Chapter 71: New Classmate

The next day, Shinji received Iruka's message, finished the morning classes at the Ninja School, and rushed to Konoha Hospital after lunch.

"Uchiha Shinji reporting," he said.

After locating the medical ninja assigned to guide him, Shinji stepped forward and bowed. The other party, a female ninja in her twenties with long hair tied up, looked very capable.

She frowned slightly. "You're Uchiha Shinji. How old are you?"

"Eight years old!"

"Eight years old!?" She shook her head, amused. "The village is too chaotic. Why send an eight-year-old child to me?"

Shinji smiled confidently. "Because I am a genius!"

"Genius?" She was surprised, then composed herself. "My name is Kusa Kaoru, and I am your instructor."

Shinji saluted with a smile. "Teacher Kusa."

Kusa Kaoru handed him a book. "Finish reading this book first, then come to me."

Shinji took the book and glanced at the cover: "Human Structure Atlas." Without another word, he left silently.

Kusa Kaoru was taken aback by Shinji's abrupt departure. She had prepared words to lecture him but held back, muttering, "I want to see how talented you are!"

After leaving Konoha Hospital, Shinji didn't return to his apartment but headed to the archives.

He understood that Kusa Kaoru intended to challenge him, but mastering medical ninjutsu required mastering basics like the "Human Structure Atlas."

So he studied "Human Structure Atlas" diligently and borrowed all available books on medical ninjutsu from the archives.

A week later, Shinji returned to Konoha Hospital with "Human Structure Atlas" in hand and sought out Kaoru Kusa. "Teacher Kusa, I have finished reading this book."

Kaoru Kusa was stunned to see Shinji.

Thinking Shinji had given up, she tested him with questions from the book. To her surprise, Shinji answered them fluently.

She handed him another book from her drawer. "Finish this one."

Shinji looked at the cover: "Hematology." He smiled. "Teacher Kusanagi, I've finished this one too."

Kaoru Kusa's expression froze. She pulled out another book, "Chakra and Muscle Tissue."

Shinji spoke before she could. "I've read that too."

Kaoru Kusa tested him on the contents of these books and found Shinji answered everything fluently.

"When did you read these books?" she asked, full of doubt.

"Just these few days." Shinji pointed to the books behind him. "Apart from 'Human Structure Atlas,' I borrowed the rest from the archives and learned a lot."

Kaoru Kusa suppressed her surprise. "You can't master medical ninjutsu through rote memorization. Come with me."

With that, Kaoru Kusa led Shinji to the laboratory.

She picked up a live fish from a nearby pool and gently cut its belly with a scalpel. The fish, previously lively, wilted instantly.

Then, forming a seal, Kaoru Kusa used the "Palm Immortal Technique" to press gently on the fish's belly. The cut healed instantly, and the fish sprang back to life.

"Do you see?" she asked. "This is the basic medical ninjutsu, the 'Palm Sage Technique.' Beginners need hand seals, but proficient ninjas won't. Remember these seals, practice well, and return if you can't master it in a month."

Kaoru Kusa's voice faltered as she saw Shinji meticulously forming hand seals, green chakra enveloping his palm.

Shinji looked at her. "Teacher Kusa, like this?"

Kaoru Kusa muttered, "Not bad, not bad."

Shinji looked at the live fish on the bench, turned to Kaoru Kusa, and asked, "May I try?"

Kaoru Kusa nodded, stepping aside.

Shinji imitated Kaoru Kusa, making a shallow cut on the fish's belly with a scalpel, then activated the "Palm Sage Technique" and approached.

Feeling the interaction of chakra with the fish's surface, Shinji realized the essence of medical ninjutsu wasn't just treatment but infusing Yang attribute chakra into the injured to heal themselves.

"No," he thought. "If it were just infusing Yang attribute chakra, medical ninjas wouldn't need to study human anatomy."

He soon understood that infusing Yang attribute chakra was the basic treatment method.

So he stopped, pointed the scalpel at the fish, and asked Kaoru Kusa, "Teacher Kusa, is this right?"

Kaoru Kusa didn't fully understand Shinji's intentions but nodded as she saw him quickly master the "Palm Sage Technique."

Snap. Shinji severed the fish's head as if cooking.

Kaoru Kusa was stunned.

As the fish twitched, Shinji swiftly reattached its head and body, then applied the "Palm Sage Technique" to the severed end.

This time, he manipulated chakra, leading the wound's healing.

"Prioritize the trachea or blood vessels? Is this the gill? Fish bones heal slower than muscle tissue."

He pondered and experimented.

Soon, the fish's head and body were reconnected, though lifeless.

Shinji sighed. "If I were faster, maybe it could have been saved."

Glancing at the pool, he asked Kaoru Kusa, "Teacher Kusanagi, may I try again?"

"Uh, fine."

Ninja School.

Mizuki led a white-haired boy to Naruto and Sasuke's class. "Everyone, meet your new classmate, Kimimaro. He joins your class today."

"He has white hair!"

"He's so tall!"

"Is he cooler than Sasuke?"

The audience buzzed with excitement.

Sasuke glanced at Kimimaro, then looked away.

Among his peers, only Shinji and Neji caught his eye; others he simply dismissed.

Kimimaro approached Sasuke with an indifferent expression. "Are you Uchiha Sasuke? I challenge you!"

End of chapter.