Chapter 8: Teaching the Art of Stealth, The Three Markings

Chapter 8: Teaching Ninjutsu, The Three Patterns

“What? They’re letting a child take charge of the surgery? What are they thinking?”

Outside the operating room, Koharu Suzumaki was furious.

“Don’t rush to judgment. There’s no better option right now, is there?”

The Third Hokage took a drag from his cigarette, paused for a moment, then said, “Though it’s possible to treat him directly, he was injured trying to extract information. If we can, we must at least ensure his daily life won’t be affected.”

“But—”

“He’s a genius!”

The Third Hokage’s words were resolute. He silently tossed over a scroll.

Koharu caught it and glanced over it, her face full of shock.

She had once been a medical ninja herself but had been too busy with ‘real work’ lately to participate in hospital or medical unit affairs. That didn’t mean she didn’t understand.

This technique was clearly an advanced version of the chakra scalpel.

It was suited for much more delicate surgeries.

Unfortunately...

The difficulty level of A+ would discourage most current medical ninjas. Koharu believed she could manage it, but she knew she hadn’t been on the operating table in a long time.

Moreover,

She was getting old.

Even if she had the skill to complete such a precise surgery, her stamina and chakra limitations meant she could only handle half before collapsing from exhaustion.

If only Tsunade—

Koharu shook her head silently. If it were Tsunade, she wouldn’t even need this ninjutsu to finish the treatment, and it was unfair to compare that child to Tsunade in the first place.

Forget it.

She decided to keep a better attitude later. After all, the child was forced into this situation.

As Koharu was thinking this, the back door of the operating room opened.

Okiyama Setsu emerged carrying Chiba. Seeing the Third Hokage and Koharu, she froze for a second, then hurriedly bowed. “Lord Hokage, Koharu—”

“How is he?” The Third Hokage interrupted her bow. Compared to formalities, a genius like Chiba was far more important.

“He’s completely drained of chakra, exhausted and weak. Although he took a ration pill, that can’t fully restore energy.”

Okiyama spoke softly, then added with some embarrassment, “We were only assistants during this surgery. It was entirely thanks to him that the shattered bones were pieced back together. If we knew this technique, it wouldn’t have been so difficult.”

“So, the chakra needle needs to be promoted widely?”

“Exactly. This technique definitely needs wider adoption. Not only for surgeries like today’s but perhaps in other fields as well—for example, in conjunction with extraction of fine ailments.”

Okiyama’s thoughts returned to Chiba.

It could work with suction to remove debris and foreign matter and naturally could stab wounds in internal organs for use with the fine ailment extraction technique.

Koharu remained silent, deep in thought.

After a few questions from the Third Hokage and seeing Chiba asleep from exhaustion, he waved for Okiyama to take him to rest.

“Koharu, what do you think?”

“Namikaze, his talent is exceptional. I can faintly see shades of Tsunade and Orochimaru in him, but I have my concerns,” Koharu frowned.

“Maybe. I’m old and don’t have many chances left. I want to try once more...”

...

“Come in. What are you doing here?”

“Chiba-kun, I heard you fainted. Are you okay?”

Tenten came in, out of breath.

Behind her, Lee peeked in quietly, then quickly withdrew when he saw them.

Chiba gave a dry laugh. “Of course I’m fine. I just ran out of chakra and needed some rest. By the way, how’s your training going lately?”

“Not bad. Knowing we might graduate early, everyone’s been very diligent. Even the usual truants among the lower years rarely skip now,” Tenten said, then suddenly raised a finger. “Oh, except for that one, Uzumaki Naruto. He’s still skipping classes, even more frequently than before.”

At that moment, Lee peeked in again.

“Tenten placed second in the class, just a bit behind Neji. Heh, I’m off to train now.”

“Hey! Why’d you have to say that?”

Tenten was furious, but Lee dashed off before she could continue.

Chiba got up from the resting room bed, pulled out a notebook, and flipped to a page, handing it to her.

Tenten looked down, puzzled.

“Chakra threads—a byproduct of ninjutsu research. We don’t know puppetry, but using them to control shuriken and kunai seems promising.”

“Too precious. I can’t accept this!”

Tenten understood its value.

Its difficulty was at least B-rank, and many chunin might never have the chance to learn it.

“Ninjutsu is created to make people stronger; otherwise, it’s meaningless. Your skill with hidden weapons is excellent, but they’re just weapons. Against certain foes, they’re powerless.”

Chiba spoke earnestly.

“That’s impossible! Don’t underestimate me. My weapons skills aren’t just what you see at school.”

Tenten curled her lips.

She felt her throwing scores were definitely held back by the school’s curriculum cap. If the difficulty were higher, she’d never be tied for first in two years.

“What if you face a powerful wind release?”

“Ordinary wind release? No way... Fine, I appreciate your kindness, but I can’t accept it without reason.”

Tenten insisted.

Chiba thought for a moment, eyes brightening. “I remember your family sells swords, right? I’ve been wanting to practice swordsmanship lately. How about helping me pick a good sword?”

“Alright, then. Thanks. If you don’t know sword techniques, come to me.”

Tenten began studying the notes seriously.

She was quite competitive, much more so than Sakura, who always said she’d rely on herself but asked Naruto for help whenever she struggled.

If it were Haruno Sakura...

Chiba didn’t care.

After reading, Tenten fell into thought, then said, “According to your notes, you want to condense chakra into weapons, and release multiple at once?”

“It’s not simply weapons, but perfectly controlled needles. I want them to take any shape I desire, instantly solidify when attacking, with no need to form hand seals.”

“That’s my ultimate goal.”

Chiba explained.

Tenten nodded, understanding why Chiba had come to the medical unit.

In terms of chakra control, the medical unit was the strongest.

Besides, she sensed Chiba’s ideas were more complex. These so-called “needles” must have even more terrifying uses.

She didn’t ask further but carefully copied the notes, planning to study them slowly once back—

Not everyone had Chiba’s exceptional learning ability.

In truth, Chiba’s idea wasn’t that complicated.

The reason he called them “needles” was partly because they were sharp and consumed little chakra, and partly because they could be combined with various techniques, like the Body Blades. Also, his hospital training had another purpose: to study acupuncture points.

Without the Byakugan, he couldn’t see the points, so he intended to observe and explore common acupuncture points through learning and contact.

By then, the chakra needles’ effect would be more than just healing.

Chiba “visualized” the Bodhi seed.

No significant change.

If anything, its surface now bore three distinct groove-like patterns: one deep and long, the second short, and the third long but very shallow.

If it weren’t a consciousness intimately connected to him, Chiba wouldn’t have noticed at all.

“Do the three patterns correspond to the two techniques I taught and the ration pill?”

(End of chapter)