After obtaining the Mystical Palm Technique, Aomizu immediately devoted himself to training.
To outsiders, the Mystical Palm Technique looked almost identical to the basic Healing Technique.
Both involved placing one's palm against the injured area and channeling chakra continuously to accelerate recovery.
But in reality, the two techniques were worlds apart.
The Healing Technique was merely a D-rank medical ninjutsu, suitable only for treating simple external injuries—cuts, bruises, and superficial trauma.
The Mystical Palm Technique, on the other hand, was an A-rank medical ninjutsu.
It could treat both external and internal injuries, regulate disrupted chakra flow, repair damaged organs, and even stabilize life-threatening conditions.
The difference lay not in appearance, but in control and judgment.
When using the Mystical Palm Technique, the medical ninja must constantly adjust chakra output based on the patient's condition.
Too little chakra, and the treatment would be ineffective.
Too much chakra, and it could disrupt the patient's circulatory system or even cause secondary injury.
No two bodies were the same.
No two wounds were identical.
Using the Mystical Palm Technique properly required:
• Extremely fine chakra control
• Accurate diagnosis
• Vast medical knowledge
• Calm judgment under pressure
That was why so few medical ninja ever truly mastered it.
Most stopped at the Healing Technique for their entire careers.
Fortunately for Aomizu, medical talent was the one thing he did not lack.
Mastery was only a matter of time and repetition.
---
Another quiet night passed.
Before dawn had even arrived, Aomizu was already awake.
He rose an hour earlier than usual and headed out for a morning run.
Now that he had obtained the Eight Inner Gates Formation, physical conditioning was no longer optional—it was mandatory.
Still, he was careful not to overdo it.
Pushing his body too hard too fast would only lead to the same fate that had landed Might Duy in the hospital.
After completing his run, Aomizu cleaned up and headed straight to Konoha Hospital, arriving precisely on time for his shift.
As he stepped into the lobby, he spotted a familiar figure.
Uchiha Mikoto.
She was being discharged.
Given how diligently Aomizu had checked on her over the past few days, this came as no surprise.
"Good morning, Aomizu."
Mikoto greeted him first, her smile bright and warm.
It was early, but summer had already arrived, and she wore light clothing. Her figure was graceful, her movements elegant—an unconscious charm that drew the eye without trying.
Compared to Tsunade, Mikoto was far more restrained in temperament.
She had everything—
But she wasn't inclined to flaunt it.
"Good morning," Aomizu replied.
"Do you want me to walk you home?"
Mikoto raised an eyebrow and gave him a mock glare.
"You really think I'm some fragile little girl, don't you?"
She reached out and lightly tapped his arm—half teasing, half reproachful.
Their relationship made such casual contact perfectly natural.
Aomizu laughed.
"Of course not. You're the most beautiful and most brilliant Uchiha kunoichi genius."
"Hmph."
Mikoto withdrew her hand, but her cheeks flushed faintly.
"Smooth-tongued."
Despite her words, the corners of her lips lifted slightly.
"…But I don't hate it."
Even in the cruel and pragmatic ninja world, compliments still worked wonders.
After a brief exchange, Mikoto adjusted the strap of her bag.
"Alright, busy man. Go do your work."
"I can get home on my own."
Watching her walk away, Aomizu's thoughts drifted briefly to Uchiha Fugaku.
He didn't remember exactly when Mikoto and Fugaku had married in the original timeline.
But at present, they weren't married.
They weren't even dating.
---
Mikoto returned to her home.
No one welcomed her back.
Her parents had died when she was young.
If she hadn't been born into the Uchiha Clan, she would have grown up in the Konoha Orphanage, just like Aomizu.
After being away for some time, a thin layer of dust covered the house.
She spent some time cleaning before changing clothes and heading out again.
This time, her destination was the Hokage Building.
During her last mission, her squad had been almost completely wiped out.
Only one Genin had survived.
Before she could accept new missions, the vacant positions in her team had to be filled—and such personnel changes required the Hokage's approval.
"Lord Third."
When Mikoto entered the office, Sarutobi Hiruzen was buried beneath stacks of paperwork.
Only when he heard her voice did he look up.
"Ah, Mikoto."
"So you've fully recovered and been discharged?"
Despite the Uchiha Clan's complicated reputation, things were far better now than they would be after the Nine-Tails incident.
Aside from Danzo Shimura, the village's senior leadership—headed by Hiruzen—treated the Uchiha fairly.
After all, Uchiha Kagami had once been their trusted comrade.
Mikoto nodded.
"Yes, Lord Third."
"May I ask when Team Four can be re-formed?"
Hiruzen took a slow puff from his pipe, then handed her two ninja files.
"I've already made the arrangements."
"These two will join your team."
"You can meet them shortly."
---
Meanwhile…
Back at Konoha Hospital, Aomizu had just completed another treatment.
---
[Treatment of Fukushima Yukiko completed.]
[Reward: One Gold Orb.]
[Congratulations! You have acquired: Shadow Clone Jutsu.]
---
Aomizu froze.
Then his eyes lit up.
Shadow Clone Jutsu.
This was one of the most famous techniques in the ninja world.
In both his past life and this one, he was intimately familiar with it.
After all, it was Uzumaki Naruto's signature technique.
When in doubt, throw a Rasengan.
Still in doubt? Make it bigger.
Still not enough? Add Shadow Clones.
Ultimate solution: Shadow Clones using Rasengan together.
But Aomizu's excitement had nothing to do with flashy combat.
The Shadow Clone Jutsu was a B-rank ninjutsu, and most ninja couldn't use it freely.
The reason was simple.
It split the user's chakra evenly among all clones.
For ninja without massive chakra reserves, using Shadow Clones in battle was suicidal.
Lose half your chakra, lose half your combat power.
The cost far outweighed the benefit.
However—
That wasn't the true value of this technique.
Its real strength lay in training and information gathering.
When a Shadow Clone dispersed, all of its memories and experiences returned to the original.
In effect, it multiplied training efficiency.
In the original history, Naruto mastered Wind Release nature transformation in an absurdly short time using this method.
Aomizu clenched his fist slightly.
"With Shadow Clones…"
"I can rapidly raise the proficiency of every jutsu the system gives me."
While duplicate system rewards increased proficiency, the probability of receiving the same technique again was low.
Only Jonin-level patients dropped jutsu.
And each Jonin knew multiple techniques.
With hundreds—if not thousands—of ninjutsu in Konoha alone, relying solely on the system would leave him with very few fully mastered combat techniques by the time the Third Great Shinobi War arrived.
Shadow Clones solved that problem.
---
Another workday ended.
After clocking out, Aomizu returned to his usual training ground.
He formed a hand seal.
Shadow Clone Jutsu.
A single clone appeared beside him.
Aomizu looked at it seriously.
"Your task is simple."
"Train the Mystical Palm Technique."
The Shadow Clone nodded silently and ran off toward the medical training area.
This was Aomizu's first time using Shadow Clones.
He didn't dare create more than one.
When a clone dispersed, not only memories—but also fatigue—returned to the original.
Unlike Naruto, Aomizu didn't possess absurd stamina.
Creating too many clones could cause him to collapse—or worse.
Once the clone left, Aomizu began his physical conditioning routine.
Medical mastery.
Taijutsu foundation.
Shadow Clone efficiency.
Everything was starting to come together.
The road ahead was long—
But for the first time, it was clearly visible.
Step by step.
Quietly.
Relentlessly.