"Tsunade-sama is correct that such flaws objectively exist."
Kitagawa affirmed her point first, but then immediately shifted his tone. "However, there's no perfect solution in this world. We can only take a comprehensive view. As long as the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, it's completely viable."
"I believe medical ninja create more benefits than harm."
"Besides, medical ninja aren't helpless in combat."
"Tsunade-sama's own combat ability isn't lacking!"
Tsunade set down her sake cup and raised her chin. "I'm a special case!"
Kitagawa said, "Then we should cultivate medical ninja as special as Tsunade-sama."
Tsunade fell silent, then pouted. "Don't oversimplify this, brat!"
Kitagawa shook his head. "Of course I know it's not simple. If it were, I wouldn't need you."
"Tsunade-sama, how about we make a deal?"
"You teach me medical ninjutsu, and I teach you my developed taijutsu."
"Medical ninja excel at chakra control. My Shave technique and the Moon Walk I'm developing shouldn't be difficult for you."
If becoming a student won't work, then we'll be mutual teachers!
That way, neither of us owes the other anything.
But Tsunade said flatly, "I'm not interested in your techniques."
Kitagawa raised an eyebrow. "Tsunade-sama, you're not worried I'll learn your medical ninjutsu and surpass you, are you?"
BANG!
Tsunade slapped the table, but then smiled. "I won't fall for that. Provocation doesn't work on me."
Hard to convince?
Kitagawa thought for a moment and decided to pause his advance.
At 8 PM, Kitagawa ended the drinking session amid Tsunade's increasingly slurred words and bought her a bowl of hangover soup on the way out.
Though the plan temporarily failed, he'd secured fixed visit times, meaning more frequent meetings.
Back home, after washing up, Kitagawa went to the study to continue Wind Style nature transformation training.
When Asuma taught Naruto, he used leaf-cutting and waterfall-cutting.
Kitagawa's first step was paper-cutting.
Only after mastering paper would he move to cutting at waterfalls.
Days passed one by one. Time quickly arrived at the school break.
"Finally done!"
In the study, looking at the paper cleanly split in two, Kitagawa smiled.
Wind Style nature transformation—initial completion!
Naruto had accomplished this in just days. Kitagawa had taken over a month.
Of course, he only trained in evenings and hadn't used shadow clones to grind.
This pace wasn't slow.
He tossed the paper into the trash and stretched, then headed to bed.
If I had equipment with a massive chakra reserve trait, my training speed would explode.
But that kind of trait probably only appears with Naruto.
Naruto won't be born for another decade.
Kitagawa then thought of the Samehada blade.
Would that sword have chakra-devouring traits?
Currently, Samehada's user should be Kisame Hoshigaki—jonin level. I probably can't beat him.
Forget it. The Third Great Ninja War is still several years away. I'll keep training steadily, accumulating equipment...
With that thought, Kitagawa closed his eyes and fell asleep.
The next day was the first day of break.
After breakfast, Kitagawa headed to Tsunade's house and knocked on the door.
Even though he was on break, home visits couldn't stop.
"Why are you here?"
This time Tsunade opened the door herself. Her expression soured the moment she saw him.
Kitagawa smiled sweetly. "Tsunade-sama, today is the weekend!"
Tsunade crossed her arms, making no move to let him inside. "But it's school break now!"
Kitagawa didn't back down. "But our agreement didn't say anything about stopping during break."
Tsunade pouted. "You can go back. Shizune went out to play with friends."
Kitagawa smiled. "Perfect then. I have several medical questions I'd like to ask Tsunade-sama!"
Before his words even finished, Kitagawa had already used Body Flicker to enter the courtyard.
Tsunade's face turned dark. This brat has thicker skin than Jiraiya, that pervert!
I need to think of a way to deal with this little pervert!
Tsunade turned around. "Hey, let's make a bet!"
Kitagawa turned, curious. "What kind of bet does Tsunade-sama want?"
Tsunade smiled like a fox. "You decide the terms. But if you lose, home visits pause for the rest of break."
Kitagawa shook his head. "No deal."
Tsunade got angry. "Don't think I won't mess you up?"
"You bastard, you want to die?"
Kitagawa smiled. "Truthfully, I'm not your match right now. But beating me won't be easy for you either."
Tsunade's brows shot up instantly. Her twin tails floated, and she roared, "Stop spouting nonsense, bastard!"
Before her words settled, a thunderous boom erupted. Tsunade vanished from her spot, creating a hurricane of wind.
BOOM!
The ground exploded, a massive crater forming from her punch.
But Kitagawa had already used Body Flicker to escape, landing on the roof.
Looking at the crater below, Kitagawa's expression twitched.
If I'd taken that punch, I'd be done for.
And Tsunade's full speed is terrifying too.
Good thing I mastered Shave. And I've been improving constantly.
"Hey, Tsunade-sama, isn't this overkill?!"
Kitagawa sighed.
Tsunade looked up, secretly impressed. This guy's speed seems even faster than before.
But she still jumped onto the roof after him.
Seeing Tsunade about to attack again and worried she'd demolish the house, Kitagawa quickly said, "Wait!"
"Tsunade-sama, I accept the bet."
"I teach you Shave, you teach me your superhuman strength technique. Once we master them, we compete. Whoever touches the other first wins."
"The loser must accept one reasonable demand from the winner!"
Tsunade stopped, frowning. "That takes too long!"
Kitagawa smiled. "During the training period, I'll pause home visits."
Tsunade immediately nodded. "Deal!"
Kitagawa leaped down from the roof. "Then Tsunade-sama, let's teach each other our techniques first!"
Tsunade jumped down after him.
The two headed to Kitagawa's usual training spot, one in front and one behind.
After stopping, Kitagawa pulled out a piece of paper. "Tsunade-sama, I'll skip the basic pure physical force part and teach you directly how to perform consecutive chakra bursts."
Tsunade nodded, but something felt off about the paper he was holding.
Wasn't this prepared awfully thoroughly?
But before she could think it over, Kitagawa continued. "Tsunade-sama, when standing on water, our chakra distributes evenly on the soles of our feet. Think of that portion of chakra like this paper."
Tsunade focused intently.
Kitagawa began folding the paper. "To master Shave, you fold the chakra gathered at your feet similarly."
"Remember, the folded chakra is continuous and flowing."
Tsunade immediately understood what Kitagawa meant about chakra form control. "It's definitely a clever concept, but wouldn't chakra bursts make the subsequent chakra unstable?"
Kitagawa nodded. "As expected of Tsunade-sama—keen insight."
"Exactly. That's why we need buffering. First layer bursts, second layer buffers, third layer bursts."
"During our fight, I could only manage three bursts simultaneously. Now I can do seven."
Tsunade thought for a moment, then nodded. "I understand."
Then she smiled. "You've planned all of this from the start, haven't you?"