Practicing medical ninjutsu was never something that could be mastered through theory alone. Like all forms of ninjutsu, it demanded real-world application, constant refinement, and an unwavering focus on detail. Precision was everything. A single mistake could mean failure—or worse.
Fortunately for Hinata, Naruto unknowingly provided the perfect training environment.
Or more accurately… the perfect test subject.
Naruto's relentless and often reckless training pushed his body to its absolute limits every single day. He strained his muscles, overused his chakra pathways, and repeatedly forced his cells into overactivity. Under normal circumstances, such behavior would have been dangerous—potentially fatal.
But with Hinata by his side, things were different.
Whenever Naruto collapsed from exhaustion or pushed himself too far, Hinata was always there. Calm, focused, and unwavering, she would immediately step in and use medical ninjutsu to heal him. With the Mystical Palm Technique, she restored his damaged tissues, stabilized his chakra flow, and brought him back to peak condition.
Day after day, this cycle continued.
Naruto would push himself to the brink of collapse.
Hinata would bring him back.
And then Naruto would dive right back into training.
It was intense. Endless. Almost absurd.
Watching from the sidelines, Shizune could only sigh.
"This is completely ridiculous…"
She held Tonton in her arms as she observed the scene. Naruto had created dozens of Shadow Clones, each one training simultaneously. One by one, they disappeared in puffs of smoke as exhaustion took its toll, and occasionally, even the original Naruto would fall to the ground.
Each time, Hinata rushed forward without hesitation.
Her movements were swift and precise. There was no panic in her eyes—only determination.
As Naruto regained consciousness, he would flash her a grateful smile, thank her sincerely, and immediately return to training as if nothing had happened.
This cycle repeated endlessly.
It was almost surreal.
Tsunade, standing nearby, watched with a nostalgic expression.
"…This brings back memories."
Shizune blinked in surprise. "Lady Tsunade?"
Tsunade crossed her arms, her gaze distant.
"It's similar to when I trained under the Third Hokage… alongside Orochimaru and Jiraiya."
Shizune tilted her head. "Was your training really this intense back then?"
Tsunade shook her head slowly.
"Not even close. No one trained like this."
Her eyes shifted back to Naruto.
"That boy… he's a monster."
There was no mockery in her tone—only admiration mixed with disbelief.
"He's constantly pushing himself to the edge of death. If Hinata weren't here, he wouldn't survive this kind of training."
Shizune smiled softly.
"Then Naruto is very lucky."
Tsunade gave a quiet snort.
"Unfortunately… he doesn't realize just how lucky he is."
Shizune followed her gaze and looked at Hinata.
Even while training her own medical ninjutsu, Hinata's attention never strayed far from Naruto. Her eyes constantly flickered toward him, filled with concern, readiness, and something deeper—something unspoken.
A gentle smile formed on Shizune's face.
"Men can be surprisingly oblivious sometimes…"
Tsunade chuckled faintly.
"One day, he'll understand."
Shizune nodded.
"I hope so."
Meanwhile, Naruto's training had entered a critical phase.
"The Yin Seal…!"
His voice rang out hoarsely as he clenched his teeth.
"The Yin Seal!!"
Sweat poured down his face. His body trembled from exhaustion, yet he refused to stop.
A month had passed since he began this training.
Initially, progress had been smooth. With the help of Shadow Clones, he had managed to steadily refine his chakra control, sealing away purified chakra from his cells into the mark on his forehead.
At first, his progress rate was astonishing—three to four percent per day.
But as time went on, things changed.
The deeper he went, the harder it became.
Now, his progress had slowed to a crawl—barely one or two percent per day.
"Damn it…!"
Naruto gasped for breath, frustration evident in his voice.
"At this rate… I won't finish in two months!"
He clenched his fists.
"And if I can't finish… I'm going to go completely broke!"
Hinata stepped closer, her voice gentle but steady.
"Naruto-kun… this is normal."
He looked at her, clearly exhausted but still determined.
"In the beginning, you're working with the cells you use every day—the ones that are active and familiar. But now… you're reaching the deeper layers. The hidden, inactive cells."
She paused, choosing her words carefully.
"Those cells are much harder to access and control. That's why the difficulty increases so much."
Naruto already understood this.
Logically, it made sense.
But understanding something and overcoming it were two very different things.
"Hinata…"
He looked at her with a hopeful expression.
"Do you have any ideas?"
When it came to chakra control, Hinata still had the advantage. The Hyuga Clan trained from early childhood, developing precision that most shinobi could only dream of.
Hinata fell silent, deep in thought.
She began mentally combining everything she had learned—her clan's techniques, her medical ninjutsu training under Tsunade, and Naruto's unique abilities.
Slowly, an idea began to form.
Over the following days, with Hinata's guidance, Naruto's progress improved once again.
It wasn't a dramatic leap—but it was enough.
Shizune, watching from afar, couldn't help but feel moved.
"His strength isn't just talent…"
She murmured softly.
"It's also his willingness to learn. He never hesitates to seek help from others."
She smiled faintly.
"That, too, is a kind of talent."
"And… perhaps… a quality necessary to become Hokage."
A month and a half passed.
Naruto's Yin Seal training had reached its final stage.
According to his estimates, he had completed nearly 95% of the process.
But just as Hinata had warned, the final stretch was the hardest.
Each tiny bit of progress required immense effort.
On this day, Tsunade appeared again.
Her eyes widened slightly as she observed Naruto.
"He's already reached this level…?"
Shizune nodded.
"In a sense… it could already be considered complete."
She leaned closer and whispered:
"The idea of sealing chakra from every single cell is more of a theoretical ideal. Absolute perfection doesn't really exist."
"There's no need to push yourself to exhaustion just for a tiny improvement."
She glanced at Naruto.
"But… he doesn't know that."
"He's still chasing that perfect state."
"Should we tell him?"
Tsunade coughed lightly.
"Of course not."
A smirk appeared on her lips.
"If he wants perfection, who are we to stop him?"
Her gaze sharpened.
"He'll surpass all the previous Hokage… and become the strongest of them all."
Shizune raised an eyebrow.
"…You're just afraid of losing your bet, aren't you?"
Tsunade's face flushed slightly.
"…Nonsense."
She crossed her arms defensively.
"He still has half a month left. I didn't force him to aim for perfection—he chose that himself!"
Then her expression grew serious.
"But if he truly achieves 100% completion…"
Her voice lowered.
"His Yin Seal… might surpass even mine."
Shizune nodded thoughtfully.
"With his chakra reserves… it's hard to imagine what level he would reach."
Tsunade, however, shook her head.
"Even so, the Yin Seal isn't meant to make someone invincible."
"It stores chakra, yes—but it doesn't allow you to exceed your natural limits indefinitely."
She raised a finger, explaining clearly:
"First, it provides a continuous chakra supply during battle."
"Second, it enables rapid healing, keeping the user in peak condition."
"And third… it enhances physical abilities to a certain extent."
Shizune smiled.
"Even so… it will still be Naruto's greatest trump card."
Tsunade nodded.
"That's true."
She then shifted the topic.
"What about Hinata?"
"After all, Naruto is Jiraiya's student… but Hinata is mine."
Shizune's expression brightened.
"Hinata's talent is incredible."
"She's already mastered the basics of super strength—she just needs refinement."
"And her medical ninjutsu has improved tremendously. She can now use both the Mystical Palm Technique and the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique with great proficiency."
She chuckled softly.
"Part of it is her desire to protect Naruto…"
"And part of it is… having Naruto as the perfect patient every day."
Tsunade smiled faintly.
"Well done, Hinata…"
Her gaze drifted into the distance.
"I wonder how Jiraiya is doing…"
Elsewhere, Sasuke collapsed to one knee, breathing heavily.
His body trembled from strain, but a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Jiraiya stood nearby, arms crossed.
"Well done."
Sasuke lifted his head.
"The second stage of the Cursed Seal… it really increases power."
Jiraiya nodded.
"With your three-tomoe Sharingan, you might even be able to contend with the Mangekyo."
Sasuke's eyes flickered with determination.
"…Thank you, Master."
Jiraiya laughed.
"No need for thanks. That's what teachers are for."
Then he asked:
"How is your Heaven's Curtain Formation training going?"
Sasuke's expression darkened slightly.
"I've grasped the basics… but it consumes too much chakra."
"I can't maintain it for long."
Jiraiya nodded knowingly.
"That's expected."
He continued:
"The Cursed Seal amplifies your chakra, enhancing both your Sharingan and your techniques."
"But it also erodes your body and mind."
"It's a double-edged sword."
Sasuke remained silent.
Jiraiya went on:
"Your path is different from Naruto's."
"His strength lies in endurance—massive chakra reserves and vitality."
"But you…"
He pointed at Sasuke.
"You specialize in explosive power."
"In a short period, you can unleash strength far beyond your limits."
"But you can't sustain long battles."
Sasuke nodded.
"I understand."
Jiraiya smiled.
"Training and combat… they come down to four words."
"Maximize strengths. Minimize weaknesses."
Sasuke's eyes sharpened.
"…Yes."
Jiraiya then added casually:
"By the way… Naruto has been training with Tsunade for over a month now."
"I wonder how strong he's become."
Sasuke's heart stirred.
"…Naruto…"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"I'm sure… he's gotten much stronger."
Jiraiya looked at him.
"Do you still feel competitive toward him?"
Sasuke's smile grew slightly.
"…I think I always will."
Jiraiya laughed.
"That's not a bad thing."
He turned away.
"After all… competition is what drives people to grow."
And far away…
Naruto continued his training.
Closer than ever to perfection.
Closer than ever to becoming something truly extraordinary.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)