His first surgery

Qingyun hurried to the injured man's ward and pushed the door open. Inside, a female ninja in a white coat was using the Mystical Palm Technique, trying to heal the wound of the pale-faced patient lying in bed.

Qingyun's eyes narrowed at the sight. Black blood poured from a gaping wound about three centimeters long, with the flesh on either side curling slightly outward.

"That won't work. His blood is black, so he's clearly been poisoned. And judging by how fast he's bleeding, a blood vessel must have been nicked. He needs surgery immediately."

Seeing that the female ninja's efforts were futile, Qingyun immediately spoke up.

The female ninja turned at his words. When she saw Qingyun, delight spread across her face. "Qingyun, it's you! Thank goodness. Do you know the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique? I know he's been poisoned, but the hospital's standard antidotes don't work on the toxin in his body. It's too late to develop a Serum now."

Qingyun edged past her and approached the patient. Picking up a Surgical Scalpel from beside the bed, he carefully opened the wound to expose the blood vessel beneath. Sure enough, there was a tiny cut in it. Small as it was, blood vessels were fragile, and even the slightest cut could cause severe blood loss.

Moreover, a trace of pitch-black toxin at the edge of the wound was steadily spreading deeper into the patient's body. Once it reached his heart, he would certainly die.

"Prepare a Sterile Operating Room for me, then bring Red Tassel Grass, purple gold grass, and Azure Mist Fruit."

After examining the patient's injuries, Qingyun gave the female ninja his instructions calmly.

"All right."

With the situation so critical, the female ninja immediately turned to make the preparations.

After giving his instructions, Qingyun paid her no further attention. He channeled internal force into his hands and used the Mystical Palm Technique to slow the patient's bleeding.

Qingyun's Mystical Palm Technique was clearly more effective than hers. As he applied it, the bleeding eased considerably, and he felt a wave of relief.

Before long, the female ninja returned to the ward. Seeing him treating the patient, she spoke softly. "Qingyun, the Sterile Operating Room is ready. Shall we go now?"

"Yes. Get two nurses to wheel the bed in with us. I'm slowing his bleeding right now, so I can't leave his side."

Qingyun gave the instructions calmly.

"All right."

Seeing his composure, the female ninja marveled inwardly. As expected of Lady Tsunade's apprentice. He's already showing the bearing of a master at such a young age.

With the help of two nurses, Qingyun slowly followed the bed toward the Sterile Operating Room.

The instant the door opened, Qingyun discovered Hiruzen Sarutobi standing outside.

"Qingyun, how bad are his injuries? Are you confident you can save him?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi approached Qingyun, glanced at the patient, and questioned him anxiously.

Without looking up, Qingyun continued regulating the Mystical Palm Technique as he replied, "Grandpa Hokage, I'll do everything I can. His condition is critical, so I can't talk for long. I'm sorry."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "Qingyun, I'm counting on you. Please do everything you can to save him. If... if it's truly impossible, please at least bring him around for a moment. He has important intelligence, and Konoha needs it."

Qingyun was taken aback, but he said nothing and simply nodded.

Once they entered the Sterile Operating Room, Qingyun said to the female ninja, "Take over the Mystical Palm Technique for me. You mustn't stop until I've extracted the toxin. Can you do that?"

"Yes, don't worry! Qingyun, I promise I won't stop the Mystical Palm Technique until you tell me to."

The female ninja made her promise with a resolute expression.

Qingyun merely nodded. As she activated the Mystical Palm Technique and slowly brought her hands toward the wound, he swiftly withdrew his own, letting her take over.

Without hesitation, Qingyun used the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique and inserted two fingers into the wound. Streams of black blood immediately began flowing out under his control, and the nurse beside him quickly produced an empty bottle to collect them.

Time passed, and the female ninja grew pale. The prolonged use of the Mystical Palm Technique was clearly exhausting her chakra reserves.

By contrast, Qingyun still had a healthy color despite performing the more advanced Delicate Illness Extraction Technique.

Paying her no attention, Qingyun remained entirely focused on extracting the toxin. Only when the blood he drew out was fully red did he stop.

Seeing how pale the female ninja had become, Qingyun immediately switched to the Mystical Palm Technique and took over. "That's enough. Recover your chakra."

As he took her place, he maintained the Mystical Palm Technique while picking up a needle. He formed his internal force into a thread and sutured the damaged blood vessel.

Watching his practiced movements, the female ninja looked at him with admiration.

Qingyun paid no attention to what she might be thinking, concentrating solely on stitching the wound. Soon, the cut in the blood vessel was closed, and the bleeding slowed dramatically.

Qingyun then increased the output of his Mystical Palm Technique. The patient's wound healed before their eyes.

Only then did Qingyun let out a long breath, inwardly relieved. Thank goodness I converted my internal force into Nine Yang Internal Force. Otherwise, I could never have lasted this long.

The Nine Yang Divine Skill replenished his reserves extremely quickly. Without that characteristic, Qingyun's internal force, which was only comparable to a chunin's, could never have sustained him for so long.

By then, the female ninja had recovered her chakra. Seeing Qingyun stop, she asked curiously, "Is he all right now?"

Qingyun shook his head, his gaze serious. "He's not out of danger yet. He's lost a great deal of blood and is extremely weak. Are the medicinal ingredients ready?"

"They're ready. What should I do with them?"

"Crush the Red Tassel Grass and purple gold grass, add clean water, and bring it to a boil. Then mix in the juice of the Azure Mist Fruit and simmer it over low heat for half an hour. Afterward, give him the decoction to drink. Whether he pulls through will depend on tonight."

Qingyun explained the treatment plan to the female ninja in detail.

She nodded and turned to prepare everything according to his instructions.

After arranging for two nurses to wheel the patient out of the Sterile Operating Room, Qingyun opened the door and stepped outside.

"Qingyun, how is he?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi hurried to ask as soon as Qingyun emerged.

Qingyun gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a full account of the patient's condition. After a brief pause, he continued, "Grandpa Hokage, don't worry. Even if he can't make it through tonight, I'll find a way to bring him around long enough to share the intelligence he has."

Only then did Hiruzen Sarutobi relax. "Sorry for the trouble, Qingyun. You truly are Tsunade's apprentice. Your Medical Ninjutsu is already so accomplished at such a young age."

Qingyun smiled without answering. After chatting with Hiruzen Sarutobi a little longer, he took the poisoned blood he had extracted to the Laboratory. He asked a nurse to bring him some medicinal ingredients, then began studying the toxin.

Step by step, he followed the antidote-making methods in the books Tsunade had given him, trying to develop a Serum for this toxin.

Qingyun stayed in the Laboratory all night without sleeping. At dawn, a nurse rushed inside and looked at him excitedly. "Qingyun, that patient is awake!"

Qingyun immediately stopped what he was doing and followed her to the patient's ward. As he examined the man, he said to the nurse, "Sorry for the trouble, but please notify Lord Hokage that the patient has regained consciousness. Thank you!"

"All right."

The nurse left the ward and hurried toward the Hokage Building.

"Do you feel any discomfort anywhere?"

Once the nurse had left, Qingyun carefully examined the patient before asking his question.

"Cough, cough... No, I just feel a little weak. Were you the one who saved me? Thank you."

The patient thanked Qingyun weakly.

Qingyun shook his head. "No need to thank me. It's my duty. You feel weak because you lost a great deal of blood, leaving both your qi and blood depleted. I'll prescribe medicine to replenish them. Take it on schedule as instructed, and you should be fully recovered in less than half a month."

"Thank you. I understand."

The patient looked at Qingyun with gratitude.