257

The air in Sakumo's home felt warm, almost serene, a stark contrast to the intensity of the sparring earlier. Dinner was simple—steamed rice, grilled fish, and vegetables—but there was something comforting about it. Haruto sat at the table with Kakashi and Sakumo, appreciating the rare sense of calm that came after a day of training. It wasn't often that shinobi could sit down like this and just enjoy a peaceful meal without the weight of missions or the next battle hanging over them.

The sound of chopsticks clicking softly against bowls was the only sound in the room for a while. Haruto glanced up at Kakashi, who was quietly focused on his food, his expression as composed as ever. But Haruto could tell Kakashi had changed since their academy days. There was a certain weight to him now, a kind of quiet intensity that hadn't been there before. He wasn't just the rival Haruto used to know—there was something more mature, more focused about him.

Sakumo leaned back slightly in his seat, his usual composed demeanor softened by the casual atmosphere. "Good to have these moments, isn't it?" he said, smiling warmly.

Haruto nodded, taking a bite of fish. "Yeah, it's nice to sit down and eat something that doesn't come from a food stand for once."

For a second, Haruto thought Kakashi might stay silent as usual, but he noticed the slightest upward twitch in Kakashi's lips—his version of a grin, perhaps. Haruto smirked back, knowing Kakashi's subtle reaction meant he agreed, even if he didn't say it outright.

Sakumo chuckled quietly. "You two should try to do this more often—take a moment to just enjoy the quieter things. It's not all about missions and training, you know."

Haruto glanced at Kakashi, whose chopsticks had paused mid-air. Haruto grinned slightly. "Sure, but I bet Kakashi's already thinking of a way to beat me next time we spar."

Kakashi, still focused on his rice, spoke in that flat, calm tone. "I don't need to think. You've got plenty of tells."

Haruto chuckled. "We'll see about that."

Sakumo smiled, clearly enjoying the light banter between them. The conversation didn't get much deeper after that, but that was the beauty of it. They didn't need to talk about missions or shinobi life. It was just a quiet evening, sharing a meal, and Haruto let himself fully relax in the moment. He could feel the day's tension easing away as he focused on the simple act of eating and being in good company.

As the meal wrapped up, Haruto thanked Sakumo and Kakashi before heading home. The peaceful atmosphere of the evening still lingered with him as he entered his own place. But the moment he closed the door, his mind began racing again. He created a shadow clone to continue his fuinjutsu studies while his thoughts drifted back to the spar with Kakashi. The way Kakashi moved—so fast, so precise—had reignited something in Haruto. He wanted to refine his own skills further, especially his Thunder Scalpel.

It had been a long journey to perfect that jutsu, but now he wanted more. What if he could extend its range? Turn it into something that could strike from a distance? But to develop something new, he needed more inspiration, more techniques to build from. He had heard about the Merit Room, a place where advanced jutsu were kept, only accessible through trade. Maybe, if he was smart about it, he could trade his Thunder Scalpel for something that would help him grow.

The next morning, Haruto made his way to the mission hall and into the Merit Room. It wasn't crowded, but there was a Jonin standing at the entrance, his posture straight and official. Haruto walked up confidently, but the Jonin barely glanced at him before speaking.

"Yeah, what do you want, kid?" the Jonin asked, his voice flat and disinterested.

Haruto kept his tone steady. "I've got a jutsu to trade."

The Jonin sighed, clearly unimpressed. "Alright, we need to see a demonstration. Pick a target."

Before Haruto could choose, another, older shinobi entered the room. The Jonin immediately shifted his attention to the newcomer.

"Got a new jutsu," the older ninja announced, and the Jonin seemed far more interested in him than in Haruto. The two disappeared into a private room, leaving Haruto standing there, waiting.

Haruto clenched his jaw in frustration. He tapped his foot, feeling the minutes stretch on. Finally, after what felt like an hour, the Jonin returned, looking slightly deflated.

"C-rank," the Jonin muttered, clearly disappointed as the older shinobi left, grinning.

Sakumo said Jonin who completed successful trades for new jutsu for the village got merits, especially A or S ranks jutsu.

Haruto inwardly reflected "There was no way in hell this guy was getting a merit for his jutsu,"

The Jonin finished the transaction and glanced over at Haruto, his irritation barely hidden. "You still here? Let's get this over with. You're what, seven?"

"Nine," Haruto replied, annoyed but keeping his cool. "I'll wait for the shift change."

The Jonin rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

Haruto calmly took a seat near the entrance, crossing his arms as he waited. The hours passed slowly, but he remained patient, his gaze steady and unwavering. Finally, the shift change arrived, and a new Jonin walked in. The first Jonin briefed him quickly, dismissing Haruto as if he were an afterthought.

"There's some kid out there who thinks he's got a new jutsu," the first Jonin said with a sneer.

But the new Jonin froze, his eyes locking onto Haruto. "Haruto?" he asked, his tone instantly warmer. He approached Haruto with a smile. "I remember you! You treated me at the hospital once, right?"

Haruto nodded. "Yeah, I've got something to trade."

The first Jonin watched in disbelief as the new one led Haruto into the private room. Haruto smirked inwardly. His reputation had clearly spread.

Inside the room, Haruto activated his Thunder Scalpel, letting the crackling electricity spring to life around his hands. The Jonin observed closely as Haruto demonstrated the jutsu, using it to slice cleanly through the test dummies. Each cut was precise, efficient, the chakra perfectly controlled to prevent any wasted energy or damage outside the target zones.

The Jonin whistled softly when Haruto finished. "That's A-rank, no doubt," he said, taking notes. "Impressive control—especially for a combination of lightning release and medical ninjutsu. This is not something you see every day."

Haruto felt a sense of pride swell inside him. He had worked hard to refine this technique, and hearing it classified as an A-rank jutsu felt like validation of all his efforts. As the transaction was completed, Haruto received access to an A-rank lightning technique, Thunder Arc, a powerful ranged attack that would complement his Thunder Scalpel perfectly.

As Haruto exited the Merit Room, he noticed the first Jonin standing at a distance, his expression a mix of frustration and regret. He had clearly underestimated Haruto, and now he was realizing what he had missed out on.

But Haruto didn't gloat. He had proven his worth, and that was enough. With his new jutsu in hand and his confidence renewed, he was ready to take thunder scalpel to the next step in his journey.