The survival rate of genin who lacked real combat experience was predictably low on a battlefield.
If they could get more opportunities for practical combat, their missions would be much safer.
Tsunade couldn't help but look at Kawasaki in a new light.
"I have to admit, your idea is a good one."
Kawasaki smiled. "Come on, let's go eat."
He invited Tsunade to join them for dinner.
What Tsunade didn't know was that once the Uchiha clan became independent, they would have to run their own academy to train the next generation.
With the Sharingan, the Uchiha could easily catch up on academics and cultural knowledge, but they lacked teaching experience.
By implementing practical combat training now, Kawasaki could simultaneously cultivate a few teachers, preparing for the clan's future.
The group soon sat around the table. Since Kawasaki was eating at home tonight, he had specifically asked the chef to prepare a few of his favorite dishes.
Mapo Tofu, spicy boiled fish, and rabbit hot pot.
The others' tastes had been swayed by Kawasaki, and they now all preferred strongly flavored food.
Even when Sasuke and Naruto browsed the food stalls, they favored the spicier options.
Kawasaki and Tsunade also made sure to put food on Naruto's plate.
Naruto would always happily devour the food piled high in his bowl until it was spotless.
He had grown accustomed to the life of having a home and family.
...
Meanwhile, a clone of Kawasaki's had taken a book and was heading toward the Land of Whirlpools.
After the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed, every major hidden village had scoured the ruins in search of the Uzumaki clan's secret jutsu.
The villagers of Uzushiogakure had changed their names and scattered across the various nations.
Most of Uzushiogakure's sealing jutsu, however, had fallen into Konoha's hands.
To be precise, more than ninety percent of Konoha's sealing jutsu originated from Uzushiogakure.
After several fruitless sweeps of the Land of Whirlpools, the other hidden villages eventually gave up.
The repeated scouring by multiple villages had made the region exceptionally sensitive.
Thus, despite the Land of Whirlpools being vast and having a pleasant climate, no one had occupied it, leaving only a few scattered civilians.
It took Kawasaki two days to reach the Land of Whirlpools, using his ring to pinpoint the location several times along the way.
Once he confirmed the position, Kawasaki circled the area for a while before finally spotting one of Konan's paper cranes.
Following the paper crane, he was led deep into a seaside cavern.
Such caverns were common along the coast.
The entrance would be submerged during high tide, only to be revealed when the tide receded.
Kawasaki followed the fluttering paper crane inside.
He walked across the surface of the water, and soon, the tide began to rise.
The water level rose steadily until his head was nearly touching the cavern ceiling.
Konan's paper crane suddenly dove into the water, and Kawasaki followed, submerging himself to continue forward.
The paper crane was waterproof, so it would be fine for a short time.
He swam forward for five minutes, and the paper crane gradually became damp.
Just as Kawasaki was starting to worry if the crane could still lead the way, it shot out of the water.
Kawasaki broke the surface right after it.
"Splash!"
As he emerged, he saw Konan already waiting for him on the shore.
Kawasaki surfaced, looking around. He was still in a cavern, but it was now a sealed space.
Glowing fluorescent stones dotted the walls, providing a faint light.
"Kawasaki, you're here."
Kawasaki slowly stood up in the water, wiping the droplets from his face.
"This is impressive. How did you ever find a place this hidden?"
Konan smiled, a bit embarrassed. "It must have been a lot of trouble for you, making this trip."
Kawasaki waved his hand dismissively. "It's nothing. Let's go see Nagato."
Konan led the way, and after navigating two more branching cave passages, they finally reached Nagato.
This was the first time Kawasaki had ever seen Nagato in person.
The images he had seen through the Magic Lantern Body Technique were always blurry, but now, a high-definition Nagato stood—or rather, sat—right before his eyes.
In that moment, Kawasaki truly felt that Nagato's survival was a medical miracle.
His ribs were clearly visible through the skin of his chest, and his abdomen was deeply sunken.
He looked like patients who couldn't eat, in their final days before passing.
His back was pierced with numerous black rods, and his hands were placed inside a device that seemed to transmit signals.
Nagato's face was also gaunt and hollowed out. His entire state suggested he was just one small step from death's door.
"Kawasaki, you've come."
Nagato's expression was one of excitement. After all, Kawasaki had brought him a glimmer of hope.
Kawasaki nodded in acknowledgment, his eyes scanning Nagato's physical condition.
"It looks like the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path has drained nearly all of your life force."
Nagato's expression darkened. "Yes. Otherwise, I wouldn't be in this helpless state."
Kawasaki considered it for a moment before speaking.
"Nagato, I know the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique consumes a massive amount of visual power and life force."
"But I have a method to transfer life force into your body."
Konan was stunned.
"You're going to give your own life force to Nagato? What will happen to you?"
Kawasaki answered nonchalantly, "I'm an Uchiha. I have ways of handling it. You don't need to worry about that."
Although Konan and Nagato didn't know what Kawasaki planned to do, based on his personality, he wouldn't put himself in danger.
...
In the seaside cavern in the Land of Whirlpools...
"The original plan was for you to use the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique to revive Yahiko while I transferred life force to you," Kawasaki began.
"But seeing your condition now, I think we should change the order."
"I'll transfer life force to you first. If there's any left over, then we'll consider reviving Yahiko."
Nagato thought for a moment.
"I'm afraid there won't be enough life force to revive Yahiko."
"That's all the more reason to let me give you life force first. We can decide whether to revive Yahiko based on the situation afterward."
"We need to ensure at least one of you has a body capable of fighting."
Kawasaki shot a meaningful look at Konan.
Konan quickly joined in, trying to persuade Nagato.
"He's right, Nagato. We can figure out something for Yahiko later, but we can't afford for anything to happen to you."
Nagato fell silent for a moment. Seeing the worry in Konan's eyes, he finally agreed to Kawasaki's suggestion.
"Alright, Kawasaki. What do we need to prepare?"
Kawasaki laid out the steps he had already thought of on his way here.
"First, prepare Yahiko's body. Take out all those black rods."
"If you have enough life force, I think you should be able to stand up, Nagato."
"Konan, you'll support Nagato. I'll use the One's Own Life Reincarnation technique to transfer my life force to him."
"It will take time for the life force to flow into him."
"During this process, if Nagato's life force is nearly full, tell me."
"I'll let you know how much more I can give him."
"That way, you can judge whether it's enough to revive Yahiko."
"Alright, time is of the essence. Let's begin now."
Kawasaki's explanation was perfectly clear, and both Nagato and Konan nodded in understanding.
Nagato performed a Summoning Jutsu, bringing forth his other Five Paths.
Together with Konan, they removed all the black rods from Yahiko's body.
Yahiko was laid flat on the ground.
Next, Nagato pulled his hands out of the wooden chair-like contraption. Konan stepped forward to support him, slowly helping him to his feet.
Only then did Kawasaki realize that Nagato had kept his hands in the machine because the black rods in his back were too heavy; his crippled legs couldn't support him on their own.
He could barely stand even with Konan's help.
Kawasaki saw that the bones in Nagato's feet were intact, but the tendons above his calves were twisted and deformed.
No wonder he couldn't stand.
It was clearly a great strain for Nagato to remain standing, so Kawasaki didn't waste any time.
He walked forward and said, "I'm ready."
Nagato looked down at Yahiko on the ground and nodded.
Kawasaki made a show of forming a few hand seals.
Then, the effects of the One's Own Life Reincarnation became visible. A brilliant light shone from his palms, enveloping Nagato's body.