Immortality begins with the ninjas of Konoha.

In mid-December of Konoha Year 45, the number of injured people in the hospital increased significantly compared to the previous month.

For seasoned Konoha ninjas, injuries are commonplace, but for recent graduates, many young ninja dreams are shattered.

As evening fell, in the intensive care unit of Konoha Hospital, Furukawa Osamu had just finished his treatment when a voice came from the doorway:

"Is Asami out of danger?"

A boy of about 12 years old rushed to the bedside and anxiously asked loudly, while Kakashi, who was following behind, calmly interjected:

"A ninja must always remain calm!"

"It's not a fatal injury. With Xiu's skill level, he should be discharged in two days at most."

The boy standing by the hospital bed looked annoyed, and his teammate, who had followed him, quickly pulled him back and bowed in apology.

"Uchida was just overly worried about Asami, and I apologize for his recklessness."

Furukawa Osamu didn't blame the two. Instead, he smiled gently and gave a brief introduction:

"Just like Kakashi said, Mami will be able to be discharged from the hospital in two days."

"Don't blame yourself. The Sand Village ninjas are skilled in using poison, and your emergency treatment was very timely."

Seemingly worried that his companion might say something wrong, the mature young man bowed again, then ignored his struggling companion and pulled him out of the ward.

"It seems you still care about your subordinates a lot. There's really no need to come to the intensive care unit for this kind of injury."

With a simple use of the [Minor Ailment Extraction Technique], most of the treatment was completed. Furukawa Osamu knew that Kakashi was giving his subordinates preferential treatment, but the boys were clearly not grateful.

Kakashi remained calm; due to his age, he knew his subordinates didn't really respect him.

"If they can give up being ninjas because of this, it would actually be a good thing."

"They'd have a hard time even dealing with Chunin at that age, I don't have a good future for them."

"If you just want to make money, you have better options. Insisting on being a ninja will only drag the team down in the end."

While not denying Kakashi's theory, Furukawa Osamu believed that most girls were indeed unsuitable for this profession, but considering the moves of higher-ups, he still offered a reminder:

"Low-level missions need more genin, Kakashi. If this continues, the Hokage will have to talk to you."

"This is ultimately a troublesome matter. From now on, doing some D-level missions will be enough. You can arrange the rest of your time as you see fit."

"Okay, you're right."

Kakashi gave a brief reply, then his deadpan expression returned. He had overestimated the graduates' abilities; they had almost failed even a C-rank mission.

"Did we encounter a puppeteer? Poisonous senbon is indeed troublesome."

"Don't underestimate Sunagakure. The village also has excellent medical ninjas, and their development of toxins is even ahead of Konoha."

"Tsunade-sensei developed an antidote a long time ago, so remember to bring it with you on future missions."

Hearing the instructions, Kakashi nodded seriously, then went on to recount yesterday's battle, briefly reviewing it:

"The puppet's attack methods are indeed somewhat strange, but once the puppet is destroyed, the ninja who controls it quickly falls into a disadvantageous position."

"I amplified the frequency of lightning on my short sword, and the attack was very effective. Fortunately, the opponent's wind release technique wasn't very good, otherwise it would have been much more troublesome."

Attribute advantage is very useful in most ninja battles. When Furukawa Osamu uses a short sword, he mainly uses wind attribute chakra, and he has already digested most of the White Fang Sword Technique with the [Gathering] technique.

"It seems you've already gained some insights..."

Furukawa Osamu gave a thumbs-up, but before he could speak again, the girl on the hospital bed had already woken up. Seeing the two of them, she immediately said in a daze:

Am I saved?

"It seems Kakashi was right, I do indeed lack ninja talent..."

If nothing unexpected happens, the girl will most likely end her ninja career after being discharged from the hospital; Kakashi's ability to dissuade people from quitting is becoming increasingly impressive.

-

That night, Tsunade unusually didn't go to the izakaya and instead drank herself into a tavern in her apartment until her cheeks were flushed.

"This cod roe salad is delicious! Mute it, another cup, please!"

"Tsunade-sensei, you've had too much to drink..."

Shizune carefully poured a glass, but Tsunade downed it in one gulp, swaying back and forth with her chin on her hand, before finally exclaiming loudly:

"I knew staying in the village would cause trouble. Konoha has become like Kumogakure, starting to yearn for war."

"Shu, has anyone told you about these things? That Nara kid really admires you, doesn't he?"

"Today they told me they could open their own pharmacopoeia; I wonder what conditions these guys offered Jiraiya and Orochimaru..."

The voices of the "hardliners" in the village are growing louder, perhaps because they are not satisfied with their current income, and many ninjas are beginning to call for expansion.

The Sand Village, the Rock Village, and the Cloud Village have all "done it," so there's no reason why the Leaf Village, the leader of the Five Great Nations, should remain restrained.

The village did not gain much benefit from the Second Shinobi World War, which is why the "hardliners" currently have some support.

"Captain Shikaku never talks to me about these things. With the help of the pharmacopoeia, Professor should be able to develop more new drugs!"

While leisurely savoring the pickled scallops, Osamu Furukawa, though aware of the unspoken message, had no interest in discussing the Hokage selection.

"You brat who only knows how to give me perfunctory answers!"

"I'd rather travel to every casino in the world. Naruto can't change anything; the old man is really getting old."

Dissatisfied, Tsunade muttered something and started another round of "whirlwind". No one believed that she didn't want to be Hokage; many ninja clans were hedging their bets.

Shizune didn't understand why Tsunade was so troubled. Naruto was many people's dream, which represented everyone's recognition.

By the end of dinner, Tsunade had once again passed out from drinking. Furukawa Osamu had seen her in this drunken state many times before, but this was the first time he'd seen her like this:

"So Lady Tsunade has this side to her in real life!"

A soft, sweet voice came from Furukawa Osamu's shoulder. Shizune felt a little embarrassed; her drunken image didn't match the sophistication of the Three Legendary Sannin...

Although Tsunade gambles, drinks heavily, and is not good at housework or cooking, Osamu Furukawa still thinks this teacher is a "good woman":

"Ninjas are under a lot of pressure; the teacher is just carefree!"

"So that's how it is!"

Shaking its tentacles, the slug responded. Compared to Tsunade's troubles, she still found Furukawa Osamu much stranger, as he actually wanted to be "cursed".

"Xiu, will war break out in the future?"

Shizune had just helped Tsunade lie down when she looked confused and asked the question that had been bothering her.

He intended to give the girl a casual reply, but after a moment of silence, Furukawa Osamu suddenly asked a question:

"Why fight?"

She opened her mouth to say something for the sake of the village and her comrades, but no sound came out. It seems that no one is invading Konoha at the moment; war is just a desire of some ninjas.

"Don't worry, even if there's a war, I can protect you. It's best for girls to stay in the village."

Furukawa Osamu smiled and comforted Shizune, who blushed slightly and responded. The slug shook its antennae again, thinking about future plans and sighing inwardly:

"War? Is this the opportunity Lord Xiu spoke of?"

"..."