One week later...
Shizune finished her report for the day, and Enma and Mito obediently stood behind her, having assisted her in her classes as Tsunade had instructed.
There was silence in the room as the Hokage went through the files of the students that Shizune was personally teaching.
"Enma."
"Yes, Hokage-sama?"
"What's your evaluation of the students?"
"In regards to what?" He curiously asked.
"My potential apprentices." She said.
The Uzumaki furrowed his brows and shook his head.
"None of them."
"Not even Sakura?" She meaningfully smiled.
"No."
"Why?"
He sighed at her question and glanced at Shizune.
"The reason why Shizune-nee has never been able to truly master your Chakra Enhanced Strength is because of two reasons. First, she lacks the Extreme Chakra Control required for the technique by a slight margin, which she has not been able to overcome despite all the Chakra Training you made her go through. However, that's not the main reason. The main reason is that she does not have massive Chakra Reserves and the Potent Chakra needed for this technique. Your heritage grants you that. Mito's heritage grants her that and that is why she has already mastered it despite being less than fifteen years old." He lightly said, and the raven-haired lady frowned at his words.
"Continue."
"Sakura has a rare talent for Chakra Control. She's up to the mark, but neither does she have the Chakra Reserves nor potent enough chakra to master it like Mito." He lightly said. "Tajima has a very potent chakra. He is an Uchiha. But he does not have that talent for extreme Chakra Control. He will make a great Medical Nin, but not your apprentice."
Tsunade nodded her head to his words.
"Neji? Hinata?"
"Hinata also lacks that extreme Chakra Control and the high Chakra Reserves. As for Neji, he has the potential of becoming your apprentice despite his lack of Chakra Reserves, which are both high compared to other Shinobi, but not enough to make him a perfect Apprentice yet. However, the real issue is that your Chakra Enhanced Strength is the opposite of Gentle Fist Art of the Hyuga. He does not need your Chakra Enhanced Strength. It is the same for Tokuma. It will ruin them."
She again nodded her head and leaned back in her seat.
"Ino?"
"Again, lack of Chakra Reserves and Potent Chakra. She will also make a great Medical-Nin, but not a good apprentice for you. Also, her talent in extreme Chakra Control falls slightly short of Sakura and Shizune-nee. Besides, I have other plans for her."
"Oh?" They all interestedly looked at him.
"I am going to help her develop an even better Chakra Control, fix her lack of Chakra Reserves, and then help her create a better Spirit Transformation Technique. The one that Yamanaka use is flawed and dangerous for the user, and she is way more talented than any other Yamanaka. It would be a shame if she fails to live up to her potential." He smiled.
"How are you going to help her develop an even better Chakra Control?" She curiously asked.
"I have my ways."
"Oh?"
"In fact, I am sure Shizune-nee can achieve Extreme Chakra Control and make that last step by training under me for two months, at most, if she is truly serious about improving herself."
"And the lack of Chakra Reserves?" She asked, frowning, and he smiled.
"Cursed Seals."
Her eyes widened at his words.
"The same as the one Sasuke and Anko have?"
"No, not the same. Those are special as they have the enzymes of the Demonic Clan in them. I am not sure where your old friend got it from, but even without them, the Cursed Seals are very special. After all, they were created to help the user master Senjutsu. And Senjutsu also makes your Chakra more potent."
"I am sure those Cursed Seals are Cursed Seals for a reason." She narrowed her eyes.
"Yes. If it doesn't work out, the person they are planted on dies. If they overuse them, they turn to stone and die. They can also become addicted and lose their minds to the sensations that the natural energy gives, and that again leads to death or insanity. And then there is the pain. Not everyone is mentally strong enough to handle such pain." He solemnly said. "Sasuke and Anko-sensei have a really strong will to live and not give up, which is why they survived that Cursed Seal of Heaven."
"And Ino can handle it?" Tsunade raised her brow.
"Yes. She has that mental fortitude, and she is smart enough to not overuse the Cursed Seals. Also, it will work out for her."
"How?"
"I would rather not answer it, Hokage-sama." He lightly said, and she instantly understood that it was related to his Dojutsu.
"You are not going to help Sakura?" She asked, smiling a little.
"I am." He smiled. "I can make her a worthy Apprentice for you if that is what you desire, Hokage-sama."
"The three other girls?"
"They will make great Medical-Nin, but none of them have that extreme talent for the Chakra Control and their lack of Chakra Reserves and the Potent Chakra are apparent."
"I see. Hana?"
"I have different plans for her as well. And she lacks that extreme Chakra Control, so, she will not be able to master your Chakra Enhanced Strength. There's also a lack of talent in her case compared to Sakura, Shizune-nee, and Ino. She will make a great Medical-Nin, but her fighting talents lie elsewhere."
Tsunade kept looking at him and then smiled.
"You are not going to help Shizune?"
He remained silent for a few seconds and then nodded his head.
"If that is what she desires, I will help her, but she needs to ask herself first if she is willing to put her life on the line to take that last step or not." He smiled.
"You will help her." The Senju lightly said, not caring what her Apprentice thought of it, and then took out a storage scroll, which contained several different scrolls.
She picked the blue one, furrowed her brows, and then threw it at him, which he caught.
"The Scroll contains a very special Jutsu, which will be helpful to Ino if she can master it. That's your reward for helping my Apprentice and preparing Sakura to become my apprentice." She said and he nodded to her before he stored the scroll inside his jacket. "You will be returning to my side from tomorrow to perform your duties as my Head of Security, and you are going to help Shizune first, starting from now."
"Mama..."
"I will personally oversee your training." She gently said to her daughter, who pouted but nodded her head obediently.
The raven-haired girl looked very nervous as she was lost in some thoughts. Her Master glanced her way and then stared at her for several seconds.
"Shizune."
"Yes!" She nearly jumped in a scare at the call and then felt a little embarrassed.
"You will be Enma's Apprentice for the next two months. I am giving you a leave from the duties of my Assistant. Yugao will be taking over from tomorrow. You will still take the classes of your students at the Konoha Hospital, but you will be spending the rest of the time with him. Understood?"
"Yes!"
"Shizune."
"Yes?" She nervously looked at her Master, and then lowered her head when she saw the gentleness in those eyes.
"Work hard and come back to my side stronger."
The care in her voice made her eyes moist, and she deeply bowed to him.
"I promise I will give it my all."
"That's all that matters." Tsunade smiled and waved her hand. "Go."
Enma bowed to her and left the office with Shizune, who was silently following him.
"It will be painful, very painful." He warned her when they came out of the Tower, and she clenched her fists.
"I will do it. No matter what."
"Good." He appreciatively said and then Flickered away, and she quickly chased after him towards the Forest of Death.
Half an hour later, they reached the Central Tower, and Enma dismissed the two Chunins who were stationed on duty there.
With them all alone, and no one to distrub them, the Uzumaki took off his blindfold and opened his eyes, and the raven-haired lady curiously looked into them.
She smiled when she saw their beautiful violet colour that was the same as his aunt's and a sign of his Pureblood Uzumaki Heritage.
"So, they really are fine."
"Of course." He chuckled and then checked the suites before deciding on one.
He led her inside and closed the door, and after taking off his jacket, he cleared the stone table that was in the centre of the lounge.
"Take off yours clothes, Shizune-nee. All of them."
His words stunned her, and she stayed still in her place for a good minute.
However, when she saw him weaving Hand Seals and then create a large seal on the table, she nervously took off her clothes.
Enma turned around and smiled at her as his eyes roamed all over her skin, and he even circled her as he closely inspected her body.
"Lie down on the table."
She did as asked and blushed hard when he grabbed her feet and spread her legs a little.
"I will need to cuff your ankles and wrists to make sure you don't move too much when the pain will hit you." He gently said, and she bravely nodded her head.
Enma then weaved a quick hand seal, and used his wood style to create strong but soft cuffs for her ankles and wrists, which she did not find uncomfortable at all.
"Where do you want the Senjutsu Seal?" He asked.
"Where do you think it will be the best?" She asked.
"Where people can not see it." He smiled, and she burned in a furious blush.
"On my chest then."
"Perfect." He nodded his head and then his two white Chakra Chains mysteriously entered the two sides of her chest.
She was quite surprised at the comfortingly cool sensation, and as he waved his hands, Seals started emerging all over her body until she was entirely covered in them.
"Last chance to back out." He warned, but she determined shook her head. "I see."
Enma created a soft block of wood and put it between her teeth, and then gently caressed her head as he stared into her eyes.
"You will be fine as long as you don't give up and lose your consciousness. Ready?"
She nodded her head and bit into the wood, and she was glad he gave it to her because when the excruciating pain hit her, her jaw clamped hard.
Her body constantly struggled to free itself from the cuffs, and her muffled screams echoed in for room as tears streamed out of her eyes.
Shizune felt like millions of needles were piercing her flesh, and at the same time, she felt like every bone in her body was breaking.
She had never gone through such pain in her life, and after a while, when she accepted the fact that there was no escape, she focused her mind on her survival and the promise she had made to her Master.
From the table and all over her body, Seals started moving over her skin before they met at the centre of her chest, right between her boobs, and started entering her body from there.
It almost felt like an eternity for her, but somehow, she managed to not lose her consciousness. When the pain finally subsided, she had no strength left, but she felt a soothing sensation from her chest.
She blushed hard when she felt Enma helping her clean her body between her legs, and never in her life had she been so embarrassed before.
But he did not say a word about it, which she would forever remain grateful to him for.
Afterwards, he carried her into one of the bedrooms, and then helped her lie into the soft bed and covered her with a soft comforter.
"You are brave." He gently said to her as he stroked her head. "Sleep now."
She nodded her head like a kid as she closed her eyes, and within seconds, she had fallen fast asleep.