At Last, Malice Awoke

The Third Hokage thought it over, but didn't insist that Shiraishi Yoshijo join the Anbu. Instead, he took a scroll from inside his robe.

He handed the scroll to Shiraishi Yoshijo. "These are Medical Ninjutsu researched by the Anbu. Since you don't want to join them, you can stay at the hospital. These techniques will be put to good use in your hands."

Shiraishi Yoshijo looked a little surprised, and his expression softened slightly. He took the scroll and tucked it into his robe without even looking at it.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage. If there's nothing else, I'll be going."

"Wait. Since you've accepted that, I hope you'll accept this too."

The Third Hokage took a Konoha Forehead Protector and a file from beneath his desk and handed them to him.

When Shiraishi Yoshijo saw the Forehead Protector, he understood what the Third Hokage meant.

He hesitated for a moment, but finally accepted them.

With a ninja's identity came a ninja's responsibilities.

Although Shiraishi Yoshijo was reluctant, he understood that life in a ninja village was something he would have to face sooner or later.

Besides, having a ninja's identity would also improve his treatment from now on. His family didn't have much money to spare!

After putting away the Forehead Protector, Shiraishi Yoshijo turned and left.

Only after the office door closed did the Third Hokage silently pick up his pipe and take a puff.

Danzo glanced at him. "Hiruzen, was it really wise to hand him those techniques? And why weren't you more forceful? You're always like this—naive!"

"Danzo, he's still just a child. Why can't you trust him?"

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura hurriedly stepped in to mediate and calm them down.

"Medical Ninjutsu requires precise Chakra control. You know the Shi-Die Secret Technique. It won't be long before he displays a frightening talent for Medical Ninjutsu."

Danzo was still seething. "You let him stay at the hospital. Do you have any idea how much that will benefit him?"

"Those people were already getting restless, and now you're adding fuel to the fire. You're far too naive."

The Third Hokage slammed his pipe onto the desk. "What do you expect me to do? Wouldn't forcing him into the Anbu only add more fuel to the fire?"

"Danzo, violence can't solve any problems. It will only bring endless pain to the village."

"Even when he faced that Aburame boy in the underground training ground, he held back. I believe he won't do anything to disappoint me."

Neither could convince the other. In the end, Danzo could only leave with a cold snort.

After Danzo left, the Third Hokage closed his eyes and said, "Danzo is becoming more and more extreme. If this continues..."

Utatane Koharu said, "The things he's done have inevitably darkened his disposition, but he's still doing it all for the village."

Mitokado Homura nodded in agreement. "Without Danzo, the village wouldn't have the peace it has now. Hiruzen, you should think about his position too."

The Third Hokage silently picked up his pipe, walked to the window, and began smoking.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged a glance and coughed.

"As for Shiraishi Yoshijo, we agree with your decision, Hiruzen. It's just that there are always members of the ninja clans surrounding him, and I'm afraid they'll influence him..."

Utatane Koharu hesitated before continuing. "Should we also bring some medical ninja into the hospital? At the very least, we can't let him have a monopoly. Otherwise, the situation could become difficult to manage."

The Third Hokage sighed. "Understood. Pick some from the Anbu."

Ever since Shiraishi Yoshijo began using Medical Ninjutsu at the hospital, he'd had an office of his own.

Sitting in his office, he took out the scroll the Third Hokage had given him. After glancing through it, he tossed it onto the desk.

Hemostasis Technique, Healing Technique, Mystical Palm Technique—the scroll contained these three techniques.

They seemed rather basic to him, but he also understood that these three techniques were practically the ceiling for most medical ninja.

As for his own Medical Ninjutsu, ever since Shiraishi Yoshijo had accelerated the maturation of the Butterfly Seeds, he'd developed a strange illusion.

An illusion that he could do anything.

He didn't know where his limits lay.

Thinking of this, he lit another cigarette. After finishing it, he murmured, "I've been smoking for a week. I should probably clean out my lungs."

Chakra coursed through his body, gradually transforming into Water Release Chakra.

He placed a hand against his chest, and a faint glow emanated from it.

Before long, he drew a bubble of water mixed with impurities out of his body and casually tossed it into the trash can.

"That hurt a little, but it didn't use much Chakra. I'll just clean my lungs once a month from now on."

Afterward, he stared out the window, lost in thought.

Ever since Shiraishi Eizawa's death, he'd lost his purpose.

Now, he needed to give serious thought to what he should do next.

First, he needed to solve his problem with Chakra reserves.

He was ten years old and already had the Chakra reserves of a Chunin.

Among his classmates, he was undoubtedly a genius. Even compared to Orochimaru, he wasn't far behind.

In another four or five years, he'd have the Chakra reserves of a Jonin.

If he truly settled down and lived in Konoha, perhaps he'd be content.

Unfortunately, he knew all too well how much he hated this village.

Living here always made him feel as though he were in an illusion.

Like a colorful soap bubble, it would burst at the slightest touch.

The Will of Fire was like a sun hanging high in the sky, shining down on everyone in Konoha.

They were all living in a dream, and he didn't want to be assimilated by them.

That was why he dressed like an outsider—to remind himself.

He was different from them.

Either lonely or vulgar.

He thought of himself as a vulgar person, but now he was lonely too.

He wanted to leave Konoha.

But before he left, he had to draw enough nourishment from this great tree to survive.

Shiraishi Yoshijo thought it over carefully. At present, he could think of only three ways to solve his Chakra shortage.

The first was bloodline.

The most notable examples were the Sharingan, Senju Hashirama's cells, and the Uzumaki Clan's Sage Body.

The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan probably had this function too, but getting one was simply impossible.

The easiest option was the Sharingan. With his current Medical Ninjutsu, he could probably make it work as soon as he implanted one.

But non-Uchiha users experienced rejection when using the Sharingan, a problem even Medical Ninjutsu couldn't solve.

Unless he did what Orochimaru did and reincarnated directly into a member of the Uchiha Clan.

Shiraishi Yoshijo didn't want to become that kind of pervert yet, even though he already looked like quite a pervert.

As for Hashirama Cells, unless he cooperated with Danzo, there was no way he could get them.

Unfortunately, Danzo wouldn't trust him.

The Uzumaki Clan's Sage Body was just as unrealistic.

The second option was Sealing Techniques. The most notable example was Tsunade's Yin Seal.

It was probably a Sealing Technique that Uzumaki Mito had taught Tsunade. He didn't know if he could use it himself.

But for now, getting it was practically impossible.

The last option was the Tailed Beasts.

Becoming a Jinchuriki would let him use a Tailed Beast's Chakra. It was like having a huge, convenient power bank.

But every village kept its Tailed Beasts top secret. Even if he somehow got one, he'd probably be hunted down and killed.

Besides, sealing a Tailed Beast required Sealing Techniques too.

Over the past few days, he'd also skimmed through the family's books on Sealing Techniques. They contained only basic knowledge.

There was only one truly valuable Sealing Technique: the Five Elements Seal.

Unfortunately, even the Five Elements Seal wasn't something he could learn easily.

The basics of Sealing Techniques were obscure and difficult to understand. Just flipping through them had left Shiraishi Yoshijo feeling light-headed.

Studying Sealing Techniques on his own would probably take a very long time.

But it was still the best solution he could think of for now.

"Can't be helped. I'll have to learn Sealing Techniques first."

Shiraishi Yoshijo sighed, then used the Reverse Summoning Technique to travel to Butterfly Habitat Valley.

Mei was lying there asleep as usual.

Shiraishi Yoshijo watched her for a while, then began searching for books on Sealing Techniques.

He took out a few and returned to his office to study them in silence.

In Butterfly Habitat Valley, Mei, who had been lying asleep, suddenly opened her eyes.

She yawned and said thoughtfully, "Learning Sealing Techniques first. Not a bad choice."

She got up and walked out of the hall. After staring blankly at the sky for a while, she returned inside.

A scroll now in her hand, she thought for a moment, then casually tossed it onto the bookshelf.

"Would that be too obvious?"

Mei muttered to herself, "The others before him never wanted to cooperate with me. This little one is special, but he won't be that easy to deal with either."

"Can't be helped." Mei reached out and picked up the scroll again.

"I'll sound him out the next time he comes."

As she spoke, Mei lay back down on the bed in the hall and fell asleep again.