"Brother Aomizu, look! I've learned the Healing Technique!"
Kurenai Yuhi's voice rang out with excitement, bright and full of pride.
In front of her, a small fish that had been injured earlier was now swimming energetically in a shallow basin of water. Its wounds had completely closed, and there was no sign it had ever been hurt.
Aomizu, who had just finished guiding another student, turned toward her with a faint smile.
"Not bad, Kurenai," he said warmly. "You did very well."
He never hesitated to praise his students—especially when they truly deserved it.
Encouragement, in his eyes, was just as important as instruction.
Kurenai's face immediately lit up even brighter at his words.
"And Rin, Shizune—you two did excellently as well," Aomizu continued, shifting his gaze.
Standing beside Kurenai, Rin Nohara lowered her head slightly, her expression gentle.
"It's all thanks to Teacher Aomizu," she said modestly.
Shizune nodded in agreement, her eyes full of gratitude.
Aomizu chuckled softly.
"No need to be so humble. Being able to learn it this quickly means you're talented."
At his words, Kurenai nodded vigorously.
"Exactly!" she said, placing her hands on her hips. "Rin, Shizune, you two learned even faster than me. Why are you acting so modest?"
She puffed out her cheeks slightly, deliberately putting on an annoyed expression.
The result only made her look more adorable.
"You should remain modest," Aomizu said calmly.
Kurenai froze.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at him.
It was as if she had just witnessed a trusted ally betray their shared cause.
"Brother Aomizu… you too?!" she exclaimed dramatically.
Seeing her exaggerated reaction, Rin and Shizune couldn't hold back their laughter.
They covered their mouths, giggling softly.
"And you two are laughing too?!"
Kurenai turned toward them, her expression turning into that of an indignant kitten with puffed fur.
For a moment, the training ground was filled with lighthearted laughter.
But where there was joy—
There was also pressure.
Compared to the trio who had mastered the Healing Technique within a single session, the rest of the students were struggling.
Anxiety spread among them.
And as their nervousness grew, their control worsened.
Even those who had nearly grasped the technique earlier began to fail again.
Aomizu noticed this immediately.
"Don't rush," he said, raising his voice slightly to address everyone. "Take it step by step."
He walked among them, offering guidance where needed.
"With your talent, all of you will eventually learn the Healing Technique. There's no need to panic."
His calm tone gradually soothed the tense atmosphere.
Then, turning back to Kurenai and the other two, he added:
"You may have learned the basics, but your proficiency still needs work. Keep practicing."
He paused briefly.
"Next lesson, I'll teach you a new medical ninjutsu."
At those words, Kurenai's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Rin and Shizune also straightened slightly, their interest piqued.
Soon, the lesson came to an end.
Aside from Kurenai, Rin, and Shizune—
No one else had successfully mastered the Healing Technique.
The difference in talent was unmistakable.
Early the next morning,
Aomizu arrived at Konoha Hospital as usual.
Although he now held the position of squad leader within the Medical Division, he still maintained his daily duties.
Clocking in had become a habit.
Not that he needed the salary.
With his current wealth, the wages were insignificant.
But the system rewards tied to his work—
Those were irreplaceable.
"Doctor Aomizu!"
A nurse hurried toward him, knocking lightly on the door of his office.
"A critically injured patient has just arrived. We need you for emergency treatment!"
Aomizu didn't hesitate.
"Understood. Prepare the operating room immediately."
His tone was calm, but his movements were swift.
Outside the operating room,
Two Jonin stood waiting anxiously.
The moment they saw Aomizu, they rushed forward.
"Lord Hirakawa, please save him!"
"Minato… he was injured protecting us!"
Their voices carried urgency—and guilt.
Aomizu met their eyes steadily.
"Don't worry," he said. "Saving lives is my responsibility."
With that, he stepped into the operating room.
On the surgical table lay a young man with blond hair and blue eyes.
His face was pale, his breathing shallow.
Minato Namikaze.
He was unconscious.
The injury on his back was horrifying.
A massive explosion wound had torn through flesh and muscle, exposing bone beneath.
Blood continued to seep from the damaged tissue.
Even among medical ninja, such injuries were considered extremely difficult to treat.
Aomizu's brows furrowed slightly.
"…This is serious."
Minato was already a Jonin.
While he hadn't yet reached the level he would later achieve during the Third Great Ninja War, he was still exceptionally capable.
Even in dangerous situations, he should have been able to escape.
What could have forced him into such a state?
For a fleeting moment, a thought crossed Aomizu's mind—
Could Orochimaru have been involved?
But there was no time to dwell on speculation.
He began treatment immediately.
Chakra gathered in his hands, glowing with a soft green light.
The surgical process began.
Under Aomizu's precise control, damaged tissue was repaired, blood flow stabilized, and bone fragments realigned.
What would have been an impossible task for most became manageable under his expertise.
Still—
It was not easy.
Time passed slowly.
Meanwhile,
At the hospital entrance—
Two figures rushed in.
Yumiko.
And Honoka.
Both had come as soon as they heard the news.
Yumiko's red hair swayed as she hurried forward, her expression filled with panic.
Before she could push into the operating area, a nurse stepped in front of her.
"Please wait! Doctor Aomizu is still in surgery!"
Honoka quickly grabbed her arm.
"Calm down," she said gently. "Aomizu is there. Minato will be fine."
But worry was not something that could be easily suppressed.
Yumiko paced back and forth outside the operating room.
She couldn't sit still.
Her thoughts raced.
If even Aomizu can't heal him…
Her hands clenched.
Then I'll have to break my promise.
She possessed a unique ability—Physical Healing.
A power she had sworn to keep hidden.
Minato knew.
And he had promised never to treat her as a mere tool.
He had even asked Aomizu and the others to protect her secret.
That was why—
Only a few people knew the truth.
Nearby, the two Jonin who had brought Minato stood silently.
After a moment, they approached Yumiko.
"…You're Minato's girlfriend, right?"
Their expressions were heavy with guilt.
"We're sorry."
"He was injured saving us."
Yumiko stopped pacing.
Then shook her head.
"There's no need to apologize."
Her voice was steady, though her eyes remained tense.
"Minato values his comrades."
"No matter how many times it happened…"
"He would make the same choice."
Inside the operating room—
The surgery reached its final stage.
Aomizu exhaled softly.
At that moment—
A familiar voice echoed in his mind.
[Treatment of Minato Namikaze completed. Reward: 1 Gold Orb.]
[Congratulations! You have obtained the Flying Thunder God Technique.]
Aomizu's eyes flickered.
The Flying Thunder God Technique…
An S-rank space-time ninjutsu.
One he had attempted to learn before—but failed.
And now—
He had obtained it directly.
Moreover—
He could use it immediately.
Still, he understood one thing clearly.
Even with the system's assistance—
He could not yet match Minato's mastery.
In this technique, Minato had surpassed even its creator, the Second Hokage.
The title "Yellow Flash" was not given lightly.
Aomizu composed himself and exited the operating room.
The moment the doors opened—
Yumiko rushed forward.
"How is he?!"
The two Jonin followed close behind.
Aomizu raised a hand calmly.
"Relax."
"Minato is out of danger."
"He just needs rest."
"No missions for a while."
For a brief moment—
Silence.
Then—
Yumiko let out a long breath, her shoulders relaxing.
"…Thank you, big brother Aomizu."
The two Jonin also looked visibly relieved.
"That's a huge weight off our minds…"
Aomizu nodded slightly.
Then glanced back toward the operating room.
Minato lay within—
Alive.
Recovering.
And unknowingly—
His signature technique had just changed someone else's future.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)