Today was January 1st, New Year's Day.
After a busy year, whether they were Ninja, laborers, or shop owners, everyone had a few days off.
In this regard, Konoha was still quite humane.
It was said that this custom had been passed down since ancient times.
After recuperating for nearly half a month, Seiryū's injuries had recovered to the point where he could mobilize Chakra.
So last night, he treated his own injuries.
The feeling of being free from illness was truly great!
"Things shouldn't happen more than three times. The third time is the limit. In the future, I shouldn't suffer such serious injuries again. Sigh, it's still because I'm not strong enough. If I were strong enough, I definitely wouldn't need to go all out or use methods that hurt the enemy by a thousand while damaging myself by eight hundred."
After waking up, Seiryū immediately encouraged himself.
Metaphysics was something you had to believe in.
Tsunade's betting record was proof of that.
However, things should not happen more than three times. Three times was the limit.
Seiryū chose to believe in metaphysics!
"I need to find a time to master Sage Art. After getting injured a few times from going all out, my physical fitness seems to have become much stronger, far beyond my peers. My Chakra reserves have also increased quite a bit. Maybe I can find a time to try practicing Sage Art."
Feeling the condition of his own body, Seiryū silently pondered.
It was very likely because of his repeated injuries and his special constitution.
Seiryū discovered that all aspects of his physical quality had improved significantly.
Perhaps he had already reached the threshold for practicing Sage Art!
Dragon Vein Chakra contained natural energy. If Seiryū wanted to use it freely, then mastering Sage Art and controlling natural energy were necessary.
"I'll ask later."
Thinking about these things, Seiryū got out of bed.
He walked to the washroom to brush his teeth and wash his face.
He was still at Tsunade's place now.
He had mentioned it before.
He had three homes in Konoha.
One was the Yuhi Family's home, one was Tsunade's place, and one was the house he had bought with his own money.
Since he had been injured and even walking had been difficult, Seiryū was too lazy to run around and had been staying at Tsunade's place.
Tsunade could also ease his injuries.
The reason he could recover so quickly was naturally inseparable from Tsunade's treatment.
"Seiryū, you're awake?"
Seeing Seiryū, Shizune, who was cooking, greeted him.
"Yeah. After my injuries got better, I stopped sleeping in."
Seiryū nodded, then asked, "By the way, where is Kurenai? Is she still sleeping in?"
Because she was worried about Seiryū's condition, Kurenai had also been staying at Tsunade's place these days, sharing a room with Shizune.
Shizune answered while cooking, "Kurenai had insomnia yesterday and went to sleep very late, so I didn't wake her up."
"Oh."
Seiryū responded, then said, "I just recovered from a major illness, so my body needs nourishment. Why don't you make some medicinal cuisine? I remember Kurenai taught you how to make medicinal ramen, right?"
"Uh."
The corner of Shizune's mouth twitched. Even after so long, Seiryū's strange taste still had not changed.
She said helplessly, "If you want to eat it, I can make it separately for you. As for us, well, let's forget it."
Seiryū felt a little embarrassed. "Make it separately for me? Wouldn't that be too much trouble? Just make it for everyone."
Shizune said with a serious expression, "No. That kind of medicinal cuisine doesn't suit our tastes. I'll make it separately for you."
"All right, then."
Seiryū did not dwell on it.
He originally wanted to go to the backyard to exercise, but then he heard a banging sound at the door.
Scanning with his perception, he discovered a familiar Chakra fluctuation. Seiryū clicked his tongue. "What a rare guest."
He walked toward the gate, opened it, and saw Jiraiya standing outside.
Seiryū smiled at him. "Long time no see, Jiraiya-sensei. How do you have time to return to the village?"
Jiraiya had not returned to Konoha for a while.
The last time was when he heard that the Five Great Ninja Villages were jointly holding the Chunin Exams, so he had returned to the village to understand the situation.
That had been over two months ago.
"I knew you were here."
Seeing that Seiryū was the one who opened the door, Jiraiya was not surprised at all. After looking him up and down, he smiled and said, "Looks like your injuries have healed?"
He had returned to the village this time to spend New Year's.
At the same time, he had also heard some news about Seiryū from other parts of the Ninja World.
So he decided to come back to the village and take a look.
Last night, he had already learned from Hiruzen about some of the things that had recently happened in Konoha.
After hearing that Seiryū was injured again, he felt that Seiryū must be at Tsunade's place.
So he came looking for him.
By the way, he also wanted to see Tsunade, his old friend, and get closer to her.
"Yeah, they're healed. I can heal injuries that that bad woman can't. Just based on that, I'm already stronger than her in Medical Ninjutsu."
Seiryū raised an eyebrow proudly.
There was no need to say it.
This time, even Tsunade did not have much confidence in healing his injuries.
Even if she could heal them, it would have taken a considerable amount of time.
At the very least, it would have taken half a year, and there was no guarantee that they could be completely healed. There might even have been serious aftereffects.
This just showed how serious Seiryū's injuries had been this time, and how powerful the effects of Kaidō were.
Of course, it should also have been because Seiryū's recovery ability had improved.
At least compared to the previous two times, Seiryū's self-healing ability had indeed become much stronger.
Jiraiya sighed. "You're becoming more and more of a monster."
Every time he returned to the village, Seiryū always gave him another shock.
He heard that even Setsuna, the Great Elder of the Uchiha Clan, had been killed by Seiryū.
If not for that, Seiryū would probably have been the one to make it to the end of the Chunin Exams not long ago.
However, it seemed that another remarkable Konoha Ninja had appeared in the Chunin Exams.
In the finals, that Ninja subdued the enemy without fighting, making the opponent voluntarily concede.
They had shown the style of a Konoha Genin.
This allowed Konoha's foundation to be displayed, and it also made the people from the other Ninja Villages, who had come to test Konoha's depth, leave in a dejected manner.
What surprised him even more was that Seiryū, who had killed the Great Elder of the Uchiha Clan, was not only fine, but the Uchiha Clan had chosen to lower their heads and voluntarily let the matter pass.
Now, Seiryū had even healed injuries that Tsunade could not heal.
If this was not being a monster, then what was?
Oh, it might also be the Child of Prophecy.
"It's good that you're okay. Don't take too many risks in the future. It's best not to use dangerous techniques too often, especially Dragon Vein Chakra. Before mastering Sage Art, using it carries risks."
Jiraiya advised Seiryū.
He had not forgotten that he was still the other party's Sensei.
Although it seemed like he had not taught Seiryū many things, and most of the guidance had come from Tsunade.
But it did not matter.
Tsunade was one of the Legendary Sannin, just like him, so her level was still acceptable.
Who told him to be so busy?
Not only did he have to search for the possible Child of Prophecy, but he also had to find inspiration to write books. He was not an idle person like Tsunade.
He believed Seiryū could understand him!
"Yeah."
Seiryū naturally nodded repeatedly. After letting Jiraiya enter the house and sit down, he brought up another matter. "By the way, Sensei, you should have already mastered Sage Art, right? Do you think I can learn Sage Art now?"
"Of course. I am the Toad Sage, Jiraiya. Do you know what a Sage is? It's someone who has mastered Sage Art!"
Jiraiya took a sip of the tea Seiryū brewed, his expression somewhat proud.
Then he shook his head and answered Seiryū's question. "But for you, well, you're still too young."
"To learn Sage Art, you need to meet certain conditions. At the very least, you need to wait until you are around the age of your senpai, Minato."
He had been warned by Tsunade.
He could not teach Seiryū anything about Sage Art, otherwise she would take his bones apart.
For the sake of his own life, he did not dare disobey.
Anyway, it was indeed true. Seiryū was still too young, and it was not suitable for him to practice Sage Art now.
"Speaking of which, I went to Mount Myōboku before and heard Fukasaku mention that your senpai has already mastered Sage Art, and it's even more perfect than mine."
Speaking of Minato, Jiraiya could not help but sigh.
The two disciples he had taken in were each more talented than the last.
As their Sensei, he felt somewhat ashamed.
"Minato-senpai's talent is indeed very strong."
Seiryū knew about this.
However, because of Tsunade's warning, Minato rarely mentioned Sage Art in front of him.
He had only shown it once.
He used Sage Art: Rasenshuriken.
Seiryū would not give up. "I think I should be able to meet the conditions, right? My constitution is relatively special. Even some Jōnin might not have as much Chakra as me."
"Is that so?"
Jiraiya glanced at Seiryū and smiled. "The Uzumaki Clan's constitution is indeed special, but if you want to learn Sage Art, well, wait until you get Tsunade's approval."
"Although I am your Sensei, I am often traveling outside. Compared to me, Tsunade understands your situation better. Just follow her arrangements."
Tsunade really dared to beat him.
Taking his bones out to make soup might be an exaggeration.
But breaking a few of his bones and beating him half to death was definitely something she dared to do.
He did not want to suffer.
Seiryū: "…"
No.
Are you all that afraid of that bad woman Tsunade?
Can you be more like a man?
He often "provoked" that bad woman Tsunade, and at most he only got two bumps on his head. Sometimes, it might even trigger Tsunade's personal treatment.
What was there to be afraid of?
If Jiraiya heard Seiryū's thoughts at this moment, he would definitely curse inwardly. Do you think everyone is like you, able to receive special treatment from Tsunade?
The ferocity of this woman Tsunade was well-known.
He once tried to peep and was beaten until six ribs were broken, both wrists were fractured, and his internal organs were ruptured in multiple places. He almost lost his life.
When it involved Seiryū, the disciple Tsunade recognized and valued, he felt the severity was no less than peeping at Tsunade taking a bath.
"Consider yourself smart. If you had dared to agree to this kid, I would definitely take your bones out to make soup!"
Tsunade's calm voice came from nearby.
Walking into the living room, Tsunade glared at Seiryū, then shifted her gaze to Jiraiya.
She said indifferently, "Why are you back this time? If you dare take Seiryū to do those lecherous things, I will also break your bones!"
Why was this guy back again?
Wasn't he doing perfectly fine traveling outside the village?
Why return to the village?
Jiraiya: "…"
This attitude.
Also, what did she mean by "lecherous things"?
He had no such thoughts!
Jiraiya laughed dryly. "Isn't it New Year's? I have to come home, right? Also, I wanted to understand the situation with Seiryū and Minato."
Tsunade looked at Jiraiya with disdain, like he was some wandering loafer who would teach her child bad things.
She said lightly, "This kid has no problems, and his injuries were healed by himself. If there's nothing else, you can leave. I won't keep you for dinner."
Jiraiya's face darkened. "Hey, at least we haven't seen each other for a long time, and it's New Year's now. Isn't this a bit too distant?"
"Tch."
Tsunade clicked her tongue lightly. Although she despised Jiraiya very much and thought he would lead Seiryū astray, she did not continue driving him away.
She pouted and said, "For the sake of you being Seiryū's Sensei, stay and have a simple meal."
After that, she called toward the kitchen, "Shizune, prepare more breakfast. There's someone here to freeload a meal!"
Hearing this, Jiraiya slowly formed a question mark in his mind.
"?"
This was simply reversing the natural order!
As one of the Sannin, a former teammate, and someone who had gone through life and death with her, he had actually fallen to the point where he needed to rely on his disciple Seiryū's relationship to freeload a meal at Tsunade's house.
Their decades of teammate friendship were actually not as good as Seiryū, who had only been her disciple for a few years?
Wasn't this double standard too much?
At the same time, Jiraiya was envious again.
What exactly had this kid Seiryū done to be valued so highly by Tsunade? Why was his position in her heart so high?
"Bad woman, I think you have a prejudice against me. No, it's that you underestimate me. I think I am now qualified to practice Sage Art!"
Seiryū was a little displeased at this time.
This bad woman actually wanted to interfere with his practice of Sage Art.
How could this be allowed?
But before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Tsunade's overbearing words. "No. I don't agree. You need to wait another year or two. Wait until you are twelve or thirteen years old before practicing Sage Art!"
Seiryū snorted coldly. "Are you afraid that after I learn Sage Art, I'll beat you so badly that you can't fight back, so you're deliberately limiting my growth speed?"
"Hehehe."
Tsunade laughed meaningfully, her eyes filled with danger. "Your injuries have healed, right? If they have, come to the backyard to 'exercise' your body. I think you have been too confident recently, which is a major taboo for a Ninja!"
Seiryū also wanted to exercise his body, and he was not afraid at all. "Come on. Who's afraid of you? Watch me activate Intangibility and mess you up!"
Others were afraid of Tsunade, but he was not!
"You are forbidden from using Dragon Vein Chakra and the Eight Gates!"
"Why? Then I won't have even the slightest chance of winning. I won't do something where I only get beaten and can't fight back. I'm not stupid!"
"Because I am your Sensei!"
"My Sensei is Jiraiya!"
Tsunade's brows twitched, and she said with a false smile, "I have to admit, you really are good at pissing people off, and I am also good at beating people. Follow me. If you dare run, you're dead!"
Seiryū sneered. "Who said I was going to run? I can avoid using Intangibility and the Eight Gates, but you have to let me have one hand. Otherwise, you're just bullying a child!"
Tsunade tilted her head and smiled brightly. "I never said I wasn't bullying you."
Seiryū: "?"
You're not even bothering to pretend anymore, are you?
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)