Big Big Big Orochimaru?!

Uchiha Yan clicked her tongue, her tone dripping with sarcasm:

"An equivalent exchange? I've never seen a fair trade that requires a sneak attack and binding someone until they can't move."

Toji explained, unbothered: "If I undo your restraints, you'll immediately attack me. To prevent you from doing something so foolish, I cannot let you go just yet."

At the very least, not until I've mastered either a curse seal or a sealing jutsu, Toji added silently to himself.

"Heh, since it's an equivalent exchange, what do I stand to gain, and what is it you want from me?"

"Do you crave power? Do you crave to truly live?"

Toji's words were like a devil's whisper, coiling around Uchiha Yan's ear.

Her heart tightened abruptly, and an inexplicable sense of trepidation began to spread.

To the Uchiha clan, "power" held a fatal, indescribable allure.

Especially after she had witnessed Uchiha Chirori single-handedly crush every clansman who had activated Izanagi, forcing them to their knees in submission, that craving had only grown more intense.

"You want to obtain power capable of rivaling, or even surpassing, Uchiha Chirori, don't you?"

"There is no need to resist me. Everything you desire, you shall eventually possess."

After a moment of silence, Uchiha Yan's breathing grew heavy, and a wild, arrogant smile curled onto her face: "Heh, I'll tear that mask off your face sooner or later."

She hadn't refused, which was as good as consent.

Toji ignored her provocation and took out two metal patches, sticking them to her temples: "Now, it is time for you to cooperate with me."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Generate feelings of anger."

"I've been angry the whole time!"

Konoha Year 6, January 15th.

In the blink of an eye, the first day of school at the Ninja Academy arrived.

The school gates were bustling with noise and excitement, packed with parents dropping off their children, their faces filled with both expectation and anxiety.

Meanwhile, the Konoha F4 were gathered in the principal's office.

Senju Hashirama looked out the window at the scene of vibrant, burgeoning life, his joy nearly overflowing. He couldn't hide the excitement in his tone: "Just how many children are enrolling today?"

"Including those who passed the initial assessment and the waitlisted candidates, there are 123 students in total."

Uchiha Chirori began her report: "The valedictorian is from the Uchiha clan... Uchiha Kagami."

"Not bad, not bad at all! As expected of a genius from the Uchiha!" Hashirama praised with a smile, then asked, "Are the instructors and the curriculum all settled?"

"Everything has been arranged," Chirori replied.

"The school has selected Chunin from various clans who possess solid skills, loyalty to the village, and patience with children to serve as instructors. The first year will focus on foundational education, with an emphasis on physical conditioning to solidify the students' basic ninja skills..."

"Additionally, the Ninja Academy is partnering with Gospel Hospital to conduct entrance physicals for all new students. We will screen for children possessing Yang-style chakra and, with the consent of their families and the students themselves, enroll them in a medical training program to be cultivated as medical-nin."

"Very thoughtful."

Hashirama praised: "Toji, Chirori, having you both here is a blessing for Konoha."

"You are too kind, Your Majesty."

Toji stood up to take his leave: "I'll head over to oversee the students' physical examinations."

Toji showed extraordinary patience when it came to the students' physicals.

Even though his schedule was packed—standing watch at Gospel Hospital during the day and returning to the lab for research at night, leaving him with less than eight hours of sleep—he insisted on personally examining every single child.

He was preparing to cultivate his own base of support.

In Konoha, a life without the bonds of master and student was incomplete. Since he had no master, he naturally had to take on apprentices.

Of course, that was just a joke.

His true motivation was that he needed assistants.

Whether it was to share the workload at Gospel Hospital or to participate in parts of his research without knowing the full scope, it would save him a great deal of energy.

Toji had infinite time, but his energy was limited.

Toji wore a gentle smile: "One at a time, line up, no need to rush."

After an afternoon, the physical examination reports were compiled and handed to Toji. He looked at the list of students with Yang-style chakra, his expression blank.

The results were as expected: not ideal.

Several familiar names appeared in the report: Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, Akimichi Torifu...

There were nineteen students in total with the aptitude for Yang-style, concentrated among the Akimichi, Nara, and Senju clans.

Hiruzen and Koharu were already disciples of Senju Tobirama; the Akimichi and Nara clans preferred their members to follow combat paths, where their Yang-style talent was better utilized for the Multi-Size Technique or Shadow Secret Jutsu rather than medical ninjutsu.

As for the students from the Senju clan, even if they were willing to become medical ninjas, it was impossible for Toji to cultivate them as his confidants.

Toji flipped open the second summary report.

The sample size for this batch of candidates was extremely small; the entire list contained only a single, lonely name.

"Hmm? Matsumoto Waka..."

[Matsumoto Waka - Female]
[Age: 12]
[Lacks conventional ninja talent, but possesses a strong desire to learn and a keen interest in ninjutsu science; listed as a candidate for enrollment.]

Commoner background, thirst for knowledge, and a mature mind—this was Toji's ideal template for an apprentice.

It was also the true harvest of his trip.

"Didn't come here for nothing."

Toji sent the checked list to Uchiha Chirori, and as school neared its end, he convened a medical class meeting in an empty classroom.

A total of five people arrived.

Four Senju, and Matsumoto Waka.

One of the Senju was none other than Hashirama's son, Senju Takayuki.

The moment Toji saw Matsumoto Waka, his expression faltered slightly.

It was no wonder he lost his composure.

The girl had light purple eyeshadow at the corners of her eyes, pale skin, and a white snake coiled quietly around her shoulder.

This appearance gave him the fleeting illusion that he was seeing Orochimaru.

The shock passed in an instant, and Toji quickly regained his senses, already harboring a faint guess about her identity. Orochimaru was of the same generation as Tsunade, so it was not strange for his parents to be of a similar age to Senju Takayuki...

"Fate is truly wondrous."

Toji adjusted his glasses and began to arrange things: "I am Toji, your medical instructor."

"In addition to your daily courses, you are to gather in this medical classroom every Friday afternoon, where I will teach you medical ninjutsu. After graduation, the village will assign you to specialized, important posts."

"Matsumoto Waka, you will serve as the medical class monitor. You are responsible for collecting the homework before every Friday and delivering it to my office at Gospel Hospital."

"That is all."

He ignored the eager Senju Takayuki and paid no mind to the confused Waka, diving straight into the lecture to save every second:

"Lesson 1: I want you to memorize the three rules of medical ninjas—"

"First, a medical ninja must never give up on treatment until the patient is dead."

"Second, a medical ninja must never stand on the front lines of battle."

"Third, a medical ninja must never die before any other member of their squad."

"..."

"For this week's homework, copy each of the three rules one hundred times, and write a one-thousand-word essay on your understanding of them. No shadow clones, no having others write them for you. If I catch you, you are kicked out of the medical class immediately."