At the edge of the forest, Tsunade leaned against a relatively intact tree.
After catching her breath, she started moving again.
"Hiss…" Tsunade let out a low groan, enduring the soreness in her body, her hands glowing with soft green chakra.
Instead of healing herself first, she pressed her hand directly on Ryo's shoulder wound, where half a wooden splinter was still lodged.
"Don't move." Her voice was sharp and commanding.
Ryo's body tensed instinctively, but he didn't resist.
He felt the immense life force in Tsunade's chakra, precisely enveloping the wound, expelling the splinter, and accelerating the regeneration of muscle tissue.
Her technique sped up recovery far beyond his natural healing.
"Freak," Tsunade muttered under her breath while working.
Her medical ninjutsu catalyzed cells, but what truly unsettled her was Ryo's own recovery ability.
The way his flesh twitched and reformed, like countless tiny organisms rushing to repair under her guidance, the bleeding stopped, the wound closed, and new pink flesh grew, all in minutes.
After fixing the worst of Ryo's shoulder injury, Tsunade turned her glowing hands on herself, treating the sword qi cuts across her body with practiced movements.
She clicked her tongue, glancing at the light scratches left on Ryo's arm. "Every time I see that ridiculous recovery of yours, it makes me feel like I'm the ordinary one here." Her tone carried equal parts awe and irritation.
Ryo flexed his shoulder, now fully healed, and stayed silent.
This was just the start, wasn't it?
Compared to prodigies who piloted giant mecha at eight and were toppling gods by twelve, his so-called healing was nothing impressive—just enough to keep him alive a little longer. In other words, a glorified training dummy.
Tsunade misread his silence, assuming he was worn out from the battle. She finished treating herself, stretched, and rolled her shoulders, almost fully recovered.
Her gaze lingered on Ryo's youthful face. Then, forming a simple summoning seal, she slapped her palm down.
"Bang!" White smoke puffed out.
Not a slug this time, but a slender, ancient katana appeared in her hands. The scabbard was jet black, the tsuba intricately carved, and the air around it radiated sharpness.
Tsunade looked at the sword like it was a hot coal in her hands.
"Here." She tossed it to Ryo with a tone that was half annoyed, half helpless. "You little brat got lucky."
Ryo's reflexes caught it cleanly.
The weight was solid, the craftsmanship flawless. Drawing it halfway, the blade gleamed like autumn water, cold and lethal. A damn fine sword.
"I was planning to give it to you when you graduated," Tsunade said, pouting slightly. "But since you won't make it to graduation, take it now."
"I burned a massive favor with that stinky snake for this." Her voice dripped venom at the words. "It's forged from the same material as the legendary Kusanagi Sword. Sharp, durable—should suit your… unique brand of swordsmanship." She almost said "butchery" but stopped herself.
Kusanagi Sword?! Orochimaru's?! Sasuke's?!
Ryo's grip tightened. That name carried too much weight.
Why would Orochimaru hand something like this over? How big of a debt did Tsunade owe? Or was this just one of his schemes?
"Appreciate it, Sensei." Ryo gave a short reply. A weapon like this wasn't something you turned down.
Years of cooking for her finally paid off. This was better than a lifetime of "thanks."
Tsunade, however, froze like she'd been jabbed. She waved her hands quickly. "No! Don't call me sensei! I haven't taught you a damn thing. That title's just for show."
Her lip curled. "And don't forget—you're still on probation. Officially, you failed my test."
Ryo just looked at her. No words, just a stare that screamed: This woman's crazy.
One moment she handed him a blade worth nations, the next she was cutting ties.
"It just sounds wrong, okay? I prefer when you call me by name. It's easier on the ears." Tsunade said, still looking unsettled.
"And with how fast you're progressing…" Her eyes narrowed at him warily. "What happens if, in a couple of years, I can't even beat you? What kind of sensei loses to her student? Where's the dignity in that?" She poked her own cheek with a scowl. "So no. Publicly, we're teacher and student. Privately, we're… friends. Got it?"
"Sure." Ryo's tone was flat. Whatever she wanted to call it.
The sword was real, and that's what mattered.
Tsunade visibly relaxed when he didn't argue further, but her expression soon darkened again.
The looming war in Ame pressed down like a stone on her chest. Nawaki's face flashed in her memory, youthful and passionate.
"By the way, Ryo." Her tone hardened, probing. "The war's begun. Do you want to go to the front? With your strength, you're already at elite jōnin level. What you lack is the fire of the battlefield. Blood and fire are the fastest shortcuts to growth."
"No." Ryo cut her off without hesitation. "I'm not graduating early."
"Just that?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Reluctant to leave the academy? Want to spend more time with Kushina?"
A trace of nostalgia and envy flashed in her eyes. "Tsk. You two… I'm jealous."
(To be continued.)