After returning home, Chao Yanqian first cleaned up all the dust in the house, he hadn't been home for nearly a month. The dust had already settled thickly throughout the place.
After cleaning the house, Chao Yanqian sat down by the window, brewed a pot of tea, gazed at the scenery outside, and enjoyed a rare moment of peace.
When the sun rises tomorrow, Chao Yanqian will begin his intense day-and-night training once again.
From the moment he decided to become a ninja, Chao Yanqian set a clear goal for himself: he must live long enough to face the final battle with Ōtsutsuki Kaguya and become the strongest shinobi in the world—deciphering the mysteries of chakra and the God Tree.
If not for this goal, it would have been easier to live quietly in Konoha—surviving the Nine-Tails' attack, the Chūnin Exams, and Pain's assault—doing nothing in particular and letting Team 7 save the world in their own time.
In truth, becoming a ninja wasn't entirely a choice.
Chao Yanqian is a war orphan. The village took care of him solely to turn him into a shinobi who would serve Konoha. Had he not enrolled in the Ninja Academy, the village would have immediately cut off his support, leaving him to fend for himself.
But having chosen the shinobi path, he must now uphold his ninja way and follow it with unwavering resolve.
And Chao Yanqian's ninja way is to become the strongest in the world.
Although the goal may be difficult—or even impossible—to achieve, it provides direction for his efforts.
The next day, after finishing his morning training, Chao Yanqian had a simple breakfast and began visiting familiar faces one by one.
Yamato, Genma, Tsunade, Shizune—these people who shared a deep bond with him—he would visit them all to strengthen their mutual ties.
This display was also partly for the benefit of the Third Hokage—to show Hiruzen Sarutobi that Chao Yanqian was a shinobi who valued relationships, thereby helping him further integrate into the Hidden Leaf's inner circle.
As Tsunade's disciple, Chao Yanqian had the natural credentials of a future Hokage. After reflecting deeply on the matter, he decided to earn the full trust of the Third Hokage and be groomed as a close confidant.
As for Shimura Danzō's Root division, Chao Yanqian had no interest in it anymore.
At first, when he had no backing, joining Root seemed like an option. But now that he was under the wings of both Tsunade and Orochimaru and potentially the Third Hokage as well Danzō held no allure.
Especially since joining Root meant submitting to its restrictive, suppressive ways, sacrificing freedom entirely.
So, if Chao Yanqian wanted to fully align with the Hokage, he had to gain the Third's approval.
Now that Chao Yanqian had grown stronger, he could start making choices on his own terms. For the first time, he experienced the advantages that came with power, deepening his obsession with becoming even stronger.
In this world, only the truly powerful can act on their will.
That afternoon, Chao Yanqian arrived at Konoha Hospital, knocked, and entered Tsunade's office.
"Sister Tsunade!" he greeted warmly.
Even though their relationship was technically that of master and student, Chao Yanqian preferred calling her "Sister Tsunade" rather than "sensei" or "master." Tsunade didn't mind,it even brought them closer.
"Shizune's here too!" he said with a smile, noticing the young woman beside Tsunade.
"Tch!" Shizune still wasn't too fond of Chao Yanqian. As someone who had to share Tsunade's affection with him, she often gave him the cold shoulder, shooting him a disapproving glare.
"You performed well in the battle against Sunagakure," Tsunade said, giving him an approving nod.
"It's all thanks to your teachings, Sister Tsunade! Everything I've achieved is because of you!" he replied gratefully.
"Hmph! Don't try to flatter me!" Tsunade could be temperamental quick to frown if something irked her, regardless of who it was.
But Chao Yanqian knew her well; she typically enjoyed a bit of praise. If she was in a bad mood now, it must've been due to something or someone else upsetting her.
She was quick to anger, especially with people close to her. Jiraiya himself had probably lost count of the times she hit him for seemingly no reason.
It was her way of expressing herself to those she trusted.
Despite her strong exterior, Tsunade wasn't nearly as tough on the inside.
Thinking this, Chao Yanqian grinned and asked teasingly, "So who upset our dear Sister Tsunade this time?"
"Tch! Don't even bring it up!" Tsunade scoffed, then glanced at him. "You're being assigned to a squad to start missions. The order will come in two days. But when you're not on a mission, you'll come here to the hospital and study medical ninjutsu under me. Got it?"
"Assigned to a squad?" Chao Yanqian asked, confused. "I'm a Chūnin now, and I've got mission experience. Can't I take on missions solo already?"
"How should I know?" Tsunade rolled her eyes, feigning ignorance.
From her tone, Chao Yanqian could tell she knew the reason. But if even she didn't want to say it, it probably wasn't a bad thing.
"Doesn't matter," he said confidently. "Whatever it is, I'll be the best. I'm a genius ninja, after all."
"Oh? Really?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.
Was she about to blow up?
"By the way, Sister Tsunade, what's the situation with Iwagakure and Kirigakure?" Chao Yanqian quickly changed the topic.
"Nothing new from them. Konoha just won a major conflict. Even if they want to make a move, they'll have to think twice about our current strength," Tsunade replied proudly.
She nodded, and after the two discussed the overall state of the ninja world, Chao Yanqian brought up the real reason for his visit.
"Sister Tsunade, I'm already at the age where most ninja experience growth… but I still haven't had a proper chakra surge. This has been my biggest frustration. Do you think you can help me with this?"