Facing the Third Hokage's gaze, Tsunade hesitated.
Truth be told, she understood the intent behind the Third's arrangent. The Hokage lineage was fundantally a ntorship system designed to break free of blood ties and clan shackles.
Only by gathering the village's erging geniuses under their wing could the Hokage faction ensure a steady stream of exceptional talent in every generation, securing their dominance within Hidden Leaf.
Yet, after a series of personal upheavals, Tsunade's emotional knots remained untied. She wasn't ntally prepared to take on a disciple just yet.
Sensing her reluctance, the Third said slowly: "I've already heard about what happened at the shinobi academy today. Kurama Yakumo defeating Sasuke in a genjutsu duel is proof enough of her talent. She's important to us."
Jiraiya furrowed his brow slightly.
Tsunade's expression darkened.
Both caught the subtext in the Third's words.
If the village intended to use Sasuke's Sharingan as a long-term counterbalance to a potentially rampaging Naruto, they'd also need soone to keep Sasuke in check.
Kurama Yakumo's ergence perfectly filled that gap.
Indeed!
In the eyes of nearly all Hidden Leaf's leadership, Shinji, Neji, and Kimimaro—Sasuke's peers at the academy—paled in potential compared to him.
The higher-ups were convinced that as Sasuke's mastery of his Sharingan deepened, his fellow students would be left far behind, unable to ever reach his level.
This wasn't baseless speculation—it was backed by real examples like Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi.
During Shisui and Itachi's childhoods, there were other geniuses in the village who could rival them.
But as they awakened their Sharingan and honed it further, those so-called "geniuses" from their youth beca utterly ordinary by comparison.
It wasn't that the others were weak—the Uchiha clan's potential was simply terrifying. Their ceiling rivaled even the First Hokage, who pacified the Warring States era, and instilled deep wariness in the Second Hokage.
Understanding this, Tsunade sighed helplessly: "Then I'll go back and ask Kurama Yakumo for her stance."
The Third waved a hand: "No need. Co with to the Kurama clan's territory now!"
"Fine!"
Tsunade nodded.
Though she resisted the Third's plan sowhat, Yakumo's excellence genuinely stirred her interest.
Plus, knowing Jiraiya intended to take Naruto as a disciple, a competitive spark flared in her as a fellow "Sannin" to match him.
Soon, the Third led Tsunade and Jiraiya to the Kurama clan's territory.
With the clan's steady decline, their lands had shrunk significantly from decades ago, now reduced to just a core area.
This wasn't due to deliberate suppression by Hidden Leaf's leadership. The Kurama clan simply hadn't produced talent in recent generations. Most clansn were genin-level, with few reaching chunin. The sole jonin, Clan Leader Kurama Murakumo, had only earned that rank through the Third's favoritism.
Naturally, the Kurama clan couldn't maintain its noble stature.
Walking through the territory, the Third reminisced: "When the First Shinobi World War broke out, the Kurama clan was brimming with powerhouses who made great contributions to the village. Sadly, their strong mbers dwindled over ti, and their successors were lackluster, leading to their decline."
Tsunade nodded: "I've heard those stories."
Jiraiya grinned: "Maybe soon, the Kurama clan will rise again!"
The Third agreed wholeheartedly: "Here we are—this is the Kurama clan's main residence."
With that, the trio approached the mansion.
The Hokage's personal visit left the current Kurama clan flustered and flattered. Kurama Murakumo—Yakumo's father and clan leader—hurried out to greet them.
"Hokage-sama, Lady Tsunade, Jiraiya-sama, what brings you—"
Kurama Murakumo was visibly anxious.
The Third smiled: "Let's talk inside!"
Murakumo suppressed his confusion for the mont, leading the three inside with his wife.
Once seated, the Third explained that Yakumo might have awakened a new dojutsu kekkei genkai and that Tsunade wished to take her as a disciple.
Murakumo was stunned and elated: "What!? Yakumo—Yakumo awakened a brand-new dojutsu Bloodline Limit!?"
Tsunade clarified: "Though extrely rare, it's theoretically possible!"
Yakumo's mother, Kurama Koi, quickly asked: "Is Yakumo okay now? Her health—"
Tsunade reassured her: "Rest assured, she's under treatnt. I'll do everything I can to heal her body."
Koi and Murakumo exchanged a glance, then bowed to Tsunade in unison: "We entrust Yakumo to you!"
The Third smiled with satisfaction.
Their bow signaled the Kurama clan's agreent to Yakumo becoming Tsunade's disciple.
For the Kurama clan, learning that Yakumo had awakened a new dojutsu Bloodline Limit and that Tsunade—renowned across the shinobi world for her dical ninjutsu—was willing to take her as a disciple left them with no reason to refuse, no matter the angle.
After settling the apprenticeship, the Third said promptly: "Yakumo's awakening of a Bloodline Limit genkai is currently classified. Given her age and physical condition, I hope the Kurama clan keeps this absolutely secret."
"Yes, we won't tell anyone—not even the other clansn!"
Murakumo assured them swiftly.
The next day.
Shinji arrived at the shinobi academy early, as usual.
"Did you hear? Lady Tsunade's taking Yakumo as her disciple!"
"Lady Tsunade!? The legendary one?"
"One of the Sannin, Tsunade, taking Yakumo as a disciple—Yakumo's luck is unreal!"
"It must be because of yesterday's match. Yakumo beat Sasuke, so Lady Tsunade noticed her!"
As Shinji stepped onto the field, he caught the buzz among his classmates.
"As expected..."
His expression shifted.
If he'd held any lingering hope before, now he was 100% certain—the village had discovered the Koryugan in Yakumo's sockets.
And their response was within his predictions.
Since Tsunade was the one who found the Koryugan, he'd speculated yesterday about the village's likely reactions, and "Tsunade taking her as a disciple" was one of them.
That's why he hadn't acted imdiately.
Tsunade taking Yakumo as a disciple wasn't a bad outco for him.
First, Yakumo becoming Tsunade's student gave him a channel to access Hidden Leaf's high-level intel. Second, through Yakumo, he could learn Tsunade's dical ninjutsu—maybe even her trump cards, like the "Yin Seal."
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