At five in the afternoon, Mokgetsu put down the Sealing Technique Scroll in his hand, tidied up, and then headed out to the market.
He went to Tsunade's house; Tsunade would be happy. If he brought food to Tsunade's house, Tsunade would be extremely happy.
Skillfully walking to the courtyard in front of Tsunade's house, Shizune happened to be practicing Taijutsu there. Seeing Mokgetsu arrive, she immediately showed a happy smile and greeted him.
"Teacher Mokgetsu, you're back."
"Mm, how has your Medical Ninjutsu training been going lately?" Mokgetsu asked as he patted Shizune's head with his free hand.
Shizune could be considered his half-disciple, so he still needed to show some concern.
"Let's talk inside, let me help you carry it." Shizune wanted to help Mokgetsu carry the food.
Mokgetsu raised the bag of groceries to a height only reachable if Shizune jumped up.
"Eh." Shizune looked at Mokgetsu in confusion.
Mokgetsu brought his index and middle fingers together and gently tapped Shizune's forehead, "Your Teacher Mokgetsu isn't that lazy. I've carried it all this way, it's not like I'm lacking the energy to carry it a bit further to the kitchen."
After Mokgetsu's words, Shizune couldn't help but think about Tsunade.
Though both adults, with Tsunade being older, Mokgetsu was reliable and reassuring in many ways.
"Lady Tsunade, Teacher Mokgetsu is here."
Being obedient, Shizune did not insist on helping Mokgetsu but went inside to inform Tsunade and prepare tea.
"Oh, he's here." Tsunade was still lying on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
It wasn't that she had just gotten up; although she was hungover last night, she got up by eleven in the afternoon.
It was around three o'clock when she felt bored and a bit sleepy, so she took a nap and hadn't been awake for long.
"Teacher Mokgetsu brought a lot of food." Shizune called out.
Whoosh!
A gust of wind blew in, and the next moment, Tsunade appeared before Shizune, fully dressed.
"So fast!" Shizune stared in amazement, looking at Tsunade as though she had teleported.
"Where is it, let me see what food was brought. If anything's missing, there's still time for Shizune to go buy more." Tsunade quickly glanced around and found Mokgetsu at the kitchen door.
Without waiting for Shizune's comments, Tsunade briskly walked over to Mokgetsu, opened the grocery bag unceremoniously, and began examining it.
"Hmm, it's decent enough, no need to buy more food." Tsunade nodded in satisfaction.
"You're quite thoughtful; you've not been back in Konoha for long, yet you still remember me."
In her laid-back state, Tsunade was unconcerned with national affairs. However, the discussions surrounding Konoha were so widespread that even if Tsunade didn't purposely eavesdrop, she would accidentally hear quite a bit.
"I just got back today. I didn't expect Lady Tsunade to think that way about me; it makes me never want to come again." Mokgetsu sighed.
Tsunade looked at Mokgetsu with annoyance. What was this? A threat? Why did it feel so strange?
"If you don't come, that's fine. I'll just go to your house and crash mealtime anyway." Tsunade was unfazed.
This seemed quite nice to her; since it wouldn't be her home, she wouldn't have to wash dishes or clean up the table.
"Lady Tsunade, aren't you the Sannin? Isn't that bullying the juniors?" Unable to contain herself, Shizune spoke up.
"The Sannin title means nothing; can it put food on the table?" Tsunade shrugged with indifference.
She didn't even want to be a ninja anymore, so why would she care about the Sannin reputation?
"Joking time is over, all of you go out now. I'm starting to cook." Mokgetsu felt the timing was right to begin ushering them out.
Tsunade might be stubborn about other things, but she supported Mokgetsu cooking two-hundred percent, promptly retreating to the living room as Mokgetsu suggested.
As there was a dish that needed additional cooking time, Mokgetsu also took the opportunity to rest in the living room for a while.
"Mokgetsu, do you have any Ninjutsu you still want to develop lately?" Tsunade couldn't help but ask.
Previously, their interactions had a transactional nature; Mokgetsu brought her the joy of eating, and she taught him Medical Ninjutsu, assisting in the development of Sealing Techniques.
Now with the Yang Seal development completed, Tsunade felt she was freeloading.
Although freeloading brought happiness, it wasn't a long-term solution.
After all, Mokgetsu couldn't possibly be so generous as to cook for her for life without expecting something in return.
"There is." Mokgetsu nodded in response.
"What type of Ninjutsu?"
"Wood Release."
"You rascal!" Tsunade couldn't resist throwing a cushion from the sofa at Mokgetsu.
Tsunade hadn't used much force, so Mokgetsu easily caught the incoming cushion.
"I'm being serious." Tsunade rolled her eyes.
Apparently, Tsunade thought Mokgetsu was joking.
Not to mention the status of Wood Release in Konoha and even in the Ninja World; just using "developing Kekkei Genkai" as a response sounded like a joke.
"I'm also seriously answering you." Mokgetsu placed the cushion behind his back, replying lightly.
Using development as an excuse to bring Wood Release to the surface wasn't a decision Mokgetsu made on a whim; it was after thorough consideration.
The Mokgetsu now was no longer the unnoticed Root member or the anonymous Chunin Teacher at the Ninja Academy.
His rise as Konoha's new generation top figure wasn't just hype, it was proven step by step on the battlefield; Sarutobi Hiruzen, Jiraiya, Namikaze Minato—they all witnessed Mokgetsu's ascent.
He now had connections and his extraordinary talent was recognized.
Previously, there certainly hadn't been cases of developing Wood Release.
But there hadn't been Konoha Ninjas developing Ice Release either, nor had anyone developed Breathing Techniques with Observation.
A rare genius in a century attempting to recreate Wood Release was indeed uncommon, but not entirely impossible.