At Mikoto's insistence, Tatsumi stayed in the hospital ward for another day before leaving. Nawaki, on the other hand, had to continue staying there alone.
However, judging from his appearance, he was very happy. After all, every day there were medical sisters delivering food and changing his bandages, making Nawaki suffer and enjoy himself at the same time.
At this time, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and the ninja troops finally returned to Konoha's garrison one after another. Even Hatake Sakumo, who had gone out to resist the Four-Tailed Jinchuriki, returned safely, though covered in injuries.
At this point, the two-year war in the Land of Rain had finally ended in complete victory.
However, even with the war over, the lives of the people in this country might not improve. Endless trauma and continuous turmoil would remain the prevailing theme here.
But that was no longer Konoha's concern. That was Hanzo's problem to deal with. All Konoha needed was the Land of Rain's surrender.
When Tatsumi stepped out of the ward, it was noon, and the rain continued to pour as it always did.
Looking around, the garrison was now filled with cheers, and crowds of people were packing up while chatting happily with one another.
Yet, the aftermath of war was brutally evident. Large sections of terrain had been destroyed, and fresh blood had seeped deep into the soil, undeterred even by days of rain.
Fortunately, the bodies of both allies and enemies had been cleared away; otherwise, the scene would have been even more gruesome.
People were moving back and forth in the garrison, sealing up supplies and preparing for the return to Konoha.
Overnight, it seemed that everyone knew Tatsumi's name. When the Konoha ninjas saw him, their gazes were filled with respect and enthusiasm. This had nothing to do with age—only with strength.
Konoha's Lightning Flash, the young warrior who had battled a Tailed Beast with lightning, was a hero even the Sand ninjas had acknowledged.
After wandering around for a while, Tatsumi found himself unable to handle the overwhelming attention. He decided to find Minato instead.
Suddenly, a ninja wearing a fox mask blocked his path. "Tsunade-sama is looking for you."
"Alright, I'll go now." Tatsumi nodded and made his way toward the central tent.
Inside, Tsunade was seated, her brow furrowed as she focused on a stack of documents.
"Teacher, were you looking for me?" Tatsumi asked.
"Yes, take a seat first. I'll talk to you after I finish this," Tsunade replied, glancing up briefly before returning to her work.
Tsunade working diligently was a rare sight. Years later, even as Hokage, she would never display such work ethic again.
But now, she had no choice. Several key commanders had already stepped back from their duties.
Orochimaru was preoccupied with dismantling his underground lab, sorting through two years' worth of research. Hyuga Tenku and Sakumo were hospitalized with serious injuries. And as for Jiraiya—Tsunade grew irritated just thinking about him.
With a sigh, she had no option but to handle the bureaucratic mess herself.
After what seemed like forever, Tsunade finally set down her pen.
"Tatsumi, how's your body holding up?"
"Thank you for your concern, Sensei. I feel fine," Tatsumi replied, flexing an arm to show off his strength. "See? Nothing wrong with my movements."
"Good. After all, I personally... well... had others treat you."
Tatsumi shot her a skeptical look. "You make it sound like you did something. Turns out it had nothing to do with you."
Tsunade coughed awkwardly and quickly changed the subject. "That title, Konoha Lightning Flash—I haven't congratulated you yet. How does it feel to have your own moniker?"
Hearing the name, Tatsumi grimaced. "...It's alright. Sounds flashier than 'Sannin of Konoha,' at least."
"As a public figure, there's a lot of pressure, you know. Alone in the dark of night, sometimes I struggle with insomnia. With great power comes great responsibility."
"...Is that so?" Tsunade smirked at his theatrics but didn't seem too amused.
"Everyone is saying your strength is comparable to mine. How about a little sparring match to see if that's true?" she asked, cracking her knuckles.
"Sensei, please don't joke around. You know my real strength," Tatsumi protested, looking distressed.
"Do I? That lightning technique of yours was visible from miles away. I was surprised to learn it was your doing," Tsunade admitted.
"Tatsumi, you've become a ninja who can stand on his own."
She paused, her gaze locking onto his. "I never thought you'd be so talented in Lightning Release."
"The Chidori technique you developed was already impressive, but what you pulled off against Shukaku was beyond expectation. But tell me, can you use that level of ninjutsu at will?"
Tsunade's expression turned serious. The more powerful the jutsu, the greater its cost. If it required too steep a price, it would need to be classified as a forbidden technique.
Tatsumi explained the mechanics behind Kirin.
Tsunade considered his words carefully. "So, it requires a thunderstorm to use?"
"That's right. It can be set up artificially, but the process is too time-consuming to be practical in battle," Tatsumi confirmed.
"Now everyone is saying I can defeat a Tailed Beast. But it's not that simple. Isn't it dangerous to let such rumors spread?"
This was Tatsumi's real concern. In a few years, he might grow into that level of strength, but not yet. Being too famous too soon meant attracting too much attention from dangerous individuals and organizations.
"Actually, Orochimaru was the one who spread this information," Tsunade admitted.
"Why?" Tatsumi asked, puzzled.
"After the Sand Ninjas dubbed you Konoha Lightning Flash, I initially wanted to suppress the rumor. The enemy's motives were obvious, and I didn't want to play into their hands."
"But Orochimaru objected. Not only did he refuse to suppress it, he sent the news back to the village. By now, everyone in Konoha probably knows about your exploits."
"And why would he do that?" Tatsumi frowned.
"Because he values you," Tsunade said, watching him closely.
Tatsumi was stunned.
The village's propaganda usually downplayed the achievements of Uchiha clan members. Their contributions were acknowledged but never glorified. The higher-ups preferred to keep Uchiha figures in the shadows.
Now, Orochimaru had personally ensured that Tatsumi's name was known throughout the village.
Tsunade's words were right—Orochimaru truly valued him as a disciple.
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