Chapter 22: Making Me Work Overtime, Yet I Have to Thank Him
Since Uchiha Shisui's "death stare" scared off Ao, the Kirigakure on the opposite side seemed to have collectively taken an annual leave; not even a fly had flown over.
For Haruko, this should have been good news.
If only those fellows called "comrades" didn't always stare at him like he was a rare animal.
...
"Yun Yi-kun! Thank you for the medicine that day!"
In a corner of the camp, Inuzuka Hana led the three Gaimaru brothers and bowed sincerely.
If it weren't for the Specialized Blood-Stanching Powder and Blood-Increasing Pills Haruko gave, Gaimaru might not have really pulled through.
Haruko waved his hand: "It was nothing. Medicine is meant to be used once it's bought."
Saving the dog back then was a favor, and if he hadn't, they'd be down a main patrol force, increasing his own risk of being sent on patrol.
"That medicine must be hard to buy, right?" Inuzuka Hana was a bit uneasy. "I want to repay you, but I don't have anything valuable on me..."
Those weren't medicines you'd see on the market; even Jonin might not have them. Given Haruko's circumstances, he must have paid a high price to keep them as a trump card.
Haruko wasn't in a hurry to cash in this favor; Inuzuka Hana really didn't have anything valuable...
'Wait. Doesn't she know Medical Ninjutsu?"
Unlike general Ninjutsu, Medical Ninjutsu is very practical in daily life; besides treating wounds and detoxifying, it can also ripen and preserve food.
Haruko had tried self-teaching but couldn't learn it at all, and he had no way to find someone to teach him.
"Since you're being so polite, teach me some basic Medical Ninjutsu. I also want to be able to save myself at a critical moment."
Inuzuka Hana was stunned for a moment, then nodded vigorously: "No problem! I'll come to teach you during my daily breaks from now on..."
A few days later...
"M-Monster... Have you really never learned this before?"
Looking at the fish that "came back to life" under Haruko's hands, Inuzuka Hana felt her worldview being shaken.
"No, I just know a fair bit more about biological knowledge."
'Just kidding. With my knowledge from my previous life, I can't compare to someone of Tsunade's level, but I can still crush a trainee medical Ninja like you."
"...Is this the world of geniuses?"
Inuzuka Hana muttered to herself, feeling like all her years of study had gone to the dogs.
...
An excellent worker is destined to be unable to hide.
Time goes back to the day after repelling the Hidden Mist.
Shirakumo Hayama held his long sword and leaned against a tree trunk.
"Haruko, come here for a moment."
Haruko, who was just about to slip away for a nap, froze in his tracks.
"Captain Hayama? Lunch is still two hours away..."
"During the last battle, I saw you use the Vacuum Sword."
"Yes. It was an emergency then, so I just instinctively..."
"You did quite well with the wind blades," Hayama said with a serious face.
"But your way of swinging the sword is completely wrong; it's practically like swinging a kitchen knife. Not only can you not unleash its power that way, but you'll also easily injure your wrist."
As a Jonin who had immersed himself in swordsmanship for many years, seeing someone ruin his signature technique was as painful as seeing his wife having an affair.
"You're a good prospect for Wind Release, so I'll teach you the real Vacuum Sword."
Hayama drew his sword and flicked his wrist.
Vroom—
The air seemed to be torn apart as an invisible wind blade instantly severed a branch over ten meters away, the cut as smooth as a mirror.
"Did you see clearly? Attach Wind-natured Chakra to the blade and fire the slash, instead of just swinging it wildly like you did."
Haruko rubbed his chin.
It wasn't that he didn't know swordsmanship; the Dance of the Camellia was a Taijutsu that paired with bone swords.
But the Kaguya Clan's Taijutsu was designed to complement the Shikotsumyaku, and its swordsmanship primarily focused on thrusts, which is why Haruko used the most familiar kitchen knife swinging posture back then.
"Go get that ninja sword you captured. From now on, I'll train you in swordsmanship at this time every day."
Looking at this stance, Haruko knew he couldn't escape it.
'What kind of situation is this? He's giving me more work, and I still have to thank him."
A few days later...
Haruko's eyes narrowed as he grabbed a radish from a nearby basket and tossed it into the air.
Swish swish swish swish swish—
Before the radish even hit the ground, it had already disintegrated in the air.
'Hey, I have to say, this vacuum kitchen knife is quite convenient for cutting vegetables."
Hayama, who happened to pass by and see this, didn't know what expression to make.
The essence of the Vacuum Sword that he had practiced for three full years to master... this kid used it to cut radishes?
But truth be told, even he couldn't cut to Haruko's level.
Further away, the Commander-in-Chief Yui Iwashiro's eyes sparkled.
"Medical Ninjutsu, Wind Release, swordsmanship, Earth Release—he's proficient in everything... This guy is beyond the level of a Chunin."
Iwasho chuckled: "Putting such a talent in the Logistics Squad is simply a waste of natural resources!"
...
Good days are always short-lived, especially when you have a leader who wants you to "excel."
A few days later, a new supply delivery team arrived at the camp.
Coming with them was a transfer order—the border situation was temporarily stable, and Uchiha Shisui was to return to the village to report on his duties.
At the camp entrance.
"It seems I have to head out first." Shisui's smile was as gentle as ever. "Before I go, I'll teach you one more move."
As he spoke, Shisui flicked his wrist.
Several shuriken flew out, and at the same time, he spat fire from his mouth.
The flames enveloped each shuriken like several blooming flowers of flame, tracing arcs in the air before all pinning themselves into a nearby tree.
"This technique, " Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson, " is an upgraded version of " Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique." Attaching Fire Release to the shuriken provides a double attack with both high-heat lethality and cutting ability."
Haruko's mind was as clear as a mirror. He knew that when Shisui returned this time, he would embark on a path of no return toward despair and death.
Although this guy was annoying sometimes, always wanting to drag him for special training, he was... after all, a good person and had taught him quite a few things.
"Brother Shisui," Haruko suddenly spoke up, "remember my snack stall?"
Shisui was taken aback: "Of course, I even ate there a few times. I heard it closed because the Patrol Guards made things difficult?"
"The Patrol Guards did come, but they were just acting officially after receiving a report. For this matter, Clan Leader Fugaku even made a special visit."
"Eh?"
"Incredible, right? The matter was clarified long ago, but the word that got out was that the Uchiha Patrol Guards made things difficult for a stall owner and forced him to close."
Haruko seemed to be chatting idly, but his gaze drifted toward the distant direction of Konoha.
"In the end, I still closed the stall because I figured that although the Patrol Guards didn't intend to make things difficult, they still came, which means 'certain people' could profit from it. Continuing to run it would only lead to more trouble."
"Saying all this is actually just an excuse; the main thing is that I hate trouble! Hahaha."
Haruko shrugged his shoulders, returning to his usual lazy appearance.
"You really are... afraid of trouble." Shisui had a look that was somewhere between laughing and crying. "It's time to set off. When you return, I'll go and be a customer at your place again."
Watching Shisui's departing back, Haruko shook his head.
'I've said all I could; whether he can come to visit again depends on how much he understood."
Besides, Shisui was ultimately a player in the game. Some things, even if understood, cannot be escaped.
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