The patient this time was Yuhi Shinku.
In Konoha, his name carried considerable weight.
He was a famous Genjutsu Jonin, widely respected for his skill and experience. Many young ninja admired him, and countless Genin and Chunin regarded him as a role model.
Unfortunately, even someone like him was not immune to danger.
During a recent mission, Shinku had used Genjutsu to restrain his enemy, successfully trapping the opponent's consciousness. Just as he prepared to deliver the finishing blow, the enemy—clearly experienced—forcefully disrupted the illusion and counterattacked.
A poisoned senbon struck its mark.
This was precisely the inherent weakness of ordinary Genjutsu ninja.
No matter how refined one's Genjutsu was, as long as the enemy had sufficient combat experience and a clear mind, there was always a chance to resist, counter, or escape.
Even a Genjutsu Jonin was no exception.
By contrast, the Genjutsu of the Uchiha Clan was an entirely different matter.
The Sharingan was the ultimate expression of Yin Release.
Its illusions were not merely techniques—they directly interfered with the opponent's perception and consciousness at a fundamental level.
Once trapped, even if the enemy realized they were under Genjutsu, breaking free without outside interference was extremely difficult.
That was why the ninja world had a saying:
When facing a Sharingan user—
one-on-one, flee.
Two-on-one, aim for the heart from behind.
And if a ninja awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and unlocked Tsukuyomi, the terror multiplied.
Genjutsu alone could destroy an enemy's spirit.
In the records of the ninja world, Kakashi Hatake being struck by Uchiha Itachi's Tsukuyomi and immediately hospitalized was one of the most vivid examples of bloodline supremacy.
That was the harsh reality of this world.
Fortunately, Yuhi Shinku's teammates were highly capable. They reacted immediately, suppressed the enemy, and rushed him back to Konoha Hospital.
Otherwise, the outcome might have been far worse.
---
"Scalpel."
Aosui's calm, steady voice rang out in the operating room.
Without hesitation, the nurse beside him placed the surgical instrument into his hand.
Aosui's expression was focused as he carefully cut open the affected area where the poison had spread. His movements were precise, practiced, and unhurried.
Immediately afterward, chakra flowed from his palm.
He activated the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique.
This technique specialized in removing toxins, parasites, and foreign substances from the body while minimizing harm to surrounding tissues. Under Aosui's control, the poison was slowly drawn out, forced along predetermined pathways, and expelled from Shinku's system.
"Apply the medicine," Aosui instructed.
The nurse moved quickly.
With the most dangerous step completed, the rest of the operation proceeded smoothly.
Within minutes, the surgery was finished.
Shinku's breathing stabilized, and the dark discoloration around the wound gradually faded.
The operation was a complete success.
A familiar mechanical voice echoed in Aosui's mind.
---
[Completed the treatment of Yuhi Shinku.]
[Reward: One Golden Orb.]
[Congratulations on acquiring: Demonic Illusion — Tree Binding Death.]
---
Aosui stopped in place.
His expression stiffened.
"…Tree Binding Death?"
This was the same Genjutsu he had already obtained before.
For a brief moment, Aosui felt a flicker of disappointment.
A duplicate reward?
Was this orb wasted?
Before that thought could fully form, the system's voice sounded again.
---
[Duplicate reward detected.]
[Converting duplicate into proficiency enhancement.]
[Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death proficiency increased.]
[Current proficiency: Skilled Level.]
---
Aosui's eyes lit up.
"So that's how it works…"
Duplicate rewards weren't useless after all. Instead of being wasted, they were converted directly into proficiency increases.
That made perfect sense.
After all, mastering a technique wasn't just about learning it—it was about repeated use and deeper understanding.
The system was simply accelerating that process.
As Aosui walked back toward his office, reflecting on this discovery, he wasn't paying close attention to his surroundings.
Thump.
He collided with someone small.
"Ouch!"
A tiny figure stumbled backward and fell onto the floor.
"I—I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!"
Before Aosui could even speak, the little girl had already apologized, bowing repeatedly despite having been the one knocked over.
Aosui was momentarily stunned.
Then he smiled.
"It's alright. I wasn't watching where I was going either."
He quickly bent down and helped her up.
The girl was very small, barely reaching his waist. Her black hair was neatly tied, and her eyes—faintly red—were wide with worry.
"Little sister," Aosui asked gently,
"where are your parents?"
"My dad was injured and sent to the hospital," she replied anxiously.
"I just got the news at the Academy, so I rushed over."
"What's your father's name?" Aosui asked.
"I can take you to him."
"Yuhi Shinku."
Aosui paused.
Then he looked at her more carefully.
Those faintly red eyes.
That familiar facial structure.
A memory surfaced.
"…So that's it."
This little girl was Yuhi Kurenai.
She must have only just entered the Ninja Academy.
The mature, elegant woman Aosui remembered from the future was now nothing more than a small, polite, incredibly cute child.
Time really was cruel—and amusing.
"What a coincidence," Aosui said with a smile.
"I was the one who treated your father. He's fine now."
"I'll take you to see him."
"R—Really?!"
Kurenai's eyes widened.
Relief washed over her face so quickly that it was almost visible.
"That's great!"
She had been terrified ever since she heard the news. During lunch break, she had run all the way here without stopping.
That panic was the reason she had bumped into Aosui earlier.
Aosui gently took her small hand and led her toward the ward.
---
"Dad!"
"Kurenai?"
Yuhi Shinku looked shocked when he saw his daughter.
Kurenai quickly explained everything.
After listening, Shinku turned to Aosui with sincere gratitude.
"Thank you for your trouble, Hirakawa-kun."
"It was nothing," Aosui replied.
"Please rest well."
As he turned to leave, Kurenai bowed deeply.
"Big Brother, thank you!"
Aosui chuckled, reached out, and gently patted her head.
She was polite, well-mannered, and adorable.
"Be a good student," he said warmly.
Then he returned to his office.
---
With no urgent patients at the moment, Aosui took out the Chakra Scalpel scroll once more.
To win the bet against Tsunade, confidence alone wasn't enough.
He had to use every spare moment.
Soon, the workday ended.
Aside from Yuhi Shinku, the remaining patients that day were all Genin and Chunin.
This was perfectly normal.
The war had ended, and the village was currently enjoying a period of peace.
For Jonin-level ninja, serious injuries were rare unless they encountered exceptional circumstances.
Aosui glanced at his system panel.
---
[Chakra: D-Rank (1170 / 10000)]
---
"Not bad."
"I increased my chakra by 350 points today."
"Breaking a thousand already…"
In just two days, his chakra had more than doubled.
At this rate, becoming a chakra monster was only a matter of time.
After work, Aosui headed to his usual training ground and officially began practicing the Chakra Scalpel.
He couldn't practice inside the hospital—patients might require treatment at any moment, and depleting his chakra there would be irresponsible.
He formed hand seals carefully.
Boar — Ox — Tiger — Rat — Horse — Monkey — Sheep.
Seven hand seals.
Chakra gathered in his right hand.
A faint glow appeared.
Gradually, a thin, blade-like mass of chakra formed along his fingers.
This step alone was not difficult.
But forming the chakra blade was only the first stage.
The true essence of the Chakra Scalpel lay in control.
It was meant to cut inside the body without damaging the surface.
It could even precisely sever nerves.
That level of finesse was what made it an A-rank Medical Ninjutsu.
Aosui took out a fish he had prepared beforehand.
Holding it steady with his left hand, he pressed his chakra blade against its body.
In an instant—
The fish was sliced cleanly in half.
The cut was smooth.
Instant death.
"…Failure."
Yes.
This was a failure.
The Chakra Scalpel was meant to heal, not butcher.
If used this way on a patient, it would cause catastrophic secondary damage.
That would be putting the cart before the horse.
Aosui wasn't discouraged.
This was an A-rank technique.
Failure was expected.
He adjusted his chakra output, refined his control, and took out a second fish.
Again—the fish was cut in half.
But this time, the cut was narrower.
Progress.
One fish after another.
By the tenth fish, Aosui finally succeeded.
The chakra blade cut internally, damaging tissue without splitting the body apart.
He had completed the second stage.
Sweat dripped from his forehead.
But his eyes were bright.
"Good."
"Very good."
Three days?
No.
He was going to finish this sooner.