"I was fooled by this trick of yours thirty years ago, but it's useless against me now."
Sarutobi Biwako stiffened her neck and replied bluntly.
However, the slight curl of her lips and the smile in her eyes rippled out uncontrollably.
Hiruzen Sarutobi pressed his advantage.
A moment later, Sarutobi Biwako, who had accumulated much resentment from days of high-intensity work, was coaxed into a joyful mood.
"Alright, now you can tell me what's the matter," Sarutobi Biwako said.
"There's really nothing."
"Then I'll get back to work," Sarutobi Biwako said, about to stand up.
"Hey, hey!" Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly pressed her back down.
"As if I don't know you."
Sarutobi Biwako took the opportunity to sit down.
She wasn't angry, though, and waited with a smile for Hiruzen Sarutobi to speak.
"The conflict on the Land of Rain Battlefield is getting more and more serious; a major war is unavoidable now."
"So I wanted to come and see how the selection for the reserve Medical Team being sent for support is going?"
Sarutobi Biwako rolled her eyes at him. "The assessment finished this morning. I already have a rough idea of the candidates. I'll organize the list for you in a bit."
"That's good!"
Hearing this, a smile appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face.
Once casualties increase, these people must be sent to the Battlefield immediately. It would be a hassle to organize them on short notice if suitable people weren't selected in advance.
But he was still a bit uneasy and continued to remind her:
"You can't just look at medical skills; their basic abilities can't be too poor either. After all, they're being sent to the Front Lines."
"Don't worry, I have a handle on the medical skills. I let that boy Kaito handle the survival ability assessment."
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly sat up straight and looked directly at Sarutobi Biwako.
"Is it that Kaito from the clan?"
"Yes. Although that boy isn't as talented as you, his Water Release and Konoha-style Taijutsu are quite decent."
"I'm not worried about that..."
"I understand. He's a bit thick-headed, but he's not bad at heart. With me watching over him, nothing went wrong."
"That's good then!" Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.
Sarutobi Kaido's talent wasn't bad, but his personality was too blunt and honest.
He often didn't know his own strength; many clansmen had been injured by him during sparring.
Therefore, Hiruzen Sarutobi was somewhat worried he might injure those precious Medical Ninja.
He continued, "With so many people being pulled away at once, the training of new Medical Ninja members must also keep up."
"Training isn't that easy. After all the hard work to train them, once they reach the Battlefield, lives are like grass. How can we sustain such consumption?"
"However, we did find a good prospect this year."
Knock! Knock knock!
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
Hyuga Aokawa entered the room and only then realized Hiruzen Sarutobi was also in the office.
He straightened his posture slightly. "Hokage-sama, Biwako-sama!"
"Oh, it's Aokawa!"
As soon as Sarutobi Biwako saw him, the smile on her face deepened instantly, and her tone became exceptionally soft.
"Is there something you need from me?"
Beside her, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Sarutobi Biwako with great surprise.
So gentle? Did the sun rise in the west?
Is this still my wife?
"Biwako-sama, I want to participate in this Medical Team selection," Hyuga Aokawa said, getting straight to the point.
Sarutobi Biwako's smile stiffened imperceptibly.
She thought to herself, "As expected, it's about this."
She quickly adjusted her expression and said warmly, "Aokawa, the selection has already ended."
"Besides, the Medical Team selection is usually not open to Intern Doctors."
"Biwako-sama."
Hyuga Aokawa's eyes were burning as he met her gaze without evasion.
"The Hospital doesn't open the Medical Team selection to Intern Doctors."
"It's nothing more than concerns about our lack of experience and insufficient proficiency in Medical Ninjutsu."
"But I am different. Although I am an Intern Doctor, my medical skills are among the best in the Hospital, if not the top."
"I have observed the Medical Team colleagues who come to help at the Hospital; my level is by no means inferior to theirs."
His tone was resolute, carrying an unquestionable confidence.
At this time, there was no need to worry about being humble and polite; if one wanted an exception, one had to have the leverage for it.
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised an eyebrow as he listened.
Who is this kid? He's pretty arrogant!
An Intern Doctor actually dares to say he's among the best in the Hospital.
And what surprised him was that Biwako actually didn't burst out in anger.
One should know that she hated arrogant people the most.
Yet, facing these arrogant words, not only did she not get angry, she was actually still smiling.
Hyuga Aokawa?
He wondered if this was the same person he had recommended to Danzo.
He tried to recall, but in his memory, there wasn't a second person with the same name at the Ninja Academy.
Sarutobi Biwako pondered for a moment, deliberating repeatedly, but still tried to politely decline:
"Aokawa, I naturally acknowledge your talent and solid medical knowledge."
"It's just that you haven't been in the profession for long. You might as well further refine your Medical Ninjutsu. Next year, I will definitely..."
"Biwako-sama!"
Hyuga Aokawa didn't wait for her to finish and suddenly raised his right hand.
He formed hand seals with one hand, his movements as smooth as flowing water.
Buzz!
An emerald green light instantly lit up in his palm.
It was stable, condensed, and the energy flow was as delicate as silk.
It was indeed a high-level Healing Technique!
Sarutobi Biwako's pupils constricted, her heart filled with shock.
"The halo is stable, the energy is dense and restrained, and the Chakra control is extremely precise."
This Healing Technique was only slightly inferior to her own.
But who was she?
She had been exceptionally talented since childhood and studied under the clan Seniors.
After growing up, she married Hiruzen Sarutobi and received the true teachings of the Senju Clan.
She had been immersed in this field for many years.
How long had this twelve-year-old boy in front of her been in contact with Medical Ninjutsu?
She had checked on Hyuga Aokawa; a few months ago, he had an abdominal injury, and his father, Hyuga Fū, was also injured.
All those wounds were only treated after returning to the village.
This meant he only started learning after entering medical training.
At most, it had only been two months until now.
To master the Healing Technique to such a Realm in just two months.
Such talent had never even been shown by the brilliant Tsunade back in the day.
Under her shocked gaze, the green light in Hyuga Aokawa's palm switched seamlessly.
It turned into a shimmering Detoxification Technique.
Then it changed again into green bubbles for precise investigation.
Fine Thread Extraction Technique!
Then, the green Chakra turned blue.
A Chakra Scalpel emitting cutting power appeared brightly in his hand.
"Chakra Scalpel!"
Sarutobi Biwako cried out in surprise and stood up abruptly.
She walked quickly to Hyuga Aokawa.
The sharp aura emanating from the scalpel brushed against her face.
This was by no means a mere facade; it was a genuine Chakra Scalpel.
And looking at its state, he hadn't just started; he had already mastered it to a considerable degree.
She opened her mouth, unable to speak for a while.
After a long time, she finally asked, "You... even mastered this? When did this happen?"
"Didn't the Hospital release some Medical Ninjutsu for me to learn?"
Hyuga Aokawa's tone was flat, as if he were talking about something insignificant.
"I memorized the hand seal sequence and the principles of the Chakra circulation route."
"I observed the Seniors' surgeries a few times, and as I watched, I just learned it."