Sigma Male

"Asuma, why didn't you go see Kurenai today?"

Obito sprawled across his desk in boredom.

Rin Nohara was carefully organizing her notes beside him. He felt too embarrassed to disturb her, so he could only pass the time by talking to the person next to him.

Sarutobi Asuma crossed his arms and casually replied,

"I need to study."

"Who are you trying to fool?"

Obito mercilessly exposed him.

He had noticed it during class. Sarutobi Asuma had spent the entire lesson sneaking glances at Yūhi Kurenai and had not written a single word in his notes.

Having been exposed, Sarutobi Asuma stopped pretending and snorted irritably.

After a brief period of observation, Sarutobi Asuma had concluded that Obito was a simp.

What kind of man spent all day orbiting a woman?

Pathetic.

Unlike him, who merely walked home with Yūhi Kurenai every day.

"You jerk..."

Listening to Sarutobi Asuma's brain argue with itself, Obito nearly choked.

He had only taken the initiative to talk because he had noticed Sarutobi Asuma seemed to have someone he really liked too, and he thought they had something in common.

Yet this guy was acting all high and mighty.

Obito turned away and stopped talking.

Sarutobi Asuma ignored him as well, his gaze lingering on Qingyu, who was speaking with Yūhi Kurenai.

The two stood close together and spoke quietly, but judging by their expressions and gestures, they were clearly discussing something highly specialized.

Sarutobi Asuma pricked up his ears and listened.

He could not understand a single word.

Sarutobi Asuma silently withdrew his gaze.

Damn it.

The topic was too advanced. He could not get a word in at all.

If they had been discussing Fire Release or taijutsu, he could have contributed a few things. The Sarutobi Clan had always been famous for Fire Release, and its taijutsu inheritance was not weak either. He had trained in both since childhood.

But Genjutsu...

He had nothing to do with it whatsoever.

Sarutobi Asuma suddenly regretted refusing when Sarutobi Hiruzen had offered to hire him a Genjutsu tutor years ago because he thought it would be too troublesome.

Soon, the day's classes came to an end.

After school, Qingyu found Rin Nohara.

"Rin, do you want to go to Konoha Hospital together?"

"Konoha Hospital?"

Rin Nohara paused in surprise.

"What are we going there for?"

"Konoha Hospital sometimes holds training sessions to specifically screen students with an aptitude for medical ninjutsu."

Qingyu explained.

"Although there is not yet a formal system in place, going there will let us get in touch with some basic Medical Ninjutsu procedures in advance."

This system would not be formally established until the era of Boruto, under Sakura's proposal. At this point in time, it was still merely a semi-official activity for interested students.

After all, everything in this era was still highly incomplete. There was not even a department for diagnosing children's psychological problems.

Yet Ninja Academy graduates had to go to war at an average age of twelve...

"There's something like that? This is my first time hearing about it!"

Rin Nohara agreed without hesitation.

Qingyu also invited Shizune.

Tsunade had originally told him about this, asking him to visit Konoha Hospital more often when he had time so that arranging an internship later would be easier.

"Where are you going?"

Obito rushed over and called out to Rin Nohara, who was about to leave.

"Qingyu said Konoha Hospital has Medical Ninjutsu training, so I'm going to take a look."

After saying that, Rin Nohara waved to Obito and followed Qingyu and Shizune toward the school gate.

Obito instinctively wanted to follow, but someone pressed a hand onto his shoulder.

"Don't go."

Uchiha Tekka patted his shoulder.

"We Uchiha don't have medical ninja."

They were a clan that lived for battle. Why would they go learn some Medical Ninjutsu?

Obito opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but he realized that Uchiha Tekka seemed to be stating a fact.

As far as he remembered, he had indeed never heard of anyone in the clan becoming a medical ninja.

When Uchiha were injured, they also went to Konoha Hospital to seek treatment from medical ninja outside the clan.

Obito stood where he was and watched helplessly as the three figures disappeared into the sunset.

Konoha Hospital.

The three entered through the main doors.

"What a handsome child."

The moment Qingyu entered, he heard someone whispering.

Several nurse-like older women stood to one side, staring at him eagerly. Two of them even leaned close to whisper to each other, smiling all the while.

Qingyu continued forward without changing expression.

At his current undeveloped age, even if he had the intention, he lacked the ability. Not even Senju blood could carry him.

It was better to be a sigma male.

Shizune walked ahead to lead the way. She was already quite familiar with Konoha Hospital.

After passing through a corridor and turning two corners, the three stopped outside an office with a plaque reading "Medical Team Captain's Office."

Shizune knocked on the door.

"Come in."

When they pushed the door open, a woman in a white coat was sitting behind a desk, flipping through medical records.

She appeared to be around thirty-five or thirty-six. There were faint lines at the corners of her eyes, but her whole demeanor was gentle.

"Ah, you must be Qingyu?"

Michiko Matsuzaka raised her head, letting her gaze rest on Qingyu for a moment before turning to Shizune beside him.

"I recognize Shizune behind you."

She smiled.

"Lady Tsunade informed me beforehand."

"Hello, Sister Michiko."

Qingyu said.

Though she was old enough to be his aunt, Qingyu wisely chose to address her as "Sister."

The smile on Michiko Matsuzaka's face instantly became several times brighter, and even the fine lines at her eyes relaxed.

"This child certainly has a sweet mouth."

She rose cheerfully, then let her gaze fall on Rin Nohara and hesitated slightly.

"You are..."

"My name is Rin Nohara. I'm Qingyu's classmate."

Rin Nohara quickly introduced herself.

"I'm very interested in Medical Ninjutsu, so I came along to take a look."

"I see. Welcome, welcome."

Michiko Matsuzaka did not ask further questions. She turned and called out the door, telling a medical ninja to bring three cups.

Qingyu looked at the crowded training classroom in the corridor outside. It was packed with young people who had come to attend the lesson, and some could only stand in the last row.

"Don't we need to join everyone outside?"

He asked.

"No, no."

Michiko Matsuzaka waved her hand, gesturing for the three of them to sit on the sofa in her office.

"You were referred by Lady Tsunade, so I'll teach you separately here. There are too many people in the outside class, and the lessons are rather basic. It isn't suitable for you."

She sat back down in her chair, folded her hands atop the desk, and smiled at Qingyu.

Lady Tsunade had specifically instructed her to teach these children well.

Especially Qingyu.

He was Lady Tsunade's clansman.

Seeing this, Qingyu could only nod.

However, he still positioned himself closer to the door.

His greatest reason for coming here was to see whether he could collect traits.

As Qingyu waited, three lines of text suddenly appeared in the corner of his vision.

[Detected collectable trait: Basic Bandaging]

[E-rank trait: Basic Bandaging]

[Effect: Increases wound-bandaging speed by 10%.]

"As expected, there need to be more people."

Qingyu stroked his chin.

Although he did not know who had dropped this trait, it was his now.