"I'm not joking," Fujimoto Tōma said calmly. "The Chakra Scalpel is an A-rank technique. You can't even use it unless your medical ninjutsu fundamentals are extremely solid. Early on, medical ninja don't really have much combat power."
"Which is why no one sends medical ninja to the front lines," Hatake Kakashi muttered, rolling his eye.
"That's true," Tōma nodded. "Not everyone is Lady Tsunade."
"A-rank… is it really that hard?" Uzumaki Naruto scratched his head. "My Multi Shadow Clone is A-rank too. I didn't think it was that big a deal."
Smack.
"Ow—!"
Tōma flicked Naruto on the head. "Don't talk nonsense. You learned that easily because it suits you perfectly. Think about Gale Palm. A basic C-rank jutsu. How long did that take you?"
Naruto froze, then nodded slowly. "Oh… yeah. That one was hard."
"Um—Tōma?" Haruno Sakura spoke up hesitantly. "Can I learn that too? The Chakra Scalpel?"
"Of course. But—"
"I need to master medical ninjutsu first, right?" Sakura finished for him, smiling.
Tōma blinked, then nodded. "So you've decided."
"Yeah," Sakura said softly. "If I don't go down this path, I'll just slow the team down. But if I become a medical ninja, I can help you both now… and get stronger later. That's not a bad thing."
Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke both looked at her, unsure what to say. They weren't going to stop growing for her sake. They never could.
Seeing Sakura's smile, Kakashi felt genuinely relieved. Unlike Kurenai, he didn't have a clan weighing every decision. Sakura's chakra reserves were low, but her control was excellent. Medical ninjutsu suited her perfectly.
"And Sakura," Tōma added, "let me give you some hope. You know one of the Legendary Three Ninja… Tsunade?"
"I think I've heard the name," Sakura said, frowning slightly.
"She's the strongest female shinobi Konoha has ever had," Tōma said simply. "And the greatest medical ninja in history. Her combat power rivals the Third Hokage."
Sakura's eyes lit up.
"Tōma, that's setting the bar a bit high," Kakashi sighed.
"Is it true or not?" Tōma shot back.
Kakashi hesitated, then nodded. "…It's true."
Sakura clenched her fists. For the first time, her future felt real.
Nearby, Hyūga Neji listened in silence. He agreed with Tōma's assessment about Hinata stepping away from frontline combat, even if he disagreed with some of the reasoning. Still, he had no standing to argue.
His attention shifted back to the arena.
Rock Lee had removed his weights.
Neji's eyes widened. When did Lee become this strong?
The match exploded into cheers. The Eight Gates opening shook the arena, but Tōma only sighed.
Five Gates still isn't enough.
Lee was stronger than before, far stronger than in the original timeline. Enough to push Gaara further than expected.
But not enough.
As sand surged again, Might Guy remembered Tōma's warning. Before the sand could engulf Lee, Guy stepped in and conceded on his behalf.
The Sand ninja protested. The Third Hokage scolded Guy.
But Lee's legs were saved.
After that, Nara Shikamaru defeated his opponent through sheer strategy, while Akimichi Chōji fell short.
"Chōji lost… shame," Yamanaka Ino muttered. "In real combat, he'd have won."
"The Akimichi clan pills," Tōma nodded. "One of those and the outcome flips."
Soon, Gekkō Hayate stepped forward to announce the final stage.
One month of preparation. One-on-one matches.
The matchups appeared.
Uzumaki Naruto vs. Hyūga Neji
Nara Shikamaru vs. Temari
Kankurō vs. Tōsu
Uchiha Sasuke vs. Gaara
Aburame Shino vs. Yamanaka Ino
"…Shino," Tōma sighed.
Against someone that emotionally unreadable, Ino's odds were slim.
Even Kakashi frowned. Sasuke versus Gaara was worse. Chidori alone might not be enough.
"This is rough," Ino admitted quietly. "Shino's the worst matchup for me."
"Do your best," Tōma said honestly.
She nodded. Just reaching this stage had already exceeded her expectations.
One month. She'd give it everything.
That night, after celebrating with Sarutobi Asuma, Tōma returned home alone.
He sat at his desk, scribbling, erasing, starting over.
Too many thoughts. Too much hesitation.
Go outside.
He slipped out into the quiet streets of Konoha. No crowds. Just patrols and moonlight.
He passed Ino's house. Stopped. Remembered.
Visited the old training ground he once shared with Lee.
Checked on Naruto, sleeping like a disaster. Even the Nine-Tails noticed him.
Briefly sensed Sasuke. Left before being caught.
Finally, he lay on his own roof, staring at the moon.
He understood now.
He'd never fully belonged here.
But that was changing.
Stagnation ends tonight.
Under the moonlight, Fujimoto Tōma closed his eyes.
And slept.