92. A new path

(Lol, we are so low on power stones, just like my motivation to continue this fic...Up the number please)

Tsunade's expression turned serious. "About that, Sora. I've given it some thought, and I don't think it would be suitable for me to take you on as a direct disciple."

Sora's face fell, disappointment clear in his eyes. "But... why not? I thought with my chakra control and my shape-shifting jutsu, I'd be a good candidate for medical ninjutsu."

Tsunade held up a hand to stop him. "Let me finish, kid. I said I won't take you as a direct disciple, not that I won't guide you." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. "Your situation is unique, Sora. You're already a chunin at six years old, with a specialized jutsu that has immense potential. Taking you on as a full-time apprentice in medical ninjutsu would limit your growth in other areas."

Sora furrowed his brow, processing Tsunade's words. "So... what does that mean for my medical training?"

Tsunade reached into a drawer and pulled out a scroll, placing it on the desk in front of her. "This scroll contains the basics of medical ninjutsu. It covers chakra control exercises specific to healing, the fundamental principles of the human body, and some basic healing techniques."

Sora's eyes widened as he looked at the scroll. Tsunade continued, "I want you to study this scroll thoroughly. Practice the techniques, and master the chakra control exercises. Once you've got a solid foundation, come back to me, and we'll discuss the next steps."

"But," Sora began, still looking uncertain, "won't I need more guidance? Medical ninjutsu is complex, right?"

Tsunade nodded. "It is, which is why I'm not abandoning you to figure it out on your own. I'll be available for questions and periodic check-ins on your progress. But the bulk of the learning will be up to you."

She leaned back in her chair, her expression softening slightly. "Sora, you're a prodigy in your own right. Your shape-shifting jutsu is a testament to that. I believe you have the potential to revolutionize medical ninjutsu by integrating it with your unique skills. But to do that, you need to forge your own path, not simply follow in my footsteps."

Sora's eyes widened as understanding dawned on him. "So... you want me to develop my own style of medical ninjutsu?"

Tsunade smiled. "Exactly. Use this scroll as a foundation, but don't be afraid to experiment. Your shape-shifting jutsu gives you a unique perspective on the human body. Use that to your advantage."

The excitement began to bubble up in Sora's chest. The disappointment of not being a direct disciple was quickly being replaced by the thrill of a new challenge. "I think I understand, Tsunade-sama. But... where do I start?"

Tsunade stood up, walking around the desk to stand in front of Sora. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Start with the basics. Master the chakra control exercises in that scroll. They'll help you refine your control even further, which will benefit both your medical ninjutsu and your shape-shifting jutsu."

She picked up the scroll and handed it to Sora. "Once you've got those down, start with the simple healing techniques. Practice on small injuries - cuts, bruises, that sort of thing. As you progress, try to think about how your shape-shifting jutsu might be applied to healing."

Sora nodded, his mind already racing with possibilities. "Like using shape-shifting to realign broken bones or repair damaged tissue? or maybe realign my chakra pathways"

Tsunade's eyes lit up. "Exactly that kind of thinking, kid. But remember, start small. Don't try anything too ambitious until you've mastered the basics, especially don't mess with your chakra pathways for now."

Sora clutched the scroll to his chest, bowing slightly. "Thank you, Tsunade-sama. I won't let you down!"

Tsunade ruffled his hair affectionately. "I know you won't, kid. Now, one more thing before you go." Her expression turned serious again. "I want you to promise me something."

Sora looked up at her, curious. "What is it?"

"Promise me you'll be careful," Tsunade said, her voice firm. "Medical ninjutsu can be dangerous if misused or practised incorrectly. Don't push yourself too hard, and if you're ever unsure about something, come to me or another medical ninja for guidance. Understood?"

Sora nodded solemnly. "I promise, Tsunade-sama. I'll be careful."

Tsunade smiled, satisfied. "Good. Now, off you go. I expect a progress report in two weeks."

Sora grinned, clutching the scroll tightly. "Yes, ma'am!" With a quick bow, he turned and headed for the door.

As he reached for the handle, Tsunade called out, "Oh, and Sora?"

He turned back, tilting his head questioningly.

Tsunade's expression was a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Try not to blow anything up while practising, okay? I've heard about your... creative training methods."

Sora's grin turned sheepish. "I'll do my best, Tsunade-sama!" With that, he slipped out of the office, his mind already buzzing with ideas and plans.

As the door closed behind Sora, Tsunade shook her head, a fond smile on her face. "I hope that kid doesn't still perform his pranks, No wonder Sarutobi-sensei didn't mention it during the handover, if I knew about it beforehand, I wouldn't have accepted the Hokage position" she muttered to herself, returning to her desk and the mountain of paperwork awaiting her.

Outside the Hokage Tower, Sora paused, looking down at the scroll in his hands. The weight of the knowledge it contained, and the trust Tsunade had placed in him, felt both exciting and daunting.

'Alright,' he thought to himself, 'time to get to work.'

With a quick hand seal, Sora's body flickered back to Training Ground 96, where his clones were still hard at work. As he arrived, both clones looked up from their discussion.

"Boss!" the shadow clone called out. "How did it go with Tsunade-sama?"

Sora grinned, holding up the scroll. "We've got work to do, guys. Tsunade-sama's given us a challenge, and we're going to meet it head-on!"

The shadow clone's eyes lit up with excitement, while the rock clone remained stoic but attentive. Sora quickly filled them in on his conversation with Tsunade, outlining the path she had set for him.

"So," Sora concluded, "we need to master these basics and then figure out how to integrate them with our shape-shifting jutsu. Any ideas?"

The shadow clone pondered for a moment. "Well, based on our analysis of the book, I think we might be able to use shape-shifting to enhance the efficiency of our healing techniques. If we can manipulate our chakra pathways to optimize chakra flow during healing..."

Sora nodded enthusiastically. "That's a great start! And maybe we could use shape-shifting to create specialized 'healing forms' for different types of injuries."

The rock clone spoke up, its voice gravelly. "We should also consider the defensive applications. Using medical knowledge to create more effective armour or to rapidly heal ourselves during combat, like how Kabuto was able to start healing even before he took damage"

Sora's eyes widened. "Oh, that's brilliant! We could potentially create a form of active defence that heals damage as it's inflicted!"

As the ideas flowed, Sora felt a surge of excitement. This was more than just learning medical ninjutsu; this was an opportunity to create something entirely new.

"Alright," Sora said, clapping his hands together. "Let's get organized. We'll start with the chakra control exercises from the scroll. Shadow clone, you're on theory duty - keep analyzing that book and look for any connections to our shape-shifting jutsu. Rock clone, you'll help me with the practical exercises."

Both clones nodded in agreement. Sora unrolled the scroll, his eyes skimming over the contents. "Okay, first exercise: chakra scalpel control. This should be interesting..."

As Sora and his clones dove into their new training regimen, the sun climbed higher in the sky. The training ground buzzed with activity, filled with the sound of discussion, the crackle of chakra, and occasionally, Sora's excited exclamations as he made a new discovery or mastered a technique.

Hours passed, and as the sun began to set, Sora finally called a halt to the day's training. He dispelled the shadow clone, absorbing its knowledge and insights. The rock clone, built to last, remained standing, ready for the next day's work.

Sora sat on the ground, his mind reeling from the influx of information and the day's intense training. Despite his exhaustion, a wide grin spread across his face. This was just the beginning, he knew. The path ahead was long and challenging, but the possibilities it held were thrilling.

As he gazed up at the darkening sky, Sora's thoughts drifted to his friends - Naruto, Sasuke, and the others who had left the village to train. 'I wonder what they're doing right now,' he mused. 'Well, whatever it is, I can't fall behind. I've got my own journey to focus on.'

With renewed determination, Sora stood up, brushing off his clothes. "Alright," he said to himself and his rock clone, "same time tomorrow. We've got a lot of work to do."

As Sora prepared to head home for the night, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement for what the future held. The world of medical ninjutsu was vast and complex, but with his unique abilities and unwavering determination, he was ready to carve out his own path within it.

"Wait! I am still homeless" Sora said while heading back to the training ground and setting up the arrangements like yesterday.

As he drifted off to sleep that night, dreams of healing techniques and shape-shifting forms danced in his mind, hinting at the incredible advancements that lay ahead.

***

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