"Perhaps I misheard."
Kakashi didn't dwell on it and picked up the soldier pills he had just bought from the counter.
He was about to head to a smaller nation for a mission, and needed emergency rations for the journey.
Soldier pills were the best option.
With their special ingredients, the protein inside them was easily absorbed. They also had calming and stimulating effects, helping a ninja maintain composure during battle.
Most importantly—
They could restore chakra.
Of course, the increase and recovery of chakra wasn't instantaneous.
It was a gradual process, steadily boosting temporary reserves.
And if consumed in excess, they would place a heavy burden on the body.
"Soldier pills…"
Having studied a great deal of medical knowledge, Nohara Rin was well aware of their side effects.
She glanced at the pills Kakashi had bought—fortunately, they were among the higher-quality types.
Rin was about to say something when a figure, also dressed in a white coat like hers, approached.
"Kiyoshi."
Rin couldn't help but call out.
"Kakashi. Rin."
Kiyoshi gave a slight nod in greeting.
"Looks like the person Sensei Nono mentioned is you, Rin."
Kiyoshi said.
Even before coming here, he had already suspected as much.
In terms of medical talent, Rin actually surpassed him.
She was someone who had already mastered medical ninjutsu at the chunin level.
Even Sakura—who later became Tsunade's disciple—took longer and was older when she mastered the Mystical Palm Technique.
A talent like this—
How could she not attract attention?
It was only because she died young that she never had the chance to shine brighter.
"It should be me."
Rin nodded gently, her gaze curious as she looked at Kiyoshi in his white coat.
Among their classmates, aside from herself—
He was the only male medical ninja she had ever seen.
"Kakashi, why not try the soldier pills I made?"
Kiyoshi smiled as he took out a small bag.
This was his first batch.
"Three days' worth. Ten percent cheaper than the market price—friendship discount."
He patted Kakashi on the shoulder.
Seeing Kiyoshi enthusiastically promoting them, Kakashi opened the bag and took a look.
The appearance was standard—
As for the effect, that remained to be seen.
"Alright."
Kakashi nodded. It was a trivial matter.
White Fang had left him a considerable amount of money.
Kakashi had little interest in wealth—
He spent when needed.
Kiyoshi's smile widened as he accepted the payment.
Another sum added to his account—just enough to buy some high-quality specialized rubber cords.
These pills were made using techniques taught by Yakushi Nono.
It wasn't particularly difficult.
Kiyoshi had quickly mastered it—this was his very first batch.
Ordinary soldier pills had a simple formula.
In the original story, Sakura could make them too—
But she added too many extra ingredients, making them taste absolutely terrible.
Even Sai, with his expressionless face, turned pale after eating them.
"Rin, can you make soldier pills yet?"
Kakashi turned to her.
Since both of them were learning medical ninjutsu, if Kiyoshi could, she probably could too.
"Ah… um… not yet."
Rin clenched her hands slightly.
She really didn't know how yet.
Although she had been at Konoha Hospital longer than Kiyoshi, the formula for soldier pills wasn't something casually taught.
After all, it could easily become a profitable side skill.
"I see. I was hoping to try your cooking."
Kakashi stored both Kiyoshi's pills and his purchased ones into his ninja pouch.
A serious girl like Rin—
Her results probably wouldn't taste bad.
Inside Nono's Office
"Heh heh… Nono, I hear you've taken Uchiha Kiyoshi as your disciple?"
A figure suddenly appeared in the room.
His skin was unnaturally pale, and his golden vertical pupils made him seem like a venomous snake.
"Orochimaru. He is my disciple. I hope you won't interfere."
Yakushi Nono's brows furrowed slightly.
She knew Orochimaru had connections with her superior, Shimura Danzo.
The two were secretly researching forbidden knowledge—
The Hashirama Cells, derived from the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
After Hashirama's death, Konoha once devoted immense effort to reviving Wood Release.
But every adult volunteer who received transplanted cells failed to withstand them—
All died.
Yet with Danzo's funding, Orochimaru continued human experimentation.
And he had actually succeeded—
Creating a child implanted with Hashirama Cells, known in Root as "A."
Nono even suspected—
That Danzo himself had undergone the same procedure.
For a time, his bodily energy had surged dramatically.
With her keen observation, she had noticed it.
These things only strengthened her resolve to leave Root—
To leave Konoha.
"Heh… seems you're quite the devoted teacher, Nono."
Orochimaru smiled.
But there was no warmth in it—only a chilling coldness.
"That child, Kiyoshi, shouldn't be limited to becoming just a medical ninja. He has far greater potential. If one day you decide to leave Konoha… hand him over to me. I will give him what he desires."
With that, Orochimaru vanished instantly—
Using the Body Flicker Technique to exit through the window.
Looking at the traces left on the window frame, Nono bit her lower lip.
She had already told Danzo about her intention to leave the village.
Danzo had asked her to continue serving Konoha for a few more years—
Promising that afterward, she would be free, and he would no longer seek her out.
"…Kiyoshi has caught Orochimaru's attention."
Nono felt nothing but disgust toward someone who disregarded life and experimented on countless infants.
"I need to speed up his training."
Perhaps—
Before she left, Kiyoshi needed to possess medical skills strong enough to stand on his own.
That Night
In the courtyard, Kiyoshi set up a wooden post.
He tied specialized rubber cords to the ends of several kunai.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three kunai shot out at the same time.
Thin cords—finer than toothpicks—wrapped around his fingers.
With a flick of his hand, the leftmost kunai instantly veered off its straight trajectory.
As they passed the wooden post, he pulled another finger—
The kunai curved back.
Like bending midair—
All three struck the post behind it.
You have acquired the trait [Tool Manipulation – Beginner (White)].
[Trait: Tool Manipulation – Beginner (White)]
[Requirement: Develop a unique understanding of ninja tool control and master one method.]
[Progress: Completed.]
[Effect: Improved adaptability with various ninja tools. Power increased by 5%.]
[Note: Can be further upgraded.]
"Not bad."
Kiyoshi closed the panel.
This was the result of mastering the Shuriken Manipulation Technique.