Dosuke looked at the ninjutsu scroll on his knees. The name at the top read: Flying Thunder God Jutsu.
He took a deep breath. He had finally obtained it. This technique was nearly unmatched in the world of Naruto.
Dosuke calmed his excitement and memorized the training method in the scroll.
After closing the scroll, he recited it silently several times. He opened it again to check. He had memorized every word.
Dosuke stood up, opened the library door, and walked out.
"Tsunade-sensei, I have memorized the training method," Dosuke said to Tsunade, who sat across from the Third Hokage.
"Lord Hokage, this is the Flying Thunder God scroll. Thank you for giving me this chance." Dosuke placed the scroll on the desk and spoke to the Third Hokage.
"Hey, Dosuke, no need to be so formal. You earned this with your life. You deserve it. And why are you never this polite to me?" Tsunade grabbed Dosuke, pulling his head under her arm.
"Tsunade-sensei, I always respect you. Please let go. I cannot breathe." Dosuke's face turned red.
"The village never holds back for those with potential. Your master is right. You earned this. Tsunade, if you squeeze harder, you will strangle him," the Third Hokage said, removing his Hokage hat.
"Huff. Huff. Huff." Dosuke gasped for air after Tsunade released him.
Tsunade smiled awkwardly, seeing her disciple nearly choked.
"Let us go," Tsunade said. She grabbed Dosuke's arm and ran out the door.
"Hey, you are grown, yet still so reckless," the Third Hokage called after them. He raised his hand to stop her but lowered it, unsure what to say.
* Can he learn it? * the Third Hokage thought. * Only Minato has mastered it in the village. *
* If he cannot learn it, I will let him choose another technique, * he decided, looking at the scroll on the table.
"Teacher, slow down," Dosuke shouted.
Tsunade dragged him out of the Hokage Building.
"You weakling, why is your body so frail? You made me look bad in front of old man Sarutobi today," Tsunade said.
"Do you not train with that green-skinned frog?" Tsunade frowned, wondering if she was unfit to teach.
Dosuke could not learn her Strange Strength technique. Even if he did, he could not use it. Worse, she had not used much force today, yet he looked half-dead.
Dosuke saw Tsunade's frown. * This is bad, * he thought. It was the same look she had when Jiraiya angered her.
"Teacher, do not worry. I heard Cloud Village ninjas use lightning chakra to train and strengthen their bodies," Dosuke said, noticing her expression.
"I created a method using water chakra to nourish the body. I train regularly," he added.
"What does your water chakra training do?" Tsunade asked.
"It strengthens the body's toughness and resistance to stress. Water chakra's softness nourishes the body, heals hidden injuries, whitens skin, removes scars, and improves appearance," Dosuke said.
"Teacher, if you learn it, you will look younger."
"Are you saying I am old?" Tsunade smacked Dosuke's head with her fist.
Dosuke's vision darkened. He collapsed to the ground.
Lying there, he felt his body lift. Tsunade hoisted him onto her back.
Tsunade walked with Dosuke on her back. "Feeling better, kid?"
"Much better. Please put me down, teacher," Dosuke said, shaking his dizzy head.
Tsunade ignored him and kept walking.
Her hands held him steady. His head rested on her shoulder. A breeze blew Tsunade's hair back.
Her hair brushed Dosuke's nose, tickling it. He wanted to sneeze.
A faint fragrance filled his nostrils.
"You know, I used to carry someone home like this," Tsunade said.
"Really? He must have been happy. You are so kind, Sensei," Dosuke said, looking at her.
"Dosuke, do you have a dream?" Tsunade asked suddenly.
"Me? I used to want to be Hokage. Now I just want to be a protector," Dosuke said, unsure why she asked.
"Why did you want to be Hokage before?" Tsunade asked.
"Because with you and Lord Third, the village does not need me. So I want to protect the people and things I care about," Dosuke said.
In truth, before he crossed into this body, its dream was to become Hokage. After crossing, he had no interest in that goal.
"There was a kid I carried like this. He promised he would become Hokage. But he died in battle," Tsunade said.
"Dosuke, your goal seems vague," she added.
"Yes, teacher. That is why I must get stronger. Only then can I protect those I care about," Dosuke said.
"Then work harder, kid," Tsunade said, turning to smile brightly at him.
"Teacher, I will," Dosuke said, seeing her smile. * I will work harder, * he thought.
"I am taking you to meet someone. He is not reliable, but he is good at teaching," Tsunade said, setting Dosuke down.
Tsunade walked ahead. Dosuke followed.
"Teacher, where are we going?" Dosuke asked as they reached the village's edge.
"Just follow me," Tsunade said, ignoring his question.
She walked, stopped, and looked around.
They arrived at an outdoor hot spring bath with a sign reading "Soup." Tsunade grabbed a head-sized stone from the ground and threw it toward a corner of the bath.
Whoosh.
The stone soared through the air.
Boom. It hit the ground.
As it landed, a figure in red clothes with white hair appeared.
"Ah. Ah. Ah."
"There is a pervert!"
"Everyone, hit the pervert!"
Women's voices shouted from the bath, followed by noisy sounds.
A middle-aged man with white hair, wearing two-toothed clogs, stood soaked in front of Tsunade.