts and frowned.
Konoha had advanced physical medicine... but virtually no psychological field.
No wonder people crack so easily in this village.
So the next day
"Tsunade-sensei, I didn't sleep much last night."
"Insomnia? What is it this time?"
"I realized something: medicine alone can't save Konoha."
"...What?"
Tsunade stared at him.
Jingyi didn't let her interrupt.
"Konoha's physical medical system is top-tier. But most of our casualties oong-term ones come from mental trauma. We have no psychological medicine, no system for addressing shinobi PTSD."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed.
At first, she was skeptical.
Then she remembered: Sakumo Hatake. One of the Leaf's strongest. Killed himself because of public shame and emotional distress.
"You think... if we had therapy, someone like Sakumo might've lived?"
"I don't know for sure. But he might've had a chance."
Tsunade went quiet. She thought of Kakashi. Of her own nightmares.
Of blood, and fear.
"This is a new kind of medicine," she said softly. "Mental healing."
"Exactly. You're the only one who can develop it. I just had the idea you're the one with the talent."
"You cheeky brat... You're just passing the work off!"
"Not passing. Delegating. Add my name to the research if it helps."
Tsunade didn't reply.
But in her heart, she knew
He was right.
And something had to change.