Back in her office, Tsunade casually picked up the files left by the previous teacher of the First Experimental Class.
They contained detailed information about the thirty-plus students in the experimental class, including Shiraishi.
— Chiba Shiraishi, excellent in theoretical knowledge, average in ninjutsu and shuriken skills.
Even after joining the First Medical Ninja Experimental Class, only his theoretical knowledge was noteworthy. As for his practical skills, they were unremarkable—neither bad nor good.
How to describe it?
Solid.
Yes, solid.
His foundations were very firm, but limited by his talent, he was too conventional.
Due to his diligent nature and limited talent, his ultimate achievement would only be that of a chunin skilled in medical ninjutsu.
There was no need to pay too much attention to him, as he would study independently and was the most diligent and hardworking student in the class.
However, even if all efforts were focused on him, his unexceptional talent meant he wouldn't become outstanding through elite education.
Therefore, one couldn't expect too much from him, but he also wouldn't disappoint.
This was the incisive evaluation of Shiraishi in the files given to Tsunade by the departing Anbu medical jounin teacher.
Tsunade had initially thought Shiraishi might be unusual, given his association with Uchiha clan members, but now it seemed there was nothing particularly remarkable about him.
It seemed she had been overthinking things.
How capable could a child be?
Children's friendships are truly pure.
◎
Tsunade's entry into the Ninja Academy to teach medical ninjutsu did not cause any major stir.
After all, she was only responsible for the First Medical Ninja Experimental Class, the sole class dedicated to training medical ninjas, and her teaching time was only two hours after school each day.
Tsunade's teaching was far superior to that of the departing Anbu jounin, and even Shiraishi gained much inspiration from it.
Perhaps in terms of overall medical skill, setting aside the chakra component, Shiraishi didn't believe he was much weaker than Tsunade. However, the profession of a medical ninja inherently involved dealing with chakra, and this was why Shiraishi believed there was such a significant gap between him and Tsunade.
Ninjas are ninjas, and medical ninjas are also ninjas.
What he needed to learn wasn't basic knowledge, but rather further expansion and extension in the fields of chakra and medical ninjutsu.
This was precisely what he couldn't achieve through self-study. He could learn medical ninjutsu on his own and use it competently, but what to do next, how to further improve medical ninjutsu—this required his own thought and exploration.
Tsunade's arrival undoubtedly resolved the doubts that had accumulated in Shiraishi's mind for many years.
Therefore, Shiraishi held Tsunade in great respect.
She was a medical ninja who was an expert in the medical field.
Calling her the strongest medical ninja in Konoha was not an exaggeration.
Thus, Shiraishi was never late or left early for any of Tsunade's classes, listening very attentively.
Occasionally, after class, he would go to the office to ask Tsunade about difficult problems.
Tsunade, of course, was happy to teach. Such a studious student was rare in the academy.
After class, the other students in the experimental class's first thought was to play or go home, not to ask questions.
If not for Shiraishi's overly conventional talent, Tsunade would have considered taking him as a disciple.
Hardworking, diligent, eager to learn and ask questions—he was practically the template of a perfect student.
Unfortunately, taking on a disciple wasn't such a casual matter.
Shiraishi called her 'teacher,' but it wasn't the kind of teacher-disciple relationship passed down through a lineage; it was merely reverence for a pioneer.
Tsunade could distinguish this.
It was just a shame for such a diligent and studious student.
One couldn't expect too much from him, but he also wouldn't disappoint... Tsunade felt this evaluation perfectly suited Shiraishi.
One day, after school, Shiraishi was the first to arrive in the experimental classroom, waiting for Tsunade to come teach.
"Classmate, you are…"
When Shiraishi entered the classroom, he saw someone had already beaten him to it, sitting in Tsunade's chair at the front of the podium.
Shiraishi clearly remembered the faces and names of all his classmates in the experimental class, but this person was definitely not one of them.
He wasn't very old, slightly older than Shiraishi, but he was already wearing a Konoha ninja headband on his forehead, indicating he was a formally registered ninja.
"My name is Senju Nawaki. Please to meet you."
The person greeted him with a bright smile, introducing himself proactively.
Senju? Shiraishi's heart stirred.
That was the First Hokage's surname.
A member of the Senju clan, was he here to see Teacher Tsunade?
While Shiraishi speculated, he also smiled at Nawaki and said, "Chiba Shiraishi. Please to meet you, Nawaki-senpai."
"I've been keeping an eye on you, you know."
Nawaki suddenly blurted out.
"Huh?"
"You have a good relationship with Uchiha Ruri, don't you? She's the most outstanding genius of this generation in the Uchiha clan, and also the opponent I most want to defeat."
Although he said this, there was no arrogance on Nawaki's face; his smile remained bright and confident, as if he was certain of victory.
"Ah, really?"
Shiraishi was a bit confused.
"Don't worry, it's just a friendly spar. But I'll wait until she graduates and becomes a genin to complete this match. Please tell her for me."
"Oh, okay."
As expected, the other person wasn't paying attention to him at all.
As a genius, Ruri was indeed a bit too eye-catching.
He was, after all, so ordinary; his strength was probably just a tiny bit stronger than this Nawaki-senpai.
Just as Nawaki was about to say something else, the classroom door opened again.
The person who entered was Tsunade.
"Big Sister!"
Upon seeing Tsunade, Nawaki immediately rushed into her arms, like an overgrown child.
Shiraishi witnessed Nawaki's brazen act firsthand.
How he envied Nawaki-senpai.
And even more, he envied Nawaki-senpai for having such a kind-hearted older sister.
However, Shiraishi hadn't expected Nawaki to be Tsunade's younger brother.
"Good afternoon, Teacher Tsunade."
Shiraishi walked over, smiled, bowed, and greeted her.
"Oh, it's you, Shiraishi. You always come so early."
Tsunade responded to Shiraishi, then reluctantly pushed Nawaki out of her embrace and began to scold him, "Honestly, Nawaki, you're already a genin. Don't always cling to your big sister."
"What does it matter? It's been three years since I last saw you, Big Sister, after you went to the front lines."
Nawaki started clinging again.
"Alright, alright, I get it. Kids these days are such a bother. Hurry up and leave, your big sister is about to teach here. Where's Orochimaru? How is he managing you as his student?"
Tsunade's face turned annoyed, and her knuckles cracked.
"This has nothing to do with Teacher Orochimaru. Well then, Big Sister, I'll be going. Oh, and remember not to secretly drink and get drunk during class, and no gambling with students."
"Nawaki, you brat! I'm a jounin of the village, at least! How could I do such things?!"
Tsunade immediately flushed crimson with anger, almost stomping her foot, especially in front of her student.
Nawaki was getting more and more disrespectful.
After Nawaki left, Shiraishi stood awkwardly in place.
"Um… I think I heard something rather scandalous from Nawaki-senpai. Teacher Tsunade wouldn't actually… harm a flower, would she?"
"What flower? Don't flatter yourself, you're clearly a weed."
"That's so mean."
"Listen up, if you dare to spread rumors, my fist will pay a gentle visit to your house. Got it?"
Tsunade glared at him threateningly.
"I understand, Teacher Tsunade. Your character is excellent, you are gentle and kind, you would never drink and act drunk, never gamble, and certainly never use violence on students without reason. Without a doubt, Teacher Tsunade is the most outstanding jounin in the village, bar none."
Shiraishi saw Tsunade's 'kind' expression and nodded understandingly.
Tsunade was satisfied with Shiraishi's sensible attitude and withdrew her fist.
Shiraishi sighed. Women, they were truly terrifying creatures.
If he had dared to say 'no' just now, his house would surely have been demolished by Tsunade.
After all, the terrifying legends about Tsunade at the Konoha bathhouse still persisted to this day.
The last person to suffer her wrath seemed to be Jiraiya-jounin, also one of the Sannin.
However, his house wasn't demolished by Tsunade; rather, he himself was torn apart and barely saved his life after being rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.
A monstrously strong woman.
"Teacher Tsunade is so terrifying, she must not have a boyfriend, right?"
"What did you say?"
Tsunade's eyes suddenly became terrifying.
"No, I mean, Teacher Tsunade is so exceptional, there's surely not a single man in the village worthy of you."
Shiraishi immediately changed his tune.
"I'm sorry, but your teacher does have a boyfriend, and he's very outstanding. He's also a man who will become Hokage sooner or later."
As she said this, Tsunade's eyes were filled with tenderness and affection.
Shiraishi felt a little sickened.