A True Disciple's Single Word

In the entire ninja world, the number of ninjas capable of mastering medical ninjutsu is extremely scarce.

Cultivating medical ninjutsu requires an exceptionally high level of chakra control and involves a long learning cycle; even with Tsunade, a Medical Sage, the number of medical ninjas in Konoha remains low. Of course, this may also have something to do with her having been away from the village for many years.

But for the vast majority of ninja villages, the cost of training a medical ninja is not as worthwhile as training several combat ninjas, who can be replaced at any time if they die.

If every squad were to be equipped with a medical ninja, it would simply be impossible to assemble them.

"The support position in a squad does not require mastery of true medical ninjutsu; it only requires basic skills like stopping bleeding, bandaging, and setting fractures. These things do not need complex medical ninjutsu; as long as they undergo short-term training, anyone can master them."

"Furthermore," Tsunade added, "I will organize an additional mobile Medical Corps. They will not participate in combat and will only be responsible for treating the severely wounded."

Indeed, if only this level of requirement is set, the feasibility is greatly improved.

"Next, dismiss and rest! I will complete the squad assignments based on the roster and everyone's detailed files!"

Tsunade waved her hand, announcing the dismissal.

Shisui Uchiha was lost in thought. He knew that the ninjas present were all holding back a surge of energy; they had come to resist Kumogakure. But he also vaguely felt that Tsunade's plan might not be what they had imagined.

I hope the clansmen can all behave themselves.

"Sigh."

Konoha.

Hyuga Kiyonari was at home pondering the Summoning Technique when Neji Hyuga suddenly paid a visit.

"Father has gone to the battlefield. Before he left, he asked me to check with you... do you want to learn the Gentle Fist Technique?"

Kiyonari nodded without hesitation: "Of course."

"Then let's go to the training ground and talk on the way." Neji signaled for him to keep up, then asked, "In your opinion, what is the Gentle Fist?"

Kiyonari thought for a moment and replied: "Taijutsu can generally be divided into two categories: one is the Steel Fist, which causes direct external damage, and the other is the Gentle Fist, which damages the enemy's internal organs by striking their meridian system."

Neji nodded slightly. Although this answer was simple, it truly captured the core characteristics of the Gentle Fist Technique.

However, Kiyonari raised a question at this moment: "I'm wondering... since the Gentle Fist also requires contact with the enemy's body to be effective, why don't I just take a kunai and stab the enemy directly? Wouldn't that be faster, and the damage caused more intuitive?"

Except for some ninjas who practice Nintaijutsu, most ninjas are merely flesh and blood. One strike with a blade, and flesh would fly; they would immediately lose their combat effectiveness.

In comparison, although the Gentle Fist can damage an enemy's internal organs and chakra system, the effect is not as intuitive or swift as blades.

"Then let me ask you," Neji raised his hand and countered, "If in battle, the opponent is holding a kunai and stabbing toward you, would you choose to dodge and then counterattack, or trade injury for injury?"

"Of course, I would dodge." Kiyonari answered without hesitation, "If I get stabbed by a kunai, even if I can hurt the enemy, I would also be seriously injured myself. This kind of trading injury for injury is not worth it."

"Very good, then let me ask you again. If the kunai in the enemy's hand is replaced by two fingers, stabbing toward you like this..."

Neji extended the index and middle fingers of his right hand, pointing toward Kiyonari's wrist.

"And you are holding a kunai in your hand, stabbing toward him, would you choose to dodge, or trade injury for injury?"

Hearing this, Kiyonari was stunned for a moment.

Modern people and ninjas are at two completely different extremes; the former are good at using their brains and dealing with people, while the latter are good at fighting and "intimately communicating" with enemies.

He did not show off his talent but remained humble, following his heart: "I might choose to trade injury for injury, because I feel that I can seriously injure the enemy while trying my best to avoid receiving a fatal injury myself."

Neji nodded: "That's right, this is the first secret of the Gentle Fist."

"The appearance of the Gentle Fist does not look very threatening, which makes it easy to catch the enemy off guard. When an enemy faces a sharp kunai, they will instinctively dodge; when an enemy faces a fist or a whip kick, they will prioritize evaluating whether they can block it. But when the enemy is only facing your palm or fingers, their vigilance will be greatly reduced."

"This psychology occurs because the essence of combat is offense; everyone is pursuing offense and speed."

"Why does this situation occur?" Kiyonari asked again.

Neji was silent for a while before answering: "Because ninja battles are mostly unfair; it's not like a genin will only ever encounter a genin."

Kiyonari nodded thoughtfully, but soon, he discovered a new problem: "But, when the opponent is holding a kunai and decides to trade injury for injury, am I not in the same situation?"

Neji slowly raised his hand and tapped his temple with his index finger: "This is when we must use our eyes."

"One of the basic abilities of the Byakugan is x-ray vision. It can discern the flow of chakra within the enemy's body, observe the distribution of meridians, and capture the signs of muscle exertion before it happens. Relying on this information, we can predict the opponent's next move."

As he spoke, he suddenly moved.

Neji suddenly flashed in front of Kiyonari, his right fingers held together in a stabbing motion. Kiyonari subconsciously wanted to raise his hand to block, but Neji's attack was just a feint; with a flick of his wrist, he bypassed his defensive move.

"Pa!"

Neji's palm tapped lightly on Kiyonari's shoulder.

"If I had used the Gentle Fist just now," Neji withdrew his hand, his tone indifferent, "your shoulder and this arm would have already lost their ability to move."

"This is the power of the Byakugan. I can clearly see the flow of chakra in your body. When you intend to block, your arm muscles will instantly tense, and chakra will also gather in your arm. These subtle changes have nowhere to hide in front of the Byakugan."

"Therefore, I can predict your defensive direction and choose the most suitable angle of attack."

Kiyonari suddenly realized.

When you can discern every subtle movement of the enemy and predict their next action, combat is no longer a game of chance, but becomes a game of information asymmetry.

"Now."

Neji crossed his arms over his chest, a natural air of arrogance flowing from the depths of his heart.

"Returning to the previous question, since you have already seen through the enemy's next move—that they are holding a kunai and lunging to stab you—do you choose to dodge, or do you pretend you cannot dodge and use the Gentle Fist Technique to strike the enemy?"

The answer was obvious.

"I would pretend I couldn't dodge," Kiyonari answered with certainty.

Combat for the Hyuga Clan is a psychological war; the Gentle Fist Technique and the Byakugan complement each other, and neither can be dispensed with.

Without the Byakugan, the Gentle Fist Technique is merely a form of taijutsu that requires close quarters and lacks significant damage. Without the Gentle Fist Technique, the Byakugan is nothing more than a simple observation tool. Take Ao of Kirigakure, for instance; he is unable to utilize the stolen Byakugan in combat, using it only to gather information.

However, those who can see the essence of things are extremely rare. The vast majority of the Hyuga clansmen simply practice the Gentle Fist Technique by the book, activating their Byakugan only to rigidly execute the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.

If not for the fact that Kiyonari and Neji were on good terms, Neji likely would not have explained so much to him.

Master one principle, and you master them all.

A surge of ingenious ideas welled up in the depths of Hyuga Kiyonari's heart; this style of fighting could even be applied to archery. No wonder there is a saying that "the true secret lies in a single sentence."