The next day.
After receiving Iruka's message, Shinji finished his morning classes at the Ninja Academy, ate lunch, then headed to Konoha Hospital.
"Shinji Uchiha reporting for duty."
After finding the Medical Ninja assigned to instruct him, Shinji stepped forward and bowed.
She was a woman in her twenties, with her long hair tied back. She looked very capable.
She sized Shinji up and frowned slightly. "You're Shinji Uchiha? How old are you?"
"Eight!"
"Eight!?" She shook her head, her expression caught between amusement and disbelief. "The village has really lost its mind. Why would they send an eight-year-old child to me?"
Shinji smiled. "Because I'm a genius!"
"A genius?" She looked surprised, then composed herself and said flatly, "My name is Kaoru Kusa. I'll be your instructor."
Shinji bowed with a smile. "Sensei Kusa."
Kaoru casually picked up a book and tossed it to Shinji. "Read this first, then come back to me."
Shinji caught the book and glanced at it. The cover read Human Anatomy Atlas. After a moment's thought, he took the book and left without a word.
Kaoru hadn't expected Shinji to leave so readily. The reprimand she'd prepared was stuck in her throat, and all she could do was purse her lips and mutter, "I'd like to see just how much of a genius you are!"
After leaving Konoha Hospital, Shinji didn't return to his apartment. Instead, he went straight to the archives.
He could tell that Kaoru meant to make things difficult for him. But since he wanted to master Medical Ninjutsu, learning the fundamentals from books like Human Anatomy Atlas was only natural.
So he not only studied Human Anatomy Atlas seriously, but also borrowed every book on Medical Ninjutsu he could find in the archives.
A week later.
Shinji returned to Konoha