"Voluntarily getting poisoned…? That really is a solution."
The Third Hokage thought about it for a long moment and had to admit—
Yagyu Souma's idea was sharp.
In just a few seconds, the boy had produced a complete, workable plan.
Impressive.
"Right, Lord Third, this is the proposal Souma came up with. Please take a look."
Aburame Shibi handed over a report.
Souma's proposal?
If it was just about kikaichū secret-technique optimization, there was no need to consult the Hokage.
Curious, Hiruzen took the document and started reading—
After a few pages, he couldn't help looking up at Shibi.
This kind of thing…
Only Souma would think of it.
Most people wouldn't even dare to imagine such a bizarre medical method.
He lifted his pipe and took a long drag.
Using insects… to treat patients.
Was it feasible?
After pondering it seriously, he turned to Shibi.
"Give it a try. But remember the rules of medical research—no experiments on living people. If you cross that line, don't blame me for being harsh."
"Understood."
Shibi nodded.
He hadn't come to Third for that kind of dark approval.
If he wanted that route, he'd have gone straight to Danzō.
He was sure Souma understood that too.
Otherwise, why would the boy choose to work with Hiruzen and not with Root?
Shibi might be quiet, but he was far from stupid.
He knew exactly where the Hokage's bottom line lay.
"I'll instruct the Medical Corps to cooperate with you," Hiruzen added after a moment.
"If this works, your clan can participate in treatment as well."
As he said that, the logic clicked in his mind.
Of course Souma wanted the Aburame clan involved in medical support.
Because using insects for treatment meant—
Many deep internal injuries wouldn't even need to be opened surgically.
The insects could enter directly and release medical chakra inside.
Simpler operations.
Faster recovery.
So—
Medical kikaichū really did have potential.
In addition, as he thought through it all, another image surfaced:
Souma's chakra storage tool.
If that device was perfected—
And kikaichū could store medical chakra—
Then the Aburame clan would effectively become a new type of combat medic.
Attack, defense, reconnaissance, and treatment.
A full-package teammate.
Who wouldn't want that on their squad?
Just imagining it made Hiruzen feel energized.
With the Uchiha clan gone, only the Hyūga remained as a true great clan in Konoha.
Another rising big clan would be good for the village.
Tsk.
Just thinking about it puts him in a better mood.
"Lord Hokage, I'll take my leave then."
"Go. If you need help, say so. As long as it's for the village's benefit, we'll support you fully."
Hiruzen smiled.
"Yes."
Shibi had a faint guess about Hiruzen's thoughts.
He didn't comment, simply bowed and quietly left.
So the Hokage plans to support the Aburame clan…
Shibi walked down the corridor, unsure if that was good or bad.
But one thing was certain—
In the short term, the Aburame would gain a lot.
And in return—
They now owe Yagyu Souma a huge favor.
The next day, Souma headed to the Medical Corps.
Guy-sensei should have been discharged by now.
But Souma wasn't here to visit him.
He wanted the surgical data from that operation, to quantify exactly how effective his techniques had been.
Except—
As soon as he entered the Medical Department…
Everyone looked at him strangely.
Hm?
What was going on?
Souma frowned slightly.
He glanced around, but Baicao and the others avoided his gaze and scattered like fleeing birds.
"Souma, what brings you here?"
Kitayama Xu walked out with a stack of documents, spotting him wandering the halls and waving him over.
Souma walked to her.
"Teacher Kitayama, did something happen? Everyone's acting… weird."
"This…"
Kitayama hesitated.
Souma's brows drew together.
Clearly, something was up.
He thought for a second—
Then I relaxed.
"Is it because of the Aburame clan?"
"…Yeah," Kitayama admitted.
"Lord Third told us to cooperate with their new research. We also heard that it was you who suggested they join the medical field."
Souma couldn't help laughing.
"You're worried they'll steal your jobs?"
"That's not it," Kitayama said quickly.
"No matter how useful insects are, they can't replace medical-nin. But kikaichū… you know… they're…"
She shuddered.
Souma looked at her oddly.
"You're all fine dealing with corpses, but you're scared of a few bugs?"
As medical-nin, they encountered dead bodies regularly.
But insects?
Really?
He didn't know whether to laugh or sigh.
"A corpse is just a corpse," Kitayama shot back.
"It doesn't crawl when you look at it. Bugs are different. There's so many of them… all wriggling together…"
She shivered all over.
Just thinking about it gave her goosebumps.
Aha.
Cluster phobia.
Insect-phobia.
Souma understood instantly.
Yeah… this one he really couldn't fix.
"Er… you'll get used to it," he said dryly.
"Why don't you pick someone for them?"
"That's why everyone's been avoiding you," Kitayama admitted.
"They're all scared you'll call their name."
Souma scratched his head.
Do I really seem that scary?
Besides—
He wasn't even an official member of the Medical Corps.
Where did they get the idea he had that kind of authority?
He cleared his throat.
"Well, I do think it's a worthwhile research direction. So I suggested it to Shibi-senpai."
"Wait… Shibi-senpai…?"
Kitayama's face froze.
She vaguely remembered herself ranting on and on in front of Aburame Shibi after the surgery, complaining about how troublesome his clan was to treat.
…I should find a scapegoat.
"What's wrong?" Souma asked.
"Nothing." Kitayama straightened up solemnly.
"I think you're right. The research must go on—but my health isn't great. I'm really not suited to working directly with Shibi-senpai."
She clasped Souma's hand, expression serious.
"As your half-teacher, you don't want to see me suffer, do you?"
"Uh…"
Doctor, please calm down. I'm still just a kid.
Souma wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.
He had no idea how to answer that.
"Don't you want to shoulder some of my burden?" she pressed.
"You could always have your subordinates help you," Souma pointed out.
"Baicao and the others aren't that busy. And those two new techniques you've been researching are nearly finished, right?"
He paused.
And finally remembered why he had come.
"Right, that reminds me."
He took out his notebook.
"Teacher Kitayama, let's talk business first."
"This is my business."
Kitayama grumbled—
but her eyes had already drifted toward the notebook.
Souma flipped it open page by page.
Ideas filled the pages, densely written notes on ninjutsu, ninja tools, and experiments.
Kitayama felt a stab of quiet admiration—and shame.
So this is what genius looks like.
Success wasn't random.
Without constant idea accumulation and reflection, even Souma wouldn't be able to invent new techniques on the spot.
She suddenly realized—
It wasn't just about talent.
Her inability to create her own jutsu was partly limited talent…
and partly lacking attitude.
She silently reflected on herself.
"This one."
Souma stopped on a page.
"Barrier formulas? Is this from a specific barrier jutsu?"
Kitayama didn't recognize the Iron-Wall Seal, but she could tell it was barrier-related.
"Yeah," Souma said.
"This array recognizes a single chakra signature. I modified it using Lord Third's technique so that it can extract a patient's chakra and analyze it."
Kitayama's eyes widened.
"In that case…
As long as they pass through the barrier, we can locate foreign chakra, disruptions, and disease sources inside the body!"
"Exactly."
Souma smiled.
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