Chapter 162 : Healing Touch

The sight of hundreds of Senju ninjas lying on stretchers, weakened and exhausted, left Koharu feeling utterly disheartened as she prepared to rest.

Senju Ninja held a pivotal position in Konoha's army. With the looming threat of a Sand Ninja attack, anxiety gnawed at her. What course of action should she take?

Yet, the seemingly wise but stubborn woman failed to perceive that the Sand Shinobi were not entirely set on hostility towards Konoha. Their interactions were more like a subtle dance performance, rather than an outright act of aggression.

If the Sand Ninja were truly ruthless, they would have already launched a full-fledged assault.

Konoha's forces had expertly concealed themselves amidst the vegetation, meticulously fortifying their defensive lines, constructing traps, and reinforcing their positions with Earth-style jutsu, which perplexed their Sand counterparts.

Amidst this growing uncertainty, a figure emerged from the shadows—Takeshi.

"Hey, doesn't this poison seem familiar?"

"What?" Tsushima, his superior, quizzically responded.

"Well, my family conducted extensive medical research prior to our arrival in Konoha. This poison resembles a common desert toxin, not uncommon in this region."

Takeshi spoke with apparent seriousness, pretending to inspect a Senju ninja.

"Hey, kid, you..."

A ninja moved to intervene but halted upon realizing Takeshi wore Anbu attire.

Legend has it that there was a young Anbu agent who was not only formidable but also possessed medical prowess rivalling that of a seasoned medic-nin.

"It's you? What are you up to?"

At that moment, Koharu arrived alongside Tsunade and a group of medical ninjas, coincidentally crossing paths.

As she glanced over, Koharu readily recognized an erstwhile nominal pupil. Her sentiments toward Takeshi were neither prejudiced nor particularly warm.

"Koharu-sama, this poison appears to be a local variety, possibly within my capabilities to counteract," Takeshi swiftly responded.

"Oh?"

Koharu refrained from speaking, as a medical ninja interjected, "Boy, these toxins are baffling us all. It's best not to complicate matters."

"Orochimaru, can you truly address this?" Tsunade inquired, her gaze fixed on Takeshi with an air of urgency.

"I believe I can."

Standing up, Koharu agreed to permit Takeshi, a semi-outcast, to attempt a solution.

Takeshi meticulously gathered various medicinal ingredients from the medical room, supplementing them with items from a scroll he carried, embarking on thorough research.

Observing Takeshi's dexterous handling, Koharu found herself trusting his expertise to some degree.

In his previous life, Takeshi's parents were involved in commerce, while his grandfather directed a prominent hospital and his grandmother held a position of authority there. From a young age, he aspired to mold Takeshi into a doctor.

Though Takeshi didn't pursue this path, he had absorbed considerable knowledge throughout his upbringing. Coupled with his potent spiritual power, he recalled myriad facts from his previous life.

Indeed, one's memories comprised a vast reservoir of knowledge, provided they could be recalled in their entirety. Leveraging these memories, Takeshi's previous medical accomplishments and innovations had astounded Koharu. Thus, she held high expectations.

Pair this with the liberated Orochimaru persona, and their collaborative studies had propelled Takeshi's abilities to unprecedented heights.

Before long, Takeshi "successfully" prepared an antidote—a patch to be affixed to a patient's abdomen and dissolved with chakra.

Naturally, Takeshi capitalized on this opportunity to consume the Senju clan's blood, ensuring the individual's awakening of Wood Release remained forever out of reach.

Eyes widened, the ninja rose abruptly, rushing to the nearest restroom before astonished onlookers.

Takeshi couldn't employ the blood-absorption method if he made an antidote pill. Instead, he opted for a more intricate approach requiring "detoxification" one by one.

Following a meal, a Senju clan member returned, displaying signs of significant recovery.

"A genuine success!"

The achievement impressed everyone, solidifying Takeshi's reputation as a medical ninja. Nonetheless, the medical ninjas bore strained expressions.

Takeshi didn't exude arrogance; he understood that opportunities were rare. Thus, he procured another batch of medicinal stickers to aid the next Senju ninja.

"Allow me to assist you!"

An awkward atmosphere pervaded as Tsunade offered her help, only to be sternly rebuffed by Takeshi.

"This requires a specialized technique. Are you familiar with traditional Chinese medicine?"

Jokes aside, it was no simple task to absorb even a smidgen of power.

Just lie down for me. Once I awaken the formidable Wood Release, I might consider aiding you with something when I'm in a good mood. Perhaps I'll even grant you the satisfaction of pretending to fly, so off you go!

"Traditional Chinese medicine? What's that?"

The attending medical ninjas were flabbergasted.

"Don't cause a ruckus."

Takeshi's wicked hands roamed over the struggling ninjas' bodies, extracting their blood. He sensed dormant energies within his own body surging, gradually reaching a threshold.

At this level, Takeshi realized his chakra had expanded, and his physical attributes had improved. A dose of Gelel Stones would nudge him closer to mastering wood release.

His contentment was based on the suffering of more than hundreds of Senju ninjas.

"Enough!"

Tsunade's unvoiced anger simmered as Takeshi continued to ignore her, eventually departing.

"Hmm, done!"

Takeshi wiped his brow, harnessing every ounce of strength. No one lay on the bed anymore. The space was now crowded with people both inside and outside the restroom, an atmosphere teeming with tension.

"Great work, Orochimaru. I won't forget this," Koharu commended, acknowledging Takeshi's role in "resolving" the crisis.

"It's my duty," Takeshi replied sincerely, each party receiving their due. Well, mainly him.

Contemplating the situation, Koharu added, "Orochimaru, your family seems to possess unique medical insights, like the adhesive patch earlier, unfamiliar to me. Your aptitude for detoxification is impressive as well. Homura is currently poisoned. Could you perhaps assist him?"

"Homura-sama?" Takeshi's brow furrowed slightly. Koharu was clearly setting a trap!

Takeshi had no prior experience with such cases, rendering him unsure of his capabilities. He wasn't a true medic-nin. His expertise leaned more toward research than life-saving. Nonetheless, his collection of remedies was extensive, though nowhere near Koharu's level.

While Takeshi couldn't cure himself, Koharu's enigmatic proposal held a certain appeal. Yet, embarking on this journey carried a weighty responsibility. If something went awry, Takeshi would shoulder the blame and potentially tarnish his reputation.

Ultimately, Takeshi wasn't particularly concerned with fame. Strength was paramount. But Koharu's intent was clear. These future Konoha elders, Koharu and Homura, were harbingers of chaos, instigators of turmoil echoing down through history.

As he pondered, Takeshi realized that in the future, these two would overshadow the Hokage trio—Tsunade, Kakashi, and Naruto. Such a scenario was inevitable, given their insatiable thirst for power.

Even Takeshi couldn't afford to be indifferent, for what if he wished to become Hokage in the future? Wouldn't they suppress him?

In the end, if he couldn't suppress them, why not manipulate their influence to his advantage?

Envisioning such possibilities, Takeshi's eyes narrowed, a sweet smile adorning his lips.

"I'm more than willing to give it a shot!"