Mikami Yuu kept practicing.
Even before he exchanged for the Great Dragon Fire scroll, his Phoenix Sage Fire was already close to 25 affection.
Now, after only a short while of training, it broke through smoothly:
[Phoenix Sage Fire Technique Affection +2, current affection: 26/100 (Friendly)]
(Stage reward obtained: Constitution +1, Trait · Burst Pellets: Your Phoenix Sage Fire Technique is extremely nimble. The scattered fireballs will track enemies within range along faster and less predictable trajectories, and on impact may produce an additional burst effect, making them harder to guard against.)
"So Phoenix Sage Fire's new ability is tracking and explosive impact…"
"Not bad."
Mikami Yuu nodded.
As for Dragon Fire Technique, since he was starting from zero with that one, the proficiency gap was still pretty large, so it needed more practice. According to the scroll, it was "best used together with wire," which meant that in theory he probably had to train some rope-work too if he wanted to fully master it.
No matter what,
his Fire Release system was finally starting to take shape:
For wide-area firepower, he had Great Fireball: Burn to Ash.
For piercing, armor-breaking kills, he had Great Dragon Fire.
For dispersed strikes, he had Phoenix Sage Fire, plus the still-to-be-developed Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson.
For defense, he had Great Fire Wall.
(Changes: from Fire Formation Wall to Great Fire Wall)
At this point, he was basically missing nothing.
In the short term, his plan was to focus on pushing all of his fire techniques above 50 affection and completely stabilize his Fire Release lineup.
As for whether his next step should be close combat or Water Release…
that could wait until Hatake Swordsmanship's trait unlocked.
"And in two days, it's the Advanced Medical Class evaluation. I should pass without much trouble, but since Tsunade went out of her way to remind me, I'd better prepare a little more…"
Mikami Yuu exhaled the last trace of fire from his mouth and stretched.
"And while I'm at it, I should tutor Rin a bit too…"
To be fair, the advanced class curriculum at this stage was genuinely difficult.
If the Ninja Academy's academic level was about junior high, then the advanced medical class was at least specialized college level, with some subjects practically suitable as graduate research topics. Even Mikami Yuu couldn't guarantee he understood everything perfectly.
Rin was smart, but her learning pace was still a little behind his, so he needed to give her a hand here.
…
A few days later.
Inside an operating room at Konoha Hospital.
The surgical lights were on, and the air smelled of disinfectant.
Mikami Yuu and Rin, dressed in sterile surgical gowns and wearing masks and gloves, were in the middle of a fairly difficult operation. Tsunade and Shizune stood outside the observation glass, watching.
"…Hemostat."
Mikami Yuu said in a low voice.
Rin handed it over immediately.
"There are still a few small fragments left in the wound. Use the tweezers to remove them, then use Healing Technique to help stop the bleeding. I'm almost done suturing the tendon here—I'll come help you in a second…"
"Okay!"
Rin took a deep breath and worked with tweezers and gauze in both hands.
At first, the coordination between them had been slightly clumsy, but it gradually settled into a rhythm. When the final stitch was placed and all of the patient's wounds had been dealt with, Mikami Yuu and Rin both stopped and looked at the monitor, where the patient's vitals were gradually stabilizing, and let out a breath.
[Healing Technique Affection +1]
[Special event "Personally treat 100 patients" progress: 23/100]
By the time Mikami Yuu and Rin changed clothes and stepped into the hallway outside,
Tsunade tilted her chin up and said flatly, "Hmph. Passable. Your suturing technique is still a bit rough, and your hemostasis was a little slow, but for genin, this level is pretty good… You can stay in the medical class."
"Yes!"
Rin couldn't help giving a small cheer.
With the huge pressure finally lifting, she excitedly threw her arms around Mikami Yuu. The softness of her just-beginning-to-develop chest pressed against his arm through two layers of clothing, warm and soft.
"That's great, Yuu-kun! We passed!"
"Yeah, that's… definitely good…"
Mikami Yuu could feel the unusual warmth, and his heartbeat sped up slightly.
It took nearly ten full seconds before Rin finally realized what she was doing. Her body stiffened, and then she let go as if shocked, her pale face turning instantly red.
"Th-that… sorry, Yuu-kun, I was just too happy…"
"It's fine."
Mikami Yuu said.
"…Alright, enough of the lovey-dovey stuff. Since you passed the evaluation, go do whatever you're supposed to do."
Tsunade frowned a little irritably.
"Mikami Yuu, you stay. I need to talk to you alone."
Hearing that,
Rin, still red-faced, said, "See you later," bowed hurriedly to Tsunade, and fled like she was escaping.
After that,
Tsunade coughed lightly and said to Mikami Yuu, "About that Cell Activation Technique question you asked last time—I've got news.
"…I went back and dug through the archives over the past few days. Konoha really did run a project like that back then, but it was sealed away.
"Because the risks were too high. During the experiments, there were more than ten cases of nerve damage and even brain death. And even among the few who succeeded, the improvement wasn't as dramatic as expected. Are you sure you want to research something like that?"
Tsunade stared at Mikami Yuu, her tone unusually serious.
"I'm sure."
Mikami Yuu nodded, then added, "But please don't worry. I'm not going to recklessly try anything while the risks are still unclear. I just want to understand methods of training Cell reaction speed through ninjutsu, and the pitfalls involved in the process, as preparation for developing a new technique."
"…Fine. If that's the case, then come with me."
Tsunade turned and led the way.
Mikami Yuu followed after her.
He had assumed she was taking him to her office.
Instead, she walked straight out of Konoha Hospital and kept going for more than ten minutes toward the outer area of the village, finally stopping in front of a building that looked ordinary on the outside but clearly held something special within.
Security here was extremely tight. Dedicated ninja guards stood watch, and there was a barrier around the place. Passing through the entrance felt like moving through an invisible sheet of water.
Still, with Tsunade leading, everything went smoothly.
"This is the Konoha Research Institute, overseen by Orochimaru. Most research into new ninjutsu in the village is conducted here. The archive you asked about is here too. Because of confidentiality rules, you can only read it here. You can't take it out, and you absolutely can't copy it."
"I guaranteed your access, so you can stay here for three days. Don't cause me trouble."
Tsunade said as she walked.