Direction!

After thinking it over carefully, Shita Genichi ultimately decided not to choose Sensory Ninjutsu when he returned to Konoha after completing his mission. Instead, he chose Genjutsu.

Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique was a visual Genjutsu that created false images, making what someone saw differ from reality.

In actual combat, this Genjutsu wasn't much use to Shita Genichi.

Bringer-of-Darkness Technique was enough.

But Shita Genichi had decided to delve deeper into the field of Genjutsu, so naturally, he needed to study it further.

To do that, he needed to analyze different Genjutsu and expand his theoretical knowledge.

Developing ninjutsu wasn't that simple.

Even with the Overdraft Panel as his cheat, Shita Genichi still needed a solid foundation and an original way of thinking to achieve anything.

Otherwise, he'd just be wasting his time.

Since he'd already decided to delve deeper into Genjutsu, he could put Sensory Ninjutsu aside for now.

That meant he now had four Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, Demonic Illusion: Fox-Mind Technique, Demonic Illusion: Body Immobilization Technique, and Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique.

It took him only two days to gain an initial grasp of the newly acquired False Surroundings Technique.

But that wasn't enough.

Hatake Sakumo wasn't good at Genjutsu to begin with. He knew fewer Genjutsu than Shita Genichi, so he couldn't teach him.

That left Shita Genichi with no choice but to trade his own techniques with the village.

Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!

This technique, which came from a Mist shinobi who used Ice Release, had been completed and developed, earning an A-rank evaluation.

Temple of Nirvana Technique, Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death, Demonic Illusion: Descending Hell Technique, and Hell Viewing Technique.

One A-rank Genjutsu, one B-rank, and two D-rank.

The last three were all bonuses Sarutobi Hiruzen had given him, a gesture of support and encouragement for the talented Shita Genichi.

Just like that, Shita Genichi had collected all the common Genjutsu in Konoha.

Temple of Nirvana Technique was a hypnotic Genjutsu. It was difficult to learn, but easy to break. Jonin and Chunin could dispel it without much trouble, and even a Genin skilled in Genjutsu could manage it.

And skilled didn't mean skilled at casting Genjutsu, just at dispelling them... like Haruno Sakura.

It did sound a little useless.

But as always, Shita Genichi didn't want these Genjutsu just for combat. He was more interested in studying them.

For a long time, he was so engrossed in Genjutsu that he couldn't pull himself away.

Even during missions and his sparring sessions with Kakashi and Uchiha Namiichi, he started using Genjutsu more often.

Shita Genichi had already been accustomed to using Bringer-of-Darkness Technique to gain the upper hand.

Now he went a step further, occasionally throwing in a Genjutsu. Even when it didn't land, it could still disrupt his opponent.

Yamanaka En bluntly remarked that Shita Genichi had turned into a Genjutsu-type shinobi.

Amid all that busyness, time flew by.

Before he knew it, the year Konoha 43 had passed, and Konoha 44 had arrived.

That year, Shita Genichi was eight years old. He'd grown quite a bit and was already nearly 1.65 meters tall.

He stood in a league of his own among children his age.

Inside the laboratory at Konoha Hospital.

Shizune and Nohara Rin watched Shita Genichi and Tsunade work, their expressions solemn.

On the operating table lay a small white mouse that had been cut open.

Shita Genichi and Tsunade were replacing its heart. Shizune and Nohara Rin were assisting, monitoring the mouse's vital signs.

Ten minutes later.

The transplant was complete.

Shizune immediately reported, "Blood pressure is normal."

Tsunade nodded. "No problems for now."

"Shizune, Rin, you take over from here."

Shizune and Nohara Rin were delighted and quickly nodded. "Yes!"

Shita Genichi and Tsunade stepped back. Shizune and Nohara Rin moved forward to close the mouse's chest.

"If only we had a pair of Byakugan."

Shita Genichi took off his gloves and sighed.

Tsunade curled her lip. "The Hyuga Clan would never pursue the path of medical ninjutsu."

"And don't get any ideas about the Byakugan."

Shita Genichi immediately looked aggrieved. "Lady Tsunade, I'm a good person. Why would I have any ideas about the Byakugan? I was just making an observation."

Tsunade couldn't help curling her lip.

She'd spent enough time with the kid to know him by now.

On the surface, he looked very proper and righteous, like a good person through and through.

But in truth, he was incredibly bold and didn't care about the consequences. He'd dare to think about anything.

He wouldn't have any ideas about the Byakugan?

Maybe he just didn't dare.

Tsunade thought Shita Genichi had a lot in common with Orochimaru.

She had to keep an eye on him and make sure he didn't do anything reckless.

But Shita Genichi genuinely thought it was a pity that the Hyuga Clan didn't train a few medical ninja.

Tsunade changed the subject. "How's your medicine research coming along?"

Shita Genichi answered leisurely, "Almost done."

Tsunade glanced at Shizune and Nohara Rin working, then asked, "Haven't you already trained in Yin Seal?"

Shita Genichi spread his hands. "The medicine is for replenishing stamina quickly. It doesn't conflict with the Yin Seal."

"Besides, I can make money once the medicine is ready."

"Lady Tsunade, you know how expensive research is."

Tsunade gave a soft snort. "You still haven't given up on Ice Release?"

Shita Genichi shook his head. "I only have one sample to study. It's not like I can wipe out the entire Yuki Clan in Kirigakure."

Once the Fourth Mizukage was under Obito's control, he could go to the Land of Water and collect the Yuki Clan's bodies.

If those events still happened, that was.

Not just the Yuki Clan, either. There was also the Kaguya Clan.

During the Third Mizukage's and Fourth Mizukage's reigns, the bloodline clans of Kirigakure had dwindled badly.

And the Hozuki Clan... Could he go pay his respects to the Second Mizukage ahead of time?

Shita Genichi's thoughts wandered.

Seeing that Shizune and the others were about to finish, Tsunade said, "Whether it's organ transplants or bone marrow cell transplants, you need to focus more on preventing rejection."

Shita Genichi nodded. "You're right, Lady Tsunade. I'll put some money into it next month."

Tsunade nodded with satisfaction.

The kid knew what was good for him.

Shita Genichi didn't care about the money. Strengthening his relationship and collaboration with Tsunade, while sharing the results, was a great deal. Other people could only dream of an opportunity like that.

And although Tsunade received funding from the village, it wasn't unlimited.

Besides, she spent money like water. No amount would ever be enough.

Medical research required more funding than they could ever hope to provide.

Shizune and the others finishing meant the surgery had been successful.

But that wasn't the end of it. Now they had to watch for the mouse's rejection response and see how long it survived.

That was the crucial part.

And this process also served as a drug trial.

They were testing the anti-rejection medicine Tsunade had been developing.

The organ transplant surgery itself hadn't been a problem for a long time.

Since last year, they'd transplanted the hearts, livers, spleens, lungs, and kidneys of mice, but the rejection responses and survival times still weren't ideal.

And that was only the first step.

Next, they'd test it on monkeys.

Only then would they move on to human trials.

During this process, the medicine would become more and more refined.

And none of this could be accomplished in just a year or two.

"Good thing I can borrow against the future..."

After leaving the laboratory, Shita Genichi stretched.

Today was March 18, another day to borrow against the future.