In the original story, both Haruno Sakura and Yamanaka Ino are Tsunade's disciples.
But the former is formal, the latter is temporary.
In the end Sakura learned the Yin Seal and the Strength of a Hundred Technique, while Ino learned only the Mystical Palm Technique and didn't continue.
Judging by the results, the former clearly had greater talent as a medical ninja.
But the fact that Ino could learn the Mystical Palm already proves her talent isn't bad.
It's just that she studied too broadly, and with her clan's secret techniques there was no need to specialize in medical ninjutsu.
After all, the Yin Seal and Strength of a Hundred are extremely time-consuming.
Sakura took three years.
Ino couldn't possibly afford that much time.
Because she's the new generation's Ino–Shika–Cho.
She has to coordinate with Akimichi Choji and Nara Shikamaru.
This made Natsume think of Hyuga Hinata.
She, too, learned the Mystical Palm.
And likewise stopped there, without learning other medical ninjutsu.
In Natsume's view, the Byakugan is best suited for long-range combat and medical ninjutsu.
After all, it sees far, and sees through.
In these two areas, it has huge advantages.
For example, Kaguya Otsutsuki's Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack.
Hinata has the talent to develop new techniques.
Naturally Natsume won't let her waste it; he'll have her try long-range Gentle Fist.
Creating a remote acupoint-striking technique is feasible.
After finishing a cup of tea, Ino took her leave.
She's still young; she won't stay overnight and worry her family.
But that's also an advantage.
She now has enough time to learn the Yin Seal and the Strength of a Hundred.
If Tsunade takes a disciple—discounting Natsume's influence—she'd likely only take one.
Because she's too busy.
And she already has too many disciples.
Ino hails from the Yamanaka clan, backed by Ino–Shika–Cho.
Her odds are much higher than Sakura's.
Though the latter is indeed talented.
Natsume plans to have Nonō Yakushi take a disciple.
And he can harvest the fate points of three people—an absolute win.
Though he also has a little selfishness: he prefers Ino.
When Tsunade got home, Natsume told her about taking a disciple.
Her gaze was full of suspicion.
In the end, Natsume worked hard all night to get her to agree.
…
Hokage Office.
Tsunade processed documents while Natsume massaged her shoulders from behind.
Before long, there was a knock.
"Come in."
Tsunade looked up and, in passing, kicked Natsume to make him take two steps back and stop massaging.
So others wouldn't see and form a bad impression.
As Hokage, treating a subordinate like that is not acceptable.
But Natsume has dignity too.
So he reached out and stroked the arch of her bare foot a couple of times before retreating behind her.
Tsunade rolled her eyes at him, then quickly restored the Hokage's authority, sitting upright.
"Lord Hokage."
In came Yamanaka Inoichi.
One of the previous generation's Ino–Shika–Cho, captain of Konoha's Analysis Unit, idol to many intelligence ninja.
He's also Ino's father.
"May I ask why you summoned me, Lord Hokage?"
Inoichi gave a slight bow and asked.
He's humble by nature, a rare good subordinate.
Every Hokage has praised him.
In fact, due to the tight alliance of the Ino–Shika–Cho clans, as long as they don't betray Konoha, they'll always be Konoha's ninja clans.
This brings up Hiruzen Sarutobi's maneuver:
He made Asuma Sarutobi the sensei leading Ino, Choji, and Shikamaru.
And the Sarutobi clan also serves as witness for the Ino–Shika–Cho's "Earring Oath."
The so-called Earring Oath is that each generation of Ino–Shika–Cho wears matching earrings as a symbol of their alliance.
In other words, the Sarutobi clan is bound together with the three clans of Ino–Shika–Cho.
"I've met your daughter, Yamanaka Ino; she has quite some talent."
Without Hiruzen's habit of beating around the bush, Tsunade spoke directly: "I intend to take her as my disciple. What do you think?"
"Take her as a disciple?"
Inoichi froze, then burst into joy. "It would be her honor to become Lord Hokage's disciple."
Even if Tsunade's strength were mediocre, the title "Disciple of the Hokage" alone would benefit Ino immensely.
Plus she's the Yamanaka heir—her status in Konoha would be nearly unmatched.
Inoichi would certainly not refuse such a pie falling from the sky.
"Go inform her and have her come see me."
Tsunade wasn't surprised. Her taking Ino as a disciple is already giving Yamanaka tremendous face.
Because it's such a great benefit.
In the original story, Sakura ascended in one step thanks to this.
Her strength and status surpassed the average ninja by far.
"Yes!"
Barely able to contain his excitement, Inoichi turned and left at once; he didn't even bother with office hours and ran straight to the Ninja Academy.
…
Ino was in class, but it didn't matter.
As the Yamanaka clan head and Analysis Unit captain, his presence alone would make the teaching chunin tremble.
Afraid they might do something wrong and get dragged off for interrogation.
And the kind that invades your mind.
"Why are you here?"
Under the stares of her classmates, Ino stepped out of the classroom.
"Lord Hokage wants to take you as a disciple!"
Inoichi came straight out with it, face full of joy. "You must work hard!"
Ino was stunned, hardly daring to believe it.
So fast?
She had just told Natsume yesterday, and today it was already decided.
And doesn't the Hokage test prospective disciples?
What if she doesn't have enough talent?
Ino's clever; she quickly sensed something off.
"Um… is Sakura included?"
"Sakura? No."
Still elated, Inoichi said, "Come with me now to see the Hokage."
Ino froze for two seconds.
Could it really be Natsume-kun helping?
And only helping her.
Her feelings were complicated.
A little sweet, and a little guilty.
Sweet, because she realized Natsume truly treats her differently.
Guilty, because she didn't help Sakura.
"Let's go."
Inoichi urged.
"Mm."
Ino pulled herself together.
Tsunade has always been her idol; she's long wanted to meet her.
Now she not only has the chance—she'll become her disciple.
Double happiness.
…
Hokage Office.
"Are you happy?"
Tsunade asked a bit testily, "Since when did you get so close with Ino?"
Natsume stepped up, turned, pecked her lips, and smiled: "A little sour."
Tsunade's brow furrowed. She put him in a headlock and ground her knuckles into his skull.
"Wipe that smirk off—serves you right!"
"Mercy, Lord Hokage!"
Because of the posture, Natsume had already fallen into the abyss.
He gazed into the abyss, and the abyss exuded a faint fragrance.
A knock sounded.
Tsunade hurriedly let go, straightened her clothes, but still annoyed, slipped on her heels and stomped on him a few times.
"Sis, stomp all you want!"
Natsume said at once. "As long as you're happy."
He has a Sage Body anyway.
And Tsunade didn't use force.
The door opened.
Inoichi entered again.
This time with a blonde girl—Yamanaka Ino.
She saw Natsume at first glance.
A bit surprised.
But remembering he's Tsunade's disciple, it made sense.
"Lord Hokage."
Inoichi and Ino spoke in unison.
"Mm."
Tsunade nodded calmly. "Ino, from now on, call me sensei."
"Yes!"
Ino's voice carried obvious excitement, and the look she gave Tsunade barely hid her adoration.
Tsunade was used to that look and thought nothing of it.
After a moment's thought, she asked, "At your age, you haven't studied medical ninjutsu yet, have you?"
Ino nodded. "They don't teach it at the Academy."
Though the Yamanaka could hire a medical ninja to tutor her, they'd prioritize clan secret arts.
"Go to the office next door and find your senior, Shizune. Start with the basics for a while."
Tsunade pointed right—where the Hokage Guard Platoon's office is.
On the left is the Hokage Secretarial Corps.
Originally the two advisors' office, now relocated—which made Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado furious enough to vomit blood.
But Tsunade was delighted.
This was Natsume's suggestion.
Tsunade had long been disgusted by those two fossils and agreed immediately.
But she didn't understand them.
After this humiliation, Utatane and Mitokado would surely act.
And they'd most likely find Shimura Danzo.
Because they could shift the blame.
Danzo, stripped of power, constantly schemes to return.
He once attempted to assassinate Hiruzen—bold indeed.
Now, with two Hokage Advisors backing him, what's a mere Tsunade to fear?
And in terms of overall strength, Hiruzen was stronger.
Danzo is unwilling to let a junior like Tsunade be Hokage.
When the time comes, Natsume will lend a hand to achieve his goal:
Force Shimura Danzo to defect.
In the process of his defection, Koharu and Homura "accidentally die"—quite reasonable, no?
If Danzo stays in Konoha, it's hard to harvest fate points.
As for the two advisors' fate points, Natsume doesn't even want it.
Making Tsunade happy is enough.
Besides, killing them also yields fate points—just a one-off.
"Yes!"
Ino wanted to ask about Sakura but felt it improper.
She decided to ask Natsume later what was going on.
She left the Hokage Office and entered the adjacent Hokage Guard office.
Only…the vibe here was weird.
A green spandex uncle was frog-jumping back and forth, shouting about youthful passion.
A white-haired masked weirdo was reading the indecent novel Icha Icha Paradise.
A fierce-looking big sister was practicing medical ninjutsu on a big rooster.
Only Kurenai Yuhi was relatively normal, poring over documents.
But in a sense, being unfazed in such an environment is also odd.
"Um… which one is Senior Shizune?"
Ino hesitated two seconds and asked.
Shizune casually knocked out the practice rooster, turned, and looked Ino up and down.
Hmm, quite cute.
"You're Ino, right?"
Shizune washed the blood from her hands. "I've already prepared books for you—in the corner."
Ino froze.
She had already noticed the mountain of books in the corner.
She thought it was various Konoha files, but it turned out to be for her.
I regret this a little. What do I do?
Ino bit her lip. At this point, backing down was impossible.
Otherwise, she'd be disrespecting the Hokage.