"You want to learn medical ninjutsu?" Naruto looked at Lily with a curious expression. "Why so suddenly?"
Lily shifted uncomfortably, avoiding his gaze. "I just… feel like I'm more suited for medical techniques. My constitution can help others heal faster, after all."
Of course, she would never admit the real reason that Naruto's training was too grueling, and she wanted to find something easier. Compared to his hellish regimen, medical ninjutsu sounded like a sweet escape. To say it out loud, though, would be embarrassing.
Naruto smiled warmly. "No problem. You can tag along with me and Hinata's shadow clones to Konoha Hospital. Learn with us there."
He wasn't the type to force Lily into anything. As long as she could support herself and live with dignity, that was enough. The idea of turning her into a top-tier warrior? He chuckled inwardly. With him and Sasuke standing guard, Konoha wasn't lacking in powerful shinobi.
More importantly, Naruto shared the vision of their predecessors: a village where the younger generation didn't all have to take up arms. In a strong Konoha, shielded from constant wars, children should have the freedom to choose their own paths to live, to smile, to grow.
They shouldn't be forced into battlefields at twelve years old, only to die before they ever truly lived. That was exactly why Naruto longed for unity. A unified world could mean a longer peace at least for as long as he drew breath, he swore to protect it.
Lily's eyes lit up. Finally, a reprieve from Naruto's endless training drills.
But just as she was celebrating inwardly, Naruto added, "Still, even if you want to be a medical-nin, you can't neglect physical training. I'll teach you the Shadow Clone Jutsu. You'll use clones for your medical studies while your real body continues physical conditioning."
Lily's face froze. Her little victory crumbled instantly.
Hinata covered her mouth, giggling softly at her friend's despair.
"At the very least," Naruto continued with a grin, "if you keep up your physical strength, you'll run faster when you need to escape."
"R-right…" Lily managed to nod stiffly.
"And if I'm not around, Sasuke will supervise your training."
This time, Lily nodded with surprising enthusiasm. Being under Sasuke's eye was far less terrifying than Naruto's brutal standards.
With that settled, Naruto turned back to his own regimen alongside Sasuke. Sasuke tapped into his left Mangekyo eye, the ability Heart's Resonance, which allowed him to share Naruto's memories of training directly.
Memories engraved in the mind hit differently than mere explanations, and Sasuke could feel the years of grueling effort carved into Naruto's spirit.
Naruto had already mastered all five elemental affinities. With Sasuke sharing those memories, he quickly polished his final affinity wind to perfection. Once it reached its peak, his next step would be Mount Myoboku, to train in Sage Mode.
At the same time, Naruto began to experiment with yin release, drawing on the Mangekyo he shared with Sasuke. He even suspected that the Mangekyo Sharingan itself might be a manifestation of yin release.
His progress with yin release was no slower than with yang release after Sage Mode. The chakra of the Mangekyo was vast and heavy with that very essence, fueling his growth.
Meanwhile, Hinata had already departed for Mount Myoboku. Unlike Naruto and Sasuke, she didn't need to refine countless jutsu. Sage chakra would strengthen her body beyond limits, suiting her perfectly. With her immense reserves, she had no trouble handling the strain.
Sasuke, too, was evolving rapidly. His Mangekyo had heightened his spiritual power, causing his chakra to swell at an abnormal rate. His taijutsu training meant every increment in physical ability only multiplied that growth.
By now, Sasuke had firmly stepped into Kage-level territory, without a single glaring weakness. With him by Naruto's side, even Naruto's one blind spot genjutsu was covered.
In short, their team was reaching heights beyond imagination.
It was in this atmosphere of rapid progress that Jiraiya came knocking.
"You want to go look for Tsunade?" Naruto asked, munching on a popsicle.
"Yeah," Jiraiya replied, holding his own. "You've seen it too. The Third's getting old. He doesn't have the energy to handle all of Konoha's affairs anymore. Tsunade's the best candidate for the next Hokage."
Naruto shrugged. "Makes sense. So why drag me along? Can't you just find her yourself?"
He was itching to push further into Sage training, not trot off on side quests.
Jiraiya scratched his head, feigning nonchalance. "Think of it as a little road trip with your favorite mentor."
Naruto gave him a flat stare.
Finally, Jiraiya sighed, raising his hands in surrender. "Fine, the truth is, I'm not confident I can convince her. I'll need your help."
"Isn't she one of the Legendary Sannin? Why wouldn't she return?" Naruto asked, genuinely curious.
According to Jiraiya, he had wandered to gather research for his "great work." But what about Tsunade? Why had she left Konoha?
"She's… a tragic one," Jiraiya said heavily. "Back in the Second Great Ninja War, her younger brother died on the battlefield. She hadn't even recovered from that when her lover died in her arms, also because of the war."
Naruto's brow furrowed. "Post-war syndrome?"
He recognized the condition. Konoha's medical system, founded under Tsunade's leadership, had classified it. Many shinobi scarred by war carried the same burden. No amount of healing jutsu could mend such wounds. Only time, medicine, and the strength of the heart could.
"Exactly," Jiraiya nodded. "Staying in Konoha only deepened her trauma, so the Third let her wander to ease her pain. But none of us expected her to stay away this long."
Fortunately, Konoha's intelligence network kept tabs on her, ensuring her safety. Otherwise, even the Third would not have allowed her absence.
Naruto tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I see. Still, what do you need me for?"
Jiraiya smiled knowingly. "Because you remind her of her little brother. If anyone can reach her heart, it's you."
"Me? Like her brother?" Naruto blinked. "Do I really look that much like him?"
"Not just the face," Jiraiya said, grinning. "It's your spirit. Rope Tree always dreamed of becoming Hokage too. Just like you."
A slow smile spread across Naruto's lips. To think someone once walked the same path before him it was like finding kinship across time.
"All right then," he said at last. "I'll go."
The next morning, after packing his gear and registering at the gates, Naruto set off with Jiraiya on their journey.
Konoha, though recently attacked by Sand and Sound, had suffered only minimal damage. Thanks to Shukaku being contained before he could wreak havoc, the village had recovered swiftly. Backed by the Fire Country's wealth, Konoha stood resilient once more.
Naruto wasn't worried. With Sasuke still in the village now firmly Kage-level and Hinata training at Mount Myoboku, Konoha had more than enough protection. On top of that, Naruto left Sasuke a marked kunai for the Flying Thunder God. Should danger ever arise, he could return instantly.
Konoha was safe. Now, his task was clear: find Tsunade.
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