Anbu Tracking

Konoha may be called a village, but it is effectively a small city.

And like any city, it is surrounded by numerous smaller villages.

These villages provide the resources the city requires, while relying on the city for their own survival.

In a small village just outside of Konoha.

"Lady Tsunade, I have returned."

"Well, Shizune, you're back. You managed to collect the money from home, I assume?"

"Yes, Lady Tsunade. However, there is something you might find interesting."

Shizune recounted the events she had witnessed at Konoha Hospital to Tsunade.

Upon hearing the news, Tsunade was shocked by Kimura Takuya's age.

To have developed medical ninjutsu of that caliber at such a young age.

"What a genius!"

"Then aren't you tempted? If such a genius medical ninja were to be taught by you, his achievements would surely be immeasurable, wouldn't they?"

Shizune spoke her true thoughts; the reason she told Tsunade about the genius in Konoha was to encourage her to return.

Because Tsunade had been running away for far too long.

As Shizune finished speaking, she looked at Tsunade and saw her drunken expression instantly clear.

Her hazy eyes regained their focus.

She seemed moved, but after a brief pause, Tsunade shook her head.

"No, Shizune. If that genius truly managed to heal such an injury in such a short amount of time, then his medical ninjutsu has already surpassed my own. I have no qualifications to be his teacher."

Hearing such self-deprecating words, Shizune was about to retort.

Tsunade waved her arm, cutting her off.

"Shizune, I know you want me to return to Konoha. If the Konoha of the past might have needed me, then with this genius now present, Konoha no longer requires me. I have even less reason to return."

"But, Lady Tsunade, Konoha is your home after all!"

"Enough, Shizune. Say no more."

Waving her hand to shoo Shizune out of the room, Tsunade closed the door.

She picked up her drink and downed several cups, her gaze fixed through the window in the direction of Konoha.

"Home, you say? Is a home without family still a home?"

Inside Konoha Hospital.

Kimura Takuya chatted with Uzuki Yugao and the others, only to discover that Uzuki Yugao did not have a boyfriend at the moment.

No wonder Hayate Gekko hadn't rushed to the hospital immediately.

It seems the two of them haven't started their romance yet?

Strange, I'm only twelve years old; why do I care if they are dating or not?

"Kimura-san, there is one more thing I must ask of you. Please, you must agree."

Uzuki Yugao bowed deeply.

She was requesting Kimura Takuya's help to treat her teammate, who had lost an arm.

Kimura Takuya immediately indicated that it would be no problem.

Reattaching a severed arm—even if the original limb was gone, he could just graft someone else's on.

In a world where people can pluck out eyeballs and install new ones as easily as changing clothes, reattaching an arm shouldn't be too difficult.

"What kind of arm do you want? Do you want it fully restored like Yugao-san's, or should I give you a Kirin Arm to play with?"

"Uh, what? What is a Kirin Arm? Just help me restore it, please! I'm begging you, Kimura-san!"

"Oh, I see. In that case, you'll probably have to stay crippled for a while."

Kimura Takuya expressed his disappointment, noting that he couldn't treat it right now.

The injured ninja was burly, but his body was pure muscle with not a shred of fat to spare for grafting.

An average adult's arm weighs about ten kilograms.

His arm was thicker than most people's thighs.

To repair a severed limb, he would need to gain at least twenty or thirty kilograms of body mass.

Even if you were raising a pig, it would take a month or so to put on that much weight.

Let alone a human being.

"Oda Lang, you should just take a month off."

"I... I can't afford to rest yet, Captain. I have three children at home to feed; I can't go a month without missions. Kimura-san, what exactly is this Kirin Arm you mentioned?"

The one-armed ninja named Oda Lang scratched his head with his remaining hand.

As he asked Kimura Takuya for other solutions, the latter offered a faint smile.

"Ha, that's the impressive part—you wouldn't understand even if I explained it. Just know that if you want a Kirin Arm, I can get it done for you by tomorrow! And not only will it not hinder your combat ability, it will actually enhance it."

"Really? Thank you, Kimura-san."

Oda Lang bowed excitedly to thank Kimura Takuya.

The two then agreed to meet again tomorrow.

With Uzuki Yugao and Oda Lang's injuries stabilized, they were both cleared for discharge after receiving a blood transfusion.

And so, Kimura Takuya left the hospital with them.

However, while passing by the pharmacy in the hospital lobby, Kimura Takuya caught sight of someone—Hayate Gekko.

He seemed to be there to pick up medicine, but no sooner had he received it than he coughed twice and collapsed.

The doctors rushed him into a ward—the very same one Uzuki Yugao had just vacated.

No way.

Is this really how they met?

Talk about tragic; am I really going to steal his girlfriend as a mere background character?

I suppose I should save him.

Transparent Escape is quite fun, after all. If I save your life, taking your Transparent Escape for a spin shouldn't be too much to ask, right?

Inside the ward.

Kimura Takuya stood among the medical ninjas, and by now, no one dared to look down on this newly graduated genin.

Though, in truth, no one in the hospital had looked down on his medical ninjutsu for years.

Everyone had long been astonished by his talent.

The events of this morning had only deepened the sense of respect people felt toward Kimura Takuya.

After all, in the world of ninjas, strength is everything.

Seeing Kimura Takuya approach the bedside, the crowd parted to make way for him.

Kimura Takuya was happy to oblige, noting that the other medical ninjas had no way to treat Hayate Gekko's condition beyond mere symptom management.

It was then he realized that Hayate Gekko was also suffering from a bloodline disease.

He placed his palm on Hayate Gekko's body, carefully extending his chakra.

In no time, he had a clear grasp of Hayate Gekko's physical state.

His body was decaying, and his lungs were severely damaged.

Even without the attack that would occur over a year later, he didn't have long to live.

Consider yourself lucky to have run into me.

"Ninja Art: Flesh Substitution Technique."

Kimura Takuya unleashed his universal healing jutsu directly.

He didn't bother to hide it from those present.

The onlookers were eager to learn it, too.

But alas, they only saw Kimura Takuya shout the name, and it was finished without him forming a single seal.

Is it really appropriate to perform a jutsu of this caliber without seals?

Kimura Takuya, for his part, felt that if you've already used a jutsu once, why bother with seals? Isn't that just asking for trouble?

He genuinely couldn't understand why everyone was so reluctant to do something as simple as seal-less casting.

Is it not cool enough?

Or do they just not want to cast it too quickly?

Forming seals is just like a primary school student writing out long division; shouldn't a college student just write down the answer?

Can't you just do the calculation in your head?

Isn't that how everyone does it?

The genius wondered, casting a glance at the ordinary people around him.

He collected a small sample of Hayate Gekko's cellular tissue before taking his leave.

Just now, he had merely "refreshed" Hayate Gekko's body.

The underlying bloodline disease remained exactly where it was.

If left unchecked, Hayate Gekko's body would inevitably become dilapidated and broken within a few years.

He needed to conduct in-depth research.

It would also serve as one of the samples for treating bloodline diseases.

After all, his primary mission right now was to treat his teammate, Yakumo Kurama.

Yakumo was still young and could not withstand experimental treatments.

Having Hayate Gekko around was perfect.

On the way home.

Kimura Takuya pondered methods for treating bloodline diseases.

While passing through a small alley, he suddenly heard the sounds of a skirmish.

One of the individuals was likely from the Anbu; ever since he had saved someone that morning, he had sensed that he was being watched and followed.

It was likely the Anbu.

Another person had arrived to tail him just now, and this person had not only been following him but had intended to strike in the alleyway.

They must have been discovered by that Anbu operative.

The two had clashed, and the newcomer, unable to match the Anbu, had fled.

"Heh, it seems the Anbu are here to protect me. But who was that newcomer? The Root?"