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Kaito glanced up at the clock on the wall. The hands pointed to sometime later in the afternoon. "It's about time for Hitori to get here," he thought. He then headed over to the kitchen grabbing the kettle from the counter, walked over to the sink, and filled it with water before placing it on the stove.
He twisted the knob, and the stove flickered to life, the flame beginning to heat the kettle. Soon, the water inside would start to boil.
///////DING!\\\\\\\\\
Just as Kaito was about to sit down, the doorbell rang. He let out a little sigh and got back up. "Finally, the guy's here."
He walked over and pulled the door open. Standing there was Hitori, his black hair falling over his eyes, making it almost impossible to tell what he was thinking. His expression was unreadable, as always. Unlike his usual uniform he'd have to wear, today he wore a simple white T-shirt, black shorts, and sandals—with white socks, of course.
"Afternoon, Kaito. You ready?" Hitori asked, his tone casual.
Kaito grinned and gave him a quick nod. "Yep. Been ready."
Hitori nodded and stepped inside the small apartment, his gaze briefly sweeping over the space before settling on the low wooden table. He then headed over to the table and lowered himself onto the floor, sitting cross-legged as he made himself comfortable. Kaito followed suit, settling down across from him.
"So, Kaito, how's school been going?" Hitori asked, trying to break the ice.
Kaito shrugged, leaning back on his hands. "It was alright, I guess. First day, so nothing too crazy. Just introductions and some basic exercises."
Hitori smirked. "Sounds about right. No surprises?"
Kaito shook his head. "Not really. Just a bunch of kids sizing each other up, trying to see who's the strongest."
In this world, strength is everything. Without it, you're nothing—just another forgotten soul, treated like garbage. The original Kaito was bullied simply because he was weak. That's just how things work here. It's always been the same. Your worth is decided by your status and what you can offer. In his old world, money dictated everything—without it, you were invisible. In this world, it's power. Without chakra or strength, you're just as insignificant.
Hitori chuckled. "That's the academy for you." He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. "Well, today we're focusing on something different. I'm going to teach you how to extract poison."
Kaito blinked. "Poison?"
Poison wasn't something he was particularly excited about, but he saw the value in learning how to extract it. There could come a time when he'd be poisoned, and knowing this jutsu might be the only thing that could save his life.
Kaito sat up straighter, now fully paying attention. "Alright. So where do we start?"
Hitori pulled a small pouch from his side and set it on the table, untying the string and revealing a few small vials of liquid. "First, we'll go over the different types of poisons. Some hit the nervous system, some cause paralysis, and some block Tenketsu points, cutting off chakra flow. If you don't know what you're dealing with, you won't know how to counter it."
Kaito eyed the vials with interest. "And after that?"
Hitori reached into the pouch again, pulling out a small, thin needle. "Then, I'll teach you how to extract poison."
Kaito swallowed but grinned anyway. "Alright. Let's do this."
Hitori nodded and ran through a quick set of hand signs. A puff of smoke popped in the middle of the table. When it cleared, a scroll sat there, covered in Japanese letters, with a small fish with silver scales at the center of it.
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "A fish? Why do we need a fish?"
Hitori scratched his cheek, looking slightly confused. "You didn't learn this at the Academy?"
Kaito started blankly at him. "I don't take extracurriculars, so how would I know?" he shot back. He knew the Academy had optional courses—some even covered medical ninjutsu—but nothing at the level Hitori could teach.
It was like starting kindergarten and only learning the basics. Kaito already had the Academy's curriculum down. If he wanted, he could probably graduate now, but there was no rush.
He needed this time to train, though balancing that with two jobs wasn't easy. To make room, he cut back on double shifts, sticking to weekends and the occasional weekday. Even if the academy wasn't teaching him anything new or important, it gave him the opportunity to spend most of his time training and planning for the future.
Hitori spoke up. "Then I'll explain." His eyes shifted to the fish in the middle of the table. "We're using a fish today as a practice dummy. It's been poisoned with a weak dose, so it should be easier to extract.
"Kaito gave a quiet nod, glancing between the fish and the pouch of vials. "So, what are those?" He pointed at them, a bit confused.
Hitori looked down at the vials, then back at Kaito. "Poison and medicinal fluid. But not the kind of poison that'll kill you in an hour—or even a few minutes. These take effect after a year or so. That's when the symptoms start to show."
Kaito's brows furrowed into a unibrow. "Lame… I thought it'd be something more badass." He scoffed, looking disappointed.
"We're not allowed to have poisons like that," Hitori said. "It's strictly forbidden by the village. If someone got their hands on something that strong, they could wipe out the entire village without even lifting a finger."
Kaito shrugged. "Makes sense…" He agreed but was still somewhat disappointed. He'd been hoping to get his hands on a few vials—maybe even figure out how to replicate them for an infinite supply.
"Alright, let's get started," Hitori said.
Kaito nodded, giving him the go-ahead.
"To extract poison is fairly simple. Since you've already got the Mystical Palm jutsu down, you should be able to handle the jutsu's needed for this." Hitori raised his right palm and held up two fingers. "There are two jutsu's needed to extract poison," Hitori said. "First is the Chakra Scalpel Justu, and second is the Delicate Illness Extraction Justu. Both are B-rank, so they're not easy, but with your chakra control, it should be slightly less difficult." He paused, tilting his head slightly. "That said, this isn't something you'll master in a day. Or even a month. Are you ready to put in that time, or would you rather learn something else?"
Kaito rubbed his chin, thinking it over. "Honestly? I'm up for the challenge. And the payoff is worth it—two B-rank jutsu's before I even become a genin? How could I turn that down?" He grinned and threw up a big thumbs-up.
Hitori smiled slightly and gave a satisfied nod. "Alright, we'll start with the first jutsu. I'll demonstrate it first, like always, then you'll give it a try."
Kaito just nodded and allowed him to continue.
Hitori's fingers flexed once before settling into a precise seal. "Watch closely," he said.
A faint glow of chakra formed around his entire hand, flickering before solidifying into a sharp, defined layer. It extended just past his fingertips, giving his hand a blade-like edge. He turned it slightly, letting Kaito see the shape clearly. "This is the Chakra Scalpel Jutsu," he said. "It allows for precise incisions without the need for a physical tool. In surgery, it's used to cut through tissue cleanly without damaging surrounding areas. With enough control, you can make incisions without even breaking the outer skin."
Kaito's eyes widened slightly in realization, but quickly gathered himself. "So… does that mean it bypasses the skin and cuts straight into the tissue?"
Hitori gave a small nod. "If used properly, yes. "
Kaito's fingers twitched slightly as he thought it over. ' So that means if combined with my fighting style, it will allow me to cut internally just from a single touch. Blocks, counters, strikes—I'd be hitting tendons, muscles, slicing them, weakening them. And if I land a clean hit to the core… I could slice their heart, guts, any internal organ. Better than Gentle Fist. Maybe even more dangerous than Frog Kumite. And if I refine it enough… I could cut directly through the tenketsu points. '
His lips curled slightly. ' Interesting. '
Kaito leaned in, watching the way the chakra clung to Hitori's hand. "So, it's basically a chakra scalpel in the literal sense."
"Exactly," Hitori said. "But it's not just about forming the blade. Control is everything. Too much chakra, and you'll cut too deep. Too little, and you won't make a clean incision." The glow around his hand faded as he released the Jutsu. "Your turn."
Kaito took a breath, bringing his hands together. The Mystical Palm jutsu came naturally to him by now, but this was different. Instead of flowing outward to heal, the chakra needed to be condensed, shaped, refined. He focused, feeling his chakra gather around his hand.
"Good," Hitori murmured. "Now sharpen it. Think of a scalpel—thin, controlled, and precise. The chakra should wrap around your hand evenly."
Kaito gritted his teeth. The chakra flickered, shifting between stable and unstable. He adjusted the flow, trying to mold it properly, but it kept slipping.
Hitori leaned forward, observing. "You're forcing it too much. Let the chakra shape itself naturally. Guide it, don't push it."
Kaito appreciated Hitori's advice, but it didn't make things any easier. There was no way he'd get the jutsu right on the first try—let alone maintain it. He might be able to pull it off for a moment, but keeping it stable? That was another thing entirely. He wasn't even sure he had the chakra for it.
He exhaled, loosening his grip on his chakra. Maybe instead of coating his whole palm with chakra, he could focus it on just his fingertips. Less area, less strain. It'd be easier to control and wouldn't drain him as fast. Even just trying to activate the jutsu had burned through his reserves like crazy. Well, it was a B-rank technique for a reason.
He let the chakra flow out of his palms and redirected it to his fingertips. Smaller focus, easier execution. If he got used to the feeling now, he could work up to the full jutsu later. One step at a time.
A faint glow of chakra formed around his index finger. Slowly, he flicked his wrist, sharpening his chakra into a fine, scalpel-like edge. It wavered, flickering between stable and unstable, but after a few seconds, he locked it in place.
"Phew..." Kaito exhaled, staring at the tip of his finger.
Across the table, Hitori sat in silence, watching. Then, after a moment, he nodded. "Huh. Never thought of doing it that way first. But it works." he said with a small, approving smile.
Kaito let the chakra fade from his fingertip and dropped onto his back, his eyes facing up at the ceiling. His chest rose and fell as he worked to control his breathing.
After a moment of catching his breath, he pushed himself up, turning back to Hitori. " I got it… but it still drains my chakra like crazy," he said, pressing a hand to his head.
"Yeah… you're still an Academy student. Your chakra reserves aren't where they need to be yet," Hitori said. Then, after a beat, he added, "But honestly? The fact that you can even pull that off is honestly shocking. "
Kaito shrugged. He'd figured as much. His progress had been fast, but hearing someone else say it just confirmed it. "Really? You think so? Then you think I have a chance at becoming a medical nin?" Kaito grinned, his smile stretching from ear to ear.
Hitori nodded. "Yeah, most definitely… but if I'm being honest, with your growth, you'd be better off in the combat field. Your skills would be put to better use there." His tone was matter-of-fact, and he wasn't wrong. But Kaito had never planned on becoming a medical nin in the first place.
"Combat? Nah." Kaito shook his head. "I'm not that type of person. I hate the sight of blood, and hurting people doesn't sound fun to me. Being a medical nin is safer… and it lets me help people."
Hitori stayed quiet for a moment, letting Kaito's words settle in. Then, with a simple nod, he asked, "I don't think I ever asked you this before… but other than being safe, why do you want to be a medical nin?"
Kaito tilted his head, rubbing his chin. "When I was younger, both my parents died due to the Kyuubi attack. I ended up in an orphanage, and had to figure things out on my own…" His voice trailed off for a second before he let out a small breath. "I guess if I'd known some kind of medical ninjutsu back then, maybe I could've saved them." His usual grin faded into a slight frown.
Hitori raised both hands waving them in a mock surrender. "Didn't mean to hit a sore spot. Sorry to hear that."
"It's okay... I've come to accept it as the will of the world," Kaito said. "But now, I want to learn medical ninjutsu to help others—so nobody has to go through what I did."
Hitori sat there, quiet. He wasn't sure what to say to that. After a moment, he exhaled. "Since you were willing to share something so important, I guess it's only fair I tell you why I tried to kil—"
Kaito raised a hand, stopping him. "No. I didn't tell you that to get something in return. I told you because it's how I feel. It's the truth." His voice was steady. "I don't want your pity. And I don't want you forcing yourself to tell me something you're not ready for. I can tell you're still scared to say it. So when the time comes—when you're ready—I'll be here. And I'll listen."
Hitori froze for a moment. Then, slowly, he nodded.
Kaito smiled. "So, what's next?"
"Uh, yeah," Hitori said, snapping back to focus. "Next, you use the Chakra Scalpel to make an incision where the poison is." He pointed at a purple spot on the fish's silver scales. "There. Make the cut right over that spot."
Kaito nodded. He brought his glowing fingertip close to the mark, hovering just above it. Then, with a careful push forward, his chakra cut into the fish's scales, leaving a small incision. Slowly, he guided his finger downward, slicing the skin open.
Hitori watched closely. "Good… really good, actually. It's like you've done this before. You have steady hands."
"...Thanks, but it's my first time," Kaito said, slipping his hands into his pockets as he released the Chakra Scalpel Jutsu.
"Really?" Hitori raised a brow. "Well, that was perfect for a first try." He gave Kaito a satisfied nod. "Good job today. We'll continue the lesson tomorrow—since you've used too much chakra already."
Kaito exhaled, relieved. He was feeling drained, and hearing that was all the excuse he needed. "Alright," he said. Then his eyes drifted to the fish. "What about that?"
" Oh yeah... " Hitori stood up, forming the rat seal with his hands. A second later, a puff of smoke rose from the table. When it cleared, both the scroll and the fish were gone.
"You really need to teach me that… Isn't that Fūinjutsu?" Kaito asked. Right now, he had no way of learning it himself, but if Hitori could do it, then maybe he could teach him something.
"Uh… I can't," Hitori admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "I just bought the scroll from a shop, and the keeper showed me how to use it." He shrugged. "Sorry."
Kaito sighed. "It's fine. I'll learn it another day." He pushed himself up from the floor. "Come on, I'll show you out."
Hitori nodded and headed for the door. Kaito followed, and once Hitori stepped outside, he closed the door behind him.
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