He couldn't fathom why Orochimaru would involve himself in this matter.
In the original timeline, he clearly remembered that no one besides Kato Dan had supported Tsunade during the Jonin assembly.
Why had Orochimaru changed his mind now?
It was likely that his own arrival had sparked these changes, but what exactly had piqued the Sannin's interest?
"What I want to do doesn't just affect the village; the emergence of Medical Ninja will fundamentally change how wars are fought in the Ninja World from now on."
"However, for a new ninja profession to truly fulfill its role, it requires a massive investment of manpower and financial resources, which is no small feat."
"Given my understanding of the village, there will definitely be great resistance right now."
"With Lord Orochimaru's help, this matter will receive more attention and proceed much more smoothly," Tsunade answered softly.
After she had finished teaching Uchiha Gen the Mystical Palm Technique last time, she had gone to consult with Orochimaru for a while.
Even if he wasn't her own disciple, Tsunade was unwilling to let such an outstanding talent for Medical Ninjutsu go to waste.
As Orochimaru was Gen's teacher, she naturally had to discuss it with him to ensure it wouldn't interfere with the boy's combat growth.
As it turned out, this discussion became the catalyst for cooperation between the two.
To be honest, this had also exceeded Tsunade's expectations.
Unless it was a technique Orochimaru was truly interested in, he would typically only study a skill until he reached a sufficient level of proficiency.
Now, Orochimaru must have encountered a problem that required more advanced and powerful Medical Ninjutsu—perhaps even issues that current medical knowledge couldn't solve.
That was why he was getting so deeply involved.
Although Tsunade was curious about the difficulties Orochimaru was facing, she wouldn't pry if he didn't volunteer the information.
In any case, with Orochimaru's help and his amazing talent, he could provide her with immense assistance.
"In that case, Lady Tsunade, I'll have to trouble you for more guidance in the future," Uchiha Gen spoke politely.
While he could directly learn the Cherry Blossom Impact and the Chakra Scalpel using the Young Tsunade character card, he would still need her to teach him other techniques like Yin Healing Wound Destruction.
"You're being polite with me now? Come over here."
"The camp has new casualties every day, so you won't lack opportunities for practical application."
Tsunade pointed to an injured ninja being carried in from outside.
"I'll leave him to you. Nonou, go and assist Gen."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade! Senior Gen, and you two, please follow me; there are vacant beds here."
A blonde girl wearing black-rimmed round glasses jogged over and greeted them.
After establishing the temporary battlefield medical area, Tsunade had recruited over a dozen Genin with an aptitude for Medical Ninjutsu to be trained as the first batch of seeds.
Currently, they served as assistants handling simple injuries, but in the future, they would serve as the backbone of the Medical Ninja system.
Yakushi Nonou, who was a year younger than Uchiha Gen and in the same class as Minato Namikaze, was one of them.
She was also one of the most outstanding among the dozen recruits.
Uchiha Gen had shared several conversations with the girl over the past month.
In the original timeline, this girl would join Danzo's Root within a few years and transform into the "Walking Miko," becoming a top-tier intelligence operative.
She would go undercover many times to transmit key intelligence and perform great feats during the Third Ninja World War.
Soon, the injured Konoha ninja was laid onto a bed.
"Uchiha Gen? Lord Orochimaru's disciple? He knows Medical Ninjutsu too?"
Another Chunin who had escorted his companion sized Gen up with suspicion, grumbling internally, but he ultimately remained silent and chose to trust.
He didn't trust Uchiha Gen; he trusted Tsunade.
If Tsunade believed Gen could treat him, then he definitely could.
Yakushi Nonou busied herself assisting Gen.
First, the body was stabilized, then foreign objects in the wound were removed and cleaned.
When a faint green light lit up in Gen's hands and stabilized the injured ninja's wounds in just a few minutes, the escorting Chunin finally felt the worry leave his heart.
He knew enough to see that Gen's Medical Ninjutsu level was high, appearing nearly as proficient as Sarutobi Biwako on the other side of the room.
Ten minutes later, the green light dimmed.
The injured ninja's condition was visibly improved.
Flesh had regrown in some of the more serious wounds; although he wasn't fully recovered, he was no longer in critical condition.
As for further treatment, that was beyond the scope of the Mystical Palm Technique.
The core principle of the technique involved using Chakra with Yang Release properties to stimulate cells for rapid regeneration.
This process consumed a portion of the patient's own vitality, and while the healing effect was strong, it had a biological upper limit.
"Gen-kun, thank you."
The Chunin looked at his companion's condition and couldn't help but sigh in relief.
"It's nothing. The injuries are mostly under control, but he needs time to rest and recover."
"Make sure he takes his medicine on time and receives proper nutrition."
"The bandages can be removed in five days, and he should be fully healed within ten," Gen instructed while wrapping the wounds.
Ninjas might seem to have high attack power and low defense, but their bodies were tempered by years of training.
The daily use of Chakra also subtly strengthened their physiques.
While they weren't immune to blades, they were far sturdier than ordinary people, and their recovery speeds were exceptional.
Uchiha Gen spent the entire day busy in the medical area.
Already famous as Orochimaru's disciple and a genius of the Uchiha's new generation, his reputation spread once again.
Many Konoha ninjas now knew of him—a boy with superb Medical Ninjutsu who was one of the few besides Tsunade to have mastered high-level healing arts.
That night, the camp remained brightly lit as a military fortress should.
Uchiha Gen, carrying a ninjutsu scroll, went to a building in the center of the camp to find Orochimaru.
Orochimaru's state was currently poor; his face was covered in dust, his aura was slightly unstable, and there were several bloodstains on his clothes.
"Teacher Orochimaru, you're..."
"Encountered that old hag from the Hidden Sand while on a mission."
"I couldn't beat her, so I retreated," Orochimaru spoke in a low, raspy voice as he leaned back in his chair.
"Chiyo?"
"Yes, her. Fortunately, I wasn't poisoned, otherwise it would have been troublesome."
"It is lucky I only sustained minor injuries."
Orochimaru and the others had not yet earned the title of the Sannin.
Although they were top-tier experts close to Kage-level, they were still a bit short of that mark, and there was still some distance to go before they reached their peak.