I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 224 A deadly poison can also be a cure.

"Good morning, Tatsuma. Don't you have a mission today?"

In the Senju clan's territory, Tatsuma, who had been "dismissed" from his post, was training when he heard a cheerful and gentle voice, also with the hoarseness characteristic of puberty. Tatsuma turned around and greeted him with a smile:

"Minato, are you taking a day off today?"

Minato shook his head and said, "Inuzuka Jacques and Akimichi Tou are about to be promoted, so our Chunin squad is disbanding. I was planning to take a break and train properly."

"Why don't you try applying for the selection? Even if you can't become a Jonin, becoming a Special Jonin shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Upon hearing Tatsuma's question, Minato smiled and said, "There's no need for that. Aren't you still a Chunin? Besides, once you become a Jonin, you'll have to wait in the Jonin squad, and your training time will be even shorter."

"I'm not suitable for promotion because my resume isn't up-to-date."

Tatsuma shrugged. From the moment he joined the Anbu, his file as a Konoha ninja was sealed. He would only be able to update his resume and participate in other ninja affairs from the moment he retired from the Anbu.

However, Tatsuma did not continue to encourage Minato, since what Minato said was true. Both of them were still in a period of rapid development, and staying in the Jonin team every day to wait for orders would indeed affect their growth.

Minato smiled and said, "Then let's not promote. If our ninja ranks are different, it will be much more difficult for us to team up."

Upon hearing this, Tatsuma raised an eyebrow, looked at Minato's smile, and understood what was going on. He also said, "I'm also looking forward to us being teammates again."

Minato and Tatsuma have been friends for so many years that they understand each other very well. Although no key points were mentioned, Tatsuma still understood the meaning behind Minato's words.

Minato also received an invitation from the Anbu.

Tatsuma wasn't surprised by this, because Minato definitely had the qualifications to become an ANBU member. Three years ago, he might have been a little short, but now Minato's combat strength was comparable to some Jonin.

Given his age and the ninja skills he displayed, it's strange that the Anbu didn't recruit Minato.

The original work does not indicate that Minato ever joined the Anbu, but there is a scene in the movie where Minato is suspected to be a member of the Anbu. When Minato went to Loulan to carry out a mission, he was wearing the Anbu uniform.

Tatsuma also began to consider whether he should choose to transfer to another post if Minato really joined the Anbu.

The Wood Release experiment will likely end in an unexpected way. As Orochimaru's assistant, Tatsuma should return to his original unit after the project is shut down.

Hiruzen Sarutobi would never let him return to Konoha Hospital as a doctor; he would most likely recall him to the Anbu. However, Tatsuma's previous position in the Anbu was that of a Hokage's bodyguard.

However, this would make it extremely unlikely that he would team up with Minato, since the Hokage's office isn't actually that big. It's safe for one person to be hidden, but it would be a bit cramped for two people.

If Tatsuma chooses to transfer to the regular class, the probability of him partnering with Minato will increase significantly. The question is, how does he apply for a transfer?

There had just been some unpleasant things between Tatsuma and Hiruzen Sarutobi. If Tatsuma were to apply for a transfer immediately afterward, it would inevitably make Hiruzen Sarutobi overthink things.

He couldn't directly tell Hiruzen Sarutobi that he wanted to team up with Minato, so he applied for a transfer.

After all, the identity of the Anbu is not a secret to many ninjas, but rules are rules. Minato had just joined the Anbu when Tatsuma learned of this and made it public, which was to harm Minato.

Therefore, the only option is to subtly hint at Hiruzen Sarutobi whenever possible, and this depends on the situation on the day; thinking too much in advance is of little use.

Gathering his scattered thoughts, Chenma smiled and said, "It's been a long time since we've had a real spar, hasn't it? With your talent, you might have already surpassed me. How about we have a match?"

Minato nodded, but after looking around, he said, "This place isn't very convenient; it might bother Grandma Mito."

"Yes, I do know a few secluded spots in the village."

The research institute for the Wood Release experiments was not built in the center of the village, but in the mountains behind the Hokage Rock. Over the past two years, Tatsuma had become more familiar with the area through his daily commute and had discovered some of its more primitive features.

Upon hearing this, Minato smiled and said, "Then lead the way."

Let's go!

As soon as Tatsuma finished speaking, he disappeared from the spot, and Minato quickly followed. In the study of the house, Mito Uzumaki looked through the window at the direction the two had left, with a smile on her face.

The large scroll on the desk had reached the end of its scroll, but it didn't seem to be finished yet.

After turning her gaze away, Mito Uzumaki rubbed her temples and murmured, "Tatsuma, with your talent, perhaps you could do it. I thought I could give you a gift, but it turns out it's a burden."

At noon, Tatsuma and Minato returned, both with some damage to their clothes. As for the outcome of the match, it was easy to tell from the smile on Tatsuma's face and the regret on Minato's face.

On their way home, the two talked, and Tatsuma said with some emotion, "It seems I haven't been paying enough attention to what's happening in the ninja world lately. So many things have actually happened."

Minato had just told Tatsuma about the frequent attacks on Konoha ninjas in the past two years. Many teams on missions outside the village had lost contact, and several teams had sent out distress signals before losing contact.

After deciphering, their distress call revealed that they had been attacked by unidentified ninjas, but that was all.

If it were an isolated case, the village would certainly assume it was the work of rogue ninjas who were busy at the gold exchange for bounties. However, this time it was not an isolated case, and the methods seemed to be consistent.

This attracted the village's attention, but for Tatsuma, who works at the research institute, it was a novelty.

Minato nodded and said, "However, the village seems to have discovered some clues recently. The other day, when I went with seniors Aka and Tou to submit our selection applications to the Jonin class, many senior Jonin were discussing this matter."

"It seems our operation this time wasn't exactly classified."

Just then, a slightly rough voice rang out. Chenma was a little puzzled, since unfamiliar voices were rarely heard in the Thousand Hands Clan territory.

He looked in the direction of the voice and asked with some confusion, "Lord Mumu Gongdao, and this one too?"

Standing next to Mokumo Kōdō was a Konoha ninja, presumably also a Jonin. The man raised his hand and said, "Just call me Smoky."

"Lord Smoke, may I ask what brings you two to the Senju clan's territory?"

Tatsuma greeted them politely and then asked a question. He himself did not realize that he had unconsciously started to treat the visitor with the tone of a host.

Mokumo Kōdō pointed towards the direction of the Uzumaki Mito family and said, "It's the mission you two were discussing. We're short of a medical ninja, so we'll have to ask Tsunade for one."

Upon hearing this, Tatsuma frowned slightly, and a memory surfaced in his mind: the scene of Kato Dan's death.

Mokumu Kōdō rubbed Tatsuma's head and said, "Don't worry, although your teacher hasn't gone out on missions for a long time, her strength is beyond doubt."

It was clear that Mokume Kōtō had misunderstood, but Tatsuma didn't explain, as it was simply too difficult to explain.

Just then, Tsunade and Dan Kato walked over from not far away. Tsunade had changed into a ninja uniform, which seemed a bit tight. The two of them walked over with smiles.

"Tatsuma, Minato, it's been a long time."

Kato Dan greeted the two, and Tatsuma and Minato returned the greeting. Tsunade then said to them, "While I'm away, please come and keep Grandma company."

"Yes, I will."

The two unemployed ninja nodded in unison. Neither of them had any missions at the moment. Tatsuma also hinted that he would teach Minato some skills that he would use in the ANBU assessment and in his work.

Therefore, for the next period of time, Minato will train with Tatsuma. The training location will naturally be the Senju clan's territory. Their practical training cannot be too frequent now, since it would cause too much of a commotion.

There's no need to worry about damaging the Senju clan's territory during regular or skill-based training.

Tsunade nodded and said to Kōdō and the others, "Let's go! Wait a minute."

Tsunade patted her waist and said with a troubled look, "I forgot to bring my ninja tool pouch."

Upon hearing this, Kato Dan said, "It's alright, we'll wait for you for a while."

Tsunade shook her head, looked at Tatsuma, and said, "Tatsuma, can I borrow your ninja tool pouch?"

Tatsuma was about to say that the two used different ninja tools, but then he remembered something and immediately took off several of his own ninja tool pouches, handed them to his teacher, and said, "Teacher, don't be too impulsive. You said that medical ninjas shouldn't be at the front of the group."

"Unless you know the Hundred Healings Technique! And I am the one who knows the Hundred Healings Technique!"

Tsunade didn't understand Tatsuma's hint at all. She took the ninja tool bag, opened it, and saw the special kunai and the incantation on it. She frowned slightly, but didn't ask any further questions.

She rarely used ninja tools like kunai and shuriken. After glancing at another ninja tool package containing some medical equipment and sealing scrolls, she simply strapped it to her waist and legs, saying:

"I'm leaving now. Tell Grandma I can't come home for dinner these next few days."

"Um."

Chenma nodded and watched the group leave.

A few days later, in the pouring rain, in the forest, Tsunade, filled with grief, repeatedly used medical ninjutsu on the lifeless Kato Dan, shouting in despair:

"Stop! Why won't the bleeding stop! Stop!"

Beside him, Kōdō looked at Kato Dan's almost completely gone kidney, and the other severely damaged internal organs and muscles around him. He understood that even Tsunade couldn't have suffered such injuries. He said to Tsunade:

"Tsunade, stop! Dan is already dead."

"No! There's still hope! There's still a chance!"

Tsunade continued her tirade, and Kōdō's face darkened. He was about to wake up the somewhat deranged Tsunade when a voice came from beside him.

"There is still hope."

Kōdō, Tsunade, and the silent Smoke turned their heads warily and found that Tatsuma shouldn't be there. Despite the torrential rain, Tatsuma's clothes weren't even soaked.

"How can we save them?!"

Just as Kōto and Smoke were wondering why Tatsuma had appeared at this moment, Tsunade couldn't wait to ask, but she didn't dare to raise her hands to perform medical ninjutsu, even though the object of her treatment was a corpse.

Tatsuma took out a scroll and said, "He can survive, but he will lose his most powerful technique. Teacher, should we save him?"

"save!"

(End of this chapter)