Konoha Hospital.
"Shiki, congratulations on starting school."
Rika Miyata took out a ninja tool pouch and said, "This is a gift for you."
"Thank you, teacher."
Shihui Aburame opened the pouch and looked inside. It contained a full assortment of medical ninja tools.
"Once school starts, your studies should come first."
Rika Miyata reminded him, "If you're too busy, you don't have to come every day."
"I understand."
Shihui Aburame raised his hand and said calmly, "I've learned the Chakra Scalpel."
"What?"
The smile froze on Rika Miyata's face, her voice filled with disbelief.
It wasn't that she didn't believe Shihui Aburame, but learning the Chakra Scalpel in half a month was simply too astounding.
Shihui Aburame didn't answer. He merely formed hand seals.
A few seconds later, primeval essence transformed into pale green chakra and spread outward, resembling a blade with a keen edge.
"It's actually true!"
Rika Miyata's eyes widened as she murmured to herself.
Although the glow of Shihui Aburame's Chakra Scalpel flickered in intensity and wasn't very stable, there was no denying that he had learned this ninjutsu.
"Your talent might be even greater than Lady Tsunade's."
Rika Miyata spoke with a look of wonder.
For a medical ninja, those words were the highest praise.
Because in the Shinobi World, Tsunade was the Hua Tuo of their time.
"I'll go see Lord Hokage right now."
Rika Miyata beamed. "If you really become Lady Tsunade's apprentice, I'll get to share in your glory too."
"Thank you, teacher."
Shihui Aburame spoke.
"Go home and wait for my good news."
Rika Miyata hurried off to the Hokage Building.
A knock sounded at the door.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged face flushed, and he hastily covered the crystal ball.
Through the crystal ball, he could peep-no, patrol Konoha.
"Come in."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke with a serious expression.
"Lord Hokage."
Rika Miyata bowed slightly.
"Oh, it's you, Rika."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and asked, "What brings you here?"
"Shiki has learned the Chakra Scalpel."
Rika Miyata got straight to the point.
Hiruzen Sarutobi abruptly froze, surprise showing in his eyes.
His talent as a medical ninja was that extraordinary?
Truly terrifying!
This boy was destined for greatness!
"Don't tell anyone else about this for now."
Hiruzen Sarutobi cautioned her.
He was worried that his old friend Shimura Danzō would find out.
Knowing his personality, he would certainly demand the boy, and might even start shouting, "Hiruzen, you'll regret this," again.
"I wonder if Hinata will take that step."
Shihui Aburame walked through the grove, deep in thought.
His behavior was essentially putting pressure on Hinata Hyuga.
This would lead to one of two outcomes: either she would get overwhelmed and lose control, or she would break through her limits.
"Stop right there!"
An arrogant voice came from up ahead.
Shihui Aburame looked up. They were familiar faces.
The three boys who had bullied Hinata Hyuga last time.
The injuries on their faces had already healed.
In a world with medical ninjas, that was perfectly normal.
They dared come back? Were they really that brave?
But Shihui Aburame soon understood why.
An obviously older boy stepped out from behind them.
Shihui Aburame glanced at him.
He carried a schoolbag but had no forehead protector. He was probably a student in a higher grade.
Beat the little ones, and an older one shows up.
What a classic plot.
"Boss, that's him!"
Remembering the moonlight from before, the boy on the left couldn't help looking frightened.
This was a world of ninjas.
Naturally, they assumed that moonlight was some kind of ninjutsu, so they had found a sixth-year student. "Will the boss win?"
He couldn't help feeling a little worried.
"He'll win. Trust the boss."
The boy on the right answered with certainty.
"Kneel and apologize."
The older boy spoke with disdain.
When the three boys had told him about it earlier, they had spun an incredible tale, making Shihui Aburame sound like a god descended from heaven.
But now that he saw him, he was just such a scrawny little brat. How strong could he possibly be?
Three against one, and they still got beaten? Did they even know how to fight?
He suspected that the three boys had deliberately exaggerated to get him to step in.
Shihui Aburame's mouth twitched.
Why did this guy have confidence like War Eagle's?
Fine.
Was he supposed to put up with this? He had just gotten new Gu.
"Hey, didn't you hear me?"
Seeing Shihui Aburame ignore him, the older boy immediately grew angry.
He formed hand seals with both hands.
There was a pop.
A boy identical to him appeared.
This was the Clone Technique, one of the Three Basic Techniques.
Unlike the Shadow Clone Technique, the ordinary Clone Technique could only confuse the enemy.
The two boys charged at Shihui Aburame.
They repeatedly darted from side to side along the way to confuse his vision.
"Stunned, aren't you!"
Seeing him stand motionless, the two boys grinned even wider, their confidence reaching its peak.
Using the Clone Technique against these brats who hadn't graduated yet was practically foolproof.
Once they were close to Shihui Aburame, both boys threw punches at the same time.
The next second, the boy on the left vanished.
The boy on the right shook his fist and cried out in pain.
He felt as though he had punched a slab of bronze, and his hand swelled up immediately.
"All flash and no substance."
Shihui Aburame spoke calmly.
It was the Copper Skin Gu. He had used the Copper Skin Gu.
He had to admit, the effect was outstanding.
Next, he would try the Moonlight Gu and the Little Light Gu.
Shihui Aburame extended his hand.
Primeval essence poured into the Moonlight Gu and the Little Light Gu.
A deep blue moonblade flew from his palm.
Shihui Aburame's method of attack differed from the one in the original work.
Perhaps it was because of the system's slight adjustments.
The moonblade had previously been palm-sized, but with the addition of the Little Light Gu, its area had doubled.
Besides that, its power had also doubled.
"Ah! My kidney!"
Clutching his side as blood spurted out, the older boy stumbled backward, all his confidence long gone.
He looked back and found that his three lackeys had already fled.
"One week from now, all four of you will wait for me here."
Shihui Aburame walked slowly forward.
He spared the older boy because he had thought of a way to put trash to use.
That was to let Hinata Hyuga practice on them and overcome the fear in her heart.
It would also squeeze out what little value they had left.
Shihui Aburame was quite satisfied with his new Gu.
By Konoha's standards, anyone who could use the Three Basic Techniques qualified as a Genin.
Although that older boy hadn't graduated, his Clone Technique and taijutsu were already decent.
But against him, the boy had been powerless to fight back.
Shihui Aburame returned to the wooden cabin.
He put the food he had bought into the refrigerator.
It was for Hinata Hyuga tomorrow.
After resting for a while, Shihui Aburame went to his vegetable patch.
Since planting Moon Orchids had triggered an achievement, he had simply decided to plant some more things.
Chilies, tomatoes, cabbages, and scallions, for example.
Besides those, he had also planted orange and peach trees behind the cabin.
In his previous life, Shihui Aburame had been a third-generation farmer, and his grandparents had liked growing these things.
After keeping busy for a while, he began cultivating.
Sinking his awareness into his aperture, Shihui Aburame confirmed that the Kikaichū were fine before washing the aperture walls with primeval essence.
(End of chapter)