Grandma Qiu's Fresh Fish Shop

"Hai Yi, you said that the greater the consumption with other secret techniques, the better the effect. Teach me some S-rank secret techniques. Oh, right, the Spirit Transformation Technique, that one is quite good. Can you teach me?" Xing Ran suddenly remembered Hai Yi's words from earlier, as if discovering a new continent. If he practiced with better-effect ninjutsu, could his growth speed also increase?

"...Uh, forget about the Spirit Transformation Technique. Although our clan has this technique, it has very strict requirements. Not only does it require strong spiritual power to support it, but the user must also have extremely high aptitude. The body must adapt to this technique while possessing superhuman control. Although my spiritual power meets the standard, my body cannot adapt to this technique. If he were still here, I could teach you, but I can't." Upon hearing the words "Spirit Transformation Technique," Hai Yi's expression suddenly became very dejected. This was him remembering a departed friend, filled with sadness and a hint of regret.

Xing Ran didn't ask who "he" was. Based on his memories of watching anime in his past life, this "he" was most likely Dan Katō, Tsunade's boyfriend. In the original plot, he was very familiar with Choji Akimichi. As a member of the Ino-Shika-Cho formation, it was also normal for him and Hai Yi, whose abilities were similar, to be friends.

"If not the Spirit Transformation Technique, then the Mind Disturbance Martial Arts Technique will do. That's also a high-difficulty, high-consumption technique." Xing Ran didn't give up, planning to settle for the next best thing. This technique was Hai Yi's ultimate move, absolutely powerful.

"...This is an important secret technique of the clan. According to regulations, it is not allowed for clan members who are still Genin to practice it." Unexpectedly, Hai Yi still flatly refused Xing Ran's request.

In this world full of contradictions, there was always an unavoidable conflict that persisted: the issue between civilian ninja and noble ninja clans.

For civilian ninja, learning ninjutsu was often very difficult. Most people had to accumulate a certain level of contribution to the village before they could receive ninjutsu rewards from the village. Other avenues, besides scrolls captured in battle, were to find a master.

However, it wasn't easy for civilian ninja to find a master. Moreover, the ninja who would take civilian ninja as disciples were generally not strong, and how much ninjutsu could they possess? (The ninja master-disciple relationship in Naruto was an exception.)

Conversely, it was different for noble ninja clans. Each ninja clan had its own secret techniques and ninjutsu to sustain itself. Furthermore, due to the partial sharing of clan resources, ninjutsu accidentally acquired or obtained after graduation could accumulate over long periods.

Thus, the ninja world became polarized. Weak civilian ninja were long trapped in the predicament of not having suitable ninjutsu to practice, making it even harder to rise in a vicious cycle. Meanwhile, noble ninja clans could more easily obtain ninjutsu suitable for them, achieving twice the result with half the effort. Even at the bottom of their own clan, they would be powerful existences among civilian ninja.

Where there is conflict, there is resistance. Members of a village's noble ninja clans were like a delicacy to civilian ninja of other villages; everyone wanted a bite, perhaps to obtain a skill.

Therefore, each clan had relevant regulations on what level of strength could practice what kind of ninjutsu, preventing children from flaunting gold and attracting covetous eyes.

The Yamanaka Clan's regulations were that during the Genin stage, only the basic secret techniques, the Mind Body Switch Technique and the Mind Disturbance Body Technique, could be practiced. Only when one became a Chunin could they learn more profound ninjutsu. Of course, this regulation only applied to ordinary clan members. If a genius appeared within the clan, exceptions could be made for teaching, so as not to abandon the good for the perfect.

A genius was very important to a clan like the Yamanaka Clan, which was neither here nor there.

In this regard, the Yamanaka Clan was more open-minded than the Hyuga Clan. The Hyuga Clan's secret techniques were very strictly controlled, and even geniuses rarely had the opportunity to learn them in advance.

"Tch, clan rules are so great! By the way, I want to learn Medical Ninjutsu. That's not restricted by clan rules, right..."

After being refused by Hai Yi, Xing Ran grumbled to himself. Sooner or later, he would become a genius that the Yamanaka Clan would meticulously protect. By then, all you stubborn old men would be begging him to learn secret techniques and bring glory to the clan.

He spent the entire morning at Hai Yi's house, talking with Hai Yi and playing games with little Ino. Time passed quickly. After a sumptuous lunch, Xing Ran left Hai Yi's house but didn't return home. Instead, he walked towards the Konoha market, which was equivalent to the commercial street in his past life, where villagers solved their daily needs.

Meanwhile, beneath the Hokage Rock, the political and military core of Konoha, in the Hokage's office within the Hokage Building, a puff of smoke was blown out the window, quickly dispersed by the gradually cooling breeze.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was deep in thought. Yesterday, he had received the report from his trusted subordinate Yamaki Atsushi. The attack and the actions of the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure were almost as he had predicted. However, the sudden display of potential as a Medical Ninja by Yamanaka Xingran on the way back had greatly surprised the Third Hokage.

"Gambling... but he could generously buy Explosive Tags for his teammates, so... there's still hope, right? And what level can this Medical Ninja potential reach? I heard he learned it himself... Headaches. Potential and problems coexist. The previous team wipe and severe injuries must have had a serious impact on this kid. Should I heavily rely on him?" With a deep, hoarse voice, years of smoking had made the Third's voice sound increasingly aged. The self-muttering words might have been barely audible even to the Third himself.

Swish.

An Anbu member wearing a Raccoon Mask suddenly appeared and knelt behind the Third Hokage.

"Hokage-sama, Yamanaka Xingran's Medical Ninjutsu might have been learned from Grandma Qiu. Our people saw him enter Grandma Qiu's fish shop." The Raccoon Mask Anbu's voice, coming through the mask, sounded very muffled, but to the Third Hokage's ears, it lost its usual steadiness. Instead, the content made the Third Hokage hesitate even more.

Since someone taught him, he wasn't self-taught. His potential was significantly lower. Therefore, even if he were to be brought into the Hokage's faction, he would only be an insignificant character. It was a pity, a bit unwilling, and mostly hesitation. Perhaps... if nurtured, he could become a decent ninja?

It was not surprising that the Third Hokage hesitated repeatedly over such a mere Genin. Medical Ninja were scarce resources at any time, and each one had to be cherished.

Xing Ran was unaware that the Hokage was agonizing over whether or not to focus on cultivating him. According to Hai Yi, the Yamanaka Clan also had senior experts with powerful Medical Ninjutsu, but they had retired a long time ago due to injuries, so they were not known to ordinary people.

This fresh fish shop in front of him was his destination. A large sign hung at the entrance, imprinted with the Yamanaka Clan's crest. The shop's name was Grandma Qiu's Fresh Fish Shop, truly concise.

To be continued

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