Taking a Master

The cold touch, accompanied by the pungent smell of disinfectant, slowly dragged Duanmu Ci out of boundless darkness.

His eyelids felt as heavy as lead, and every attempt to open them brought a tearing ache. His left eye in particular felt as though a red-hot iron needle were stirring inside it.

With great effort, he opened a narrow slit. Blurry shadows swayed before him, accompanied by low voices.

"...His vital signs are unbelievably stable... With backlash from an outburst at that level, an ordinary person would have already..."

"...The residual Chakra fluctuations... are extremely ancient... mixed with... Yang Style... wood nature..."

"...Mummified corpses... Their Chakra was completely drained... Traces of a technique never seen before..."

The fragmented voices carried barely concealed shock and curiosity.

Duanmu Ci's consciousness turned laboriously, like rusted gears.

The battlefield... Kirigakure... Captain Iwasaki... Shota...

And that terrifying power that tore through his body and destroyed everything...

He jolted awake completely!

But instinct forced him to suppress his movements. He remained in the posture of an unconscious man, merely narrowing his eyes further as he carefully observed his surroundings.

He lay on a simple but relatively clean hospital bed, covered by a thin blanket. The strong disinfectant smell came from this place.

The room was small, like a temporary medical tent or some corner of Konoha's frontline hospital.

Three people stood beside the bed.

The most eye-catching was the woman with dazzling blonde hair and a breathtakingly voluptuous figure.

She wore a dark green traditional shinobi flak jacket beneath a brown robe, though the robe was currently stained with mud and dark red blood.

Her heroic brows were slightly furrowed as she looked down at a scroll in her hand, her expression grave and focused.

The powerful aura she radiated so casually allowed Duanmu Ci to identify her at once—one of Konoha's Sannin, the "Princess Slug," Tsunade!

Beside her stood the bespectacled woman he had seen before. She had a gentle temperament and was rapidly writing something on a clipboard. She was Tsunade's assistant, Shizune.

There was also a shinobi in a black bodysuit wearing an animal mask. His presence was cold and restrained. He was clearly from ANBU.

Tsunade put down the scroll, her sharp gaze falling on Duanmu Ci again. Her eyes seemed capable of piercing through flesh and reaching the depths of his soul.

Duanmu Ci's heart leaped into his throat. He quickly closed his eyes, slowed his breathing, and did his best to play the part of a severely weakened patient who had only just escaped death.

"His vital signs have indeed stabilized. In fact... they're a little too good."

Tsunade's voice rang out with a trace of scrutiny and unquestionable authority.

"His Chakra pathways are abnormally resilient, and his recovery ability far exceeds that of an ordinary person. Shizune, what were his external injuries?"

"Yes, Lord Tsunade."

Shizune immediately flipped open the clipboard.

"When he was brought in, his left arm had a comminuted fracture. He had three cuts across his chest and abdomen deep enough to expose bone, mild internal organ trauma, multiple soft tissue contusions and lacerations, and blood loss beyond the critical threshold. But... in less than twelve hours, the fracture has already begun to fuse, the cuts have scabbed over and stabilized, the internal trauma has basically disappeared, and the symptoms of blood loss have eased considerably. This recovery speed... is simply inhuman."

"Inhuman?"

Tsunade snorted, walked to the bed, and directly pressed her fingers against Duanmu Ci's carotid artery.

Her fingers were slender and strong, carrying a faint chill, yet their touch was exceptionally precise.

Duanmu Ci felt a gentle yet immensely resilient stream of Chakra enter his body like the most delicate probe.

That Chakra carried a powerful aura of life. She was clearly examining his internal condition.

Alarm bells rang wildly in his mind. He desperately restrained the three forces within him, which had only just calmed down but remained restless. In particular, he suppressed the strange burning sensation in the depths of his left eye and the life force of Wood Release hidden deep within his body, forcing them into the deepest parts of his cells. He revealed only life vitality far beyond that of an ordinary person and a relatively "empty" sea of Chakra.

Tsunade's Chakra made a full circuit through his body, and her brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

She clearly "saw" the vast ocean-like source of life within him, sensed the lingering traces of pure Yang Style, and detected the obscure yet incomparably heavy ancient aura of Wood Release even deeper inside.

Everything confirmed the traces left on the battlefield.

But now, all those powers lay dormant, as though they had exhausted their strength.

All that remained was a massive, sturdy "container" and an astonishing instinct for self-healing.

"Interesting..." Tsunade withdrew her hand and stared at Duanmu Ci's pale face with blazing eyes.

"Kid, I know you're awake. Stop pretending and answer my questions."

Duanmu Ci knew he could not fool her. Continuing to pretend would only make him look suspicious. He slowly opened his eyes, allowing just the right mix of weakness, confusion, and wariness to show in them as he looked at Tsunade and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"This... where is this? I... where are my teammates?"

His first reaction was concern for his companions. It was the most logical response.

"Konoha frontline medical station." Tsunade was concise, and her gaze did not relax in the slightest.

"Your squad encountered an ambush by Kirigakure elites. The scene... was terrible. When we arrived, we found only you and one seriously injured unconscious teammate alive. The others... were killed."

Though he had been mentally prepared, Duanmu Ci's heart still sank when he heard the words "were killed," and his eyes darkened instantly.

The image of Captain Iwasaki shoving him away, and Shota being sliced apart by the Water Blade, surfaced once more.

He closed his eyes in pain, his fist silently clenching beneath the thin blanket.

At that moment, the ANBU shinobi stepped forward. His voice sounded somewhat muffled through the mask.

"Chunin Duanmu Ci, I am ANBU, codename 'Tanuki.' According to the investigation at the scene, an extremely powerful force suspected to be Wood Release erupted during the final stage of the battle. There was also a strange phenomenon that completely drained the Chakra from multiple Kirigakure shinobi. We need you to explain what happened in detail, as well as... the source of your own power."

His tone carried businesslike coldness and an unquestionable desire to investigate.

Here it came!

Duanmu Ci's heart tightened.

He took a deep breath and suppressed his surging emotions. When he opened his eyes again, there was only exhaustion and the blank confusion of lingering fear within them.

"I... I don't know..."

His voice was weak, trembling with the aftermath of surviving death.

"At the time... the captain and Shota had both fallen... That enemy in the shark mask... rushed at me with a sword... I... I just felt like I was going to die... My mind went blank... Then... something inside my body... seemed to suddenly explode..."

He described it in fragments, deliberately obscuring the crucial points while emphasizing his "near-death instinct."

"Exploded? What exactly did it feel like? What did you see? What did you do?" ANBU "Tanuki" pressed, speaking faster.

"It hurt... My whole body felt like it was about to split apart..." Duanmu Ci revealed a pained expression.

"In front of my eyes... I seemed to see many strange purple shadows... Then... a lot of vines suddenly burst out of the ground... They were like living things... and wrapped around those Kirigakure shinobi... After that... I didn't know anything anymore..."

He focused on describing the Wood Release, vaguely glossed over the Rinnegan phenomenon as a near-death hallucination, and completely "forgot" about absorbing Chakra and releasing repulsion.

"Purple shadows? Vines?" ANBU was clearly dissatisfied with that vague answer.

"That's enough, 'Tanuki.'" Tsunade suddenly interrupted. She looked at Duanmu Ci's pained, confused expression, then recalled the immense yet seemingly ignorant life force within him and came to a preliminary judgment.

"He has just gone through life and death. His body and mind are both extremely weak. Memory confusion and even hallucinations are normal. The priority now is treatment and recovery." She turned to Duanmu Ci, her tone softening slightly but still carrying scrutiny.

"Kid, what's your name? What identity information do you have registered in Konoha? Do you have any family left?"

Duanmu Ci relaxed inwardly, knowing he had passed the first test.

Following the identity story he had prepared long ago, he answered weakly.

"Duanmu Ci... a war orphan... born a civilian... My parents... they died... in the previous war... I'm registered... graduated from the Ninja Academy... and was promoted to chunin not long ago..." He deliberately displayed the numb sorrow common among lower-ranking shinobi.

Tsunade and ANBU "Tanuki" exchanged a glance. "Tanuki" gave a slight nod, indicating that the identity information basically matched.

"Alright, I have a general understanding of the situation." Tsunade waved her hand.

"'Tanuki,' go handle your work first. If I need anything else, I'll call for you.

Shizune, change his medication, replenish his nutrients, and closely monitor his recovery data."

"Yes, Lord Tsunade." Shizune responded. "Tanuki" also silently left the tent.

Only Tsunade and Duanmu Ci remained in the tent.

Tsunade did not leave immediately. Instead, she stood by the bed and looked down at him, her amber eyes unfathomably deep.

"Duanmu Ci..." She repeated his name, unconsciously tapping the edge of the bed with her fingers.

"Your body... is very special. Special enough to... surprise even me."

Her gaze seemed capable of piercing through flesh again, and Duanmu Ci felt invisible pressure settle over him.

"Rest well. The mysteries surrounding you... we have plenty of time to figure them out."

With that, she turned and strode out of the tent.

Duanmu Ci lay on the hospital bed, staring at the ceiling of the tent as he let out a long, silent breath. Cold sweat had already soaked through his patient gown.

He had barely passed the first hurdle.

But Tsunade's meaningful final look told him that the real trouble had only just begun.

And the three dormant powers inside him, enough to overturn the Shinobi World, were the source of all that trouble.

Duanmu Ci was transferred to a better-equipped hospital ward inside Konoha.

It was still a shared ward, but the environment was far better than the frontline medical tents: white walls, clean sheets, and a lighter smell of disinfectant in the air.

He became the most eye-catching "freak" on the entire floor.

The reason was simple—his recovery was far too fast!

The other patients in his ward either had fractures that required them to lie in casts for a month or more, or internal injuries that forced them to avoid moving carelessly. But what about Duanmu Ci?

Nurse Saiko still remembered the first time she changed his dressing.

When he had arrived, his left arm had been swollen like a purple eggplant, twisted beyond recognition. The wounds across his chest and abdomen were deep enough to expose bone, terrifying to look at.

Yet when Saiko changed his dressing the next day, she held forceps and gauze while staring at his arm, which had visibly gone down in swelling and returned toward its normal color, as well as the thick dark scabs on his chest and abdomen whose edges had already dried and shrunk. She was so shocked that she nearly dropped the tray.

"Y-you... your injuries..." Saiko stammered, her hand holding the disinfectant cotton ball trembling slightly.

"Huh? Oh, maybe I just have a good constitution? I've always recovered quickly from injuries."

Duanmu Ci lay on the bed and explained with a "weak" expression. He even coughed twice in cooperation, working hard to stir the surging life force of his Sage Body just enough to make his face look paler.

Saiko changed his dressing doubtfully.

Then on the third day, the cast on his arm was removed!

Though he still could not engage in strenuous activity, he could already bend and stretch it without issue. The fracture had healed exceptionally well.

The scabs on his chest and abdomen also began falling off in large patches, revealing tender new flesh beneath. The speed was so astonishing that even the attending physician clicked his tongue in wonder.

"A miracle... truly a miracle of life!" An elderly doctor with graying hair exclaimed as he recorded notes in the medical file.

"I've practiced medicine for decades, but I've never seen recovery ability this strong! Young man, with a constitution like yours, it would be a waste if you didn't become a medical shinobi!"

Duanmu Ci could only put on a "bashful," slightly "confused" smile and muddle through. "Maybe... I'm just lucky?"

News of his "good luck" constitution soon spread through a small circle within the hospital.

The nurses looked at him with amazement, while the other patients in the ward were filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

"Hey, Duanmu kid, isn't your recovery ability a little too ridiculous? Yesterday you were still baring your teeth in pain, and today you're already up and about?" The uncle in the next bed, whose leg was broken, could not help saying sourly as he watched Duanmu Ci get out of bed and move around in a small area beside it.

"I'm not up and about. I'm just moving a little because I'm worried my muscles will atrophy if I lie down for too long."

Duanmu Ci weakly supported himself against the bedrail and carefully took two steps. A little sweat appeared on his forehead at just the right time.

He knew this was already the result of suppressing the recovery effects of his Sage Body as much as possible.

If he let it loose completely, these injuries would likely heal in a day or two. That would truly be shocking.

What he needed to do now was play a lucky man with "recovery ability far beyond ordinary people, but still within the bounds of human understanding."

Besides his physical recovery, Duanmu Ci also keenly noticed the immense change in his sensory abilities.

Though he did not dare use the Rinnegan, its passively enhanced vision and Chakra perception were constantly at work.

He could clearly "see" the details of a bird grooming its feathers on a branch dozens of meters outside the window.

He could "hear" two nurses gossiping in hushed voices at the far end of the hallway.

Most astonishing of all, when a patient in the ward groaned in pain because Chakra disruption had aggravated his wound, Duanmu Ci subconsciously "looked" over. In his vision, the patient's Chakra flow resembled a muddy stream, blocked and crashing through several meridian nodes. That was precisely the root cause of the intense pain.

This discovery stirred something in him.

That day, the patient was once again sweating profusely from pain, while the nurse on duty was too busy to attend to him. Duanmu Ci "struggled" out of bed, walked over to him, and asked with a "concerned" expression, "Uncle Yamada, are... are you alright? You seem to be in a lot of pain."

"Sigh... It's an old problem... My Chakra won't listen to me... It feels all clogged up..." Yamada's face was pale from pain.

"I... I learned a little folk remedy for soothing Chakra from some elders in the village before. How about... I try it for you?" Duanmu Ci cautiously suggested, his eyes "sincere" yet slightly "uncertain."

Yamada was in too much pain to care about much else. He nodded, treating a dead horse like a living one.

Duanmu Ci extended his uninjured right hand and gently pressed it near the area where Yamada was hurting.

He held his breath and concentrated, carefully guiding out an extremely faint thread of pure Yang Style Chakra. Following the blocked nodes he sensed, he gently "combed" through them like the most nimble needle.

His movements were slow and light. To outsiders, it looked like an ordinary massage.

At first, Yamada's brows remained furrowed, but gradually, the tight crease between them relaxed, and the pain on his face eased by more than half.

"Huh? It seems... it really does feel better?" Yamada's eyes widened in surprise. The rampaging Chakra in his body felt as though it had been smoothed down by a gentle hand. Though he was not completely healed, the agonizing pain had indeed eased significantly.

"Duanmu kid, this folk remedy of yours... has some real skill to it!"

"Really? That's great! I was just trying randomly!" Duanmu Ci revealed "surprise" and "relief" at the right moment, withdrawing his hand. More sweat appeared on his forehead at exactly the right time, making him seem as though he had "used up a lot of energy."

The head nurse happened to witness the scene as she entered the ward, and a trace of surprise flashed through her eyes. Duanmu Ci's "special constitution" and "accidentally effective soothing technique" quickly became gossip at the nurses' station.

"That Duanmu Ci is such a strange one... His injuries heal frighteningly fast, and he even knows some unconventional method for soothing Chakra disorders..."

"I heard Lord Tsunade personally asked about him..."

"Shh... Keep it down. I think ANBU people came by too..."

Duanmu Ci lay on his bed with his eyes closed, pretending to rest, while his ears clearly caught the nurses' hushed conversation outside.

He knew his reputation as the "Konoha Hospital Urban Legend" was now firmly established.

It brought attention, but it also quietly laid the groundwork for his "special constitution" and the medical talent he might reveal later.

Trouble and opportunity always came hand in hand.

As expected, word of Duanmu Ci's "urban legend" reached Tsunade's ears.

She looked through the report Shizune had organized.

His fracture healing speed exceeded normal standards by more than three times, the scars from his deep cuts had faded with unusual speed, his Chakra reserves recovered astonishingly quickly, and there was also the nurses' report on his "soothing of Chakra disruption"...

Smack! Tsunade closed the report, interest gleaming in her eyes.

"This kid... really is a treasure trove! No, he's the seed of a monster!" she instructed Shizune.

"Make preparations. We're going to the hospital."

When Tsunade and Shizune appeared in Duanmu Ci's ward again, the entire ward area seemed to grow a little quieter. The presence of one of the Sannin was no joke.

"How are you feeling? Can you get out of bed and move around now?"

Tsunade got straight to the point, her sharp gaze sweeping over Duanmu Ci's left arm, which had already had its splint removed and could move freely.

"Thanks to you, I'm much better, Lord Tsunade."

Duanmu Ci quickly sat upright on the bed and answered respectfully, with just the right amount of awe.

"Come with me." Tsunade did not waste words. She turned and walked away.

Duanmu Ci froze for a moment, then hurriedly got out of bed and followed. Shizune gave him a gentle, encouraging smile, signaling for him not to be nervous.

Tsunade did not take him to her office. Instead, she headed straight for the hospital treatment room.

A young ninja was there, his arm grazed by the shockwave of an Explosive Tag due to improper training. The flesh was mangled, the wound deep enough to expose bone, and the pain made him grimace.

"Watch." Tsunade spoke to Duanmu Ci with concise simplicity, then walked over to the injured man.

She did not form any hand seals. She merely extended her fair hand, palm facing down, hovering an inch above the wound.

A soft yet concentrated green Chakra glow instantly lit up, like a gentle spring rain, shrouding the vicious wound.

Duanmu Ci immediately focused, fully activating the Rinnegan's passive perception!

Within his "field of vision," the Chakra Tsunade released was exquisitely precise!

Like countless nimble threads of life, it seeped accurately into the damaged tissue, stimulating cellular activity, guiding severed blood vessels to reconnect, gently breaking down and metabolizing necrotic tissue, while fresh granulation grew at a visible rate, closing the wound...

The entire process was like the work of the greatest artist!

Stable, efficient, and filled with meticulous control over the power of life! This was top-tier Medical Ninjutsu—the Mystical Palm Technique!

In less than five minutes, the once-ghastly wound had become a faint pink scar. The injured ninja moved his arm, his face full of disbelief and gratitude. "Thank you, Lord Tsunade! It doesn't hurt at all anymore!"

Tsunade nodded and indicated that he could leave. Then she turned to Duanmu Ci, lifting her chin slightly.

"Did you see clearly? This is the most basic Mystical Palm Technique, an entry-level skill for medical ninja. Now, you try."

"Me?" Duanmu Ci looked "stunned" as he pointed at his own nose. "Lord Tsunade, I... I've never learned it..."

"You learn it because you haven't!" Tsunade's tone brooked no argument. "Put your hand over it, focus, recall what you just felt, and imagine your Chakra... as water. Let it seep in gently and guide it to repair."

Shizune promptly handed over a clean tray containing disinfectant supplies and a gelatin block with a simulated wound, meant for beginners to practice on.

Duanmu Ci understood. This was a test, but also an opportunity!

He took a deep breath, his face showing both nervousness and eagerness. He walked up to the gelatin block and extended his right hand over it. He deliberately slowed his movements, drawing upon the Sage Body's nearly instinctive, subtle control over Chakra while imitating the gentle aura of life in Tsunade's Chakra.

A green Chakra glow slowly lit up in his palm. It was not as concentrated or dazzling as Tsunade's, seeming somewhat scattered, but it was exceptionally stable and... carried an indescribable affinity and vigorous vitality!

The glow enveloped the simulated wound.

Under Duanmu Ci's "clumsy" control, the green Chakra seeped slowly into the gel like a trickling stream.

The edges of the simulated "wound" actually began showing faint signs of "healing"!

Though it was slow, and the effect was nowhere near as immediate as Tsunade's, for someone touching the Mystical Palm Technique for the first time, it was simply unbelievable!

Shizune covered her mouth in surprise. Tsunade's pupils also narrowed slightly.

She could clearly sense that the amount of Chakra Duanmu Ci released was not great, but the delicacy of his control and his affinity with life energy were practically innate talents!

The gentle life force within that Chakra was still immature, but its essence was extraordinarily pure!

Duanmu Ci "struggled" to maintain it for several dozen seconds. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead at just the right moment, and then he withdrew his hand as though exhausted. The Chakra glow faded. The simulated wound had healed somewhat, with a noticeable effect.

"Huff... huff... Lord Tsunade... I... I think... this is all I can do..." He panted, looking at Tsunade with "disappointment" and "unease."

Tsunade said nothing. She stared at Duanmu Ci, then at the partially healed gel, her expression complicated. Shock, scrutiny, and a trace of... excitement at discovering a priceless treasure!

"On his first attempt... he can already guide Chakra to produce preliminary healing stimulation..." Tsunade's voice revealed neither pleasure nor anger. "Shizune, how long did it take you to reach this stage?"

"Lord Tsunade, I... I practiced for a full month before I could barely maintain a stable Chakra output. It took me three months... to achieve this kind of preliminary stimulation effect..." Shizune's voice was filled with disbelief.

Tsunade nodded, her gaze locking onto Duanmu Ci once more as if she wanted to see straight through him. "Duanmu Ci."

"Here!"

"Starting tomorrow, you will not return to the ordinary ward."

Tsunade's voice carried decisive force.

"Pack your things and move next door to my temporary medical laboratory. You..." She paused before declaring with finality,

"are being accepted as my disciple as an exception. From now on, you will study Medical Ninjutsu under me."

"Ah?!" This time, Duanmu Ci was genuinely stunned. Though getting close to Tsunade had been his goal, he had not expected it to come so quickly or so directly!

A huge look of "surprise" and "disbelief" rapidly appeared on his face. "Re... really, Lord Tsunade? I... I can?"

"Enough nonsense!" Tsunade waved her hand impatiently, though a hint of satisfaction hid deep in her eyes.

"You won't know whether it's a mule or a horse until you take it out for a run!

That little bit of talent... Hmph, you still have a long way to go!

Don't think one success makes you anything special! You'll suffer plenty from now on!"

Her words were merciless, but as she turned and left, an almost imperceptible curve rose at the corner of her lips.

Duanmu Ci stood where he was, watching Tsunade and Shizune's departing backs. A great weight lifted from his heart, only to be replaced by immense anticipation.

The first step of his plan had succeeded!

He had successfully gained Tsunade's backing and acquired the most solid platform for establishing himself and growing in Konoha!

"Medical ninja Duanmu Ci..." he murmured, clenching his fist.

This identity would become his best camouflage, as well as the perfect cover for developing the terrifying power within him.

And the name of a "genius" would officially begin to be written from this moment onward.