"Since you're already here, don't just stand there doing nothing."
Shizune stepped up to the operating table.
"Kitazawa, get your Blood Coagulation jutsu ready. I'll tell you when to use it."
"Got it."
Kitazawa moved to the other side of the table, raised his hands, and aimed them at Uzuki Yugao's wound.
Chakra Scalpel!
Shizune's face was calm and focused. She brought her fingers together, forming a sharp chakra blade in seconds.
She sliced into the wound with precision, clearing out the necrotic tissue. Then she switched to a real scalpel.
"Kitazawa."
Shizune made another small incision with the scalpel—blood instantly gushed out.
Kitazawa didn't even flinch. The moment she spoke, he activated the Blood Coagulation jutsu without hesitation.
Watching nearby, Yakushi Nonō blinked in surprise.
Whoa… that level of control?
She clearly remembered Tsunade saying Kitazawa had only been learning medical ninjutsu for two weeks.
This kind of natural ability was rare—even for the ninja world.
Delicate Illness Extraction!
Once the bleeding stopped, Shizune formed hand signs. Soft green chakra poured into the wound.
Yugao's body trembled slightly, letting out a low groan of pain.
A minute later, a glob of dark, tar-like fluid floated up from the wound and dropped into a bowl of clean water.
"Pass me the antidote."
After repeating the procedure for a while, Shizune held out her hand.
Kitazawa quickly handed her the medicine.
Shizune poured the clear liquid into the wound, and slowly, the black discoloration faded. The pale tone of Yugao's skin returned. Her abdomen regained its healthy glow.
"Kitazawa, Healing Jutsu."
Shizune set the bottle down.
Once again, green light glowed from Kitazawa's palms. Under his chakra, the wound on Yugao's abdomen gradually closed up.
"Nice work, both of you."
Nonō gave a warm smile. "The surgery was a success."
She opened the doors. Two nurses wheeled the unconscious Yugao toward her assigned room.
"Kitazawa," Shizune wiped her forehead, "did you catch everything I did during the extraction technique?"
Even she was feeling the strain after using it for over ten minutes.
"Yeah, I got it, Shizune-senpai," he nodded.
"Nonō-senpai," Shizune turned toward her, "do we have any training dummies available?"
She meant simulation models, not real patients.
"You want him to jump straight into practice?" Nonō asked, clearly surprised.
That's a B-rank medical jutsu. Shouldn't he study theory first?
"He's talented enough to skip some steps," Shizune sighed.
Geniuses really are frustrating sometimes.
Nonō understood what she meant. She glanced at Kitazawa, then left the room.
Moments later, she returned pushing a life-sized medical dummy.
Kitazawa eyed it curiously.
It looked almost real, with flesh and muscle-like details.
"It's filled with animal tissue," Nonō explained. "I've already injected poison into the abdomen."
"Give it a try, Kitazawa," Shizune said, stepping aside.
"Alright."
Kitazawa pressed his hands on the dummy's stomach.
Green chakra lit up almost immediately.
Shizune's mouth twitched.
She knew he was quick, but even she wasn't ready for him to pick up a B-rank jutsu that fast. It was kind of freaky.
"…Unbelievable," Nonō muttered. She was stunned.
It had taken her half a month to even scratch the surface of that jutsu.
"Didn't work. Too bad," Kitazawa said as the green light faded.
"Honestly, getting that far on your first try is better than most," Nonō added after a pause.
"Don't mind him," Shizune said dryly. "That's just how he is."
After weeks of training, she knew Kitazawa's personality by heart. Normally calm, sometimes a bit... eccentric.
"I've got stuff to do. I'll leave you two to it," Nonō smiled gently and left.
With Tsunade gone so often, she handled most of the hospital's responsibilities.
"Keep going," Shizune said, leaning against the wall, arms crossed.
Kitazawa glanced at her.
Compared to Tsunade pulling the same pose, this one was way less... dramatic.
"What are you looking at?" Shizune raised an eyebrow. "Feels like you're thinking something inappropriate."
"Not at all," he said casually. "I was just wondering… where your pig went."
"…Tonton? She's at home," Shizune blinked. "Kinda hard to bring her into surgery."
Kitazawa looked away and resumed his practice.
…
9 PM
As the night wore on, it hit 9 o'clock.
"That's enough for today." Shizune yawned. "Come back tomorrow."
"Sure," Kitazawa replied. "Tomorrow's the final exam. I'll swing by in the afternoon."
"Afternoon, huh?" Shizune bit her lip. "Alright, that works."
It wasn't that she didn't want to teach him—she was just worried about Tsunade gambling without someone to keep her in check.
Still, this was Konoha. What could possibly go wrong?
"Let's go find Tsunade-sama."
They returned to the office.
"She's already left," Nonō said helplessly. "I'm guessing she's at the casino."
As much as she respected Tsunade, her gambling habit made things difficult.
"Let's go!" Shizune spun around and rushed out.
Kitazawa followed quickly.
They arrived at the casino just as a ruckus broke out nearby.
"Stop right there! Pay your debt!"
Two guards were chasing a surprisingly agile old lady.
"…Tsunade-sama?" Kitazawa asked, blinking.
"That's her," Shizune groaned.
"Should we pay off her debt?" he asked, trying not to laugh.
"No need," Shizune replied dryly. "She's already drowning in IOUs anyway."
"So what do we do now?"
Kitazawa watched Tsunade disappear down the street.
"We wait," Shizune said like it was routine. "Won't take her long to shake them off."
"Shizune-senpai, you've got it tough."
"You're telling me…" Shizune nearly teared up.
Life had been one chaotic mess ever since she started following Tsunade.
Honestly, Kitazawa's return to the village was the only peaceful thing that had happened in years.
"Ugh, those guys are so annoying! I always pay eventually!"
A familiar figure dropped from above—Tsunade in high heels, landing like a boss.
Kitazawa flinched slightly. The visual impact of her landing was... intense.
"How'd training go today?" she asked.
"Pretty well," Kitazawa replied after thinking a moment.
"Good!" Tsunade grinned and waved. "Let's go home!"
…
Since it was exam day, Class 1-A showed up early.
"Hey, Naruto."
Kiba turned around. "Did you study at all?"
"Nope."
Naruto shook his head. "I've been training every afternoon—no time for review."
"Perfect."
Kiba smirked. "Guess I'll be beating you again."
"I thought you were checking on him," Ino rolled her eyes.
"Hey, this is how I show concern!" Kiba said proudly. "Loser's buying lunch, remember?"
"You can cram for written tests," Naruto grinned, "but not for sparring. I'll win the practical and pass you easily."
He still hadn't forgotten losing to Kiba last time.
"First place? That's me and Sasuke's!"
Sakura marched up, arms on her hips.
She topped the written test. Sasuke was king of practicals.
"Not so fast," Ino shot back. "Kitazawa-sensei's special training wasn't just for you two."
"So what?" Sakura raised her chin. "Bring it on."
"Let's bet, then."
Ino's eyes gleamed. "Loser buys the winner a dress."
"Are you serious?"
Sakura looked stunned.
"Dead serious. You in?" Ino flicked her hair back.
"Of course I'm in! There's no way anyone else is taking first!"
Ino glanced at Shikamaru, dozing at his desk.
She really doesn't know how dangerous a genius can be.
She only made the bet because Kitazawa told Shikamaru he had to place in the top ten—or spend summer break in boot camp.
Lazy or not, he'd have to turn on that big brain of his.
It was a guaranteed win.
And hey, they were besties. What's a little wager?
"Sasuke, what do you think?"
Sakura turned to him.
I'd use my Sharingan… if I had it yet.
"We'll find out soon enough," Sasuke replied calmly.
"Exactly!"
Sakura sparkled.
"She's a lost cause…" Ino muttered.
Shino adjusted his glasses quietly. This practical exam would be his chance to show that the Aburame clan wasn't to be underestimated.
…
9:00 AM
Kitazawa entered the classroom with a stack of papers.
The room instantly went silent.
"Same rules as usual. No need to repeat them. Let's get started."
He began handing out the exams row by row.
Once he finished, he returned to the front and opened his own test—he had to take it too, due to mission protocol.
A quick scan of the content:
Will of Fire, Konoha history, traps, intel, and math. All of it very familiar. Even if he didn't write the questions, he'd seen them plenty of times.
~~~
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