Chapter 121: News of Tsunade
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After hearing Uchiha Douhuan's question, Orochimaru shook his head, then began to speak:
"The results were not very optimistic. I originally thought Hashirama's cells could have a special reaction with Sage Art chakra, thereby filling the gap between pure Mangekyou pupil power and Sage Art chakra. However, the reality was the complete opposite of my expectations."
"Sage Art chakra does indeed react with Hashirama's cells. But, once the Mangekyou's pupil power is introduced, the three elements erupt violently. The Hashirama cells, enhanced by Sage Art chakra, completely devour the Mangekyou's pupil power. A violent reaction occurs during this process, and all my test subjects died as a result."
"Therefore, I speculate that to achieve the perfect fusion of pupil power and Sage Art chakra mentioned in that technique, the missing element should be something else – a power that contrasts with the power contained within Hashirama's cells, yet exists on the same level."
"I see, I understand." Uchiha Douhuan nodded. It seemed the information Black Zetsu gave him had some feasibility but was incomplete. Then, regarding the information about that predecessor who fused Sage Art and Mangekyou, perhaps only after finding the Slug Sage could truly useful information be obtained.
"Well then, stay in Ryuchi Cave for the time being. Wait until things have cooled down a bit, and I'll figure out a way to get you a new identity," Uchiha Douhuan instructed Orochimaru.
"Yes," Orochimaru replied respectfully after bowing.
...
The next day, Uchiha Douhuan went to the Hokage Building early in the morning, handled some routine affairs, and then took a document to the room in the Naka River Grand Hotel where Jiraiya was being held.
To say 'held' wasn't entirely accurate. Jiraiya's disposition had already been decided; he was now just a retired Genin removed from the village's ninja sequence. He could leave whenever he wanted.
However, Jiraiya still seemed unable to emerge from his self-imposed isolation from that day, refusing to leave the room.
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen had come to persuade him twice during this period, but Jiraiya seemed determined not to step out of the room. Every day, besides sleeping, he would just give money to the Security Department members assigned to guard—or rather, care for—him, asking them to buy alcohol.
So, when Uchiha Douhuan arrived, Jiraiya was sitting alone by the window, drinking.
"Lord Jiraiya certainly has refined tastes. I just wonder how much longer Lord Jiraiya intends to stay here in my Security Department's custody?" Uchiha Douhuan walked into Jiraiya's room and spoke.
"Douhuan?" Jiraiya turned his head and saw Uchiha Douhuan's figure, looking somewhat surprised.
Subsequently, Jiraiya moved from the window to the table in the room, sat down, leaned back in his chair, tilted his head up, and said, "I'm just a retired Genin now. Don't use words like 'Lord'."
"The current arrangement is merely to provide closure for everyone. Lord Jiraiya has still made contributions to the village and is also my senior. This alone deserves this respectful address," Uchiha Douhuan said with a smile.
Jiraiya looked at Uchiha Douhuan dressed in the Fifth Hokage's robes, feeling a sense of déja vu. The robes involuntarily reminded him of his disciple; back when Namikaze Minato took office as Hokage, he was just as high-spirited and vigorous as the young man before him.
But thinking of Namikaze Minato, Jiraiya then recalled what Uchiha Douhuan had said that day. His lips moved slightly, and he asked, "Douhuan, have you always looked down on me?"
"Lord Jiraiya, let the past be the past. People should learn to look forward," Uchiha Douhuan said calmly.
"Eh." Jiraiya understood Uchiha Douhuan's answer and sighed heavily. "Alright, tell me, what do you need from me?"
"I hope you can help me find Lady Tsunade and ask her to return to the village," Uchiha Douhuan said.
"Tsunade? If she were willing to come back, she probably would have returned long ago. The letters the old man sent her previously likely outnumbered those sent to me," Jiraiya remarked.
That was indeed true. Given the situation Sarutobi Hiruzen faced at the time, having Tsunade return was a choice ten thousand times more reliable than having Jiraiya return. However, Tsunade had completely ignored him.
"If you find Lady Tsunade, please help me deliver this document to her. She should be willing to return," Uchiha Douhuan said, handing over a file titled "Medical Ninja Special Cultivation Plan."
Jiraiya took the document, looked it over, and his expression turned thoughtful.
Uchiha Douhuan's plan involved drastic reforms to the existing medical ninja training program.
Firstly, starting from the Ninja Academy stage, students with talent in this area would be selected to form a specialized academy for focused training.
Furthermore, after graduation, these talented students would be streamed again based on their combat aptitude.
Those with absolutely no combat talent but good aptitude in medical ninjutsu would directly enter the village hospital.
Those with some combat talent would be assigned to combat sequences and receive specialized training in self-preservation and escape techniques to ensure they wouldn't become a burden to their teammates during battles.
As for those with top-tier talent in both areas, the village would invest heavily in cultivating them in Tsunade's direction – capable of both fighting and healing.
It could be said that Uchiha Douhuan's plan thoroughly detailed and professionalized the village's original medical ninja training, which resembled an interest group. If this plan could be successfully implemented, the Hidden Leaf Village would gain many talented medical ninjas in the future. Perhaps Tsunade's original vision of having one medical ninja assigned to each squad could truly be realized, thereby increasing the survival rate of the village's ninjas.
And in this proposal, the name listed for the Dean of the Konoha Medical Academy was precisely Tsunade.
"Alright, I'll try," Jiraiya nodded, accepting the task. He added, "I think, after seeing this plan, she should be willing to come back."
"I'm counting on you," Uchiha Douhuan nodded. "Additionally, I'd like to ask you to continue the previous pursuit of Orochimaru. He did something quite significant recently."
"Orochimaru? What did he do?" Hearing news about Orochimaru, Jiraiya immediately asked, instantly sobering up from his drink.
Uchiha Douhuan looked at his appearance and was secretly speechless. Jiraiya hadn't shown nearly this strong a reaction when discussing Tsunade earlier. Was Orochimaru truly this guy's true love?
"Orochimaru assassinated the Daimyo some time ago," Uchiha Douhuan said.
"What?" Jiraiya leaped up in shock upon hearing this.
Subsequently, Uchiha Douhuan recounted the events of this period, embellishing them somewhat, to Jiraiya.
After hearing everything, Jiraiya immediately made his decision: he would set out today. After finding Tsunade, he would then search for Orochimaru's whereabouts.
...
After seeing Jiraiya off from the Naka River Grand Hotel, Uchiha Douhuan also returned to the Hokage office.
Getting Jiraiya out of the village was also a decision made by Uchiha Douhuan after careful consideration. After all, the future Konoha Village would serve as the new capital of the Land of Fire. Inevitably, a large number of nobles would move to Konoha in the future. Letting this old lecher roam around the village, what if he peeked at some nobleman's female relative? It would be the Hokage losing face.
After Uchiha Douhuan returned to the office, before long, Hyuga Hiashi came knocking, requesting to take Neji, Hinata, and Hanabi back home.
During Uchiha Douhuan's time in the Fire Capital, Hyuga Hiashi had also been busy dealing with internal clan affairs.
Because the targets of the purge were the heads of several other Main House branches, for the safety of the children, Hiashi Hyuga had simply arranged for the three children to stay at Uchiha Fugaku's house for a period. Including Naruto, who, after Kakashi left on his mission, had become adept at showing up at the door with luggage in tow, Fugaku's house had practically turned into a small daycare center.
Now, Hyuga Hiashi had finished handling the clan's affairs. More importantly, he had finally found the method to remove the Caged Bird seal among a pile of ancient clan scrolls.
"Clan Head Hyuga seems to have finished handling clan matters?" Uchiha Douhuan chuckled lightly.
"Thanks to Lord Hokage's timely assistance, the Hyuga clan has dealt with all personnel involved in the incident," Hyuga Hiashi said.
Originally, Hiashi Hyuga might have faced some resistance when dealing with Hyuga Kazuteru and the others, as they had considerable support from Branch House members under them. However, after witnessing the fate of the Utatane and Mitokado clans being completely wiped out, the Branch House forces under those Main House branches unanimously chose to pledge allegiance to Hiashi Hyuga. Hiashi also took this opportunity to completely consolidate control over the clan. Because of this, he could also make a special exception to remove Neji's Caged Bird seal under the pretext of supplementing Main House members.
Although the potential risks associated with Neji's rise in the future still existed, at least for now, it wouldn't cause too much disruption to the clan's order. As for how to handle things later, Hiashi Hyuga decided to trust the wisdom of future generations.
"In that case, let's pick an auspicious date and hold the apprenticeship ceremony," Uchiha Douhuan said.
"Understood," Hyuga Hiashi nodded and replied.
...
During this period of living with the Uchiha clan, Hyuga Neji felt unprecedentedly good.
Although both were renowned noble clans in the village, compared to the strict and rigid rules of the Hyuga clan, the atmosphere in the Uchiha clan was much more relaxed. At the very least, here, no Main House members would order him around arrogantly because of his status.
Even Uchiha Sasuke, the Hokage's disciple and the Elder's second son, treated him with courtesy.
Coupled with Uchiha Mikoto's meticulous care, Neji felt a long-lost sense of home here.
Except for the fact that his own younger sister constantly loved to secretly stare at a certain blond kid, which particularly annoyed him, this period of time felt like living in a dream for Neji.
(End of Chapter)
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