Naruto, But With Li's Peerless Flying Dagger

Although Orochimaru had long known Jiraiya wasn't the sharpest kunai in the pouch, his level of density still left Orochimaru speechless.

Indeed, Tsunade had mentioned that the ninja, Li Anshi, was a student who hadn't passed the Ninja Academy's graduation exam.

But what kind of students needed to pass the graduation exam?

Sixth-year students, and those wishing to graduate early.

Even the three of them, after being accepted as Hiruzen's disciples, had undergone the graduation exam. Only after successfully gaining the approval of the academy instructors did they finally graduate, receive their forehead protectors, become Genin, and accompany Hiruzen to the battlefield.

However, this concept of "early graduation" had only been promoted by Hiruzen starting this year, a scheme to get Ninja Academy students to become ninjas and participate in the war sooner.

As far as Orochimaru knew, every student who had submitted an application for early graduation had successfully passed the exam and become a Genin.

Not passing the Ninja Academy's graduation exam meant that the ninja Tsunade knew must have been from the first or second class since the academy's founding.

In other words, that ninja was seven or eight years older than them.

No matter how talented they were, they were still just six-year-old children who had been training for less than a year.

Could they honestly expect their future selves, after seven or eight years of training, not to be able to instantly defeat their current selves?

As for how he became a ninja without passing the graduation exam...

It was a ridiculous question. The students from the first and second classes of the Ninja Academy had completed six years of schooling. Even fourth-year students were being graduated by Hiruzen now. Why couldn't someone who had finished six years but failed the exam become a ninja during wartime?

Still, Orochimaru frowned as he watched Li Anshi's retreating back.

How could the instructors at the Ninja Academy have failed someone with such obvious strength?

Or was there some hidden detail he wasn't aware of?

Perhaps sensing Orochimaru's confusion, Tsunade explained, "The main reason that guy didn't pass the graduation exam is that he can't learn ninjutsu. And you know the graduation exam. At the very least, you need to know one of the Three Basic Techniques, and be lucky enough to be tested on the one you actually know..."

"Understood."

Orochimaru nodded.

The Three Basic Techniques were standard ninja skills. Subconsciously, everyone assumed all ninjas could perform them.

So, when faced with someone like Li Anshi who couldn't learn ninjutsu, the examiners were likely baffled. Ultimately, following regulations and perhaps preferring to err on the side of caution, they had deemed Li Anshi unfit to pass.

"Hey, Tsunade," Jiraiya piped up, "what were you two talking about earlier? Why did it look like you were about to fight?"

Tsunade shook her head, choosing not to answer Jiraiya's question.

It wouldn't do any good for Jiraiya or Orochimaru to know about Hiruzen sending children to war, defying the will of her grandfather and great-uncle, or about Li Anshi wanting to kill Hiruzen to restore Konoha to a village that protected its people and kept children off the battlefield.

After all, Hiruzen's actions benefited the other ninja clans of Konoha, reducing their casualties.

The only ones truly suffering were these children, filled with misplaced patriotic fervor...

Jiraiya and Orochimaru could both be considered civilian ninjas.

If they learned the truth, they would inevitably resent Hiruzen, causing friction between master and disciples.

Tsunade herself didn't particularly care. Even if Hiruzen stopped teaching her, the Senju clan's resources were more than enough for her to grow strong.

But Jiraiya and Orochimaru were different.

Being taken as Hiruzen's disciples was their greatest opportunity.

With Hiruzen's guidance and the ninjutsu he could provide, both were destined to reach at least the Jonin level.

If resentment grew between them and their teacher, Hiruzen would be unlikely to teach them wholeheartedly.

Later, back in the main camp, after receiving Hiruzen's daily instruction and returning to her tent, Tsunade's mind still echoed with Li Anshi's words and the images of the injured ninjas in the medical tent.

Recalling Li Anshi's grim prediction – that fewer than ten of those civilian child soldiers would survive – Tsunade felt an immense weight settle in her heart.

I should be able to do more...

On the battlefield, my current strength is very limited, probably not even comparable to some Chunin.

But... if I successfully master the medical ninjutsu pioneered by Great-Uncle Tobirama and heal the injured ninjas, wouldn't the survival rate of Konoha's shinobi increase significantly?

I've decided. Starting tomorrow, I'll begin training in medical ninjutsu!

Also, I need to write a letter to Grandma, asking her to send someone with Grandpa Hashirama's summoning scroll for Katsuyu.

I remember Grandpa saying his summon, Katsuyu, possessed healing abilities.

Before I master medical ninjutsu myself, I can summon Katsuyu to help out...

Although Hashirama Senju had never used a summoning beast in combat, it didn't mean he didn't have one.

His own power was simply too immense; no opponent had ever forced him to summon Katsuyu for battle assistance.

However, while Katsuyu the Slug Sage hadn't aided Hashirama much in direct combat, its contribution to his overall power was significant.

Hashirama Senju's "Sage Mode" originated from Katsuyu.

This was the ultimate state that allowed Hashirama to consistently overpower Madara Uchiha.

Even when Madara Uchiha teamed up with the Nine-Tails, Hashirama had defeated them both.

...

Li Anshi was unaware that his encounter with Tsunade had spurred her to begin learning medical ninjutsu and seek out a summoning contract with Katsuyu ahead of schedule.

He was currently preoccupied, contemplating how to develop his own version of the "Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven" based on the ideas he already had.

The battlefield against the Cloud ninjas was different from the one against the Sand.

When fighting the Sand ninjas, the Uchiha clan had been the main force.

They had carved out a fearsome reputation on the battlefield, encapsulated by the saying, "Against a Sharingan user one-on-one, flee." This forced the Sand ninjas to focus their attention primarily on the Uchiha.

Furthermore, the current Sand Village only had the Kazekage as a Kage-level powerhouse.

Lacking a legacy of sealing techniques, the seal containing the One-Tailed Jinchuriki was unstable, prone to frequent rampages.

Therefore, on the Sand Village front, Li Anshi hadn't encountered many truly formidable opponents.

But the battlefield against the Cloud ninjas was another story entirely.

They boasted three Kage-level threats alone.

The Third Raikage, A; the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Blue B; and the Two-Tails Jinchuriki.

The Tailed Beasts, created by the Sage of Six Paths using his power to divide the Ten-Tails and imbue the fragments with life, were essentially massive aggregates of chakra.

Even the weakest, the One-Tailed Shukaku, possessed thousands of times more chakra than a Kage-level ninja.