"Sister Tsunade, I want to learn Medical Ninjutsu from you!"
Sister?
Hearing this slightly immature voice, Tsunade's eyebrows arched slightly.
She looked down at the thin Kakashi, and without putting down her wine cup, she let out a chuckle.
"Where did this brat come from? Did some adult fail to watch their kid? Is an izakaya a place children can enter?"
"Hahaha, little kid, Medical Ninjutsu isn't something you can learn at your age. Hurry back home to your parents; don't run around at night."
Jiraiya also laughed boisterously.
On the other side, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes at Kakashi's silver hair and licked his lips with interest.
"Don't underestimate him. This is Senior White Fang's son, Kakashi Hatake. It's said he had the strength of a Genin at age five."
"Senior White Fang's son?"
Tsunade fell somewhat silent.
The White Fang of Konoha, whom even the Sannin once admired, a hero respected by everyone in the Village.
Yet in a top-secret mission, he aborted the mission to save his comrades' lives, causing the Land of Fire to suffer massive losses.
Afterward, he was loathed by the villagers, and even the comrades he saved kicked him while he was down!
Ultimately, public opinion in the Village spiraled out of control, and White Fang committed suicide because of it!
"Kakashi, is it? Tell me, why do you want to learn Medical Ninjutsu?"
"Because I want to live."
"To live?"
Tsunade frowned upon hearing this.
"Yes, to live."
"With my strength, I can graduate at any time, so I might soon have to fight enemies or even step onto the battlefield."
"Then learning Medical Ninjutsu gives me one more chance of survival."
Kakashi looked directly into Tsunade's eyes.
"In other words, for self-preservation?"
Tsunade couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.
"This thought is only human nature, but when you truly step onto the battlefield, a squad will naturally be equipped with a professional Medical Ninja, so there's no need to worry."
"Most importantly, the reason I insisted on medical reform back then was so that Ninjas on the battlefield could receive timely treatment while on missions."
"That is to say, the fundamental mission of a Medical Ninja is to protect their comrades, not self-preservation!"
"So, there's no need for you to learn Medical Ninjutsu from me. If you really want to increase your survival rate, you'd be better off strengthening yourself. As long as you're stronger than the enemy, you'll naturally survive."
After saying this, Tsunade waved her hand at Kakashi, her refusal self-evident.
Kakashi lowered his head, pondering Tsunade's words.
To protect comrades? Actually...
Forget it, since that's what I think, why not just admit it?
Kakashi suddenly looked up, staring at Tsunade with even more determined eyes.
"Sister Tsunade, I understand what you mean."
"Then what if the Medical Ninja in the squad is unfortunately severely injured?"
"Who then can treat the Medical Ninja?"
"Accidents are inevitable on the battlefield, and I also wish to protect my comrades!"
"So, please teach me Medical Ninjutsu! I beg of you!"
After Kakashi finished, he bowed deeply and didn't straighten up for a long time.
Tsunade frowned at the bowing Kakashi, sighing and rubbing her brow.
Even after experiencing such a blow, he's still willing to protect his comrades?
Tsunade seemed to see Senior White Fang's silhouette.
"Why don't you just agree? A child prodigy should be easy to train. Since you're training Shizune anyway, adding one more person is just a matter of convenience."
Seeing Kakashi's serious attitude, the warm-hearted Jiraiya couldn't help but persuade from the side.
Bang!
Tsunade punched Jiraiya on the head and glared at him irritably.
"Shut up! Easy for you to say, you're not the one teaching!"
"Tsunade, this child's talent is indeed good. If you won't take him, why not let him follow me? I happen to need a sharp-minded assistant for my lab."
A raspy voice sounded from the side; Orochimaru licked his lips with a smile.
Tsunade fell into thought for a moment.
Whether it was Kakashi's sincerity that gained her approval;
Or that as a member of Konoha Village, she felt a sense of debt regarding Senior White Fang's matter;
Or perhaps that'Sister' touched a past deep in her heart she didn't want to mention.
Of course, she would never admit to that last one!
After thinking for a while, Tsunade finally made a decision.
"I can give you a chance. Tomorrow at 2 PM, meet at the Konoha Forest at the Village entrance."
"I'll arrange a test. If you pass, I'll teach you."
"If you fail, that's the end of it. I don't have that much time to play boring Ninja games with kids."
After saying this, Tsunade waved her hand, signaling he could leave for now.
"Understood, thank you, Sister Tsunade!"
"I'll head back now. Goodbye, Sister Tsunade. Goodbye, Uncle Jiraiya and Lord Orochimaru!"
"Hey, hey! Why is Tsunade'Sister' while I'm 'Uncle'? We're obviously the same age!"
Bang!
A second time.
Tsunade glared at the grimacing Jiraiya and said crossly, "Don't mention age in front of a beautiful girl, you idiot! Obviously, it's because I look young. Are you a moron?"
Orochimaru watched from the side with a smile, licking his lips from time to time, perfectly content in his role as an onlooker.
Of course, Kakashi, who had already left, didn't see the ensuing farce.
On the brightly lit street.
Couples holding their children, girls arm-in-arm with their best friends, men embracing their lovers, and laughing, running children all added vitality and popularity to this Commercial Street.
That's right, today was the Entrance Ceremony, a day worth celebrating, no wonder it was livelier than usual.
Kakashi walked through the chatting crowd with his hands in his pockets.
It was as if all these people and all the noise had nothing to do with him.
If one had to describe it, it was like being in an empty cinema, watching a happy New Year's movie all by oneself.
Occasionally, someone would notice his striking silver hair and then turn to whisper to their companion.
"It's him..."
"Who?"
"Let me tell you... you know White Fang, right? Yes, yes, it's him..."
Kakashi turned a deaf ear; the death of that cheap old man actually didn't have much to do with him.
When he transmigrated, White Fang was already dead.
He had only personally attended that unfamiliar funeral.
Speaking of which, the sky was clear on the day of the funeral, yet very few people came.
Obito, Rin, Guy, Might Duy, Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki.
And some villagers he didn't know.
Oh right, and the Third Hokage.
Protect comrades?
The figures of Obito and Rin couldn't help but float into Kakashi's mind.
It was they who had extended sincere friendship when he was at his most lonely and helpless.
Though a bit childish, it still deeply touched his heart.
But how could fate be so easily changed!
Ordinary people aside, behind the tragedies of Obito and Rin were the hidden hands of Ōtsutsuki Chenxiang and Uchiha Madara!
He wasn't the Child of Destiny, he didn't carry the luck of the entire world, nor did he have the hidden cheat of the Sage of Six Paths.
Oh right, speaking of cheats, there was a system he had almost forgotten...
As for the name of a genius?
The Ninja World is never short of geniuses!
Shisui, Itachi, Minato, Kimimaro, Deidara—which of them wasn't exceptionally gifted? Yet they all fucking died young!
So, since coming to this world, he had been training non-stop, fearing that he might kick the bucket one day if he wasn't careful.
But he couldn't just let nature take its course.
For no other reason than, although this world is large, there are very few people he cares about.
That little girl who always brought him sunshine happened to be the most important one.