The Witch and the Monk

A few days later, inside the Hokage's office.

"...That concludes the full account and results of this mission."

As the report fell silent, the office settled into a brief stillness.

Behind the desk, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, quietly finished listening to the two men's detailed statements, then revealed an exceedingly kind smile.

"You've worked hard. You performed exceptionally well, far exceeding expectations." His voice was warm and affirming. "Based on the nature of this incident, the levels involved, and the final outcome, the Mission Review Committee has unanimously decided to officially upgrade the rank of your mission to A-rank."

An A-rank mission typically meant the incident itself had touched upon or could potentially affect the balance of power and security stability between regions.

Exposing and thwarting the border city lord's collusion with a foreign cult to kidnap the village's children for nefarious purposes fully warranted this rank.

"Since the mission is complete, you should both take a good rest for a while." The Third Hokage smiled, his tone light, like an elder caring for his juniors, offering gentle advice.

"Especially you, Shinichi. For your first mission to be so turbulent, go home and relax properly. Recover your spirits."

"Yes, thank you for your concern, Third Hokage-sama."

Shinichi replied respectfully. After a brief pause, he looked up and added, "Third Hokage-sama, I'm quite interested in medical ninjutsu. Would it be possible to request permission to study the basics at Konoha Hospital during my off-mission time?"

"Oh? Studying medical ninjutsu?" The Third Hokage set down his pipe with interest, his smile growing warmer. "Shinichi, what suddenly brought this on?"

"To answer you, Third Hokage-sama." Shinichi's tone was steady, clearly having thought this through.

"There are several reasons. First, you once taught me that my chakra control is still lacking. I've heard that medical ninjutsu demands extremely fine chakra control—arguably the highest of all ninjutsu branches."

"I believe that by training in medical ninjutsu, I might greatly exercise and improve my chakra control, which would significantly benefit my overall growth in the future."

He paused briefly, then continued his clear exposition. "Second, compared to ninjutsu, I've actually invested more in taijutsu, and my combat style leans heavily toward it. Medicine and martial arts have long shared common ground."

"A deep understanding of human anatomy, the meridian system, muscle mechanics, and even vital weak points won't only make my self-training more scientific and effective, reducing hidden injuries, but also allow me to more precisely judge the timing, location, and force of attacks and defenses in actual combat, elevating the power and efficiency of my taijutsu to a new level."

Finally, he added, "Moreover, as a ninja, injuries or the need to aid teammates are inevitable during missions. Mastering some basic medical knowledge might provide an extra layer of security at critical moments, reducing unnecessary casualties."

After hearing this, the Third Hokage slowly nodded and smiled. "Mm... Since you have this intention and your reasoning is sound, this old man naturally has no reason to refuse. Very well, I'll inform the Medical Department later. Report there when you have time in the next couple of days."

"However, Shinichi, medical ninjutsu is profound and vast. It requires not only talent but also persistent patience and an attention to detail beyond the ordinary. Remember to act within your limits, don't be greedy for quick results, and proceed step by step."

"Yes, Third Hokage-sama!" Shinichi nodded solemnly. "I will keep your teachings in mind and humbly learn from the seniors at the hospital."

After the two bowed and withdrew, the Hokage's office fell quiet once more, leaving only the Third Hokage alone.

He picked up the still-fresh mission report on his desk and slowly turned to the attached page at the end, where the team leader, Maruboshi Kosuke, had written his mission evaluation and team member assessment in his own hand.

Exceptional talent, formidable resilience; keen insight, sound analysis; decisive in the moment, calm and resolute...

In the evaluation, Maruboshi Kosuke had rated Shinichi extremely highly, and later emphasized that this was a child with a strong sense of responsibility and deep empathy.

As the Third Hokage read on, his smile bloomed like autumn chrysanthemums, layer upon layer.

Perhaps because Shinichi had left the village for a mission right after graduation, and the risks had escalated sharply, ultimately being rated A-rank, the Third Hokage felt somewhat apologetic. He believed this young ninja deserved a smoother transition period.

Thus, over the next two months or so, most of the missions Shinichi and Maruboshi Kosuke received were D-rank, largely confined to the area within Konoha.

The farthest they went was to a nearby village, helping the locals drive off and kill two brown bears that had awakened from hibernation and were disturbing the residents.

In his spare time, Shinichi did not slack off in the slightest. On one hand, he continued learning from Maruboshi Kosuke.

The old ninja's skill at deeply integrating his exquisite swordsmanship with practical ninja experience benefited Shinichi immensely.

At the same time, though Maruboshi Kosuke was known for Water Release, he also had solid attainments in Fire Release. His guidance helped Shinichi make progress in the application of Fire Nature chakra.

The two were nominally teammates, but most of the time, Maruboshi Kosuke was more like a mentor teaching everything he knew.

On the other hand, thanks to the Third Hokage's advance notice, Shinichi smoothly entered Konoha Hospital and began studying the specialized knowledge of medical ninjas.

Although students at the Ninja Academy learned basic pharmacology and human anatomy, compared to the depth and precision required of a truly qualified medical ninja, that was merely the entry level of entry levels.

Becoming a qualified medical ninja was extremely difficult, typically requiring years of systematic training and rigorous practice, with high demands on talent and temperament.

However, under the boost of multiple Traits like [Genius], Shinichi's learning efficiency far exceeded the norm.

"Heading home, Shinichi?" One day, after finishing his studies at the hospital, a familiar doctor saw him packing up and greeted him with a smile.

"Yes, senior. See you tomorrow." Shinichi nodded in reply.

As he passed through the hallway, several nurses waved and smiled at him.

"Little Shinichi, see you tomorrow!"

"Be careful on the way home."

It was clear that, though only two months had passed, he was quite popular here.

Shinichi responded politely to each one, his steps steady as he left the hospital.

Back home, after a quick wash, he walked to his bed and lay flat on his back.

His mind settled, and the Personal Panel silently materialized.

In the talent column, one Trait had already changed:

[Charisma (Green): You possess extremely strong personal charm. Your words and actions naturally exude likability and trustworthiness, making others unconsciously develop goodwill and recognition toward you, and they are more easily influenced by your emotions and attitudes.]

This had evolved from the original white Trait [Affinity]. Though not deliberately pursued, over time, it had solidified in people's perception into a deeper "charisma."

His gaze swept past [Charm] and landed on another newly generated white Trait:

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[Medical Fundamentals (White): You possess exceptional memory and comprehension of human anatomy and pharmacology, allowing you to learn and apply medical knowledge and basic treatment techniques with precision and efficiency.]

This was a direct result of his recent studies at the hospital. Yet, looking at this Trait, Shinichi had already confirmed a fact in his mind.

Just as he had speculated earlier—

[Medical Fundamentals] belonged to the category of a specialized talent Trait within the "Ninja Occupation talent tree."

Its generation precisely indicated that the identity of "Medical Ninja" was not treated by the panel's judgment logic as an independent "Occupation."

It was more like a specialized branch under the ninja system, a derivative application born from the fusion of ninja and doctor knowledge, rather than an independent, fully inherited supernatural occupation system with its own origin.

So, what qualified?

Ninjas went without saying—they were the undisputed mainstream discipline of the current ninja world.

And swordsmen...

Shinichi's thoughts quickly traced back through the clues he knew. Various hints from the original story indicated that before Kaguya Otsutsuki descended and Chakra spread widely, this world already had many supernatural beings, yet humans still managed to establish mainstream civilizations and stable nations.

This meant that before Chakra became the dominant power, humans must have possessed other means to contend with the supernatural.

Samurai, or swordsmen, were one of them. It was only after Chakra—a more efficient and versatile energy form—became widespread that they replaced their internal energy with Chakra.

Even the Land of Iron, which outwardly clung to samurai traditions, had long since had its warriors actually using Chakra.

So, besides the swordsman Occupation, what else was there?

Shinichi's gaze sharpened as two terms surfaced in his mind:

Shrine Maidens!

Monks!