Tsunade had gained a lot from this.

  She had always vaguely uood that psychological issues could lead to physical illness—her own hemophobia being a prime example. However, she had never sidered psychology as a standalone field of medical study.

  Now, she was eager to dive into research.

  But…

  Mental health was a vast and plex field. dug proper researd establishing it as a legitimate discipline would require extensive case studies and a long-term itment.

  Besides…

  At the moment, there was something far more pressing for Konoha.

  The in Exams.

  Today was the third round.

  All jōnin in Konoha were required to attend so that the daimyō could withe vilge’s current strength firsthand.

  Kyoichi was among them.

  But, holy, he didn’t find it all that exg.

  One-on-one arena battles didn’t reveal much about a ninja’s true abilities—they were mostly just for spectacle.

  It was all a performance.

  The daimyō, however, seemed pletely engrossed, watg even the most basiin match with full tration.

  “This tourhere’s no way the matchups weren’t arranged in advance.”

  Tsunade scoffed, unimpressed.

  The pattern was too obvious!

  The first match featured two ordinary genin from Shisui’s team.

  The seatch pitted Raido Namiashi against Ebisu.

  And the third…

  With each match, the fighters’ skill level increased, and the spectacle became more thrilling. By the fourth match—a battle between two kunoichi—the hype had reached its peak.

  Shisui, meanwhile, had vely received a bye.

  “It’s just a show.”

  Kyoichi chuckled.

  No one pys their stro card right at the start, do they?

  The daimyō, after all, was enjoying himself.

  “They’re finally up!”

  Shizune cpped her haedly.

  Tsunade shot her a sharp gnce, making her immediately lower her hands in embarrassment. A momesunade spoke.

  “It’s not like you’re the one fighting. Why are you so excited?”

  “Well… it’s a rare ce to see mediinja in battle…”

  “Kurenai isn’t a mediinja. Her specialty is genjutsu—mediinjutsu is just a sedary skill. I pn to train her as a battlefield medic.”

  Most mediinja cked bat ability.

  While they pyed a crucial role in the field, they were rarely assigo four-man squads for fear of being targeted and eliminated.

  But Kurenai was different.

  Tsunade fell into thought, nodding slightly.

  She had advocated for this approa the past, but unfortunately, for most people, mastering mediinjutsu alone was already a moal challe alone learning enough bat skills to hold their own in battle.

  Now, her i iqued.

  In the arena, Kurenai Yuhi and Rin Nohara exged the “Seal of frontation” before simultaneously weaving hand seals.

  Moments ter…

  Chakra scalpels flickered ien both their hands.

  “Chakra scalpels?”

  Shizune was astonished.

  This was an A-rank teique primarily used for surgery. Could it really be applied in bat?

  She turo Tsunade for an answer.

  Tsunade furrowed her brows.

  “Chakra scalpels sever muscles and blood vessels. I suppose they could be onized, but it’s a risky choice for a fight.”

  “It’s fine. I already told them—the essence of this match isn’t strength but strategy and spectacle.”

  Kyoichi smiled.

  Raw power didn’t meahing.

  After all, in the in Exams, Naruto had won his match…

  Yet the only one promoted was the guy who forfeited—Shikamaru Nara.

  Tsunade clearly uood the logic.

  Shizune, oher hand, was a bit lost.

  But she didn’t dwell on it. Right now, she was fully focused otle.

  Despite its seemingly simple nature, the fight was riddled with hidden dangers.

  “Hokage-sama, what teique are they using?”

  The daimyō uzzled.

  Even within Konoha, the bat use of chakra scalpels was unheard of—so much so that even Hiruzen took a moment to process what he was seeing.

  However…

  The Third Hokage was quick to cat.

  At first, he was just as fused, but in no time, he figured it out.

  “Chakra scalpels sever muscles and blood vessels. In the past, mediinja were sidered vulnerable in direbat…

  But we ter discovered that this teique could be adapted for battle. That’s precisely what these two are demonstrating.”

  Hiruzen expined.

  “I see.”

  The daimyō nodded in uanding.

  This teique owerful!

  Whoever he first strike would gain a massive advantage.

  Yet, Kurenai’s relentless assault was met with Rin’s imperable defense—her could gain the upper hand.

  Then, suddenly…

  Kurenai made an ued movement—

  She started shaking her head side to side.

  “…What is she doing?”

  Shizune was baffled.

  “A secret teique—‘Side-to-Side Shuffle,’” Kyoichi joked.

  Tsunade, however, sat up straight and observed carefully.

  The moment she saw Rin abruptly avert her gaze, she immediately realized what was happening.

  “Genjutsu! She’s using the refle from her forehead protector’s metal pte to cast an illusion.”

  A brilliant teique!

  It felt familiar…

  After a moment of thought, Tsunade finally recalled—

  Elsewhere, a certain scapegoat ninja was also watg ily, deep in thought.

  Konoha-Style Willow!

  Although the execution was different, this genjutsu was at the core of Willow swordsmanship.

  “Rin!”

  Obito stood up anxiously, yelling.

  “She’s been caught in an illusion—Konoha-Style Willow’s genjutsu.”

  Gosuke ented.

  “Konoha-Style Willow?”

  Kakashi was taken aback.

  He remembered…

  That was a sword teique.

  Could genjutsu be extracted from it?

  Rin quickly dispelled the illusion, but in the brief moment it took, Kurenai had already closed the distance.

  Her chakra scalpel sliced—

  And Rin’s right leg buckled as she colpsed.

  However…

  Mid-air, Rin rapidly formed hand seals.

  In the instant—

  Two water es appeared beside her.

  Water es!

  Unlike flesh-and-blood bodies, water es didn’t have muscles that could be severed. One e engaged Kurenai, while the other helped Rireat.

  Moments ter, Rin transitioned from chakra scalpels to the Mystical Palm Teique.

  Rolling to the ground, she immediately pressed her glowing hands to her injured leg.

  “Not bad. I have to wonder—did you pn this out in advance?”

  Tsunade smirked.

  Move for move, this felt like a turn-based strategy game.

  But in a real battle?

  Kurenai wouldn’t have gone for the leg—she would’ve severed vital arteries instead.

  “It’s a performance.”

  Kyoichi didn’t answer directly.

  He hadn’t chraphed the fight—he had simply told them to showcase the bat potential of mediinja.

  Clearly…

  They had taken that advice to heart.

  “So, mediinja be this formidable in battle.”

  Many spectators were astonished.

  Both Kurenai and Rin had dispyed exceptional bat awareness and tactical execution. Rin’s water es, in particur, had been brilliantly utilized.

  But…

  In the end, Rin was still injured.

  Though she quickly healed herself with the Mystical Palm, the brief dey had given Kurenai enough time to catch up.

  This time, Kurenai didn’t hold back.

  She lunged—

  Her right hand’s chakra scalpel sliced through Rin’s leg muscles once more.

  And her left hand—

  Boom!

  A devastating punch shattered the ground.

  “Chakra Enharength?!”

  Tsunade was stunned.

  Was Kurenai really f herself to use this?

  But…

  A moment ter, she realized her s were unnecessary.

  Kurenai swiftly withdrew.

  Her left hand’s tendons were strained, but she could still manage hand seals—and with the Mystical Palm, she quickly healed herself.

  “I aught her this strategy—she figured it out herself.”

  Kyoichi smiled.

  Kurenai's battlefield awareness and tactical thinking had improved dramatically!

  She no longer needed guidance—she had learo make her own decisions.

  Since her tendons couldn’t fully recover in a short time and couldn’t withstaed use of the Chakra Enharength, she simply adapted—splitting its use strategically.

  That was her answer.

  "I... surrender."

  Gcell