Is He the Child of Prophecy?

Two days later.

[Under your wise leadership, the "Early Training for Medical Ninjas" program has been approved and will enter a trial phase.]

[Reward: Strength Enhancement Technique leveled up]

Huh?

Is Tsunade's execution really that efficient?

And.

To think it could go so smoothly?

Kyohiko was somewhat surprised.

However.

After thinking it over carefully, he realized it probably hadn't been smooth at all.

In the content he had discussed days ago, combat capability was the key; early training was merely a minor branch of the "grading" and "specialization" he had subtly mentioned.

Yet.

In the notification just now, there was no mention of increased courses for combat ability or techniques.

Kyohiko sighed softly.

As for the medical side...

One reason was Tsunade's undeniable authority, and the other was that Konoha truly needed medical ninjas.

The role of a medical ninja was simply too significant!

Over the years, they had saved countless lives on the battlefield and during missions. With Tsunade pushing for the early training of medical ninjas, it was indeed easy to get it passed.

But the rest—

It would take a long time before those could even be discussed.

The reality was exactly as he had imagined.

At this moment, in the conference room of the Hokage Building, a loud crash erupted.

The massive conference table in front of Tsunade had been smashed into splinters.

She was furious.

"Do civilian genin really need that much complex knowledge? They struggle just to survive on the battlefield; many genin are sent to their deaths the moment they arrive!"

"Tsunade, you aren't the only ones who have been on the battlefield. We, too, fought our way out of the slaughter!"

Danzo lectured in a cold tone.

Utatane Koharu added, "The rules of the Ninja Academy were set by the Second Hokage..."

"Bullshit! The Second Hokage also said children shouldn't be sent to the battlefield. How many have graduated early over these years? Why don't you bring up the Second Hokage's rules then?"

Tsunade's tone was volatile.

"Tsunade!"

Utatane Koharu was trembling with rage, but...

She had no way to refute it.

"Enough!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi kicked the debris at his feet, his expression helpless. "Tsunade, Jiraiya, the early training for medical ninjas can be trialed, but reforming the Ninja Academy is too serious. Especially given the current situation, let's wait and see."

Jiraiya felt helpless, and also carried a hint of resentment.

"Now that we finally have a brief moment of peace, if we don't actively guide and change things, are we supposed to wait until wartime to make changes?"

He agreed with Tsunade now.

These old fogies were simply too rigid and stubborn; they only wanted stability and refused to change, unable to listen to reason.

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent.

Finally, he shook his head: "There shouldn't be any major wars for a few years. Let's stabilize for a few years, and it won't be too late to observe again after some time has passed."

Every nation and village had suffered heavy losses in the great wars of the past few years and all needed to recuperate and restore their village's strength.

According to his judgment, no ninja village would take action again to launch a new major war.

"Then so be it."

Tsunade stood up, saying nothing more.

She was deeply disappointed!

"Tsunade, stop drinking! Actually, you and I both know very well that nothing could be settled in the first meeting. Being able to secure the early training program for medical ninjas was already no small feat."

Jiraiya advised.

Tsunade shook her head.

She poured another drink, her mood sinking further.

"It is not because of that, but rather, the teacher who once seemed wise and sagacious in my eyes has gradually become rigid, decayed, and lacking in courage."

Jiraiya fell into a silence after hearing this.

He poured a drink for himself as well.

After a long while, Jiraiya said, "What do you intend to do?"

"Become the Hokage!"

Tsunade's gaze was burning with intensity.

She slammed her hand on the table and stood up.

"In the hands of those old men, the village will only slowly rot and decline."

Tsunade's tone regained a bit of its former spirit.

Then, she looked at Jiraiya, her voice earnest.

"Jiraiya, you must step up and contend for the position of Hokage; I will help you!"

Jiraiya rolled his eyes, stood up, and began to walk away.

"I think I'll go check on Kyohiko instead. The kid recently learned the Shadow Clone, and if he doesn't know his limits and ends up training himself to death, I'll lose a good student."

After Jiraiya left, Tsunade held her cup but did not drink anymore.

She looked out the window, her expression dark and uncertain.

Kyohiko was not practicing the Strength Enhancement Technique, but rather contemplating and pondering it.

Proficient-level Strength Enhancement Technique!

Upon reaching the "Proficient" level, the gathering and release of chakra would become much more refined. Kyohiko had read many books and reached a conclusion—

At this level, using it in small bursts should not cause a backlash against his own body.

At his current standard, he could not yet unleash terrifying attacks with a casual strike like Tsunade or Senju Tobirama.

However.

The real point was not being able to use Strength Enhancement in actual combat.

Although it had only increased by one level, the knowledge, insights, and the bone-deep improvement it brought were of great benefit to Kyohiko.

Just like the Master-level Body Flicker Technique.

The difference between the Entry level and Proficient level of Strength Enhancement was vast.

In reality, Kyohiko's abilities had not changed, but his chakra control had become more refined, allowing him to quickly refine physical and mental energy and then rapidly concentrate it.

This was the foundation for the mature use of the Strength Enhancement Technique.

When one method is mastered, all methods are understood; many techniques are interconnected.

This fundamental improvement could also be applied to Water Release, the Body Flicker Technique, and so on.

It was a greater boost than any single ninjutsu!

"The progression from Entry to Proficient is an advancement in chakra control, but my body is still too fragile to use it consecutively."

"I still need to train my body!"

"Furthermore, the next step should be compression."

Compressing chakra.

This technique was not limited to the Strength Enhancement Technique; the Rasengan and Water Severing Wave also utilized this skill, though the levels of application varied.

This was also what Kyohiko was currently delving into.

Compression!

There were levels to this technique as well. At a low level, one could use Shadow Clones to assist, like Naruto, but that was a brute-force approach that did not suit him.

High-level application required painstaking effort.

For example, Senju Tobirama's Water Severing Wave was the ultimate manifestation of the nature of compression.

Although...

Practicing a lot was sometimes not as direct as a reward.

Kyohiko was constantly moving and exercising in the courtyard, but after a while, he felt it wasn't enough.

This kind of exercise was too simple and failed to provide any real tempering effect.

"The courtyard needs to be renovated."

He spent the entire morning busy with this.

When Jiraiya climbed onto the wall, he only saw that Kyohiko had cleared away all the weeds and wildflowers in the yard, setting up wooden frames with sandbags hanging from them.

What is this for?

He was confused, then he saw Kyohiko punch through several sandbags.

Then—

Bang bang bang!

He was bounced back by the sandbags and beaten to the ground.

Fortunately, the sandbags had no sharp edges; it hurt to be hit, but it wasn't fatal.

"Good heavens, is he training his body's instincts? No, Kyohiko is still wearing weights on his hands and feet."

Jiraiya was secretly shocked.

A cruel training method.

This kid is ruthless to others, but even more ruthless to himself.

He's only seven years old!

How do other seven-year-olds train?

What's more.

At this moment, another Shadow Clone was inside the house, sitting there studying diligently, extremely hard-working.

"Behind genius lies blood and tears; it's not as glamorous as others see it."

Jiraiya sighed.

With such crazy training like Kyohiko, even an ordinary person would achieve something, let alone someone with such great talent.

This child will achieve great things!

What's most rare is...

This child possesses a maturity and thinking that belies his age.

"Could he also be the child of prophecy?"

Jiraiya thought to himself.

The thought was absurd; he felt like he was "seeing a child of prophecy in everyone."

Along the way, Kyohiko was already the third potential "child of prophecy" he had encountered.

The first was Nagato.

With the Rinnegan, he naturally had the qualification.

The second was Minato.

The current Minato was already the most powerful among the young Jonin, having even mastered forbidden space-time ninjutsu like the Flying Thunder God.

The third...

The seven-year-old child before him.

Jiraiya concealed his aura and figure, sitting in the shadows, thinking—

In the future, won't there be an even younger one?

Probably not.

The child of prophecy is likely among these three.

Jiraiya firmly believed.