In the bath, Shūichi Hoshita closed his eyes, contemplating the mission of being a double agent.
As a double agent, the most crucial factor was gaining the trust of both sides.
Earning Konoha's trust shouldn't be a problem. After all, he would be a Konoha ninja for a long time, with Minato Namikaze as his mentor and backing, and his loyalty to the village was well-established.
But how could he gain the Daimyō's trust over a long period? Beyond the mission itself, the Daimyō's investment in him was quite significant. This could provide an additional source of income, which he could use to his advantage.
"Should I introduce some geniuses to the Daimyō?"
"Like Kakashi… Charging a three-to-five percent introduction fee wouldn't be too much, right?"
"But if that guy Asuma Sarutobi gets recruited by the Daimyō, will he blame me?"
Shūichi's thoughts wandered, only coming back to reality after he finished his bath.
"My current focus is close combat, with a secondary role as a medical ninja."
"Leaving aside the medical ninja path for now, my close combat skills will definitely center around kenjutsu in the future. The Dance of the Crescent Moon isn't bad, but it's not enough to make me a Jōnin, let alone an elite Jōnin."
As Shūichi got dressed, he continued pondering.
Even though he was just a Genin now, he had to consider his future path.
For instance, how should he progress in kenjutsu?
"After mastering the Dance of the Crescent Moon, I should focus on Wind Release chakra nature transformation, then apply it to kenjutsu, developing my own ultimate sword technique."
"As for Fire Release… it seems like I would either need to pour a lot of chakra into it or combine it with other techniques, like Wind Release…"
Given the limits of time and energy, if it weren't for the tag-system, Shūichi would likely be fully committed to the Wind Release and kenjutsu path by now.
Once dressed, Shūichi headed straight to Konoha Hospital.
While practicing the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique at the Daimyō's residence, he had accumulated a few questions that only Nono Yakushi could help him answer.
However, upon arriving at the hospital, he didn't see Nono. Instead, he ran into Tsunade, whom he hadn't seen in a while.
"Lady Tsunade!"
Shūichi quickly bowed in respect.
"Kid… are you here to see Nono?"
Tsunade stopped in her tracks.
Shūichi nodded, "Yes, I'm here to study medical ninjutsu."
Tsunade nodded and began to walk away, but after taking two steps, she stopped and turned back, "Hey, have you ever thought about developing your Memory Palace into a sealing technique?"
Shūichi's eyes lit up at her words. He turned and asked, "Lady Tsunade, do you have the same idea?"
"I've already tried it before, I attempted to fix the Memory Palace in the mind using a curse seal and developed a technique for it. I later consulted with Minato-sensei, and he further refined it."
Tsunade frowned slightly upon hearing this, "That guy Minato… his sealing techniques aren't bad."
She knew about Minato Namikaze, of course—Jiraiya's disciple and Uzumaki Kushina's lover, who had learned sealing techniques from Kushina.
"If that's the case, then it's fine."
Tsunade waved her hand and started to walk away.
But Shūichi quickly stepped forward to stop her, "Lady Tsunade, although we have similar ideas, the paths we take might not be the same. It's really necessary to exchange our thoughts—who knows, we might gain even more insights."
Tsunade hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Alright, let's go to my office."
...
In Tsunade's office, under her watchful gaze, Shūichi Hoshita carefully replicated the sealing technique that had been refined by Minato Namikaze.
Tsunade crossed her arms as she observed, nodding in approval when Shūichi finished. "This technique is already quite well-developed."
"It turns the Memory Palace into a genjutsu space, reinforced with a sealing technique, allowing for controlled input and output of memories."
"So, this sealing technique is specifically designed for certain memories?"
Shūichi gave a thumbs-up. "As expected of Lady Tsunade."
"The initial idea was to prevent the mental shock that comes from the memories when a shadow clone is dispelled."
Tsunade mused for a moment. "Shadow clones? You want to use them for training?"
"Be careful then—besides the memories, there's also the exhaustion. You could easily overwork yourself to death."
"But I assume Minato already warned you about this?"
Shūichi nodded, then asked, "Lady Tsunade, do you have any thoughts on this?"
Instead of answering, Tsunade asked, "What do you think ninjutsu is?"
"Uh..."
Shūichi frowned, thinking for a moment before replying, "It's the release of chakra energy in various forms, like wind, fire, lightning, or illusions, and so on."
Tsunade nodded. "That's a good description."
"There are many techniques, including curse seals and sealing jutsu, that can be pre-set on the body and then activated whenever needed."
Shūichi immediately thought of the Hyūga clan's Caged Bird seal, a sealing technique with both active and passive triggers.
Active, meaning the main family can control the seal at will to damage the brain and blind the Byakugan of the branch family members.
Passive, meaning that if a branch member dies in battle or is captured and their eyes are taken, the seal will automatically activate, destroying the Byakugan.
Another example that stood out to Shūichi was Danzo's Reverse Four Symbols Seal.
During his battle with Sasuke Uchiha, Danzo used a binding curse seal that must have been pre-prepared, allowing him to activate it instantly.
However, such sealing techniques and curse marks were far from simple; otherwise, they would have been widespread long ago.
Shūichi considered, "Lady Tsunade, are you thinking of using this to seal medical ninjutsu?"
Tsunade nodded. "The original Memory Palace is just a mnemonic technique that most people can learn."
"But by transforming it into a sealing technique, turning the Memory Palace into a genjutsu space, and the sealing space into something like a library, you could store memories as books, or even as people."
"In the same way, you could store medical ninjutsu using this method, ready to be deployed instantly without the need for hand signs."
Shūichi was inwardly shocked.
Is this really the kind of creativity a native of this world should have?
But thinking it over, there were already pre-set curse marks that could be activated instantly, and even ninjutsu scrolls that stored jutsu, like the one Shikamaru Nara used against Kakuzu.
However, Tsunade's idea was clearly more systematic and large-scale.
And it involved doing this within a person's brain.
After a moment's thought, Shūichi responded, "Lady Tsunade, simple memory is vastly different from fūinjutsu, curse seals, or ninjutsu."
The original Memory Palace was a mnemonic system, a technique for associative memory.
In simple terms, it linked what needed to be remembered with familiar locations to achieve quick, long-term, or even permanent memory retention.
Shūichi used the familiar setting of Konoha for his Memory Palace, which is why he came up with the idea of turning this mnemonic technique into a sealing jutsu.
And he had succeeded.
But ninjutsu was different from memory.
Memory is just a function of consciousness, whereas ninjutsu requires chakra as an energy source.
As Shūichi had explained to Tsunade earlier, the process of performing ninjutsu, without considering hand signs, involves controlling chakra energy and manipulating its form and nature.
"I'm aware of that," Tsunade replied, having clearly thought this through before proposing her idea.
Shūichi smiled. "It's certainly an astonishing idea."
"But solidifying a medical ninjutsu in the brain… aside from the difficulty of doing that, if the seal malfunctions, even a medical jutsu could cause serious harm."
Tsunade, however, was nonchalant. "What jutsu isn't dangerous?"
"If the Memory Palace can systematically store memories, it should be possible to store medical ninjutsu in the same way."
"Take Yin Healing Wound Destruction, for example. You wouldn't need to anticipate the enemy's attacks."
"Thoughts and nerve signals travel faster than any physical action, so you could activate the jutsu in the instant before the enemy's attack lands."
Shūichi Hoshita knew that if Tsunade's idea could truly be realized, the benefits would be immense.
But how could it be achieved?
Shūichi pondered, "Lady Tsunade, if we want to systematically store medical ninjutsu, then chakra would also need to be sealed along with it."
"To put it simply, it would involve sealing a jutsu that has already been released, and then releasing it again when needed."
As he spoke, he couldn't help but think of the Creation Rebirth S-rank medical ninjutsu from the original series.
This technique could regenerate cells rapidly, healing even life-threatening wounds, but it required a massive amount of chakra.
Hence the creation of the Strength of a Hundred Seal, which allowed for an instantaneous surge of chakra, increasing the output while maintaining stability and precision.
With these two techniques, one was almost invincible.
And the Yin Seal was a sealing technique specifically designed to store chakra, passed down from the Uzumaki clan.
However, it was clear that Tsunade had not yet developed Creation Rebirth or the Strength of a Hundred Seal at this point; otherwise, she wouldn't be considering these ideas now.
"Of course, it's challenging," Tsunade remarked. "If we could pre-store ninjutsu, including the accumulation of chakra, we could heal severe injuries at critical moments."
"You see, many injuries require a tremendous amount of chakra to heal effectively, but often during treatment, we don't have the capacity to generate such powerful chakra bursts or maintain precise control."
As she spoke, a shadow crossed her face, recalling the loss of Dan in front of her.
For Shūichi, the concept of sealing ninjutsu had already diverged significantly from the Memory Palace itself. The Memory Palace technique had merely inspired Tsunade.
Even though he wasn't yet proficient in sealing techniques, Shūichi understood just how difficult it would be to achieve what Tsunade envisioned.
Noticing Tsunade's somber expression, Shūichi thought for a moment and said, "Lady Tsunade, your idea is truly remarkable, but I believe we could break it down into steps and tackle it piece by piece."
"First, we need to develop a sufficiently powerful medical ninjutsu. Yin Healing Wound Destruction is indeed impressive, but many injuries may not heal quickly enough, especially large open wounds or internal organ damage."
"So, our first priority should be to create a more powerful medical ninjutsu."
"Second, we'll need a sealing technique to construct a chakra pathway. Medical ninjutsu is different from other types of ninjutsu; it requires greater precision, stability, and a large chakra output. Therefore, a specialized technique must be developed to handle this."
"Lastly, we need to address the issue of massive chakra reserves. We should devise a method to store chakra that isn't immediately needed and release it when necessary."
Tsunade fell into deep thought after hearing this, then looked up at Shūichi. "Shūichi, your approach does seem more likely to succeed."
Finally, she stopped calling him "kid."
That simple change in address held a lot of significance.
Shūichi knew that his relationship with Tsunade had taken a step forward.
Which made sense—there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world, and he wasn't handsome enough to win people over on looks alone, especially considering he was just a six-year-old kid.
Now that he'd earned her recognition, Shūichi immediately smiled and said, "Since Lady Tsunade agrees, let's focus our efforts on these three areas!"
"Lady Tsunade, as the greatest medical ninja in the shinobi world, I'm confident you can achieve this."
Tsunade's mood lifted, and she hummed in agreement. "Of course."
"But I'll be the one doing the hard work. As for you... your sealing and medical ninjutsu skills are still lacking."
So harsh!
Shūichi put on a "hurt" expression. "Lady Tsunade, are you really just tossing me aside after I've helped you cross the river?"
"My skills may be unremarkable, but you can't deny that my ideas are unrestrained."
Feeling a bit guilty, Tsunade waved her hand dismissively. "Alright, alright!"
"You've definitely contributed a lot. If we succeed in developing this technique, you'll get your share of the credit."
"And also..."
She hesitated before adding, "If you need any help with medical ninjutsu, feel free to ask me!"
Shūichi was overjoyed and quickly bowed. "Thank you, Lady Tsunade!"
Tsunade waved him off and then said thoughtfully, "There's already a sealing technique for storing chakra—the Yin Seal, inherited from the Uzumaki clan."
Shūichi chimed in, "Was it passed down by Lady Mito?"
"It was indeed something my grandmother left behind."
Tsunade nodded. "Once I've fully mastered it, I'll teach it to you. For now, you can go—I need some quiet time to think about this new technique."
Having received this promise, Shūichi immediately took his leave to find Nonō Yakushi.
Sigh, the hospital director is still the kindest!
...
That evening, as Shūichi Hoshita returned to the orphanage with Nonō Yakushi, he bought two chickens on the way.
Back at the orphanage, he successfully swapped the eyes of the two chickens.
The Delicate Illness Extraction Technique was perfected!
And the chicken soup turned out to be very delicious.
For the next two days, Shūichi rested, spending from 9 AM to 4 PM at the Konoha Hospital with Nonō Yakushi to further familiarize himself with the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique.
Additionally, he practiced from 5 AM each morning, trained with Guy and the others after 4 PM, and continued to seek medical knowledge from Nonō Yakushi in the evenings.
Unfortunately, Kakashi was absent, so Shūichi missed out on a taijutsu showdown with him.
The two days passed quickly, and the team resumed their missions.
Whether it was escorting a merchant convoy, protecting a noble from the Land of Fire, border duty, or exchanging intelligence with other ninja villages or organizations, each mission was at least a C-rank.
Shūichi and his team's mission experience was rapidly increasing.
Time flew, and it was July before they knew it.
On this day, Minato Namikaze did not bring a new mission but rather three registration forms.
Minato smiled and said, "As your team leader, I've recommended you to participate in the Chūnin Exam."
"Finally, we're about to become a Chūnin!"
Kurama Sanyō was very excited and immediately reached out to take the registration form.
"Eh?"
Sanyō, who was handing the form to Shūichi, suddenly said, "By the way, if Shūichi passes the exam, that means he'll become a Chūnin at six years old, right?"
Minato and Uchiha Shisui both looked at Shūichi.
Shūichi was momentarily stunned.
His birthday was March 3rd, so by age calculation, he was indeed still six years old.
Kakashi's birthday was in September, and he wasn't even six yet!
So, if Shūichi passed, he would be the youngest Chūnin, surpassing Kakashi?
It was a bit thrilling to think about.
But would Kakashi be participating in the Chūnin Exams this year?
As he pondered, the tag tree in his mind started to stir.
Shūichi didn't check immediately and said, "My birthday is in March, so I'm still six years old. If no one younger than me passes the exam, then I would indeed become a Chūnin at six."
Minato was confident. "With your abilities, it's definitely not a problem."
Among the three, Shūichi was the youngest, having graduated less than six months ago, but his progress had been rapid, demonstrating full Chūnin-level strength.
"Fill out the registration forms and submit them to the Hokage Tower. The first written test will be in three days, so make sure not to be late."
Minato reminded them.
Shūichi and his team nodded in unison. "Understood!"
After the team disbanded and returned home, Shūichi Hoshita immediately checked the newly triggered tag in the tag tree.
Tag: Konoha Genius
Condition to Obtain: Become a Chūnin at the age of six, breaking the record for the youngest Chūnin in Konoha.
Effect: Increases comprehension by 50%.
"Whoa!"
An increase in comprehension! This isn't like the "Fire Release Expert" tag, which only enhances Fire Release abilities. This boosts overall comprehension across all areas.
"I have to get this!"
Shūichi's resolve hardened.
While the ranks of Genin, Chūnin, and Jōnin aren't the only indicators of strength, they are certainly based on it.
One might possess Chūnin-level strength but still fail the exam—for example, Uchiha Obito.
"The first written test shouldn't be a problem. As for the second round, the individual combat... is there anyone participating in the exam who could be stronger than Shisui?"
Shūichi evaluated himself.
Over the past two months, while his swordsmanship was still slightly behind Uchiha Shisui's, his superior mental processing speed and neural reflexes made him formidable in close combat, whether unarmed or with a sword.
Kurama Sanyō was no longer a match for him.
Even against Shisui, when not using the Body Flicker Technique, their sparring sessions were evenly matched.
Shisui had the edge in insight and attack speed, but Shūichi's reactions were faster.
However, quicker reactions don't necessarily mean faster attack speed. Speed in combat also depends on chakra, physical fitness, and technique.
Shisui's Body Flicker and Genjutsu were both significant threats to Shūichi.
In past sparring sessions, Shūichi had never been able to counter Shisui's Body Flicker. He could only rely on his quick reflexes to respond, but ultimately, he would still lose.
Of course, in the individual combat round, he likely wouldn't face someone from his own team.
"But I still need to be wary of Genjutsu users among the Genin."
Shūichi thought to himself.
He was familiar with Genjutsu, having trained with both Shisui and Kurama Sanyō. His experience in handling Genjutsu was extensive.
Detecting when he was under a Genjutsu and then dispelling it was crucial.
However, Genjutsu is often hard to guard against. Most of the time, it's difficult to realize you've been caught in a Genjutsu right away.
If you can't detect it immediately, it could be very dangerous.
When facing the Sharingan, dispelling the Genjutsu becomes even more challenging, often requiring assistance from others.
There's also the "Paralysis-type" Genjutsu, where you're fully aware you're under its influence, but you can't control your body.
For instance, the Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique—Orochimaru was taken down instantly by Uchiha Itachi with this move.
Then there's the Sage Art: Frog Song, an auditory-based paralysis Genjutsu.
"The Sharingan… I've gotten used to not making direct eye contact with Shisui during battles, but that doesn't guarantee safety. Not all Sharingan Genjutsu require direct eye contact to activate…"
Shūichi couldn't help but think of Danzō.
Orochimaru had joined the Anbu, and it wouldn't be surprising if he was already researching Wood Release.
Who knows if Danzō had already transplanted a Sharingan? In the original story, he used Izanagi when he ambushed Shisui.
"Izanagi is manageable—you might not die the first time, so just kill them a few more times."
"But Izanami... now that's a particularly troublesome technique, said to counter Izanagi by forcing the user to accept their fate."
"Isn't that basically forcing someone to accept their death without using Izanagi?"
"Who would want to accept that?"
Right now, the technique Shūichi feared the most was Izanami.
Would Danzō master both Izanagi and Izanami? Shūichi didn't know but decided it was better to be prepared.
Looking at the now-cursed Kabuto Yakushi, it wasn't something that could be fixed with a simple "I'm sorry." Under infinite loop scenarios, Kabuto might have been driven mad and forcibly brainwashed.
Its effects were comparable to the Tsukuyomi.
If Danzō used it, would Shūichi have to kneel and pledge his loyalty, becoming a mere tool in his schemes to become Hokage?
His thoughts wandered a bit too fast. Shūichi quickly refocused on himself.
With his powerful neural response speed, basic techniques like Fire Release, swordsmanship, and physical techniques, unless someone in the Chūnin exam was even more monstrous than Uchiha Shisui and him, defeat was unlikely.
Team battles were even less of a concern. With two members skilled in Genjutsu, combined with his Fire Release and close combat expertise, their advantage was significant.
Finally, Shūichi returned to his task, retrieving a scroll.
Sealing Technique—Memory Palace!
Over the past two months, he had thoroughly mastered this sealing technique, perfected by Minato Namikaze.
Today, he would complete this technique and acquire the Sealing Expert tag.
He took a large blank scroll and began drawing the seals.
About half an hour later, the seals were completed.
Shūichi set down his brush and sat cross-legged in the center of the scroll, surrounded by a dense array of drawn seals.
He then formed hand seals.
Twelve seals in total, and once completed, the seals on the scroll activated, resembling tadpoles as they rapidly crawled up Shūichi's body, eventually converging at the top of his head and vanishing into his scalp.
Memory Palace, achieved!
Shūichi immediately sensed a new sealing space in his mind.
Or rather, a Memory Space.
The Memory Palace was now as described.
The structure of the Memory Palace resembled the entire Konoha village.
Buildings within the village served as his storage for memories.
In addition to the buildings, there were individuals.
Kakashi, Might Guy, Asuma Sarutobi, Shizune, Shisui Uchiha, Obito Uchiha, Kurama Sanyō, and others.
These represented their abilities, habits, battle styles, and more.
Looking at his Memory Palace, Shūichi thought, "This Memory Palace is best suited for use in Genjutsu."
Yes, Genjutsu.
Or rather, a combination of Genjutsu and sealing techniques.
However, Shūichi hadn't had the chance to delve deeply into Genjutsu yet; it was still just a concept.
Shifting his focus from the Memory Palace, Shūichi looked at the tag tree.
Activate Sealing Expert!
Sealing techniques and seal/cursed related skills increased by 100%, memory enhanced by 100%.
Shūichi immediately felt a surge in his brain, as if it were electrified, with a brief moment of blankness.
Once everything settled, he got up and took another scroll.
Sealing Technique—Yin Seal!
This was the technique Tsunade had given him two days ago.
Undoubtedly, this technique was far more complex than the Memory Palace he had just used.
Previously, he had only skimmed through it and found it quite challenging, deciding to postpone further research until he had accumulated more knowledge in sealing techniques.
Now, however, he felt differently.
"Seems… it's not particularly difficult?"
"And indeed, I've gained a photographic memory."
Shūichi smiled.
Without a cheat, he had been praised by Minato Namikaze for his talent in sealing techniques. Now with a 100% increase, he wondered if he could compare to Minato, Tsunade, and the others.
"It looks like I need to seek their advice on sealing techniques more often…"
Stowing the scroll, Shūichi formed hand seals.
Boom!
A Shadow Clone was created and nodded to the original before leaving.
This Shadow Clone was to practice Wind Release chakra nature transformation.
Given his chakra, one Shadow Clone was ideal for sustained training.
After sending out a Shadow Clone to train in Wind Release chakra nature transformation, Shūichi Hoshita headed to the Konoha Hospital to continue his training under Yakushi Nonō.
Even with the Chūnin Exam approaching, his training schedule remained unaffected.
Three days passed in a flash.
On the morning of July 6th, Year 39 of Konoha, the first written test of the Chūnin Exam began at 9 AM.
Before heading out, Shūichi still made time to create a Shadow Clone for training.
He entered the exam hall with Shisui Uchiha and Kurama Sanyō, but even as the exam started, there was no sign of Kakashi.
It was clear that Kakashi wasn't participating in this Chūnin Exam.
Setting aside his thoughts, Shūichi focused on the test.
Ten minutes later, both he and Shisui submitted their papers simultaneously.
As they left the classroom, the two exchanged smiles. Shisui said, "Let's wait for Sanyō, and then we can train together afterward!"
Shūichi nodded, "That's exactly what I was thinking."
While waiting, Shūichi took the opportunity to ask Shisui for advice on Genjutsu.
Shisui, of course, answered all his questions but couldn't help but be curious, "Are you planning to develop your skills in Genjutsu, Shūichi?"
Shūichi smiled, "When it comes to countering Genjutsu, I think the best method is also Genjutsu."
Twenty minutes later, Kurama Sanyō emerged from the exam hall.
The three then headed to their training ground.
They practiced individual combat and team battle tactics until noon, when they parted ways.
For lunch, Shūichi joined Yakushi Nonō at the Konoha Hospital.
"The test this morning was no problem for you, right, Shūichi?"
Nonō, who wore glasses, gently placed her beef onto Shūichi's plate.
Shūichi ate it in one big bite, smiling, "Of course not."
"Tomorrow and the day after won't be an issue either."
"Director, I've almost mastered the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique. Can I start learning another medical ninjutsu?"
With his high level of concentration, he had a significant advantage in medical ninjutsu.
Even a 100% focus is hard for most people to maintain for long periods, but Shūichi could do it as long as his physical and mental stamina held out.
Nonō listened with a mix of fondness and mild exasperation, "Shūichi, you're usually so steady, but sometimes you're too impatient. Even though you've grasped this technique, there's still plenty of room for improvement."
Shūichi couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated. The Medical Expert tag required him to master at least five medical ninjutsu, all at C-rank or higher.
And apart from the basic Healing Technique, which is C-rank, none of the others are simple.
Mystical Palm Technique is A-rank, Delicate Illness Extraction Technique is B-rank, Yin Healing Wound Destruction is A-rank, and Chakra Scalpel is A-rank.
He had to practice on countless small animals before he could master the Mystical Palm Technique and the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique.
Without his high concentration, quick reflexes, and strong memory, it would have taken him several times longer to master these techniques.
And even now, he was only proficient, not yet at the level of mastery.
But being proficient was enough for now. Once he earned the Medical Expert tag, his talent would increase, making further improvement much faster.
What might take an average person years to learn could take a genius only a month.
Though Nonō voiced some complaints, she added, "You can start learning Yin Healing Wound Destruction next."
"Thank you, Director!"
Shūichi leaned over and gave Nonō a quick peck on the cheek.
A six-year-old kid acting cute—totally reasonable, right?
Yakushi Nonō didn't mind getting a bit greasy from the kiss. She smiled gently and said, "I hope Shūichi can come back safely from every mission."
Shūichi Hoshita confidently reassured her, "Don't worry, I wouldn't leave you behind, Director!"
On the other side of the room, Tsunade, who was also eating, observed the scene and couldn't help but smirk. "What a sly little fox!"
This kid acted completely differently in front of Yakushi Nonō compared to how he behaved around her.
In the afternoon, Shūichi Hoshita officially began training in Yin Healing Wound Destruction.
This medical ninjutsu is crucial for predicting where the enemy will strike and gathering chakra at that spot before the attack lands. Once hit, the jutsu activates and heals the wound instantly.
Unquestionably, having quick reflexes is a significant advantage.
In complex battle situations, if an attack is too difficult for Shūichi to fully avoid or block, his fast reflexes help him predict the strike point.
So, despite being an A-rank medical ninjutsu, the difficulty of mastering it might actually be less than that of the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique.
Of course, this is all relative.
To become proficient in this jutsu, he needed a training partner to act as the attacker.
That afternoon, Yakushi Nonō created a Shadow Clone to spar with Shūichi at the training ground beside Konoha Hospital.
But at some point, Tsunade appeared at the edge of the training ground.
"Nonō, let me take over. Your attacks aren't challenging enough for him."
Tsunade's sudden voice interrupted their training.
Seeing Tsunade, Shūichi suddenly had a bad feeling.
Yakushi Nonō, however, was delighted. She quickly bowed in gratitude, "Thank you, Lady Tsunade!"
"Shūichi, go ahead and thank Lady Tsunade!"
Shūichi bowed, "Thank you, Lady Tsunade!"
Looking at the well-behaved Shūichi, Tsunade smiled, "Don't worry, I'll train him well!"
"Then I'll leave him in your care!"
Yakushi Nonō bowed again before releasing her Shadow Clone.
Tsunade lowered her arms from her chest and gave Shūichi a smirk, "Ready?"
Shūichi could feel the intense pressure and immediately shifted into 100% focus mode. "Ready!"
Whoosh!
In a flash, Tsunade was in front of Shūichi, flicking her finger straight at his forehead.
"So fast!"
Aside from Minato Namikaze and that one elite Jōnin he met at the Daimyo's estate, Shūichi hadn't encountered anyone with such speed since graduating.
Luckily, his reflexes were sharp enough for him to lean his head back and avoid the flick.
But Tsunade's hand quickly changed course, aiming to grab Shūichi by the neck.
Shūichi immediately stepped back.
"Quick reflexes!"
Tsunade huffed. Letting a little brat dodge her attack was a bit frustrating.
She struck with a kick!
A punch!
The ground exploded, leaving deep craters all over the training ground.
Shūichi dodged with all his might, and when he finally managed to distance himself, he couldn't help but gulp at the sight of the craters.
If he got hit, could his small body take it?
"Not even thirty yet and already going through early menopause?"
Shūichi couldn't help but grumble to himself.
Across from him, Tsunade shouted, "Don't forget the purpose of your training."
This kid's reflexes were incredibly fast—almost on par with some Jōnin.
Tsunade was secretly impressed, then launched another quick attack using the Body Flicker Technique.
As Shūichi dodged, he replied, "Lady Tsunade, of course, I haven't forgotten the purpose of the training."
"If you're not forced into a corner, Yin Healing Wound Destruction is pointless."
Tsunade grunted, "Then get ready!"
It seemed she needed to take this more seriously.
Tsunade immediately increased the frequency of her attacks, while also holding back on her strength to conserve energy.
Around 4 p.m., Shūichi Hoshita limped away from the training ground beside Konoha Hospital, grimacing in pain.
It hurts! It hurts so much!
He had taken more than a dozen hits from Tsunade.
That woman could really hit hard, and she was downright ruthless. She waited until his mental and physical stamina were drained, his reactions slowed, and then she went all out on him.
Aside from his face, he had bruises and welts all over his body.
"When I grow up, I'll definitely get even!" Shūichi vowed silently as he popped a soldier pill into his mouth.
Back at the training ground, Tsunade watched Shūichi limp away and couldn't help but smile, feeling completely refreshed.
"Beating someone up is actually pretty satisfying?"
"But was I too harsh?"
"No way. I'm helping this brat with his training."
Tsunade muttered to herself, then decided, "We'll continue tomorrow!"
…
By the time Shūichi arrived at his usual training spot near the Ninja Academy, most of the bruises and welts on his body had already faded. This was thanks to a combination of medical ninjutsu and his own enhanced recovery abilities from the tags he unlocked.
"Huh, Kakashi!"
Shūichi spotted Kakashi standing on the edge of a cliff, gazing at the sun as it slowly sank toward the western horizon. He immediately walked over.
"Kakashi, why didn't you sign up for the Chūnin Exams?"
Shūichi asked as he sat down beside him.
Without turning his head, Kakashi replied, "Our squad leader, Akiyama Sensei, thinks we've only just graduated, so he didn't recommend us."
Sarutobi Akiyama, a Jōnin from the Sarutobi clan and Kakashi's team leader—Shūichi had met him a couple of times before.
"Well, since we can't face off during the exams, how about we have a taijutsu match right now, Kakashi?"
Shūichi suggested with a grin.
Before today, he had already beaten Kakashi in taijutsu 12 times.
Kakashi turned to him, "Instead of just taijutsu, I'd prefer a full-scale match!"
Shūichi chuckled, "Of course, but let's warm up with a taijutsu match first!"
"Then let's not waste any time. Let's begin!"
With that, Kakashi leaped up, and the fight began.
With his superior strength, stamina, battle experience, and quicker reflexes, Shūichi easily won the taijutsu match again.
After recovering their strength, the two started a second battle.
This time, there were no restrictions—everything was allowed.
Taijutsu, kenjutsu, ninjutsu, genjutsu—Kakashi used every technique he had, but he still found himself at a disadvantage.
"Shūichi's kenjutsu has improved so much since last time…"
As their swords clashed repeatedly, Kakashi's relentless attacks were completely countered by Shūichi. Every counterattack from Shūichi disrupted Kakashi's rhythm, putting him in dangerous situations.
Just over a month ago, when Kakashi had been Shūichi's sparring partner, Shūichi's kenjutsu hadn't been nearly this advanced.
The amount of progress he'd made in just one month was incredible!
...
Suddenly, Shūichi Hoshita retreated a short distance and then raised one hand, creating two shadow clones. The three Shūichi's then simultaneously attacked Kakashi from three different directions.
"Shadow Clones, Konoha-style Kenjutsu: Secret Technique, Dance of the Crescent Moon!"
As Kakashi watched the three Shūichi's charge at him, he quickly assessed the situation, immediately pulling out a kunai with his left hand.
But Shūichi's speed was too fast; Kakashi didn't have time to use shadow clones to distribute the attacks.
Clang!
Kakashi managed to block the attacks coming from the left and right, but the Shūichi attacking from the center effortlessly avoided his kick and placed his blade against Kakashi's neck.
The battle was over.
As they sheathed their weapons and sat down to rest, Kakashi couldn't help but remark, "Your kenjutsu has improved so quickly."
Shūichi shook his head, "It's because my reactions are faster, and I'm quicker overall. Pure kenjutsu skill-wise, I'm still behind you."
His kenjutsu had indeed improved rapidly, largely thanks to the "Ninja Tool Expert" tag, which enhanced his talent with ninja tools, and swords were a type of ninja tool.
However, he hadn't surpassed Kakashi in just a few months; it was primarily due to his focus and faster neural responses.
But Kakashi countered, "Speed is part of kenjutsu too."
Hearing this, Shūichi didn't offer any further reassurances.
Instead, he said, "I've heard that the Cloud Ninja have a Lightning Release secret technique that activates their muscles and nerves, making them faster and improving their reaction time."
"I wonder if we have such a secret technique in Konoha."
Kakashi pondered this for a moment.
Shūichi then smiled and said, "Kakashi, I've thought of a relatively safe way to train our speed and reaction time."
Kakashi quickly asked, "What method?"
"You'll find out soon!"
With that, Shūichi descended from the cliff.
At that moment, Shizune, Guy, and the others arrived. Shūichi greeted them with a smile, "Perfect timing! The more people, the better this will work."
Soon, Shūichi led Shizune and the others to the riverbank, where they started rolling mud balls.
After everyone had made a dozen or so mud balls, Shūichi finally explained, "From now on, these mud balls are shuriken and kunai. Kakashi, your task is to dodge the mud ball attacks."
Everyone immediately understood.
Sarutobi Asuma commented, "It's actually a great training method. Using mud balls instead of kunai and shuriken reduces the danger of training."
Shizune and the others nodded in agreement.
This training method was actually quite common.
For example, Minato Namikaze had set up traps in the forest to ambush Shūichi and the others with shuriken and other hidden weapons. One of the goals was to train their speed and reaction time.
Now, Shūichi was simply replacing the kunai and shuriken with mud balls and the traps with people.
And so, the mud ball training began.
Starting with Kakashi, Shizune, Kurenai, and Guy all took turns dodging the mud ball attacks, getting splattered with mud spots, while laughter echoed in the setting sun.
...
The next day.
At 9 a.m., in the indoor examination hall, the Genin participating in the Chūnin Exams gathered together, a total of 36 people.
At 9:10, the second round officially began.
After watching four matches in a row, Shūichi had a good grasp of the situation.
Most of the Genin relied primarily on taijutsu, with ninjutsu being used only at critical moments.
Of course, anyone who made it to the exams wasn't weak, but compared to Uchiha Shisui, they still had a long way to go.
In the sixth match, Uchiha Shisui took the stage. His opponent was a Genin from the Sarutobi clan, whom Shisui defeated effortlessly.
In the tenth match, Kurama Sanyō stepped up but had bad luck; his opponent was a Genin from the Hyūga clan, and he lost.
In the eleventh match, the examiner announced, "Shūichi Hoshita versus Yūjin Uchiha!"
An Uchiha!
Shūichi was slightly surprised, but then he heard Shisui and Sanyō cheering him on.
Nodding to them, Shūichi stepped into the arena.
Across from him stood a boy about ten years old, carrying a sword on his back.
The examiner glanced at both of them and then retreated, "Begin!"
Shūichi immediately raised one hand and created two shadow clones, then all three of them drew their swords and charged at full speed.
"So fast!"
Yūjin Uchiha was startled, his initial disdain vanishing instantly. His black eyes quickly turned crimson, revealing the Sharingan, and he swiftly threw three shuriken with his left hand.
Shūichi easily deflected them.
But Yūjin soon realized he couldn't use his Sharingan to cast genjutsu, as Shūichi had avoided making eye contact with him the entire time.
"This guy learned that from Shisui…"
Yūjin was furious, but before he could react, Shūichi's attack was upon him.
Clang!
Yūjin blocked two of Shūichi's strikes with his sword and kunai, but he couldn't stop Shūichi's real body, and could only watch as the sword was placed against his neck.
Defeated in one move!
The examiner immediately announced, "Shūichi Hoshita wins!"
As the shadow clones dissipated, Shūichi sheathed his sword.
Yūjin Uchiha snorted, glancing at Shisui in the stands before leaving with a scowl.
Being defeated by a kid so much younger than himself in a single move was utterly humiliating!