CHAPTER 127: CHAPTER 127

"Kitazawa,"

Yakushi Nono glanced at the wall clock, her voice calm but tinged with practicality. "Shizune is probably delayed. Do you want me to take you to the operating room?"

Kitazawa blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "As long as it doesn’t affect your work."

In truth, it hardly mattered who guided him now. He had already mastered the Chakra Scalpel; whether it was Nono or Shizune at his side, the effect would be the same.

"With your current ability," Nono said with a small smile, "even without either of us, you could perform the surgery on your own."

Kitazawa chuckled modestly. "How can it be that exaggerated? I’m still far from your level."

"It’s not exaggeration," she said warmly. "With Chakra Scalpel alone, you’re already qualified to be a Medical Jōnin."

Her words carried weight.

Konoha’s standards for medical ninja were not low—they were impossibly high.

Medical Ninjutsu was notoriously difficult to learn. Most shinobi couldn’t spare the years required for the precise chakra control and anatomical knowledge. Even when Tsunade had pushed for a medical ninja in every squad, the goal remained a dream.

Even in the era of prodigies like Naruto and Sasuke, Konoha’s famed Twelve Genin had only one real medical ninja: Sakura.

If Genin Medical Ninja were so rare, Medical Jōnin were practically legendary.

"...I still lack experience," Kitazawa said after a beat, glancing at his invisible system panel—no mission triggered yet. "I’ll give it some time before I take that title seriously."

Nono nodded. "Then let’s head to the operating room."

A sterile chill greeted them as they stepped inside.

"Today’s patient suffered internal organ damage during a battle with a taijutsu user," Nono explained as she pushed the door open.

A middle-aged man lay unconscious on the table, his surface wounds already treated. The room carried the mixed scent of blood and disinfectant, the quiet hum of medical instruments filling the air.

"Kitazawa," Nono said after a pause, "you’ll be the lead surgeon."

"Me?" Kitazawa blinked in surprise.

"Give it a try," she said with a gentle firmness. "Once you’re proficient, you could hold a position at Konoha Hospital without any issue."

Kitazawa smiled wryly. ’So that’s her real intention.’

Konoha’s medical ninjas were so scarce that even a twenty-year-old prodigy was a prize too precious to waste.

Nono didn’t voice the other thought in her heart: if he faltered, Shizune or Tsunade could step in. And the patient would probably feel blessed—few shinobi ever had the world’s greatest medical team watching over a single surgery.

Just as Kitazawa prepared to respond, four lines of text flickered across his vision:

[A genius should make a name for himself. As a Medical Ninja, you should be known throughout Konoha.]

[Current Mission: Successfully perform nine high-difficulty surgeries as the lead surgeon.]

[Reward: Medical Forbidden Jutsu – Body Regeneration.]

[Accept Mission?]

Kitazawa’s eyes widened.

’A Forbidden Jutsu?!’

Medical Forbidden Jutsu: Body Regeneration. A technique so extreme that even if the user’s body were torn apart, it could be reassembled—practically immortality.

Of course, Forbidden Jutsu always carried severe side effects.

He recalled the origin: the shippuden movie’s antagonist, Shinno. The man had three forbidden techniques:

Body Activation—using the Yang Release chakra to stimulate cells and enhance physical ability, similar to the Fourth Raikage’s Lightning Armor.

Body Regeneration—the infamous self-reconstruction ability.

Body Creation—a terrifying fusion of the first two, granting a "perfect body" capable of surviving even the Eight Gates Formation... at the cost of rapidly burning out the user’s life.

In the original timeline, Shinno ended up a frail old husk after abusing it.

’But I have Tsunade,’ Kitazawa thought with a grin. ’With her help, I can refine it—minimize the risks.’

He accepted the mission without hesitation.

"Nono-senpai," he asked casually, "does today’s surgery count as high-difficulty?"

"No," she said with a light laugh. "This one is medium-difficulty. But as your first time as lead, that’s already incredible. I’ve never seen anyone like you."

"All thanks to your guidance," Kitazawa said smoothly, though internally he was already weighing the mission’s challenge.

The harder the mission, the better the reward. He was ready.

"Let’s begin," Nono instructed, stepping to the table. "The necrotic tissue is in the internal organs. We’ll excise it with Chakra Scalpel."

"Understood."

Green chakra flared from Kitazawa’s hand, condensing into the sharp glow of a scalpel.

Nono’s gaze lingered on it. "Your proficiency is already... at my level," she murmured. "No wonder Lady Tsunade favors you."

An hour later, the surgery was over. Nurses wheeled the patient to recovery.

Footsteps echoed in the hall before Shizune arrived, slightly breathless. "I’m late! I’m sorry!"

"You’re just in time," Kitazawa said, wiping his brow. "While I rest, you can teach me the next medical ninjutsu."

Shizune blinked. "...You’ve finished Chakra Scalpel?"

Nono nodded. "I can vouch for it."

Shizune’s mouth twitched. ’Two weeks. He learned an A-rank medical ninjutsu in two weeks.’

At this rate, she realized with a pang, Kitazawa might surpass her in half a year. Perhaps even reach the level to inherit Tsunade’s Strength of a Hundred Seal someday.

"Alright," Shizune said finally, steadying herself. "Today, I’ll teach you the Mystical Palm Technique. It’s also A-rank... and slightly more difficult than Chakra Scalpel."

Kitazawa nodded.

Mystical Palm—capable of healing both external and internal injuries—was an art of delicate chakra control. Too much chakra could disrupt the body’s natural circulation, causing fainting or even severe damage.

Few ever mastered it. Even Tsunade had admitted its difficulty.

For Kitazawa, starting from scratch wasn’t a problem. With his proficient chakra control and skilled Yang Release transformation, success was only a matter of time.

By evening, the day’s training and surgeries were finally winding down.

Kitazawa had performed two more surgeries that afternoon, but neither qualified as "high-difficulty." His mission panel hadn’t changed an inch.

"Thank you for your hard work today, Nono-senpai," Shizune said, stretching lightly.

"Hard work?" Nono smiled. "Kitazawa was the lead surgeon today. I only assisted a little—it was hardly work for me." She hesitated for a beat, then turned to him. "So... have you considered the suggestion I mentioned earlier?"

"Suggestion?" Shizune blinked, curious.

"I suggested that Kitazawa take a part-time Medical Ninja position at Konoha Hospital," Nono explained warmly. "Just like you."

Shizune’s mouth opened as if to protest—but the words caught in her throat.

She had been about to say that Kitazawa hadn’t been a medical ninja long enough... But after the surgery that afternoon, she couldn’t.

Skill-wise, he was already operating at the level of a full-fledged attending medical ninja.

He wasn’t on Tsunade’s or Nono’s level yet, or even hers, but for his experience... it was absurd.

Kitazawa gave a small nod. "Alright. If there are any tough surgeries in the future, you can call me."

"If it’s a high-difficulty procedure, you’ll need to learn the Mystical Palm Technique first," Nono said seriously. "Only then can you act as the attending."

"No problem," Kitazawa agreed easily. Lives were at stake—he wouldn’t risk cutting corners.

Besides, his goal was clear: complete several high-difficulty surgeries, and his system mission would be fulfilled.

After leaving Konoha Hospital, Kitazawa and Shizune went their separate ways.

She headed off to report to Tsunade, while he made his way to the Ninja Academy.

Around the artificial lake, an army of Naruto clones was hard at work, straining against rubber balls with grim determination.

Kitazawa’s gaze shifted to Hinata.

After a summer of relentless training, her Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms had finally reached ten consecutive strikes.

She was now pushing for twelve.

"Hinata, Naruto—come here," Kitazawa called as the sun dipped lower.

Hinata immediately halted her training and jogged over.

"Release your Shadow Clones, Naruto," Kitazawa reminded.

"Right!"

With a puffing chain of bangs, dozens of Narutos vanished into smoke.

The real Naruto staggered slightly, pale and sweating. His chakra reserves were fine, but the memory feedback from that many clones hitting him at once left him reeling.

Even so, the rapid growth put a grin on his face.

"Kitazawa-sensei!" he said, shaking off the dizziness.

"Your summer special training ends here," Kitazawa said, his tone final. "Go home. Rest two days, then get ready for the new semester."

"What?!" Naruto’s eyes widened. "Summer vacation’s already over?!"

Hinata’s lips parted in surprise as well.

Had a month really gone by so quickly?

"Man, if only I’d finished Rasengan," Naruto muttered, scratching his head. "I could’ve given Sasuke a huge surprise at the first monthly exam..."

Kitazawa paused, a memory flickering in his mind.

Hinata, meanwhile, thought of Neji.

She had promised him a sparring match in the new semester.

Now that the break was over, the duel loomed closer—and an anxious flutter stirred in her chest.

"Don’t overthink it," Kitazawa said, patting her gently on the head. "When the time comes, a solution will naturally appear."

Hinata froze for a heartbeat, then the tension eased, and a soft smile bloomed on her lips.

"Kitazawa-sensei, goodbye!" Naruto waved, turning down another path home.

Hinata soon followed, offering her own quiet farewell.

Kitazawa watched her retreating figure and rubbed his chin.

’The Hinata vs. Neji spar... maybe we’ll set it on the very first day of practical class.’

Whether she won or lost didn’t matter—the system didn’t say the fight only happened once. If she failed now, she’d succeed later.

Still, Kitazawa felt she had a real chance this time.

No matter how much of a genius Neji was, he was still only seven.

And Hinata had dual guidance—from both Hiashi and Kitazawa himself.

—

Summer’s heat was fading, replaced by crisp air, but the Ninja Academy was buzzing—today was registration day.

Naruto woke up unusually early.

He even skipped Gai’s morning training just to get there faster.

Last registration, he’d been isolated—discriminated against and friendless. He hadn’t cared much.

Now? He had friends. Real ones.

Sasuke, Kiba, Choji, Ino, Shikamaru... he was actually excited to see them.

He wanted to know what everyone had been up to over summer break.

"Grandpa?" Naruto blinked as he opened his door and saw a familiar figure in his living room.

"Good morning, Naruto," said Hiruzen, smiling warmly.

"Long time no see, Grandpa!" Naruto said happily, grabbing a cup of instant noodles. "Have you had breakfast yet?"

"I saw how hard you were training, so I didn’t want to disturb you," Hiruzen said with a soft chuckle. "I’ve already eaten."

"I was amazing this summer!" Naruto declared proudly. "I learned an A-rank jutsu!"

"That’s truly remarkable," Hiruzen said, impressed. "Hardly any shinobi your age can manage that."

"Really?" Naruto’s eyes shone. "Even the four Hokage couldn’t do that?"

Hiruzen gave a small, noncommittal hum. "Some could, some couldn’t."

"That’s awesome!" Naruto beamed. "I finally did something that surpasses the Hokage!"

"I believe you’ll surpass them in more than one way someday," Hiruzen said with a smile, unable to hide his fondness.

With Naruto’s current growth, he was already a genius among geniuses—and a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. His potential was frightening.

Hiruzen’s thoughts briefly drifted to Kitazawa.

Multiple Shadow Clones. Rasengan. Patient, structured training.

Naruto had changed because of him.

He only hoped Kitazawa could also succeed in persuading Tsunade to undergo treatment.

"I’m full! Grandpa, goodbye!" Naruto said, bolting for the Academy.

Halfway there, he spotted a familiar figure.

"Sasuke!" Naruto called, sprinting over.

"Nii-san," Sasuke murmured as his older brother glanced at Naruto.

"Your classmate’s here," Itachi said mildly. "You can walk together."

Then, with a flutter of crows, the ANBU prodigy vanished.

Naruto tilted his head. "Eh? Why’d your brother leave so fast?"

"He’s always like that," Sasuke said, hands in pockets.

Naruto grinned wide. "Sasuke! I learned so much from Kitazawa-sensei this summer. You won’t beat me in the monthly exam!"

"You still don’t understand what it means to be Uchiha," Sasuke said coolly. "Before these Sharingan, all that awaits you... is defeat."

He hadn’t joined Kitazawa’s training all summer. He’d focused on his clan techniques—and he still had no idea Naruto had learned Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu.

"Perfect!" Naruto grinned, thumb raised. "Sasuke! Let’s have an explosive, youthful showdown in the monthly exam!"

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