kamoto Dousuke stared at the ninjutsu scroll unfurled on his lap. The name written at the very top was unmistakable: Flying Thunder God Jutsu!
He couldn't help but inhale sharply. He had finally obtained access to this legendary technique, practically considered a cheat code within the Naruto world.
Suppressing the surge of excitement bubbling within him, Dousuke Okamoto silently committed the training method detailed in the scroll to memory.
After carefully re-rolling the scroll, Okamoto Dousuke mentally recited the instructions several times. He then opened the scroll again to double-check, and a satisfied smile crept onto his face as he realized he had memorized it word for word.
With a newfound lightness in his steps, Okamoto Dousuke rose from his seat, opened the library door, and walked out.
"Teacher Tsunade, I have memorized the training method," Okamoto Dousuke announced as he stepped out of the library, addressing Tsunade, who was seated across from the Third Hokage.
"Lord Hokage, this is the scroll for the Flying Thunder God Jutsu. Thank you for granting me this incredible opportunity," Okamoto Dousuke said, placing the scroll on the desk in front of the Third Hokage.
"Hey, Dousuke, don't be so formal! You fought hard for this with your life. You absolutely deserve it. And why do I suddenly feel like you've never been this polite to me before?" Tsunade playfully grabbed Okamoto Dousuke and locked his head in a tight headlock beneath her arm.
"Well, Teacher Tsunade, I've always held you in the highest regard! Please… let me go… I can't breathe!" Okamoto Dousuke's face quickly flushed crimson.
"The village is never will forget those who show true potential. Your master is right, this is well-earned. And Tsunade," the Third Hokage chuckled, adjusting his Hokage hat, "if you squeeze any harder, you'll accidentally strangle the poor boy."
"Hu… hu… hu…!!" Okamoto Dousuke gasped for air as Tsunade finally released him.
Looking at her disciple, who was now clutching his throat and trying to catch his breath, Tsunade offered an embarrassed smile.
"Well then, let's go!" With that, Tsunade grabbed Okamoto Dousuke's arm and dashed out the door.
"Hey, hey, you're a grown woman, yet still so impulsive!" The Third Hokage watched her hastily drag Okamoto Dousuke out of the room.
He reached out a hand, intending to say something to stop her, but hesitated, unsure what to say. Finally, he simply let his arm fall back to his side.
"Can he really learn it? Aside from Tobirama-sensei, Minato is probably the only other one in the entire village who ever mastered it."
Forget it, the Third Hokage thought, shaking his head slightly. If the child can't learn it, he can always choose another technique. His gaze lingered on the Flying Thunder God Jutsu scroll left on the table.
"Teacher! Teacher, slow down!" Okamoto Dousuke shouted, his voice echoing down the hallway.
Tsunade continued to drag Okamoto Dousuke, practically sprinting out of the Hokage Building.
"Honestly, how can you be so weak? You completely embarrassed me in front of that old man Sarutobi today!"
"Don't you constantly train with that giant green toad?" Tsunade looked at her disciple with a frown, a flicker of doubt crossing her features. Perhaps I'm not cut out to be a teacher.
It would have been understandable if he couldn't master her Super Strength Fist, but the real issue was that even if he did learn it, his current physique couldn't handle it. And the most concerning part was that she hadn't even used any significant force just now, yet the boy had looked like he was on the verge of collapse.
Okamoto Dousuke saw the familiar frown on Tsunade's face and instantly sensed trouble. This was the exact expression she often wore when she was trying to suppress her anger.
Especially after Jiraiya had done something particularly infuriating.
"Teacher, please don't worry," Okamoto Dousuke said quickly. "I've heard that the ninjas in the Hidden Cloud Village often use lightning chakra to train their bodies and improve their physical endurance."
"I've also developed a method to use water-attribute chakra to nourish the body. If you exercise regularly with it," Okamoto Dousuke added, looking at Tsunade with what he hoped was a reassuring expression.
"Then what exactly is the benefit of your water attribute chakra training?" Tsunade asked, still skeptical.
"The biggest advantages are improved bodily resilience and increased resistance to stress. And because of the gentle nature of water-attributed chakra, its most notable feature is its ability to moisturize the body, eliminate hidden injuries, whiten the skin, and even reduce scars."
"Teacher," Okamoto Dousuke continued with a hopeful tone, "if you learn this, you'll become even younger!"
"You mean I'm old?!" Tsunade retorted, delivering a sharp chop to Okamoto Dousuke's head.
Okamoto Dousuke's vision went black for a moment, and he found himself sprawling on the ground.
Lying there, he suddenly felt a pair of strong arms lift him with surprising gentleness. Tsunade had picked him up, and before he could protest, she lightly tossed him onto her back.
Tsunade carried Okamoto Dousuke piggyback style for a short distance. "Boy, are you feeling any better now?"
"Much better, Teacher. Please, you can put me down now," Okamoto Dousuke said, shaking his still slightly dizzy head and struggling gently on Tsunade's back a few times.
Tsunade ignored him and continued walking forward.
He was carried on Tsunade's back, his head resting comfortably on her shoulder. A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, causing strands of Tsunade's blonde hair to fly back.
The stray hairs tickled Okamoto Dousuke's nose, making it itch and triggering a strong urge to sneeze.
A subtle, pleasant fragrance lingered in the air, reaching Okamoto Dousuke's nostrils.
"You know," Tsunade said softly, "I used to carry someone home like this a long time ago."
"Really? Then he must have been very happy. To have someone as kind and strong as you caring for him," Okamoto Dousuke replied, looking up at Tsunade's face as she carried him.
"Dousuke, do you have a dream?" Tsunade suddenly asked, her tone shifting slightly.
"Me? My dream used to be to become a Hokage, but now… I just want to be a guardian," Okamoto Dousuke said, a little surprised by the unexpected question.
"Because I have you as my teacher, and then there's the Third Hokage. You both don't really need my protection. So, now I just want to be someone who protects the people or things I truly care about," Okamoto Dousuke fabricated, not wanting to delve into the memories of his previous life.
In truth, Okamoto Dousuke thought, in my past life, before time travel, becoming Hokage was my goal. But after arriving here, that old ambition feels completely irrelevant.
"There was once a boy I carried on my back who promised me he would become Hokage, but he died on the battlefield," Tsunade said, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.
"Dousuke, your goal seems even more… vague," Tsunade remarked, glancing back at him.
"Yes, Teacher. That's why I have to become stronger. Only by becoming stronger can I truly protect the people I care about."
"Oh, well then, you'll just have to work harder," Tsunade said, turning her head and giving Okamoto Dousuke a bright, encouraging smile.
"Teacher, I will work harder," Okamoto Dousuke affirmed, looking at her radiant smile and silently resolving to do exactly that.
"I'm going to take you to find someone. Although that guy isn't always the most reliable, he's still quite useful when it comes to teaching apprentices," Tsunade announced, finally setting Okamoto Dousuke back on his feet.
Tsunade walked ahead, and Okamoto Dousuke followed closely behind.
"Teacher, where are we going?" Okamoto Dousuke asked, watching as Tsunade led him towards the outskirts of the village.
"Just follow me," Tsunade replied, offering no further explanation.
Tsunade continued walking, occasionally pausing and looking around, seemingly searching for something.
Eventually, they arrived at an open-air hot spring bath, a large wooden sign with the character "ゆ" (Yu - meaning hot spring) clearly visible. Tsunade reached down, effortlessly picked up a stone roughly the size of a human head from the ground, and hurled it towards a secluded corner of the bath.
Whoosh!
The large stone sliced through the air with a noticeable whistling sound.
Boom! The stone landed with a heavy thud.
At the precise moment the stone struck the ground, a figure clad in red clothing and with spiky white hair suddenly erupted from the water.
"Ah! Ah! Aaaah!"
"What a pervert!"
"Everyone, quickly! Attack the peeping tom!"
The startled voices of a group of women echoed one after another, followed by a flurry of splashing and noisy commotion from within the open-air bath.
A middle-aged man with distinctive white hair, wearing only two-toothed wooden sandals and completely soaked, appeared before Tsunade, a look of utter shock and disbelief on his face.