Taking Leave

One original body and three Shadow Clones—Hyuga Mirai's training continued steadily and methodically.

Because he had invented the Healing Tag, his request to Sarutobi Hiruzen for a month of leave was easily approved. During that time, Hyuga Mirai would not need to return to the Kaminari Kaede Squad to take missions.

With one member missing, the Kaminari Kaede Squad had two choices. One was to transfer someone else in as a replacement; there were still some Genin in Konoha without teams. The other was to wait for Hyuga Mirai's leave to end before he returned to the squad.

When Kaminari Kaede informed Hyuga Kiyomi and Yuhi Kurenai of this, both chose to wait until Hyuga Mirai's leave was over before taking on missions again.

Kaminari Kaede thought the same way. The original three-person squad had developed excellent coordination after more than a dozen missions, and Hyuga Mirai had nearly developed the qualifications of a Chunin. With a few more mission experiences, he could be promoted to Chunin and lead a three-person squad on his own.

If they replaced him now, the adjustment period alone would probably take several more months.

However, Kaminari Kaede found the Healing Tag Hyuga Mirai had developed somewhat familiar. Upon hearing the news, he had once thought that Hyuga Mirai would not return to the squad and would instead develop within the medical system.

But the Third Hokage's transfer order had yet to arrive, so the Kaminari Kaede Squad was not considered disbanded.

While the squad lacked manpower, Hyuga Kiyomi and Yuhi Kurenai could only take D-rank Missions within the village or continue training.

"Tsunade-sama, Yang Release Chakra can both promote and slow cell division. Could Sealing Technique be used to seal Yang Release Chakra within every acupoint throughout the body? That way, it could maintain a state of slowed cell division and extend one's lifespan."

"Kid, stop fantasizing!"

Tsunade retorted, "Where does Chakra come from? Didn't you learn this at the Ninja Academy? Producing Yang Release Chakra requires refining and combining physical energy with spiritual energy. Once you do that, cells will inevitably divide. Your idea is simply—"

"I have conducted experiments on that point. If the Yang Release Chakra produced by the human body's 130 trillion cells can delay cell division by three cycles, then by that calculation, every Ninja could gain at least twice their lifespan. Based on the average lifespan of Konoha residents who do not die in battle, a Ninja's lifespan could basically be raised to one hundred and sixty-two years."

"Of course, this still requires further research."

Before Tsunade could finish scolding him, Hyuga Mirai took out some research data and slapped her in the face with it.

This had become Hyuga Mirai's daily routine after learning Sealing Technique and Medical Ninjutsu from Tsunade. Bound by their wager, Tsunade had to answer Hyuga Mirai's questions. Yet whenever she taught him, she never stopped mocking him, calling him "Kid" one moment and "idiot" the next.

Though Tsunade's mouth was stubborn, she was deeply shocked by Hyuga Mirai's learning ability.

The Third Hokage had given Hyuga Mirai three Sealing Techniques in total. Aside from the most difficult Four Symbols Seal, he had nearly mastered the other two under Tsunade's guidance.

And by "mastered," it meant that Hyuga Mirai constantly questioned the operating principles of Sealing Technique and the effects of Sealing Runes, forcing Tsunade to answer with complete seriousness.

Every day, after learning Sealing Technique, Hyuga Mirai would raise more extremely "profound" questions for Tsunade.

After Tsunade pondered and answered, Hyuga Mirai would immediately overturn her answer and ruthlessly "slap" her in the face.

Today was no exception. Before Tsunade had even finished answering, Hyuga Mirai pulled out experimental data and repeatedly smacked her in the face with it. Tsunade, who had not yet had any alcohol today, developed an unnatural flush of anger on her face.

Bang!

"Kid, have your original body come discuss this with me!"

Before the Shadow Clone could react, it was blown apart by a single punch of Monstrous Strength.

"Damn Kid!"

Still simmering with anger, Tsunade picked up Hyuga Mirai's experimental report. The research steps regarding cells were extremely thorough, listing numerous experimental summaries on the various effects Yang Release Chakra had on cells.

"Looking at it this way, what that White-eyed Kid said might actually be possible."

As Tsunade read the report, she found that it contained plenty of other research as well. The most important parts concerned Cell Gene research and preliminary ideas for cloning.

Of course, Hyuga Mirai had not left only one copy with Tsunade. Quite a few people at Konoha Hospital had also seen his research report.

However, to understand Hyuga Mirai's research materials, one needed either Tsunade's level of medical expertise or an extremely deep understanding of cells.

Everyone else was utterly baffled by it.

Still, the fact that Hyuga Mirai could study and discuss matters with Tsunade every day was enough for other Medical-nin to recognize his medical expertise.

In a forest ten miles south of Konoha,

Hyuga Mirai, who was practicing the Body Flicker Technique, paused slightly as the memory of his Shadow Clone being destroyed entered his mind. The pain made him frown.

That violent, big-chested woman—when it gets to this time in the future, I should stop training.

If the pain of a Shadow Clone being destroyed suddenly struck while he was practicing high-speed Body Flicker, Hyuga Mirai could very well be injured. Even with Medical Ninjutsu, injuries that could be avoided were best avoided.

My thirty days of leave are almost used up. Returning to the squad to take missions has both advantages and disadvantages. If I can become a Chunin and lead a team out of the village on missions alone, then the benefits will outweigh the drawbacks. Looks like I need to become a Chunin as soon as possible.

There were two ways to become a Chunin. One was through the Chunin Exams, while the other was through an assessment issued by the Hokage.

The Chunin Exams were generally held jointly with neighboring nations, and their timing was uncertain. More Chunin were promoted through assessments issued by the Third Hokage, such as Kakashi Hatake.

Over this past month, Hyuga Mirai had fought for every second. Gentle Fist, physical training, Body Flicker, Medical Ninjutsu—he had not neglected a single one.

Ever since his Shadow Clones had deepened their research into Yang Release Chakra, Hyuga Mirai had obtained many useful results.

For example, using the gentle stimulation and protection of Yang Release Chakra on digestive organs such as the esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, and pancreas could speed up food digestion and shorten the time needed for the body to extract energy from food.

Hyuga Mirai had come up with this thanks to inspiration from Tsunade and someone else. After Pain's invasion, Tsunade had consumed too much Chakra, and once she woke up, she had eaten and drunk heavily to restore it.

He spent three days testing out a workable method.

By digesting large amounts of food and nourishing his body's cells with Yang Release Chakra, Hyuga Mirai's Chakra reserves had already increased considerably. They should now be at the level of a Jonin.

Hyuga Mirai checked the time and felt it was about time to head back.

"I'll return to the squad and start taking missions the day after tomorrow. I wonder whether Orochimaru has even read that research report of mine. Could it be that he hasn't been paying attention to Konoha Hospital?"

Although he had absorbed much useful knowledge from Tsunade, she would be leaving Konoha soon. Once she left, Orochimaru would probably be the only person in all of Konoha who could discuss these matters with Hyuga Mirai.

Because they were both from the scientific school of thought!

Please vote, honored readers. Give me some suggestions—I feel like I'm playing solo.