Late April, Year 54 of Konoha.
Medical Skill: Lv. 5 (300,000 / 400,000)
"So… finally. And it unlocked straight at level five?"
Akio let out a long breath. For eight or nine straight days, he'd been grinding nonstop with shadow clones, to the point his head felt like it was about to split open. He had skimmed through most of Orochimaru's massive collection of research notes and books, and at least now he could say the effort hadn't been wasted.
Medical skill appearing directly at level five didn't surprise him. A short while ago he hadn't understood medical theory at all, but over these past days he'd absorbed a great deal. On top of that, his medical ninjutsu foundation was already not far behind Tsunade's—his base was solid.
"…Wait. Something's off." Akio's face went blank. "When my cooking skill unlocked, it started at level one…"
He fell into deep thought.
After a long pause, he shook off the blow and checked his status panel again.
Over the past ten-plus days, besides medical skill, he'd unlocked quite a few abilities—some useful, some completely pointless.
Example of a pointless skill:
Sound-Based Ninjutsu Lv. 4 (13,480 / 20,000)
Akio had only skimmed these techniques, memorized the basic principles, and promptly lost interest. They were novel—using sound as a medium—but at his current level, he could already replicate the effect with raw chakra output alone. A single shout from him was basically a battlefield-clearing shockwave.
These techniques didn't meaningfully boost his combat power, and the kids around him had no need to learn them either. Spending witness points here would be a waste.
Still, he'd memorized parts of it. Maybe… Nagato would like them someday.
There were also moderately useful skills, like the chakra-enhanced punching technique Jirōbō had used, as well as various niche taijutsu styles and weapon-handling tricks.
Akio didn't need those himself, but he could teach them to the kids at Uzushio's ninja academy—or to Naruto and the others.
Besides, he had other plans. After spending so many years in the Naruto world and reaching absurd strength, he'd realized something embarrassing: he hadn't actually developed many original techniques of his own. Even now, most of his taijutsu was borrowed from others.
He wanted to combine everything he'd learned—past and present—and create a style of his own.
Something like… Akio Fist?
Ancestral Long Fist?
…Yeah, naming still needed work.
For now, though, he didn't have time for that. Kimimaro was still waiting for him downstairs.
Since unlocking medical skill, Akio—who'd long since grown relaxed after obtaining Kekkei Tōta—felt, for the first time in ages, that witness points were in short supply.
Witness Points: 395
Recent events in Konoha—Tsunade leaving the village, Kakashi joining ANBU, and various other developments—had quietly earned him points without him even noticing.
But judging by medical skill's requirements, it likely cost the same as elemental ninjutsu or Gentle Fist to level up. With his current total, he could only push it to level eight.
Seventy witness points spent…
Medical Skill: Lv. 8 (1,000,000 / 5,000,000)
Akio closed his eyes, feeling the changes, then slowly opened them. He extended his right hand, which became enveloped in a soft white glow.
"My chakra control jumped way up. If this skill ever hits max level…"
He couldn't help but be impressed.
The foundation of medical ninjutsu was the Healing Technique—mandatory for any medical ninja. Beyond that came more advanced techniques like Hemostasis and Cell Extraction. And above all of those was the Mystical Palm Technique, mastered only by elite medical ninja, which served as the benchmark for medical proficiency.
After raising his medical skill to level eight, Akio felt his healing techniques had already surpassed standard Mystical Palm levels. One more step, and he'd be in entirely new territory.
"This is enough—for now."
Satisfied, he headed downstairs.
"Oh? Elder, you're up early today." Karin greeted him head-on.
She was holding a basin of hot water, a damp towel floating inside. Akio nearly laughed.
"Didn't Kimimaro say he didn't need you hovering over him anymore?"
It was honestly embarrassing. After he stopped feeding Kimimaro his poorly judged medicine and switched to pure medical ninjutsu, the boy's condition actually improved. He no longer needed to be carried just to walk.
Once Kimimaro could take care of himself again, he decisively rejected Karin's "enthusiastic assistance."
Karin made a shushing gesture. "Kimimaro's asleep."
Akio gave a helpless smile. Karin had clearly been taking advantage of the situation.
"Put that down. I've found a way to suppress his illness—for now."
Karin first looked disappointed, then ecstatic, then suspicious, all in quick succession.
"Out." Akio flicked her forehead and pushed the door open.
"Lord!" Kimimaro was sitting on the bed, beaming. He'd clearly heard everything.
"So much for sleeping," Akio said with a grin. "Good. Stay alert—locks, traps, and especially overly helpful girls."
"Elder!!"
"Lie down. Let me show you my upgraded Mystical Palm."
As Akio worked, Kimimaro's complexion visibly improved. But Akio couldn't immediately tell if the technique was truly effective—Kimimaro always flushed after treatment.
After half an hour, Akio scratched his head. "How do you feel?"
"I feel much better!"
…Same answer as always.
Only after night fell, when Kimimaro could move freely around the room, did Akio finally relax.
"At this pace, you should be mostly recovered in about two weeks. I can suppress the condition, but not cure it completely. For the foreseeable future, treating you will be part of my daily routine."
"Kimimaro, you're really better!" Karin cheered. "The Elder finally did something right."
Kimimaro ignored her. "Lord, I knew you could save me."
Akio smiled and nodded. Just as he was about to give Kimimaro some precautions, Haku knocked lightly on the door.
"Elder, someone's here to see you."
Akio paused and opened the door. "Orochimaru?"
Haku shook his head. "No. It's… 'Three-Hairs.'"
Akio froze before remembering who that was.
"Jirōbō? What does that kid want—another beating?" he said with a chuckle.
With Kimimaro improving, Akio was in a good mood and decided to indulge the visit.
Outside stood not just Jirōbō and Tayuya, but also a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old girl glaring at him furiously.
"So you're the guy who wrecked our village and disrespected Lord Orochimaru?!"
Akio frowned, glanced at Jirōbō, and casually raised his finger. Jirōbō immediately shrank back.
The girl sneered and turned on him. "That's the 'finger technique' you were bragging about? Only an idiot would get hit by that."
Akio was baffled. Did Orochimaru seriously not warn them who I am?
Before he could respond, the girl snapped at Tayuya, "And you—he uses sound attacks, right? Ever heard of covering your ears?"
Tayuya tugged her sleeve. "Guren, you just got back. Don't listen to Sakon's nonsense. Let's go—he's strong, and he's Orochimaru-sama's guest."
"Guren?" Akio frowned. "The Crystal Release user?"
Guren ignored the warning. "Someone hiding out here in the middle of nowhere in a wooden building—how could he be Lord Orochimaru's guest?"
"This is Wood Release," Akio said helplessly, glancing back at Karin and at Kimimaro, who would've already charged if Haku weren't holding him back. "Relax."
He turned back to the three of them with a smile.
"You're really looking down on my finger strike and my roar?"
"Cheap tricks," Guren scoffed. "As long as you're prepared—"
Akio chuckled. "Then let me show you something new. A fusion technique."
"Fusion?" The kids behind him were intrigued; the three in front grew tense.
Akio pointed at Guren, flipped his palm, crooked his finger in a blatant taunt, and shouted:
"Come at me."
Silence fell—absolute and crushing, like the calm before the world collapsed.
And then…
Nothing happened.
"Elder… is it over?" Karin muttered.
"What do you mean I'm done?" Akio laughed. "The technique is. See? She's charging. Haku—she's yours."
He smiled calmly as chaos finally caught up.
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