How Was There Another Junior Tile?

It's here!

Mikami Yu perked up. Though he still faced Yakushi Nonō as she demonstrated the technique, his gaze had already focused on the text box before him. A chibi portrait of a green-haired woman appeared within it, carrying the air of an older woman:

[Potential Target: Healing Technique]

[Dialogue]

[A: Hello, big sister. I'm Mikami Yu. Your healing technique looks extremely skilled. May I ask how this ninjutsu works on wounds?]

[B: Such warm chakra... It feels just like a mother's. You're a woman who could be my mother!]

[C: (Silent, merely gazing at her affectionately and enticing her to speak first.)]

How had another Junior Tile slipped in here...?

Mikami Yu directly ignored the last two options and chose A.

[During pharmacology class, you came into close contact with that mature woman radiating healing light. She seemed to notice your attention, and her gentle gaze fell upon you.]

A pale green dialogue box with vine-patterned borders unfolded:

[Healing Technique: Oh? What a child who pays close attention in class. The key to Medical Ninjutsu lies in Yang Release. Only by giving chakra a Yang-nature transformation can one guide the body's cells to heal faster. It works even better when paired with ointment.]

Oh, I got it.

It seemed this new target was an older-sister-type teacher, with attributes similar to Yakushi Nonō's.

In Galageki, characters like this were among the easiest types to win over. They were usually written as bold and flirtatious, fond of making risqué jokes. For Mikami Yu as he was now, that meant he could launch a direct offensive.

Mikami Yu glanced at the target list, which had yet to change, and continued his attack.

"Big sister, what is a Yang-nature transformation? Could you teach me?"

[Healing Technique: Heh, little brother, your curiosity is rather strong. Still, being lively at your age is a good thing. Let big sister tell you. Chakra has seven natures in total. Five are the common elemental transformations, while the remaining two are Yin and Yang...]

"...Then what are the requirements for using Medical Ninjutsu?"

[Healing Technique: Well...]

Compared with the Three Techniques sisters and Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu, Healing Technique was rather talkative.

Or perhaps she simply had a fondness for teaching.

Although much of what she said—chakra nature transformation, Yin–Yang Release, and the like—overlapped somewhat with what Yakushi Nonō had just explained, Mikami Yu still put on an eager-to-learn expression for her sake. Every time he spoke, he chose the option that showed the strongest thirst for knowledge.

At the same time.

In reality.

Yakushi Nonō faintly furrowed her brow.

For some reason, she felt that the Healing Technique she had cast today was somewhat strange.

More specifically, Nonō felt that the chakra she released was overly active, as though it were deliberately trying to show itself off... It was undoubtedly strange to describe a ninjutsu that way, yet she could not find a more fitting explanation.

"Maybe I didn't get enough rest last night while taking care of those children..."

It couldn't possibly be that the ninjutsu had developed its own consciousness and was actively performing, could it?

That would have been far too absurd.

Yakushi Nonō did not dwell on it. She simply maintained the technique and continued explaining it to the students around her.

Before long.

The two rabbits—one treated with ointment and the other healed with ninjutsu—were once again lively and energetic. The surrounding children applauded and praised her excitedly:

"Wow, so this is the Healing Technique? That's amazing!"

"As expected of Teacher Nonō!"

"I thought Tissue-Regenerating Ointment already healed incredibly fast, but the Healing Technique is even better! It only took about half a minute for the wound on its leg to completely close! Would it be that fast on a person too?"

"Of course not."

Yakushi Nonō shook her head. "What I demonstrated just now was only the most basic treatment method. In reality, the injuries we face are often much more complicated and severe. We must adjust the medical plan according to the individual and the nature of their injuries. Otherwise, we might worsen the injury..."

Nonō continued explaining the properties of other medicines.

The students in the classroom also returned to their seats and continued listening.

Mikami Yu, meanwhile, turned his attention to the Gala System:

[Healing Technique Affection +1. Added to the target list!]

[Healing Technique (Current Affection: 1/100—Stranger)]

[Dialogue], [Practice]

"Not bad, not bad."

Sure enough, these gentle older-sister-type ninjutsu had the lowest difficulty when it came to winning them over. It would be great if more techniques followed this template.

Less than half a month had passed since the Gala System had finished loading, yet Mikami Yu already had five targets. He was practically standing in five boats at once.

Although the Three Techniques had come with the system from the start, and he had only truly acquired two new ninjutsu through "learning by observation," this was already an enormous surprise for Mikami Yu, who had been considering whether to become a ramen chef just half a month ago.

However...

He still had not figured out how to use the [Give Gift] function. Logically, it should provide more affection than [Practice].

Additionally, he was unsure whether every technique could trigger the Gala System's "Encounter" quest.

—For example, if someone used a Truth-Seeking Orb before him, or a Mangekyō Golden Binding Illusion Technique, or even a secret technique like the Shadow Imitation Technique, could he still trigger an encounter as smoothly as he had with Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu and Healing Technique?

Though those were also "techniques," they required Kekkei Genkai or even Kekkei Mōra to use. At the very least, they were secret techniques that were not passed on to outsiders, and theoretically, Mikami Yu did not possess the objective conditions needed to cultivate them.

As for what the result would be...

He would probably have to try it to find out.

The morning classes ended.

Nohara Rin carried her notes over to ask Nonō a few questions.

After she returned, Mikami Yu and Obito packed up their things, said goodbye to Baicao, and left Konoha Hospital together.

There were no classes that afternoon.

Obito had originally wanted to invite Nohara Rin over to his house.

However, Nohara Rin politely declined, saying that she wanted to study at the library.

"Next time, Obito. I want to go to the library later and look for the books Yu mentioned... Oh, right, Yu, would you like to come with us?" Nohara Rin looked at Mikami Yu.

"No."

Mikami Yu shook his head. "I have something to do this afternoon. You two go ahead. When you get there, you can ask my mother. She'll tell you which books you should borrow."

"...All right, then."

The three parted ways at the intersection.

Mikami Yu headed alone to the training grounds on the outskirts of the village, found a relatively safe spot, and began his daily Gala routine.