After leaving the Senju Compound.
Toji wandered around the commercial district for a while.
Along the way, he spotted a sign that felt incredibly familiar to him as a transmigrator—Ichiraku Ramen.
He stepped inside.
He discovered that the owner was not Teuchi, but an unfamiliar middle-aged man.
"Boss, what should I call you?"
"My name is Ichiraku."
So Teuchi's father really was named Ichiraku.
Toji mused inwardly, "Boss, one bowl of your signature ramen, with three extra slices of char siu, and a cup of Kirin Sake."
"Sure thing! Coming right up!"
A moment later.
A steaming bowl of Ichiraku Ramen was brought over. Toji picked up a mouthful with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth, savoring the flavor as it exploded across his taste buds. He could not help saying:
"Delicious!"
Compared to his days in Takigakure, where money could not buy decent food.
Toji finally got to enjoy himself again in Konoha.
He quickly finished the bowl of ramen.
After paying, Toji introduced himself to Ichiraku. "Boss, I'm opening a medical clinic right next door. If you ever feel unwell, come find me. For the sake of this bowl of noodles, I'll give you half off from now on."
"Ah... all right." Ichiraku accepted the business card.
Toji soon put up the clinic's sign.
Its name was "Konoha Gospel Medical Clinic."
Late at night.
Toji began studying the Senju Clan's Mystical Palm Technique.
The Mystical Palm Technique was a restorative medical art that used chakra to treat internal and external injuries.
By releasing chakra from one's palms, it could enhance the healing ability of a wound or afflicted area. During use, the amount of chakra had to be precisely adjusted according to the severity of the illness, requiring exceptionally fine chakra control from the user.
"So that's how it is."
Toji nodded and clapped his hands together. "Mystical Palm Technique!"
In an instant, a soft green glow bloomed from his palms.
He had learned it.
Toji smiled knowingly.
If he had to name his cheat, it was probably his unusually fast learning speed in taijutsu and Medical Ninjutsu. He could even draw inferences from one example and develop techniques of his own.
If he had to compare himself to someone, he was probably a specialized version of Tobirama Senju.
Tobirama Senju excelled at researching all kinds of forbidden techniques and space-time ninjutsu, while he specialized in taijutsu and Medical Ninjutsu.
Toji had considered the matter before and ultimately concluded that it was likely because of his transmigration. Both his Yin Release and Yang Release were doubled, granting him immense mental strength and quick wit, allowing him to learn specialized skills with half the effort.
"So this is the Mystical Palm Technique..."
Toji took out a kunai and sliced open his skin, then pressed his hand over the wound. The injury healed at a visible speed.
This was entirely the effect of the Mystical Palm Technique, not the black threads of Earth Grudge Fear stitching him together. That meant that when battle came, Toji would not be covered in sutures like Kakuzu.
Refined and pleasing to the eye.
Severed limbs could be stitched back together with Earth Grudge Fear: Stitching, while internal injuries could be healed with the Mystical Palm Technique. The focus was on treating both inside and out.
After expending so much energy, Toji felt drowsiness wash over him. After washing up, he fell into a deep sleep.
On the day Gospel Medical Clinic opened, it was rather quiet.
The villagers had no idea whether this doctor who had suddenly appeared in the village was reliable.
Toji was not in a hurry and remained perfectly composed.
With the savings he had accumulated in Takigakure, he was not short on money.
Until noon...
The first customer arrived. It was Ichiraku.
"Doctor Toji, my lower back has been feeling a little uncomfortable."
Toji clapped his hands together. "Tui-na Technique!"
Then he clapped again. "Mystical Palm Technique!"
"Hey! I'm cured! Doctor Toji, you're amazing."
"That'll be 100 ryo."
That afternoon, after Ichiraku returned home, he praised Toji's superb medical skills to everyone he met.
By evening, Hokage Hashirama personally came to the clinic. He put on an exaggerated performance of "recovering from an illness," then publicly showered Toji's Medical Ninjutsu with praise, making no attempt to conceal his admiration.
The clinic gained publicity among both ninjas and civilians.
With the boost of a famous person's influence.
The names Toji and Gospel Medical Clinic spread from one person to ten, then from ten to a hundred, quickly becoming known throughout Konoha. The villagers gradually lowered their guard and accepted Toji's presence as an outsider, while his reputation continued to rise.
Half a month later.
Tobirama Senju returned to the Senju Compound with Senju Touka, whose arms had been severed. His expression was grim as he looked toward the clan's medical ninja. "Can her arms be reattached?"
The medical ninja shook his head, sweat pouring down his face.
"Lord Touka's injuries have exceeded what the Mystical Palm Technique can heal."
Tobirama Senju's expression darkened.
The existence of ninja villages had ended the strife of the Warring States. There were no large-scale wars between villages, but local conflicts remained constant.
Half a month earlier, he had led a team to scout the border of the Land of Lightning. Touka had encountered an attack by Cloud Ninja during that mission.
"Is there really no way...?"
Tobirama fell silent.
Senju Touka had been a trusted subordinate who had followed him and his elder brother since the Warring States era, and she was also the woman he loved. For a ninja, losing both arms was an immense humiliation and meant the complete end of her ninja career.
He feared that Touka would not be able to bear it after she woke up.
"Tobirama, what happened?"
Rapid footsteps sounded through the corridor. Hashirama pushed open the door and entered, immediately seeing the horrific scene.
Tobirama spoke with some dejection. "Big Brother, I failed to protect Touka. She was attacked by Cloud Ninja."
Hashirama stepped forward. Seeing Senju Touka's pained appearance, he was at a loss for what to do.
He could not share his own power with his clansmen.
Even those standing at the pinnacle had moments of loneliness and helplessness.
"Her injuries are this severe..." Hashirama muttered. "Take her to Gospel Medical Clinic and give it a try."
"Gospel Medical Clinic?" Tobirama froze. "What is that?"
"While you were away from the village, a doctor skilled in Medical Ninjutsu arrived here." Hashirama hurriedly said, "No time to explain. Bring Touka and follow me."
Tobirama had his doubts.
But Senju Touka's treatment was the priority. He scooped her into his arms and hurried after him.
Toji had just finished treating the previous injured patient.
When he looked up, he saw Hashirama Senju striding over, with that white-haired, red-eyed old ghost beside him...
No, considering their ages now, he ought to call Tobirama big brother.
He stepped forward on his own initiative. "What happened, Lord Hokage?"
"Toji, take a look. Can her arms still be reattached?"
Toji only glanced at her once. "Come with me."
Before long, Tobirama placed Senju Touka on the operating table. Her two bloody, mangled severed arms lay beside her, making for a horrifying sight.
Toji examined the wounds. "The severed surfaces are clean. It has been over twenty-four hours since the amputation, and there is residual Lightning Release chakra..."
Tobirama, who had remained silent all along, stared at him intently and could not help asking, "Can you treat her?"
"Yes."
Toji answered decisively, his heart beginning to beat faster with excitement.
He had been waiting for an opportunity like this.
If he wanted to truly integrate into Konoha, enter its upper ranks, and take charge of Konoha Hospital, Hashirama's recognition alone would not be enough.
Hashirama would one day die fighting Madara Uchiha. The one who would lead Konoha in the future would inevitably be Tobirama. Only by gaining the latter's trust could he truly establish himself in Konoha and live peacefully for decades to come.
And judging from Tobirama's attitude toward this female ninja...
The opportunity was right in front of him.
Toji pulled out a scalpel and, without hesitation, cut open his own palm.
"Earth Grudge Fear!"
Before you continue