Learning Medical Ninjutsu

That afternoon.

Yecheng arrived at Konoha Hospital.

"Wow, what an adorable little boy! Are you hurt? Come here and let me take a look!"

The moment Yecheng arrived at the hospital, a group of nurses surrounded him.

His white hair, blue eyes, and adorable looks instantly captured a whole swath of young women's hearts.

Hearing the commotion, Shizune hurried over and shooed everyone else away.

"Shoo, shoo! Have you all got nothing to do? I'll give you some more work!"

None of you are allowed to touch him! Yecheng is mine alone!

"Shizune."

Yecheng greeted her with a smile. "My teacher told me to come here to learn Medical Ninjutsu."

Admiration shone in his eyes. Shizune was wearing a white medical uniform. Though the outfit was loose, cinching it at the waist accentuated her slender waistline and alluring figure.

Her curves weren't as exaggerated as Tsunade's, but she was a genuine beauty all the same.

Besides, a white medical uniform had a charm all its own-those who knew, knew.

"Mm."

Shizune smiled and patted Yecheng's head. "Lady Tsunade is inside. Come with me."

Yecheng: ...

Don't you know you're not supposed to touch a Naruto player's head?

Damn it!

I'll make you pay for that someday!

After passing through the outer examination room, Shizune knocked and opened the door to Tsunade's office.

Tsunade was bent over her desk, writing something.

Yecheng sneaked a peek with his six eyes, only to discover that she was actually writing his training plan.

Treating his illness, conditioning his body, medicinal supplements, Taijutsu training, learning Medical Ninjutsu...

It covered everything.

It seemed she really was putting thought into teaching him.

"You're here?"

Without looking up, Tsunade said, "Drink the secret medicine on the table first. It can replenish your life force.

"Your kekkei genkai illness can't be cured completely for now, but replenishing your life force can alleviate it."

Warmth filled Yecheng's heart. He picked up the large bowl and drank all the dark brown medicine inside.

Although it tasted bitter, Yecheng did feel a warm current flowing through his body. It was very comfortable.

Even his complexion improved considerably. He no longer looked as sickly pale as before, and some color returned to his face.

"Teacher, this medicine must be expensive."

The effects were so obvious that Yecheng couldn't help marveling.

"It is quite expensive, but a kindhearted, one-eyed old man contributed a lot of medicinal ingredients."

As though recalling something pleasant, Tsunade chuckled.

Beside her, Shizune also covered her mouth and giggled.

A kindhearted, one-eyed old man?

Was Tsunade talking about Danzo?

So these were medicinal ingredients she'd extorted from Danzo?

Yecheng froze for a moment, then warmth filled his heart, leaving him deeply moved.

Having someone backing you really was great. When someone bullied you, there was someone to settle the score for you.

"Shizune, give him the third book on the second shelf."

"Yes."

Tsunade instructed him, "There's a lot you need to learn to become a qualified medical ninja. Today, we'll start with basic medical knowledge."

"Yes."

Yecheng nodded, sat down, and began reading.

He'd thought this book covered the basics, but it contained many terms and concepts he'd never heard of. To understand them further, he would need to follow the references and read the relevant books.

In other words, this book in front of him, thicker than a brick, was actually just a table of contents!

No wonder people often said anyone who encouraged someone to study medicine deserved to be struck by lightning. They really had a point!

Fortunately, with the aid of his six eyes, Yecheng had what could be called a photographic memory, so studying was relatively easy.

He soon finished the book in his hands.

"Teacher, I've finished reading it."

Tsunade glanced up at him. "Just finishing it isn't enough. You have to remember and master the knowledge inside."

Yecheng nodded, indicating that this was no problem at all.

Half convinced, Tsunade tested him with several questions.

To her surprise, Yecheng answered every one of them. He really had mastered the knowledge in the book!

Tsunade: ...

Was he human?

She fell silent for a moment, then stood up, found five books on the bookshelf, and stacked them on Yecheng's desk.

"Read."

"Oh."

The Ninja Academy.

Taijutsu class.

After several days of independent practice, the students had grasped the general basics of attacking and defending.

Starting today, their teacher would arrange for them to spar in pairs.

The others would watch the sparring from the sidelines and reflect on their own shortcomings.

"First pair, Naruto Uzumaki versus Sasuke Uchiha."

Yecheng's shadow clone nodded to himself, not surprised in the slightest.

Just the encroachment of fate's mighty hand.

What a pair of ill-fated lovebirds.

The two began sparring. Naruto attacked first, charging straight ahead and throwing a punch as always, leaving himself wide open.

Sasuke scoffed, ducked under it, and immediately drove an elbow into his chest.

Naruto took the vicious elbow head-on and, enduring the pain, thrust his knee up at Sasuke. But Sasuke had already dodged and simultaneously punched him in the ribs.

Even Naruto was visibly hurt by that blow, clutching his ribs as he backed away several steps.

"Hmph, give up, Naruto, you dead last!"

Brimming with confidence, Sasuke looked toward Yecheng.

"You're next!"

Yecheng: ?

Me?

Are you sure?

The skies clear, the rain stops, and you think you've got what it takes again, huh?

"Argh, damn it! You smug jerk, Sasuke! I haven't lost yet!"

Enraged by him, Naruto immediately formed hand seals.

"Poof!"

A twisted white human figure fell to the ground and writhed there.

What!? That's it?!

Seeing this, the people around him had thought he was about to unleash some explosive power. Instead, he produced such a ridiculous Clone Technique that they all burst out laughing.

The training ground was instantly filled with a merry atmosphere.

Even Sasuke's mouth twitched, and he had to put everything he had into holding back and maintaining his cool image.

Yet in the very next instant, Naruto vanished with a whoosh!

Body Flicker Technique!

Sasuke immediately sensed danger coming from straight ahead. Without thinking, he flipped sideways to dodge.

"Whoa!"

Having lost his target, Naruto failed to control himself and plunged headfirst into the ground, falling flat on his face.

"Hahahaha!"

He'd almost scared them.

The laughter from the people around him grew even louder.

Naruto stood up, scratched his head, and gave a somewhat embarrassed smile.

It had worked perfectly well when Yecheng was teaching him earlier. Why wasn't it working now?

Sasuke, meanwhile, looked at Naruto with lingering fear, his eyes full of suspicion.

If that move had landed just now, he very likely would have lost!

Where had Naruto learned such a powerful move?

"The match is decided. Sasuke Uchiha wins. Form the Seal of Reconciliation."

Iruka also looked at Naruto with surprise on his face.

In his view, Naruto really wasn't very talented. He couldn't even properly use the Three Basic Techniques and was far behind Sasuke Uchiha.

But unless he'd seen wrong, what Naruto had just used was unmistakably the Body Flicker Technique!

That was an advanced ninjutsu they could only learn after becoming full-fledged ninja!

Naruto had actually mastered it?

Although he wasn't proficient yet, he had still managed to use it.

With Naruto's aptitude, just how much hard work must he have put in behind the scenes?

Iruka himself wasn't very talented. He understood deeply just how much hard work one had to put in out of sight to reach the same level as others.

This was also the first time he had begun to take Naruto seriously.

Watching Naruto grin foolishly over there, Iruka felt his heart clench.

Always playing the fool, just to get other people's attention.

How much was that like his former self!

Naruto, you're just like me!