The Little Medical Sage, Military Rations Pills? / Itachi's Resolve, Rikuto's Move

The injured man was pale, but an anesthetic had stopped him from shouting. When he heard that, he immediately grew agitated. "This is my leg we're talking about!"

What could an eight-year-old possibly be capable of?

He didn't want to lose his leg over this.

"Please trust Lady Tsunade's judgment, and trust my junior!"

Shizune looked at the injured man and spoke in a grave voice.

"All right. If Lady Tsunade arranged it, I accept!"

Trusting Tsunade, the medical sage, the Chunin gritted his teeth and nodded. "Let's do it, then!"

"Please rest assured!"

Rikuto wasted no time.

He grabbed a scalpel from the side.

His expression focused, he wielded the razor-sharp instrument.

He cut away the rotting tissue piece by piece.

With his senior Shizune guiding him from the side,

Rikuto, an experienced "veterinarian," handled the scalpel with growing skill.

Before long, he had removed all the damaged tissue, cleanly and efficiently.

Shizune, who had watched the whole procedure, praised him inwardly.

"The rest is easy!"

After washing the wound and briefly disinfecting it with a medicinal solution, Rikuto immediately formed hand seals with one hand.

A soft green light emerged from his palm as he pressed it against the wound.

The bloody wound slowly began to heal.

"This is... the Mystical Palm Technique?"

The Jonin from the medical team who was watching was stunned.

An eight-year-old had actually mastered an A-rank Medical Ninjutsu like the Mystical Palm Technique?

Such talent... no wonder Lady Tsunade had taken him as a disciple.

"The wound's been treated. A little medicine and a bandage, and that should do it!"

Chapter 31: The Little Medical Sage, Military Rations Pills?

"My, my, Rikuto, you really are amazing..."

Several days later.

At noon, the sun blazed overhead.

Tsunade had just finished a sitz bath at the hospital.

Extremely pleased with Rikuto's performance and in excellent spirits, she

had made a special trip to the Akimichi Clan's barbecue restaurant with Rikuto and Shizune.

"As expected of the Little Medical Sage everyone's praising..." Shizune looked at her junior and smiled. "It's only been a few days, and I feel like you're already close to surpassing me!"

In just a few days,

word of Chiya Rikuto's genius had spread once more.

He had even gained a new title and was hailed as the "Little Medical Sage."

The medical staff at Konoha Hospital had initially thought Tsunade was being reckless, letting her eight-year-old disciple practice on Konoha's patients and injured, and had harbored some dissatisfaction and doubts.

After the past few days, they had all been won over by Rikuto's monstrous talent.

He had brought great credit to his teacher, Lady Tsunade, and to Shizune, his senior.

Under his senior's guidance, Rikuto, who had long since mastered a variety of Medical Ninjutsu, continually treated patients in clinical practice.

Some had lost arms or legs and suffered severe blood loss on missions; others had their intestines spill out and be stuffed back in, and some had even suffered severe burns...

He had tried treating all sorts of injuries and illnesses, one after another.

His rapid progress left her amazed.

"It's all thanks to your excellent teaching, Shizune. Besides, I still have a long way to go!"

Rikuto wasn't particularly complacent.

Only after actually practicing at the hospital under Tsunade did he realize how narrow his view had been and how much he still lacked.

After all, a truly outstanding medical-nin could do much more than simply treat external injuries.

That was especially true of congenital diseases and bacterial infections.

Treating them required extensive experience and knowledge to address the specific condition.

Over the past few days, following Shizune and observing cases of special illnesses had also benefited Rikuto greatly.

For some of the more troublesome conditions, even those beyond Shizune's own abilities, they could consult an expert teacher like Tsunade directly.

As a result, Rikuto's medical skills

continued to improve at an astonishing rate every day.

At the same time, his horizons had broadened considerably, and he had gained a completely new knowledge and understanding of Medical Ninjutsu.

He had seen several patients whom the hospital had been unable to help, and for whom death notices had even been issued, recover under Tsunade's incredible treatment.

She truly had turned the impossible into the possible.

There had even been patients whose internal organs were damaged, whose injuries were so severe that they were at death's door and had only half a life left. Rikuto himself had been unsure how to treat them and had thought they were beyond saving.

Under Tsunade's expert guidance,

her disciple Shizune had performed the procedures, while he and the other Jonin from the medical team assisted.

They had pulled the patients back from the gates of death.

It had left him in awe.

It was worth mentioning that

even the Third Hokage, who had been paying attention to him as a newly minted "disciple of the Sannin,"

had taken time out of his busy schedule yesterday to come to Konoha Hospital and praise him.

But before he could try to bring out his unfailing trump card, the Will of Fire, the ill-tempered Tsunade had chased him away, showing her Hokage teacher no deference at all.

Hiruzen Sarutobi could only maintain a Hokage's composure as he left awkwardly with his guards.

Chiya Rikuto had almost burst out laughing.

"Hehe, the Akimichi Clan's barbecue really is the most authentic..."

Rikuto picked up a piece of grilled meat and savored it happily. "No wonder Uncle Chōza's clan has so many people, and every one of them eats so much, but they still haven't gone bankrupt!"

Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Akimichi Chōza had brought him, Shikamaru, Ino, Choji, and the other youngsters here to eat a few times before.

After that, Rikuto had been completely hooked.

The food really did taste excellent.

With Chiya Nao's financial support,

he came here for barbecue once or twice every month.

As for Ichiraku Ramen, he couldn't say it was bad, but it wasn't quite to his taste.

Shizune fed a piece of grilled meat to Tonton, who was drooling beside her, and nodded in agreement. "The Akimichi Clan's barbecue really is one of Konoha's finest!"

"If you like it, eat more and build up your strength..."

Tsunade picked up several pieces of grilled meat and put them on Rikuto's plate.

Looking at his handsome young face, she stroked his head and smiled affectionately. "There are several major operations this afternoon!"

She had seen how Rikuto had performed over the past few days.

He was neither conceited nor impatient, and showed none of the arrogance or pride of someone who had found fame young.

She was very pleased.

Honestly, if she had possessed his abilities at his age,

Tsunade thought her nose would have been in the air long ago.

"Thank you, Sister Tsunade..."

Rikuto grinned and accepted without ceremony.

Although he had no need to eat normally,

he still cared a great deal about enjoying good food.

"But the Akimichi Clan doesn't just run a barbecue business..."

Tsunade tasted the grilled meat and added with a smile, "The Military Rations Pills their clan sells are famous throughout the Shinobi World. They're extremely popular supplies and are in high demand among ninja!"

"That's where the real profits are!"

"So that's how it is!"

Rikuto understood.

At first, he had thought the Akimichi Clan only had secret medicines like the Three-Colored Pills.

It turned out they also sold Military Rations Pills.

He looked at Tsunade's beautiful, youthful face and asked, a little puzzled, "Hasn't anyone or any organization analyzed the ingredients in the Military Rations Pills and made copies?"

Naturally, he was familiar with Military Rations Pills.

They were said to quickly restore one's chakra.

But like compressed rations, they could cause indigestion if someone ate too many.

Their effects were remarkable.

If someone ran low on chakra in a fight, they could be extremely useful.

Because of their effects, Military Rations Pills had been widely used in war after war and were very common wartime supplies.

Some special Military Rations Pills could even instantly boost a ninja's chakra, with astonishing effects.

"It's not a business exclusive to the Akimichi Clan. Many clans, like the Uchiha, Hyuga, Inuzuka Clan, and Aburame Clan, have Military Rations Pills they developed themselves..."

Tsunade explained, "After all, the formula for ordinary Military Rations Pills isn't much of a secret in the Shinobi World, and it's easy to analyze the ingredients in them!"

"But generally speaking, the Akimichi Clan's Military Rations Pills work better, so naturally they're more popular!"

"Of course, the Akimichi Clan also has an even more effective special secret medicine, the Three-Colored Pills. They can instantly boost one's chakra, and their effects are astonishing!"

"But those aren't for sale. They're reserved for members of the Akimichi Clan, and they have considerable side effects!"

Chapter 32: Itachi's Resolve, Rikuto's Move

At this moment-

Outside Root's base on the outskirts of Konoha.

"Lord Danzo!" A figure dressed as an Anbu knelt there on one knee.

Shimura Danzō, the leader of Root, leaned on his cane and asked directly, "Has the Uchiha Clan made any moves?"

"Not yet. Lady Tsunade, one of the Sannin, suddenly returned to the village, forcing them to postpone their coup plans!"

"That's only temporary. The Uchiha Clan will never abandon its ambitions because of this..."

Shimura Danzō asked indifferently, "Itachi, tell me your answer!"

At that moment, the Anbu raised his head.

His young face was handsome despite the tear troughs beneath his eyes, and set into it were two scarlet eyes.