Chapter 18

When it came to the training plan for the changing chakra's nature, he approached it with careful consideration. A year prior, when he committed to earnestly practicing ninjutsu, he bought chakra paper to test and discern his chakra attributes.

Fortuitously, he possessed three chakra attributes: fire, lightning, and wind—each renowned for their offensive potency and challenging control.

The fire and thunder attributes likely stemmed from his father, while the wind attribute came from his mother, as relayed by Mei. Remarkably, his mother, unlike most Uchiha ninjas, did not have the fire chakra affinity. Thus, he inherited a blend of exceptional genetics from both parents.

Taking into account the sequence of conflicts during the Third Ninja World War—Konoha's engagements with the Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure countries—he devised a strategic approach. He opted to first train in the chakra nature of fire, followed by lightning, and then wind. This sequence was chosen to exploit the inherent advantages of each element: using fire to counter wind(Suna), Lightning to triumph over Earth(Iwa), and wind to counter Lightning(Kumo).

He recognized the pivotal role of attribute matchups in the complex dynamics between hidden villages. Konoha's ability to subdue Sunagakure and Onoki's necessity to ambush the Third Raikage were not solely products of economic greed but were profoundly influenced by attribute advantages. The intricate interplay of elemental affinities lay at the heart of conflicts, as evidenced by the alliances and rivalries that shaped the course of history among the Five Great Shinobi Countries.

Much like Deidara's defeat by Sasuke Uchiha in the original story, their elemental attributes served as clear examples of the pivotal role of affinities in combat.

Fortunately, his family possessed comprehensive knowledge regarding the training methods for nature and the form changes associated with these three affinities.

However, delving into the realms of the yin and yang chakra natures required a cautious approach. Based on his research findings, these two attributes posed significantly greater challenges compared to the standard five elemental affinities. They demanded specific levels of physical aptitude and mental fortitude from ninjas.

In his strategic plan, he aimed to gradually acquaint himself with these attributes after two more years of honing his ability to produce shadow clones.

Retrieving a generously packed lunchbox from the refrigerator, he noted the absence of a microwave, a luxury not yet embraced in their household. Unperturbed, he clasped his hands together and applied chakra to the top and bottom of the lunchbox. A pale blue aura of chakra emitted from his hands, gradually infusing warmth into the contents of the lunchbox. This was the result of his recent endeavors in Chakra nature change to fire.

The process mirrored the principles of refining the wind attribute, wherein he would manipulate his chakra to heat a basin of water to boiling point. As his training progressed, he aimed to increase both the volume of water and the intensity of the fire release ninjutsu.

Suddenly, a sense of happiness washed over me as I opened the bento box, and the heavenly aroma of the food hit my nose.

Ah~ Mei-neechan's homemade bento is simply divine. The aroma is irresistible!

Meanwhile, within the Hokage Building at the heart of Konoha Village, echoing through the hallway outside the Hokage's office was the crisp sound of high-heeled shoes rhythmically striking the wooden floor.

"Boom!" The door to Hokage's office burst open with force, revealing a striking figure. With cascading golden blonde hair flowing down her back and loosely tied into two ponytails, her fair and smooth complexion framed by elegant eyebrows, and a pair of honey brown eyes, she exuded a captivating allure. The bridge of her nose had an elegant curve, her lips formed into a thin line, showing her displeasure, and a small snow-blue diamond-shaped mark between her eyebrows added to her captivating charm.

However, her most notable feature was not her face but her body, captivating even the Third Hokage, a master of keeping a poker face, who instinctively stole a few glances before adopting a stern expression.

"Tsunade, how many times must I remind you to knock before entering my office!" The Third Hokage admonished, pressing down the Hokage hat atop his head to obscure his line of sight.

"..."

'Just like that idiot, Jiraiya! Like master, like apprentice!' Tsunade thought to herself.

She remained silent, paying little heed to her blunder of entering the Hokage's office without knocking.

This Hokage's office was all too familiar to her. Whether it was the current occupant, the Third Hokage, or the ones before, the First and Second Hokage, she knew every corner intimately. It held countless cherished memories from her childhood.

Ignoring her sensei's reprimand, the blonde woman entered with a look of disdain aimed at the Third Hokage.

"Ahem, were you looking for me, Tsunade?" The Third Hokage, feeling the weight of his student's disdainful gaze, coughed to mask his discomfort and swiftly changed the subject.

Recognizing her teacher's usual aloofness, she met his gaze with a blank stare and proceeded to explain the purpose of her visit to the Hokage's office.

"Special jounin Uchiha Mei has submitted a clinical trial report on a new type of hemostatic special drug. Have you reviewed it, and do you have any thoughts on including it in the standard medical supplies for ninjas?"

She didn't waste any time, getting straight to the point as soon as she entered. This was the main reason for her visit to the Hokage's office this time.

"The new special hemostatic drug developed by Mei Uchiha?" He murmured to himself, pulling out a document from the table to review.

He was already aware of the new drug, having been informed about it when Mei applied for clinical trials. Initially, he hadn't regarded it as particularly significant, viewing it merely as a gesture of goodwill from the Uchiha family towards the village and their support for the ongoing medical reforms. However, the development had exceeded his expectations, and he hadn't anticipated such significant results from the drug.

As he examined the experiment report in his hand, he noted the remarkable efficacy of the hemostatic drug. It exhibited six times the hemostatic effect of the current wound medicine, doubled the healing speed, and greatly surpassed the current medicine in terms of anti-infection properties. Moreover, its price was only twice that of the existing one.

Usually, medicines with similar effects were closely guarded secrets of the major clans and came with exorbitant price tags.

Given its remarkable effectiveness, it was the perfect potion. It wasn't difficult to envision the tremendous assistance it could provide to injured ninjas. Upon widespread use, it could significantly reduce the casualty rate among Konoha's ninjas.

Over the past three days, numerous meetings have been convened. Despite several rounds of discussions among the elders and the council, consensus remains elusive.

Currently, Konoha relies on medicine provided primarily by three clans: Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi. The Nara clan is responsible for research, Yamanaka for the cultivation of medicinal plants, and Akimichi for the production. The kind of medicine that Mei has developed would make two to three types of medicines that the three clans produce obselete.

The hasty promotion of such a medicine would undoubtedly stir significant unrest and controversy within the village. The people from the three clans also hold high positions in various Konoha departments.

Although the effectiveness of the current wound medicine is lacking, its advantage lies in being indirectly under the Hokage's control, as the three clans are staunch supporters of the Third Hokage. In contrast, this new medicine is in the possession of the Uchiha clan, complicating the relationship between the family and the village.

"Tsunade, you must understand the complexities surrounding the promotion of this new drug. This would disrupt the balance of the village!"

"Enough! Balancing interests is of no consequence to me, but from what I found, the ingredients used in this new medicine partly overlap with those in the current medicine. The impact on the interests of the various village families is minimal, and the repercussions for the village should be insignificant."

Her admiration for this new drug stems from the groundbreaking medical reform she is spearheading. While integrating a medical ninja into the squad is commendable, its impact remains limited due to the training period required for it and the high level of chakra control and skill needed to successfully utilize their abilities in combat situations.

What she urgently requires is a remarkable achievement to compel the village to bolster its investment in medical ninjutsu, medical ninjas, and various medical supplies and equipment.

Medical ninjas, she acknowledges, are not all-powerful, and not everyone possesses the immense yang energy and the high chakra control like herself. Newly trained medical ninjas can only perform basic techniques such as wound sealing and healing, with usage frequency varying among individuals.

Hence her fervent desire to incorporate this new medicine into the standard medical supplies for ninjas. By saving more lives among her peers, she aims to underscore the village's recognition of the importance of fortifying the healthcare system.

Regarding any apprehension she harbors toward the Uchiha clan, although she has been influenced by her uncle, the second Hokage, and many of the Senju elders, and maintains a level of wariness toward the Uchiha clan, there exists a notable disparity between her stance and that of her relatives and mentors, including the current Hokage, the Third Hokage.

Ultimately, whether it pertains to ninjas or the village at large, this development represents a significant boon.

Even her newly established medical system will yield significant benefits, leaving no grounds for refusal.

"Tsunade! Things are not as straightforward as you may believe," the Third Hokage cautioned her seriously, revealing the intricacies of the situation to his disciple. Including the internal alliances and the benefits that the village is receiving from them. There is a certain cut in the profits that the village usually receives for keeping the current medicine as a mandatory medicinal supply.

"This kind of alliance is very dirty, sensei. There needs to be a reform. By continuing on the same path, we will be alienating the Uchiha further." Tsunade remarked seriously, pointing out the dirty politics that Hiruzen and the elders are playing and the possible consequences.

AN : You can read chapters published ahead on my p@treon account - p@treon.com/noviceauthor777