Naruto: Reborn with the Tenseigan

With Tsunade's support, Takashi no longer needed to assist others and could stay in the break room to study peacefully every day.

With enough time and Tsunade's personal guidance, Takashi mastered the Chakra Scalpel in just two days.

Over the next period, Takashi became like a dry sponge, rapidly absorbing all kinds of medical knowledge and learning various medical ninjutsu.

Tsunade went from being shocked, to gradually getting used to it, and eventually becoming numb.

She felt completely drained, as if Takashi had wrung every last drop out of her.

Most of the medical ninjutsu she knew had already been learned by Takashi.

Two months later, Tsunade personally took Takashi to the examination.

As expected, Takashi passed with excellent results, successfully obtaining his medical-nin certificate and promptly submitted his application to work at the hospital.

In an elegant tavern.

Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya, the trio reunited.

"Tsunade, I heard you took on an apprentice—someone from the Hyuga clan, no less."

Jiraiya, having forgotten the injuries he nearly suffered at her hands, was back to teasing Tsunade, winking as he spoke.

"Oh, is that true?"

Orochimaru paused with his hand halfway to his glass.

Tsunade shot a fierce glare at Jiraiya, causing him to shiver, before she withdrew her gaze, satisfied.

"I haven't taken on a disciple. I just saw that the kid had talent, and since I had time, I decided to guide him a bit. But I guess I underestimated him—Hyuga Takashi has quite a gift for medical ninjutsu."

"But enough about that."

Shaking her head, Tsunade changed the subject, "What have you two been up to lately?"

Since their Jonin exams, the three had officially disbanded as a team and pursued their own paths.

Tsunade worked at Konoha Hospital, Orochimaru conducted his strange experiments, and Jiraiya was either on missions or secretly gathering "research material."

"Recently, I got a troublesome mission that took up some time," Orochimaru said nonchalantly.

"Hehe, I've been quite busy, I—"

Jiraiya rubbed his hands together, only to be interrupted by Tsunade.

"Enough, no need to elaborate. If it's not peeking on girls bathing, it's writing that nonsense of yours."

Tsunade set her cup down and slapped the table, warning him:

"If I catch Nawaki with any of your filthy books again, I swear I'll kill you!"

"Why teach a kid something like that? You could teach him anything else, but no—it had to be that trash!"

"Cough, cough. It's a misunderstanding—a total misunderstanding! Nawaki must have snuck it in himself. It has nothing to do with me," Jiraiya said, guilty as he tried to defend himself.

"Heh."

Watching the fierce Tsunade and the cowering Jiraiya, Orochimaru's lips curled up slightly.

These were the rare moments when Orochimaru could relax, and he cherished such times, even though he usually just sat quietly, observing.

The trio drank, ate, and shared amusing stories from their work or missions.

Soon, after their fill, they went their separate ways.

Tsunade left first. Jiraiya, still seated, clutched a bottle, giggling foolishly. It seemed Tsunade had forgiven him, as she wasn't mad anymore.

"..."

Orochimaru shot Jiraiya a disdainful glance and silently got up to leave.

Returning home, Tsunade, reeking of alcohol, entered the house and found Kushina sitting alone in the courtyard.

"Lady Tsunade."

Kushina looked up at the approaching figure, quickly standing up to greet her.

"Call me 'sister.' Or is it that the word 'sister' is just too difficult for you to say?"

Tsunade, displeased, placed her hand on Kushina's head, playfully messing up her red hair.

"Sister Tsunade!!"

Stunned for a few seconds by her hair being messed up, Kushina let out a sharp cry—not many girls liked having their hair turned into a mess.

"Don't cry, don't cry. It's my fault, alright? How about this: I'll take you shopping later, okay?"

Tsunade hadn't expected Kushina to be so sensitive. Just a little teasing, and she almost cried.

After much effort, she finally managed to calm Kushina down, promising to take her out shopping.

Seeing the little girl smile again, Tsunade slumped her shoulders, feeling more exhausted from comforting Kushina than she was working at the hospital.

"Sister Tsunade, someone brought you a letter just now."

With Tsunade's promise secured, Kushina eagerly pulled out a letter.

"A letter? For me?"

Who would write a letter to me?

Curious, Tsunade took the envelope, opened it, and quickly scanned the contents. Her expression became solemn.

After pocketing the letter, Tsunade patted Kushina's head.

"Kushina, I need to go handle something. How about I take you shopping another day, alright?"

"Can't I come with you?"

Kushina looked up at Tsunade with a pitiful gaze.

Tsunade started to get a headache. Why did she have to mess with the kid in the first place? Now she was in a tough spot.

After hesitating for a while, Tsunade finally gave in.

"Alright, alright. But you have to promise to be good, understand?"

Kushina was a pitiful child, and Takashi wasn't much different.

Maybe if they spent some time together, they could find some common ground, and Kushina might make a new friend?

Even though the village strictly forbade anyone from approaching Kushina, Takashi was someone Tsunade approved of—which made him practically family.

With Tsunade there, what was wrong with letting him interact with Kushina?

If anyone had a problem with it, they could take it up with her.

And so, Tsunade led Kushina out of the Senju compound, heading toward the Hyuga clan grounds. On the way, she stopped at a roadside shop to buy plenty of snacks.

Lady Tsunade, with Kushina in tow, headed to the Hyuga compound.

The Anbu watching over Kushina immediately reported to the Third Hokage.

In the Hokage office, the Third Hokage stood by the window, looking in the direction of the Hyuga compound.

"Is it because of Hyuga Takashi?"

Takashi had applied to join the medical department, and in just over two months, had learned more medical techniques than many medical-nin and had passed the medical-nin examination with flying colors.

On the day of his exam, all relevant information was delivered to the Third Hokage's desk.

Injured during a mission, leading to his bloodline's regression, then subjected to neglect and unfair treatment by his clan, Takashi applied to the medical department, only to unexpectedly display his talents.

The scarcity of medical-nin, combined with Takashi's natural talent, had drawn the Third Hokage's attention.

Most importantly, Takashi was someone Tsunade recognized, and as Tsunade was a disciple of the Hokage, that practically made Takashi half-family.

The Third Hokage picked up Takashi's file, carefully reading it over, before falling silent for a moment.

"What a pity."

Takashi's situation was unique, which meant that, at best, he could only ever be considered half-family.