Hundred Healings Technique Takes Shape!

In a forest.

Kakuzu emerged from the ground, leaned against a tree, and coughed up blood repeatedly.

"Damn brat!"

The two masks on Kakuzu's shoulders shattered with a crack.

Immediately afterward, the mask representing Water Style shattered as well.

Only his original heart remained!

But that was not all.

He was also grievously wounded.

When he had used Earth Style to escape underground, he had been caught in the aftermath of the Wind Style: Rasenshuriken, and the Wind Release Chakra needles had struck his back.

Even hardening his body with Earth Style had failed to stop them.

The cells in his skin and part of his muscles had been sliced apart beyond use.

Although his body had been modified by the secret Earth Grudge Fear technique, much of it was still flesh and blood.

Fortunately, the injuries across his back did not affect him too severely.

He was also fortunate that, while fleeing, he had used the three Wind Style, Fire Style, and Water Style masks to block part of the ninjutsu's power. Otherwise, he would have been engulfed by that technique, and then...

Thinking of Asuma's technique, cold sweat rolled down Kakuzu's face.

"An S-Rank Wind Style Ninjutsu!"

"A nine-year-old brat... Konoha really does produce geniuses one after another!"

Kakuzu's expression turned ugly.

The last time Asuma and Konoha's White Fang had joined forces, it had been understandable that he had fled in disgrace.

After all, Konoha's White Fang was currently Konoha's strongest known shinobi after the Third Hokage.

But now, being beaten into a desperate retreat by a mere brat... the feeling was truly...

"Brat, next time you won't get your way so easily!"

Kakuzu considered how to deal with him, snorted coldly, and continued fleeing.

After the corpses were burned, the caravan set out once more.

One day later.

The caravan left the Land of Rain, and everyone let out a huge sigh of relief.

Constantly being on edge was no easy thing.

After entering the Land of Fire, Asuma became leisurely once more.

His original body studied atop the cargo wagon while the Shadow Clones handled guard duty.

On July 23rd, Konoha Year 42, the caravan finally returned to Konohagakure.

"Dismissed. Go home and get some proper rest!"

Upon returning to the village, Hatake Sakumo immediately dismissed the team, then headed alone to the Hokage Building.

Hokage Office.

Hatake Sakumo pushed open the door and entered. Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up with a smile. "Sakumo, the mission is over? How did it go?"

Hatake Sakumo recounted the mission from beginning to end.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's initially relaxed expression gradually turned serious.

"Kakuzu... I know of him as well. He really did attempt to assassinate the First Hokage back then," Sarutobi Hiruzen said.

Hatake Sakumo said, "The identities of the final group of attackers are questionable. Some of them did not seem like ordinary Bounty Hunters, but seemed to be specifically targeting Asuma."

"However, to avoid creating further complications, I left no survivors."

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe, then slowly exhaled. "I'll leave Asuma to you."

Hatake Sakumo smiled. "Asuma is exceptional. He drove Kakuzu back all by himself."

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head. "That was because Kakuzu had no intelligence on that technique. It won't be so easy next time."

"That boy is too high-profile!"

An S-Rank Ninjutsu had caused such a stir that the entire shinobi world knew about it.

In the shinobi world, intelligence was an extremely important factor in battle.

There were countless examples of the weak defeating the strong through intelligence.

After washing up and eating his fill, Asuma finally put his hands in his pockets and leisurely headed out.

It was only one in the afternoon. There was still plenty of time.

After nearly a month on mission, he rarely had the chance to relax. So, he strolled around at his leisure before arriving at the Senju Ancestral Home.

He made his way to the study with practiced ease.

It was as messy as ever, with scrolls thrown everywhere.

Tsunade was currently slumped over the desk, fast asleep.

"Tsk, she's even drooling."

Asuma smiled disdainfully.

But then his gaze fell upon Tsunade's forehead.

There was a diamond-shaped mark there.

Yin Seal!

Not wanting to disturb Tsunade, Asuma stepped aside and began tidying the scrolls scattered across the floor.

"You're back."

Tsunade's languid voice suddenly rang out.

Asuma turned around and saw Tsunade stretching, displaying her generous chest.

He quickly averted his gaze and asked, "Big Sis Tsunade, how is that technique coming along?"

Tsunade skillfully wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth and smiled with tsundere pride. "Of course, there aren't any problems!"

Asuma hurried over upon hearing that.

Tsunade handed him the scroll on the desk and smiled. "The initial design for the technique formula is complete."

Asuma examined it carefully.

After more than a month of study, with the Fūinjutsu foundation he had built up, he was able to understand it.

"As expected of one of the Sannin!"

Asuma praised her.

Tsunade looked quite pleased with herself.

After finishing the scroll, Asuma could not help sighing. "Unfortunately, too few people can cultivate a secret technique like this."

Chakra Control alone would eliminate 99.9 percent of shinobi.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow and snorted. "Don't tell me you want to popularize a secret technique like this on a large scale?"

"The more difficult a ninjutsu or secret technique is to master, the more it is bound to remain in the hands of a select few. Otherwise, geniuses would not be geniuses!"

Asuma nodded.

Next came the time for Tsunade to assess Asuma.

Half an hour later, Tsunade nodded with a hint of surprise. "You've mastered the basics quite well. You can officially begin learning Medical Ninjutsu."

As she spoke, she found a ninjutsu scroll and handed it to Asuma. "This is the foundation of Medical Ninjutsu: the Healing Technique."

"Practice it first. Ask me if there's anything you don't understand!"

After saying that, Tsunade continued refining her secret technique.

Asuma sat directly on the floor and read the ninjutsu scroll.

The Healing Technique truly was the most basic Medical Ninjutsu. It could only heal ordinary wounds and was often used to stop bleeding.

The Mystical Palm Technique was the upgraded version of the Healing Technique.

Ten minutes later, Asuma put down the ninjutsu scroll, took out his kunai, and gave his own arm a slash, leaving a small cut.

He put away the kunai. A gentle green glow appeared on his right hand and covered the wound.

The bleeding stopped, and the wound healed.

It was only a skin-deep cut, and it healed completely in less than a minute without leaving any trace.

Tsunade looked up at the sight, and her face darkened.

It was her first time seeing someone use himself as an experimental subject while learning Medical Ninjutsu.

"What a monster!"

Tsunade grumbled inwardly, then had no choice but to find the ninjutsu scroll for the Mystical Palm Technique and hand it to Asuma.

However, Asuma did not immediately begin practicing the Mystical Palm Technique. Instead, he went out, bought a cage of little white rabbits, and began relentlessly grinding levels.

Five in the afternoon.

Asuma had forcibly grinded the Healing Technique to Level 5. His Experience Points were finally sufficient, and his Character Level rose from Level 33 to Level 34.

It was much earlier than expected.

And in Asuma's hands, the Level 5 Healing Technique was already no less effective than the Mystical Palm Technique.

Still, he had to master the Mystical Palm Technique.

Grinding levels and Experience Points to raise his Character Level and obtain Attribute Points and Skill Points—that was the key.