"Still," Sasuke said lightly, "you can see my situation. I don't really have access to medical ninjutsu yet. So I thought I'd start with ordinary medicine."
His tone sat between honesty and convenience.
Kabuto blinked, as if the idea had only just settled. He adjusted his glasses, eyes drifting aside in thought.
"I know a little about medical ninjutsu," he said at last. "If you don't mind, Sasuke-kun, I could teach you some basics."
The offer came gently. Too gently. Like a senior helping a junior out of pure goodwill.
Sasuke paused, just long enough.
"You do?" he asked, faint surprise touching his face.
"Just a little," Kabuto replied with a modest smile. "My mother once served as head of Konoha's medical division. I picked up some things from her."
That explanation fit cleanly into his public record. No lies. Just omissions.
"I see." Sasuke nodded, then hesitated, as if weighing something. "But you're a shinobi now. Won't missions keep you busy?"
"It's fine," Kabuto said easily. "I'm still a genin. Mostly low-risk work near the village. I have plenty of free time."
Sasuke didn't bother pretending reluctance any longer.
"Then," he said, "I'll be in your care, Kabuto-senpai."
"Happy to help."
Kabuto extended his hand. Sasuke took it.
Their handshake was firm. Polite. Perfectly ordinary.
Both of them smiled.
Two years later.
Training Ground Seven, near the lake.
Sakura stood at the center of the water, feet steady despite the rushing current beneath her. The surface churned and splashed around her ankles, but where her chakra spread, the chaos flattened into calm.
Her green eyes fixed forward.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Her hands moved. Four seals. Clean. Sharp.
Behind her, the lake surged upward, coiling into the shape of a roaring water dragon. It thundered across the surface and plunged forward.
The impact detonated.
Water erupted skyward as if a massive charge had gone off beneath the lake. Waves crashed outward, wind and spray tearing across the shore. Even Sakura felt droplets spatter her face.
When the lake finally stilled, an elderly man on the bank nodded in satisfaction.
"Well done," Maruboshi Kosuke said warmly. "You've mastered it."
Sakura let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, a smile breaking through.
"But," Kosuke continued, "do you know why it took you nearly two months?"
She shook her head.
"Because that wasn't an ordinary Water Dragon Bullet," he said, pride slipping into his voice. "It's the version the Second Hokage refined himself."
Sakura's eyes widened.
"The Second Hokage?"
Kosuke nodded. "The standard technique relies on overwhelming force. This one compresses chakra instead. Four hand seals instead of dozens. Stronger impact. And it drains chakra on contact. By classification, it's closer to an A-rank technique."
Sakura stared at the lake, awed.
"And the Water Formation Wall you taught me before…" she began.
"Yes," Kosuke said, smiling. "Also his."
Her chest tightened with excitement. The thought settled in her heart, bright and stubborn.
When her excitement faded, Kosuke stepped closer.
"Sakura," he said, "there isn't much more I can pass on. You'll graduate in a month."
He paused.
"I'll teach you the only S-rank water technique the Second Hokage entrusted to me."
Her breath caught.
"Watch carefully," Kosuke said.
"Water Release: Severing Wave."
Behind Konoha, in the hills.
"Leaf Strong Whirlwind!"
Naruto slammed his foot into the ground. The earth cracked in a five-meter radius, stone splitting under the shock.
His legs coiled, released, and he shot forward like a launched weapon.
The spinning kick struck a low hill.
The explosion pulverized it.
Rock and debris scattered in every direction. One massive chunk soared dozens of meters into the air.
Naruto clenched his fist, grinning.
"All right."
He tilted his head up, eyes narrowing.
"Next…"
"Leaf Taijutsu Secret Art: Dragon God."