Do Not Let Him Pass

Watching the skilled chakra scalpel in Hyuga Seisen's hand, Sarutobi Biwako fell silent once again. She understood that the excuse of insufficient medical ninjutsu was no longer enough to stop Hyuga Seisen from joining the medical corps. Looking at the boy before her, whose talent was almost monstrous, she forced a strained smile onto her face.

"I didn't expect... Seisen's talent for medical ninjutsu to be so astonishing."

"With this level of proficiency in medical ninjutsu, you are certainly more than qualified to enter the medical corps."

Just as a smile appeared on Hyuga Seisen's face, he heard her tone shift.

"However..."

"The medical corps being screened this time is destined for the front lines."

"On the battlefield, knowing medical ninjutsu alone is not enough; your survival skills must also be up to par."

"In other words, your taijutsu and body flicker technique must also be top-tier so that you can protect yourself when the enemy arrives."

"Therefore, this medical corps selection will also test your practical combat ability."

"This is also the will of the Hokage," Sarutobi Biwako added firmly.

Previous investigations had shown that Hyuga Seisen was mediocre in all other aspects. Even the Gentle Fist, which the Hyuga clan had studied for years, was a complete failure for him, let alone anything else. If Hyuga Seisen's medical ninjutsu was genius-level, then his other taijutsu and ninjutsu were equally waste-level. Therefore, Biwako intended to use this to block Hyuga Seisen.

Me? Hiruzen Sarutobi looked blank. Did I demand that a medical ninja's taijutsu and body flicker technique be top-tier? Do I have such high standards? He was just about to open his mouth to clarify.

"Lord Hokage! Isn't that right?"

Sarutobi Biwako turned her head sharply, her gaze like a torch. She stared intently at Hiruzen Sarutobi, the warning in her eyes self-evident. Hiruzen Sarutobi swallowed hard, forcing the words on the tip of his tongue back down.

He followed his wife's lead and said, "Ah... yes, that's right, Seisen."

"This is also for the sake of your own safety."

"After all, the village cultivates a..."

"No problem! My lords!"

Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could finish his sentence, he was cleanly and decisively interrupted by Hyuga Seisen, who agreed with great alacrity.

Master the arts of war and peace, and sell them to the imperial family. The biggest boss of Konoha was right here; it was a god-given stage to show off. It allowed him to demonstrate his strength while also passing the medical corps selection. Where else could he find such a good deal?

Sarutobi Biwako was stunned. She looked at Hyuga Seisen uncertainly. "Seisen, the practical combat ability I just mentioned refers to the ability to fight enemies, such as taijutsu and the body flicker technique. It does not refer to your clinical treatment skills."

"I understand!" Hyuga Seisen nodded with great certainty. "I accept the practical combat assessment."

Sarutobi Biwako looked at his determined expression and sighed helplessly. "...Alright, but the selection has just concluded. We need to make some preparations for a re-assessment. Go wait for us by the river downstairs; the assessment will officially begin in half an hour."

"Yes, thank you, Lady Biwako! Lord Hokage! Goodbye!" Hyuga Seisen bowed and turned to leave.

As soon as the door closed, Hiruzen Sarutobi hurried forward. "Biwako, what is going on?"

Sarutobi Biwako did not respond immediately. She first called the guards outside the door. "Go and bring Sarutobi Kaito here." Only then did she slowly walk over to the sofa and sit down, rubbing her brow wearily.

"This kid's talent... is the best I have ever seen."

"I don't want him to die in vain on the front lines..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the troubled Sarutobi Biwako and suddenly smiled. "Biwako, you are always so soft-hearted. No matter how good the talent is, one must experience the wind and rain to grow." He subconsciously reached out to take his pipe for a smoke, then stopped himself and continued, "Like White Fang's son, Kakashi! He is also a once-in-a-century genius, and didn't I still send him out to gain experience..."

"He is the good seedling I was just telling you about, the one we screened."

Sarutobi Biwako grew more annoyed the more she heard, and she interrupted Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Even a good seedling needs to..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile suddenly stiffened. "Are you saying he is a talent screened from this medical training?"

"Doesn't that mean he has only been learning for two months?"

Sarutobi Biwako nodded heavily, remaining silent.

A storm surged in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart. Although he was not a medical ninja, his knowledge was extensive. With his eye for talent, he could see that the four techniques were not simple, especially the Mystical Palm Technique and the chakra scalpel. They required extremely high chakra control and personal talent. To master them to a level that shocked Biwako within two months—his talent could be described as outrageous. No wonder Biwako valued him so much.

He suddenly remembered: "Having good talent and being able to master ninjutsu does not mean one can be a doctor. Experienced medical knowledge is also..."

Sarutobi Biwako cut him off. "His genius lies precisely there. He has not only mastered the ninjutsu, but his medical knowledge is also extremely comprehensive and solid. Some obscure points of knowledge even I only recalled when he brought them up."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was not pleasantly surprised upon hearing this; instead, he felt a shock. "In that case, we must consider..."

"No! I have checked him." Sarutobi Biwako looked straight at Hiruzen Sarutobi. "His records in Konoha since childhood are completely fine, and the Hyuga clan has not left any bloodline in other countries. Furthermore, if you were the enemy, would you be willing to send someone with such outstanding talent to an enemy country just to obtain that bit of intelligence?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slowly, then shook his head. The two fell into a momentary silence.

Knock, knock, knock!

The door was knocked.

"Come in!"

A man with an honest face, a tall build, and wearing the signature clothes of the Sarutobi clan walked in.

"It's Kaito, sit down!" Sarutobi Biwako greeted.

"Okay, thank you, Aunt Biwako!" Sarutobi Kaito smiled honestly.

"Well, Auntie needs you to work hard and assess another doctor in a moment. Is that okay?"

"No problem, I will do whatever Auntie asks."

"Then, in the upcoming assessment, whether it is the water-walking project or the practical combat assessment, you must give it your all. Find a way to keep him from passing, do you understand?"

"But Auntie!" Sarutobi Kaito scratched his head. "For the water-walking project, didn't you tell me not to make the waves too strong?"

"If his chakra control is good, he will definitely be able to pass."

"You silly child." Sarutobi Biwako tapped him chidingly. "That was for the others. For him, you can increase the wave intensity. Anyway, find every possible way to make him fall into the water."

"The same goes for the combat. Don't worry even if he gets injured; Auntie is here."

"Biwako."

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt things were getting out of hand and hurriedly spoke up to interrupt.