Having only one eye for several days, he wasn't quite used to having his vision suddenly restored to two eyes.
But.
It's really good to have both eyes!
He looked up at the sky, pondering the words of the Black-Robed Man.
The Uzumaki Masked Man was indeed the 'Fourth Party'.
In addition—
"Itachi, have you awakened as well?"
Shisui gazed at the starry sky, as if Itachi were on the other side of the cosmos.
At this moment, Itachi must be in great pain, making difficult and desperate choices in his heart, especially since the Uchiha are now like a withered tree unable to support itself.
He himself had no way out, let alone Itachi who was now left alone.
"Sigh!"
Shisui let out a long sigh.
Aside from thinking about it, he was powerless now.
However.
There was a possible path.
That Masked Man—
Since the other party was the Fourth Party and also controlled the Village of the Bloody Mist, he must possess very powerful strength or many subordinates.
If he could obtain this person's help, the Uchiha might not necessarily be unable to leave something behind... but.
The fear was that the Black-Robed Man was telling the truth.
If the 'Night of the Nine-Tails' was indeed caused by this person, the probability of the other party screwing over the Uchiha was likely higher than saving them.
Moreover, the current probability of that was very high... Shisui's brow was furrowed as he sighed softly, momentarily at a loss for what to do.
Fortunately, the other party had brought some soldier pills this time.
Although they didn't taste good, they allowed him to survive here without having to go out for The Hunt and cause any disturbances... Inside the house, Masahiko opened his eyes.
"Unprecedentedly smooth..."
"I just don't know if I was tracked by Zetsu."
"Probably not."
But he didn't regret it.
When Masahiko realized that Shisui might have encountered an outsider, he knew he had to go on this trip, otherwise all his previous efforts might be wasted.
Zetsu is very busy; he wouldn't be staring at Shisui every day.
If he really wants to stare... then let him stare.
Anyway, he only sent a Shadow Clone.
Konoha is covered by a vast and sophisticated barrier; Zetsu wouldn't dare to infiltrate openly for the time being.
As for the Ninjutsu, he only used the Water Jellyfish technique to integrate Chakra into the blood; although not common, it wasn't unique to him.
After reviewing tonight's actions, Masahiko closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Waking up the next day, Masahiko habitually glanced at the panel.
He hadn't expected much at first, but—
[Shikotsumyaku (Weak / Bloodline Developing)]
Shikotsumyaku?!!
A look of astonishment appeared on Masahiko's face.
After using the Bloodline Development Card, his constitution had been continuously improving these past few days.
He had thought he might be a distant relative of the Senju or Uzumaki, and even considered whether the Yagyū surname was related to the Uchiha.
The only thing he hadn't considered was Shikotsumyaku.
After all, that was a Bloodline Limit from the Land of Water.
He was actually related to this clan... as for the Hyuga Clan.
Masahiko had also suspected it, but quickly dismissed the idea.
The Hyuga Clan's control over their bloodline was almost perverse; over the years, the only traceable instance was the Kohinata family, with no other records of it leaking out.
On the other hand, Shikotsumyaku.
Because the Kaguya Clan was naturally bellicose, there was no shortage of internal strife, and it was quite common for them to split into many branches.
Masahiko was delighted, but then fell into worry.
Shikotsumyaku is very good.
This thing is a guaranteed Elite Jonin level at minimum; with a bit of effort and risk, relying solely on Shikotsumyaku combined with his ability development, becoming Kage-level wouldn't be too difficult.
Furthermore, Shikotsumyaku is a constitution-type Bloodline Limit; the modification and enhancement of the body are visible to the naked eye.
But this thing has a kekkei sickness!
"Most kekkei sicknesses have traceable causes..."
A strange light flashed in Masahiko's eyes.
If before he was learning Medical Ninjutsu for the sake of Medical Water Release, now he was truly putting some heart into it... The next day.
Kanpō invited Masahiko to dinner in the evening.
Masahiko intended to strengthen his medical studies and research, so naturally, he did not refuse.
After a brief meeting, the two of them headed in different directions.
It was the library of the Konoha Hospital again.
This time, he didn't borrow books on basic Medical Ninjutsu, but instead applied for borrowing privileges related to Bloodline Limits.
Masahiko didn't need to worry about being questioned—
Kurama Yakumo's 'Ido' was, in a sense, also a type of kekkei sickness.
Neither the Hokage nor Danzo would be suspicious because of this; they would only think he was being diligent and responsible.
He read several books... the kekkei sicknesses in the Ninja World were varied and different, but most were caused by some power being too strong, making the body unable to maintain balance.
Shikotsumyaku meant the bones were too strong.
Bone regeneration and abuse could affect other organs and body parts, leading to complications.
Especially since Kimimaro also used a Cursed Seal.
"If Shikotsumyaku isn't abused, the probability of kekkei sickness appearing shouldn't be high."
Masahiko closed the books and his notes.
Just as he was about to return the books, he looked up and saw someone nearby looking hesitant and wavering.
Seeing Masahiko look over, the person quickly bowed respectfully and plucked up the courage to step forward:
"Hello, Teacher Yagyū. My name is Yakushi Kabuto, and I am a Genin who specializes in Medical Ninjutsu."
"Hello."
Masahiko returned the greeting, showing no sign of anything unusual. "Is there something I can help you with?"
Kabuto looked surprised, then hesitated, saying, "I heard that you are a kind and talented teacher. There is something I would like to ask you for advice on."
"I am not the genius you speak of, otherwise I wouldn't have passed the Chunin Exams only this year. However, if you have questions, I will do my best to answer them."
Masahiko smiled warmly, completely without any air of superiority.
Kabuto seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and said with emotion, "You are even more gentle and kind than I expected... It's like this, I'm a 'dead last' who failed the graduation exam three times..."
"It wasn't until this year that I passed the school's graduation exam and became a qualified Genin."
He went on and on about his experiences.
Masahiko nodded gently, not interrupting him.
According to Kabuto's description, his talent was poor, and only his Medical Ninjutsu was decent. Even so, it took him three years to pass the graduation exam.
After being assigned to a team, his teammates wanted to participate in the Chunin Exams this year, but he felt it wasn't stable enough and wanted to withdraw and try again next year... According to Konoha's Chunin Exam rules, all three members of a squad must register to be allowed to take the exam.
Once he withdraws, the other two cannot participate in the Chunin Exams.
If one didn't know Kabuto's background, no one would suspect the boy in front of them, but knowing his history... Masahiko vaguely remembered that the other party was originally 15 years old when he first took the exam.
Up until he was 19, which was when he met Naruto, he still hadn't passed the assessment to become a Chunin.
He looked at Kabuto thoughtfully and said, "I remember, the first time I saw you was in the school library..."
"Yes, I took the opportunity before graduating to borrow a few medical-related books. I was there to return them at that time."
Kabuto lowered his head in shame.
Masahiko smiled warmly and said, "It's harder for people from ordinary backgrounds to get resources and opportunities. You are reasonably using the rules and resources; there's nothing to be ashamed of."
"You really are as kind and gentle a teacher as the rumors say."
Yakushi Kabuto was filled with gratitude.
Masahiko put the book back on the shelf.
"Regarding whether to take the exam, I can't give you advice. After all, there are always a few casualties in the Chunin Exams every year..."
"Yes, that's why I'm playing it safe and think I should wait a few years before taking it."
Kabuto couldn't agree more.
Masahiko smiled and said:
"I can't give you advice, but the Chunin Exams are generally divided into two parts. You can go and take the written test in the first year to see what it's like, get a feel for the atmosphere, and then decide whether to continue."
"To see what it's like?"
Kabuto was stunned for a moment, then bowed deeply. "Thank you for your guidance, I understand!"
"You're welcome."
Masahiko paused slightly and said, "'dead last' and 'genius' are just how the world defines you. Don't be bound by their views; you can firmly follow your own path."
Kabuto, who was still smiling, was slightly shaken at this moment.
Soon, his expression turned to gratitude:
"No one has ever said that to me before... I will think about it carefully. Thank you very much for your guidance!"
"Keep up the good work."
The two of them said their goodbyes, like a chance meeting that couldn't be more normal.