After running around all afternoon, Chiba felt alive .
Not only that, but he vaguely sensed that his stamina had improved significantly—
This definitely wasn't the aftereffect of chakra exhaustion.
The Bodhi Seed!
"A fine thing indeed," Chiba thought, secretly delighted.
But after walking for a bit, he looked up—and froze.
Three heads were poking out from the top of the Ninja Academy wall.
When Chiba raised his eyes, he met their gaze.
Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji.
Shikamaru raised his index finger to his lips, signaling for Chiba to stay quiet.
Chiba nodded.
The three of them breathed a sigh of relief, then carefully climbed down from the wall.
"You kids skipping class?"
"Hmph, do you even need to ask? Aren't you skipping too?"
Naruto looked Chiba up and down.
"I thought the Academy's been all about hard study lately—everyone's been trying their best?" Chiba asked, puzzled.
"Ah, that's true. We tried that for a while, but it was exhausting. Graduating early is such a pain too. After thinking it over, it feels better to just hang around a bit longer."
Shikamaru spoke lazily, a blade of grass between his teeth. From his tone and expression, he had already guessed who Chiba was.
Choji didn't say a word—he just kept eating at the side.
"Heh, come on, I'll take you somewhere fun!"
Naruto grinned.
Chiba's smile was radiant. "At your age, skipping study—how can you even enjoy yourself?"
"Huh? Who the heck are you?"
Naruto looked at Chiba in confusion.
They were all ditching class—how come this kid sounded so high and mighty? What's with the lecture?
"Me? Just a kind-hearted person who can't stand to see you stray from the right path."
As he said that, several chakra threads shot out.
Chiba controlled each of the three, guiding them to climb back up the wall. Naruto turned around, glaring at him in fury—but then—
Snap!
With a flick of Chiba's fingers, the three of them toppled off the wall.
Naruto tried to climb back out for revenge, but Shikamaru pinned him down. Choji wanted to go too, but seeing Shikamaru stay put, he stopped as well.
Following Shikamaru had never steered him wrong.
"We're no match for him. Let's just head back. The patrol teachers must've heard that noise."
"Damn it! Just wait till I run into him at school!"
Naruto fumed.
"Even if you do, you can't beat him."
Shikamaru hunched his shoulders, muttering as they slipped back toward the classroom. "His chakra threads were solid—we couldn't even break free. If I'm right, that was Yagyū Chiba, the one who graduated early."
"Oh, him."
Choji paused, then went back to eating.
Yeah, they definitely couldn't win.
"Yagyū Chiba, huh? I'll go teach him a lesson myself!"
Naruto jumped back over the wall.
Shikamaru facepalmed.
Choji blinked and looked at him, as if asking what they should do.
"Forget him. Let's run."
And with that, Shikamaru picked up speed.
Not long after, on their way sneaking back to class, he spotted Naruto at the school gate—walking straight into a trap.
Tragic!
He'd told him not to go, but he just had to.
At the gate, Chiba was sitting comfortably, chatting warmly with a few teachers.
"Good kid! I heard you were even performing surgeries at the hospital?"
"All rumors. I was just assisting—no way I could handle an operation."
Chiba replied humbly, shaking his head.
"Heh, don't be modest. You handle chakra threads better than the ninja from Sunagakure! If you can develop your own puppet technique, let's see what the Sand Village has to brag about then!"
Puppet Technique?
That art's strength lay in the construction of puppets, not the chakra threads or control technique. And puppet- required decades of experimentation and craftsmanship. Unless Konoha somehow got its hands on Sunagakure's puppet- technology, all he could do was make "improvements."
Otherwise, it'd be all effort for little kidn.
Of course, the teachers were just conversation—they mostly admired his talent. They hadn't spoken much before, and this was just finding something to talk about.
After a few polite exchanges, Chiba left the Academy—leaving Naruto standing punished at the gate, windblown and bewildered.
"Chiba, Lord Hanpō wants to see you."
"Yes."
Chiba nodded and turned toward Hanpō's office.
He knocked lightly.
"Come in."
When he opened the door, Chiba froze for a second.
Besides Hanpō, there was also a kindly-looking elderly woman sitting there—but judging from her clothes—
Hiss!
Mitokado Koharu—the old crone!
He was startled inside, but outwardly remained calm, bowing respectfully to both.
"Chiba, come, have a seat. This is one of the village's advisors, and also a highly skilled medical ninja."
Hanpō quickly made introductions.
Koharu smiled gently. "Oh, I haven't practiced in years. I've probably forgotten half my techniques by now. I just give a little advice here and there—nothing worth mentioning."
At least she's self-aware, Chiba thought. Medical ninjutsu is a technical craft—you can't bluff your way through it.
"You're too modest, ma'am."
"Well then, let's get to business," Koharu said, her tone kind but direct. "Child, the reason we called you here is to ask whether you'd be interested in becoming a Specially Appointed Ninja at the hospital."
"Specially appointed… ninja?"
Chiba blinked, puzzled.
"Yes," Hanpō explained. "You don't know medical ninjutsu, but your chakra control is exceptional. With proper training, you could become very skilled in surgery. Many operations require this kind of precision support."
Before yesterday, Hanpō had only thought of Chiba as a gifted student. But after seeing his performance firsthand, he realized he'd underestimated the boy's talent and insight.
With his aptitude, it wouldn't take long before Chiba could master the surgical use of chakra scalpels and chakra needles—perhaps even surpassing some veterans.
"That's not really necessary. I'm still just a student, and I still have books to read with Teacher Kitayama Xu."
Chiba replied politely.
"It won't interfere. And Kitayama Xu… well, she's rather busy lately. She might not have much time to guide you. Giving you a Special Appointment will let you participate more fully."
Hanpō phrased it gently—Kitayama Xu was still reeling from the blow and planned to continue studying to improve her skills.
Chiba wasn't naive.
The chakra needle technique had already proven effective—soon enough, other medical ninja would have to learn it. They couldn't call him, a child, in for every surgery.
Even if Chiba was willing, the medical team would die of embarrassment.
He thought for a moment, then said, "If it's because of the chakra needle… I tried it during my rest yesterday. By adding fifteen more hand seals, the technique becomes more stable and simpler—better suited for medical use."
"Really?"
Hanpō's breathing quickened.
Even Koharu couldn't stay calm. Others spent years developing a new jutsu—
This kid had improved Chakra Needle in just a few days.
"Mm, like this…"
Chiba slowly began to form seals.
His first version had only five hand signs. The "simplified" version he'd developed last night used twenty. The idea had come from the Water Dragon Bullet Technique.
The second Hokage could perform it with four seals, while Zabuza needed forty-four. Clearly, the number of seals affected difficulty.
So, he'd spent the night experimenting with variations—just to see what worked best.
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