---
Then, they saw Might Guy rushing over, kicking up clouds of dust behind him.
"Guy, what are you doing here?" Jiraiya asked as he approached.
"I… I heard Tsunade-sama had returned, so…"
Might Guy stammered, clearly hesitant and struggling to express himself.
The reason for his visit was clear—it was for Rock Lee's injury.
During the preliminary rounds of the Chūnin Exams, although Lee had shown incredible spirit and taijutsu against Gaara, he had sustained devastating injuries. According to the medical-nin at the time, the damage was beyond repair—his left arm and leg were crushed, and he was told he would never be able to live as a shinobi again.
This news hit Lee hard, but it affected Might Guy just as deeply. He had blamed himself for allowing Lee to push so far. Now, with Tsunade—famed as the world's greatest medical-nin—back in the village, Guy saw a glimmer of hope and rushed over as soon as he heard.
However, Tsunade and her party had only just returned to Konoha. They hadn't even had time to rest, and the matter of her appointment as the Fifth Hokage hadn't been officially settled. Guy didn't know how to bring up the request.
"We'd like to ask you to treat someone," said Ye Dou, stepping forward from behind Guy. He had recognized Tsunade instantly.
The legendary Slug Princess of Konoha was hard to miss—especially because of her ample chest that seemed to challenge gravity itself. But Ye Dou didn't pay attention to that. What caught his eye was the distinctive diamond-shaped mark on her forehead.
That was the Byakugō no In, the "Strength of a Hundred Seal"—a complex chakra storage technique Tsunade had developed. By gathering chakra over time and sealing it in the mark, it could be released to massively boost regeneration and medical capabilities. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, Tsunade had used this technique to fight Uchiha Madara. Her medical prowess was so advanced that Madara himself acknowledged it—she could heal herself without weaving hand seals.
Ye Dou wasn't especially interested in medical ninjutsu—but the Byakugō Seal fascinated him. To carry around a stockpile of chakra like that was akin to having a portable chakra battery. It could be a game-changer in a life-or-death battle.
Unfortunately, there was no reason Tsunade would teach such a high-level secret technique to him. All he could do was think about it… and hope.
"Who's this kid?" Tsunade asked, clearly annoyed.
Her first impression of Ye Dou wasn't favorable—he seemed as cold and emotionless as stone.
"Iori Ye Dou. I mentioned him to you before," Jiraiya replied.
Tsunade's expression softened slightly at that. It was clear that Jiraiya hadn't just mentioned Ye Dou in passing—he must have told her about his unusual background as well.
Still, Tsunade's sharp tongue remained. Her trademark bluntness showed itself immediately.
"So this is the kid. Doesn't look like much to me. You sure you weren't exaggerating, Jiraiya? This is the one who nearly killed Uchiha Itachi?"
She sounded skeptical and unimpressed.
"You, more than anyone, should know not to judge things by appearance," Ye Dou replied calmly. "Just like you—you look like you're in your twenties, but inside you're an old woman."
"Hey, Ye Dou!" Jiraiya broke into a cold sweat. "You can't just say things like that. A woman's age is sacred!"
Next to them, black chakra seemed to radiate from Tsunade. Her anger spiked, but Ye Dou remained unbothered.
"I'm just stating the truth," Ye Dou said plainly. "You graduated in the same generation as Jiraiya. Going by age, you could be an aunt—or a grandmother."
Tsunade nearly coughed up blood.
[This brat… he's handsome, but he's asking for a beating!]
---
"Kai-sensei, look—it's the legendary Sannin, Tsunade-sama!" Rock Lee said excitedly from inside Konoha Hospital. He was pacing with a cane, determination in his eyes.
Lee's injuries hadn't only come from opening the Eight Gates—Gaara's final attack had shattered Lee's left arm and leg. The damage was so severe that Konoha's top medical-nin had declared the injuries incurable.
Still, Lee had never given up. Even while injured, he trained as best he could, hoping for a miracle.
"Is he your student?" Tsunade asked, watching Lee closely.
"Yes," Might Guy answered, his expression serious. "He and Ye Dou are my proudest students."
"Your generation is a bit all over the place," Tsunade muttered as she examined Lee.
Her sharp eyes scanned him head to toe. Then, she glanced toward Naruto Uzumaki and snapped, "Naruto, why are you still loafing around here?"
"Ah! I forgot—I promised Iruka-sensei I'd meet him!" Naruto exclaimed, smacking his forehead. He gave a quick farewell and ran off.
Jiraiya's expression darkened slightly. He had known Tsunade for decades. They had trained under Hiruzen Sarutobi, fought side by side in wars, and shared countless life-or-death experiences. So he recognized what her actions meant.
Tsunade was deliberately sending Naruto away—because Lee's condition was worse than expected.
Indeed, just as Jiraiya feared, Tsunade's examination revealed something grave.
When they entered the ward, her first words hit like a thunderclap.
"I won't lie to you. I advise you to give up on being a shinobi."
The silence was deafening.
It felt like the world stopped for both Rock Lee and Might Guy. Their faces went pale, filled with disbelief and shock.
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