The memories of practicing medical ninjutsu flooded Kei's mind.
He quickly mastered various medical jutsu such as Mystical Palm Technique, Yin Healing Wound Destruction, Delicate Illness Extraction Technique, Healing Resuscitation Regeneration Technique, and Chakra Scalpel.
Originally, when he acquired the [Water Release Mastery], he had already been highly proficient in medical Water Release techniques. Now, he reviewed them once again.
"Chakra scalpel… It feels more precise than Water Scorpion…"
He clapped his hands together, skipping the tedious hand seal steps.
A thin, delicate layer of pale blue chakra rapidly condensed around his hands, forming an extremely fine chakra scalpel. With his mental control, he continuously adjusted the length of the blade tip.
Unlike the stronger cutting power of Water Release: Water Scorpion, the chakra scalpel required a much higher level of chakra precision, shifting its effect in a completely different direction.
A medical-nin who could fully control the chakra scalpel could even create a blade that bypassed the skin entirely, directly targeting muscles, meridians, and internal organs.
Of course, this kind of "bug-level" ninjutsu wasn't without its flaws. The more precise the chakra control, the harder it became to maintain the scalpel at a distance from the body.
In the original story, Kabuto once used this technique to sever Tsunade's arm and leg muscles to prevent her from using her Chakra Enhanced Strength.
However, due to limitations in chakra control, his scalpel's reach was short and couldn't directly sever her heart vessels in one strike.
"...Or maybe she just has too much fat?" Kei glanced at the nearly ten-centimeter-long, thin chakra scalpel in his hands.
After silently estimating the size of Tsunade's chest, he couldn't help but sympathize with Kabuto for a moment. It wasn't that he wasn't strong enough. It was just that his opponent's "armor" was too thick—no one could cut through that!
He knew that with [Zero-Frame Start] boosting his chakra control, he was among the top-tier in the entire ninja world.
Even if [Medicated Milk] was only a green-tier trait, his control over the chakra scalpel far surpassed 99% of Konoha's medical-nin. And yet, even with his superior control, his chakra scalpel could only extend close to ten centimeters.
In the heat of battle, the blade would be even shorter.
It would be fine against mid-tier kunoichi like early Shippuden Sakura, Kurotsuchi, Karin, or Karui. But if he had to face naturally gifted opponents like Tsunade, Samui, or Mei, it was better to be realistic and switch to another jutsu.
"What does 'mild positive side effects' even mean?" Kei read the detailed description of a status effect. After thinking for a moment, he dismissed his chakra scalpel.
He clapped his hands together again and used the most frequently applied medical ninjutsu—Mystical Palm Technique.
"Hiss—!"
The moment the pale green chakra touched his arm, he sharply inhaled and quickly pulled his hand away. It felt like stepping into an air-conditioned room in the peak of summer—refreshing to the core!
Glancing at the fine hairs standing up on his arm, he placed his palm back onto his skin. This time, instead of the previous sensation, it felt like… soaking in a hot spring?
No—better than a hot spring! Incredibly comfortable! He even felt more energized.
What was this? A ninjutsu-based stimulant?!
"This actually feels kind of nice… Wait, is the effect getting stronger over time? That's interes—oh, crap—"
A shiver ran through Kei, and he quickly removed his hand again.
Staring at the green glow on his palm, his expression twisted into one of pure disbelief.
Just now… Had he just… touched something unclean?!
His expression shifted several times before he hastily dispelled the Mystical Palm Technique. He made up his mind—unless absolutely necessary, he would never use medical ninjutsu on others.
If he did… It would ruin their reputation! If he hadn't already used up his chance to remove this trait upon activation, he would have deleted it on the spot!
With a complicated and indescribable expression, Kei wiped his face and headed straight to bed.
---
The next day at 11 AM, Kei, accompanied by the now officially retired Musai, walked out of the Raikage Building.
In Kumo, where strength was worshipped and the strong were revered, few ninjas chose to retire unless they suffered from an incurable injury or illness. As a result, the retirement process in Kumo was much simpler compared to Konoha, which required multiple reviews, approvals, and even assigned personnel to persuade the ninja otherwise.
In contrast, at 8:30 AM, they completed the retirement application. By 9:00 AM, the Third Raikage simply approved it with one word: Approved.
And by 9:30 AM, they returned the ninja headbands that were initially issued to them, and their active-duty records were officially revoked.
Kei and Musai used the remaining time to lease a piece of land on the eastern side of Kumo. Though the area was rather barren, it had flat terrain and convenient transportation.
Since they were only leasing it for two years, the accumulated savings from Musai's previous life as a ninja—nearly thirty years' worth—was only half spent. The remaining money was more than enough to build shelters, buy feed, and purchase calves and piglets.
The moment Musai handed back his ninja headband, he initially felt a bit lost. However, as soon as he got the land lease contract in his hands, all that melancholy vanished.
The life of a farm owner—just imagining it made him eager with excitement.
Genin? Those would just be his farmhands!
"Once the farm is up and running, I'm going to take on a few missions and specifically request my old teammates to do them!"
Holding the land lease contract, he grinned from ear to ear.
Kei's eyes casually glanced to the side, noticing a figure passing through the street—Nonō, who "accidentally" dropped a book on the ground.
The book was titled Ripple. This was the emergency signal originally used in mission scrolls for urgent communication. If this signal was used, it meant Kumo's situation or rather, Nonō's circumstances had reached an extremely critical moment.
"Go on, go say goodbye to your teammates."
Kei smacked Musai on the back of his head, then nodded toward two teenage girls at the street corner who were waving at Musai.
"Hehe~ Dad, I won't be coming home for lunch then!" Musai chuckled, calling out as he ran toward his teammates.
"Suit yourself." Kei smirked helplessly before vanishing with a body flicker.
At the same time, his right hand—tucked inside his pocket—silently formed a one-handed seal, hidden within the chakra fluctuations of the jutsu.
With his current mastery of Yin Release, unless someone was actively using a sensory technique to watch him, no ordinary ninja would be able to detect these subtle chakra disturbances hidden within his Body Flicker.
What happened? Kei's voice echoed in Nonō's mind.
At last night's high-level meeting, Kumo decided to declare war on Kiri. Our mission is complete. At the same time, early this morning, the village began a strict internal investigation to root out all spies hiding within Kumo. My cover won't hold under scrutiny—I need to leave immediately. Are you coming with me?
Nonō's voice was unnervingly steady.
As a renowned veteran spy in the ninja world, she knew all too well that in crucial moments like these, panic was the enemy. The moment one lost their composure, their fate was sealed.
Kumo has already sealed its borders. Are you sure you can escape? Kei raised an eyebrow.
I have about a 70% chance.
70%? Then it's no different from having no chance at all.
"..." Nonō's eyelids twitched.
Spying was always an incredibly risky business. Now that the entire village was on lockdown, most spies would either be resigning themselves to fate or taking their own lives.
Having a 70% chance of escaping was already an extremely high probability!
Would you mind taking a nap? Kei landed in a secluded alleyway and transmitted the route to Nonō's mind.
On you?
"???" Kei was confused and was about to ask what she meant.
But before he could say anything, Nonō's voice rang out again.
How confident are you in escaping safely?
100%.
... Next time you try to lie to a girl, at least lower the number a little. It'd be more believable. Also, maybe fix that messy, greasy look of yours.
"???"
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100 Advance chapters!
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