Thinking of this, Souma couldn't help feeling a rush of excitement.
Only after a long breath did he steady himself.
It wasn't the time to get carried away.
The Bodhi Seed was indeed powerful, but every benefit it offered still depended on his own effort.
He absolutely couldn't settle for small gains and lose sight of the bigger goal.
And remembering his fight with Guy-sensei made that clearer than ever—
Even when Guy restricted his strength, Souma still had to strategize carefully.
Against someone like Uchiha Madara?
He was far, far too weak.
He slipped out the window, picked up the medicine pouch he brought, and headed home.
Training!
Deep in the shadows, the Third Hokage observed and finally sighed in relief.
In times like these—when the world wasn't as turbulent as during the previous war but uncertainty still brewed—a genius like Souma was both a blessing and a worry.
What he feared most was a boy becoming arrogant too early.
But Souma was steady.
Even after creating multiple jutsu and medicine formulas, he remained humble, diligent, and hungry to improve.
"Truly rare…" Hiruzen murmured.
But that raised a new dilemma.
He'd already granted Souma full access to his private library.
Now Souma had offered another valuable technique—the strengthening bath formula.
What reward could possibly match that?
Money?
Meaningless.
The boy was already set financially with the support of the hospital, the Medical Corps, and the clans involved.
Rank?
He wasn't even a genin yet—Hiruzen couldn't promote him out of nowhere without causing uproar.
After much thought, he called for Kakashi.
"Kakashi, you must have heard about the strengthening bath formula?"
"I have. Shame I couldn't get any."
Kakashi nodded.
He'd checked the line in front of the hospital earlier—saw the sea of people—and immediately decided it wasn't worth fighting a crowd for a dose.
But why was the Hokage bringing this up to him?
He tilted his head, confused.
Hiruzen sighed and explained,
"I'm troubled about how to reward him. Money won't move him at all."
Kakashi thought for a moment before speaking.
"He's been learning swordsmanship lately.
Hokage-sama could let him read the Second Hokage's sword notes.
He'd be thrilled."
"Oh? He's interested in swordsmanship?"
Hiruzen truly hadn't known.
He possessed the Telescope Technique—but it wasn't a surveillance tool. He didn't watch Souma's every minute; just checked occasionally.
Hearing this, he nodded.
"If he's interested, giving him swordsmanship is no problem—ah… I see what you mean."
Hiruzen laughed at himself and rubbed his forehead.
"Old age really dulls the mind. Yes—give him the notes, not the techniques.
Give him finished sword styles, and it would only limit his creativity."
"Exactly, Hokage-sama."
If Souma were ordinary, handing him a completed technique like Crescent Moon Dance would be ideal.
But Souma was the kind of genius who independently developed a proto-Rasengan.
He didn't need finished answers—he needed the building blocks.
"Classes will be assigned in two days.
Deliver the notes to him then.
And read them yourself as well—don't let your swordsmanship rust."
Hiruzen said, then ordered an attendant to bring the Second Hokage's sword notes and handed them to Kakashi.
"Oh—and take these two packs of medicine too.
For an old man like me, they won't do much, but for someone like you… useful.
If you don't need them, give them to your future students."
Kakashi accepted them respectfully.
"Hokage-sama, I'm willing to test them, but if those kids can't pass my evaluation, I will send them back to the Academy."
"Of course."
Hiruzen reassured him.
This was why he trusted Kakashi—intelligent, principled, capable.
Two days wasn't long.
The medicine's effects spread quickly—and Souma's home became a warzone the next morning.
With the hospital constantly sold out, villagers flocked to him hoping to buy directly.
Unable to deal with them, Souma escaped out the window.
Fortunately, stealth was a mandatory skill for any ninja-to-be.
At least none of them noticed him fleeing.
Just as he landed—
"Souma-kun—! Umf—!"
"Shh—don't make a sound.
Come on, move!"
Souma covered Moonlight Kasumi's mouth and dragged her away.
She nodded frantically, pointing to herself to show she wouldn't shout again.
Only then did Souma release her.
She laughed quietly behind her hand.
Souma sighed.
Yesterday she could barely look me in the eye.
Today she's crouching under my window?
Her courage's leveling up too fast…
He gave her a confused look.
"I—I didn't mean anything bad. I heard you were surrounded, so I came to check."
"It's fine.
But—what did you mean yesterday by 'please take care of me'?"
He looked her over.
"Ah—um—I forgot to say…
My father told me I might be assigned to your team…
S-so he wants me to get used to you first.
I'm sorry!"
Kasumi bowed again and again.
Souma blinked.
Oh.
So yesterday wasn't about medicine—it was a team assignment pre-meeting?!
The world's clumsiest attempt at making acquaintances…
Well.
No need to expose her.
"It's fine. I'm glad to get to know you.
Let's go—this isn't the place to talk."
With everything said, Souma stopped overthinking.
The only thing that mattered was strength.
"I'm going to train. Want to come?"
He hopped off the tree and headed toward his usual training spot.
"Y-yes!"
Kasumi followed.
After running for a while, they ran into Tenten.
Originally, Tenten wasn't planning to join them—but when she saw Kasumi…
Their training group suddenly grew again.
Rock Lee also thought about joining—
but after watching the suffocating atmosphere between the two girls for a minute,
He quietly changed direction and ran away.
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