Medical Ninjutsu

Naka Riverbank.

Beside the riverbank, which Uchiha ninja had repaired and outfitted with various facilities, Uchiha Gen sat on a stone bench, watching the sparks of electricity dancing in his palm.

"I understand the basic principles, but recreating it perfectly is harder than I imagined."

When it came to high-damage techniques that suited him, Uchiha Gen could only think of the two iconic jutsu every Naruto fan knew.

Chidori and Rasengan.

"Here. The balloons and rubber balls you wanted, Gen. Can these really be used to train for a jutsu?"

Minato Namikaze walked over with a bag of supplies. He glanced at the lightning crackling in Uchiha Gen's palm and asked with a strange expression.

Weren't balloons and rubber balls just toys for kids?

"You'll see once I've got it down."

Crackle!!!

A piercing burst rang out as the lightning in Uchiha Gen's palm flared and scattered in every direction. After a brief, chaotic crackle, it vanished in an instant.

Only a faint wisp of smoke rose from Uchiha Gen's palm.

"Tch."

He raised his hand and looked at the marks on it, as if it had been burned, then pursed his lips. They were caused by covering his skin with Lightning Release chakra for too long, and by the heat it produced.

An hour had passed, and he still hadn't figured out how to maintain Chidori for an extended period.

"Are you hurt? Should you go to the hospital? Is it because of training with Lightning Release? Gen, you don't have to rush. We're still young, and we have plenty of time to get stronger."

After handing Uchiha Gen the balloons, Minato had started practicing Hand Seals nearby. Hearing the commotion, he turned and immediately noticed the injury on Gen's hand. He hurried over and spoke with concern.

"It's just a minor injury. It'll heal soon. Minato, we don't have as much time as you think. Right now, all the major villages except Konoha are waiting for someone to strike the first match. War is about to begin."

Forming a seal with one hand, Uchiha Gen took a small porcelain bottle from the Sealing Jutsu formula on his wrist. He dabbed ointment onto his hand as he spoke gravely.

He didn't know exactly when the Second Shinobi World War would begin, but he did know what would set it off: Hanzo of the Salamander, leader of Amegakure, would declare war on the Three Great Shinobi Villages, triggering the Second Shinobi World War.

Uchiha Gen figured it wouldn't be long now.

Once war broke out, he would undoubtedly head for the battlefield. With Mist Space, he needed countless battles to grow stronger.

"Hahahaha! Not bad, Uchiha brat. You've already got a decent grasp of the current state of the Shinobi World."

A boisterous voice sounded from nearby just after he finished applying the ointment.

"Jiraiya-sensei! And Lady Tsunade."

Minato's eyes lit up when he saw them.

"You're a whole hour late."

Uchiha Gen looked at Tsunade and spoke without expression.

"Ahahaha, something came up at the last minute..."

Tsunade glanced guiltily toward the riverbed and muttered.

Damn, why does this kid have such an oppressive presence?

"Huh? Tsunade, weren't you just leaving the gambling den—"

Bam!!

"Well, kid, let's start today's lesson."

"Jiraiya-sensei!"

Seeing Jiraiya crash into the riverbed like a cannonball, Minato cried out in alarm.

"..."

"An injury this small needs ointment? Tsk, tsk, tsk. This looks like a change in the nature of Lightning Release chakra. You shouldn't be messing with this yet. One little mistake, and you'll end up in the hospital."

In the woods, Tsunade stood before Uchiha Gen, smiling as she looked at his palm.

"Enough talk. Let's get started."

Uchiha Gen rolled his eyes. Why was Tsunade such a chatterbox at this point in her life?

"Tch. Since you could already use Water Walking during last night's fight, your chakra control must be decent. But just being able to walk on water isn't enough. Hey, kid, before you learn Strength of a Hundred, want to study Medical Ninjutsu?"

Tsunade pursed her lips, then glanced at the injury on Uchiha Gen's hand and asked.

She had decided to follow her grandmother's orders and teach Uchiha Gen, so she had also chosen to accept his Uchiha nature.

"Medical Ninjutsu?"

Uchiha Gen was taken aback. Wasn't he... an Uchiha?

An Uchiha shinobi learning Medical Ninjutsu?

"Heh, don't misunderstand what Medical Ninjutsu is. It's not only used for healing. In a way, Medical Ninjutsu can be transformed into a technique that suits the Uchiha perfectly.

"When it comes to chakra control, no one in all of Konoha can match the Uchiha, especially after they awaken their eyes. That's what my second grandfather's notes say.

"Once your chakra control reaches a certain level, Medical Ninjutsu can become an attack technique with devastating power. Like this."

As she spoke, Tsunade raised a hand. A Chakra Scalpel, one Uchiha Gen knew very well, appeared in it. The night before, Tsunade had used this very blade to block his strike.

"Chakra Scalpel, an A-rank Medical Ninjutsu. It can cut through the skin and slice internal tissue directly. But it requires an extremely steady hand and a cool head, so it's difficult to use in battle.

"That said, this isn't much of a limitation for the Uchiha. Once their eyes are open, Uchiha fighters have instincts and composure in battle that others can hardly surpass.

"Your clan... seems as if it was born for combat. With your already exceptional chakra control, many Medical Ninjutsu can serve a different purpose in your hands.

"More importantly, training in Strength of a Hundred requires precise chakra control, and the early stages of training can damage the arm's meridians.

"If you learn Medical Ninjutsu, that'll make things much easier. As you said, no one knows when war will break out. Once it does, I'll have to leave the village for the battlefield. I don't want to train some half-baked Strength of a Hundred user.

"Of course, Medical Ninjutsu requires total dedication. If you choose to learn it, you'll have to put your other techniques on hold and focus on Medical Ninjutsu until you meet the standard."

Tsunade put away the Chakra Scalpel and finished explaining the pros and cons in a serious tone. Then she stood quietly to one side, waiting for Uchiha Gen's answer.