Huh?
Mouth agape, Hosho's thoughts ground to a halt for a moment.
Is that...
"Hey, you!!" He quickly strode toward Ryuku, his voice laced with disbelief.
On the other hand, Ryuku had just realized what he had done and silently cursed his newfound habit of losing himself in techniques. He watched as Hosho moved at an alarming speed, closing the distance in an instant.
Now what…? I have the lowest chakra among the participants. There's no reason for him to make such a big deal out of this… right?
At this point, the other participants had also taken notice of Hosho's unusual reaction. As he advanced toward Ryuku with large strides, murmurs rippled through the auditorium.
"Hey, what's happening?"
"How would I know? But from the looks of it, that kid's in trouble."
"Hmph. Look at him—just a brat trying his luck at becoming a medical-nin? What a joke!"
"Yeah, maybe he got caught fooling around. Poor bastard... wasted all that money for nothing."
"What an idiot..."
The auditorium buzzed with speculation—some sneered, others laughed, while a few simply sighed. None of them knew the real reason behind Hosho's reaction, but that didn't stop them from crafting their own theories as they eagerly waited to see what would happen next.
Hosho, who had stopped in front of Ryuku, stared at him with a mix of disbelief and excitement, as if he had discovered an ancient specimen. Then, flashing an ear-to-ear smile, he asked, "Boy, what is your name?"
A little creeped out by Hosho's enthusiasm, Ryuku maintained a neutral expression and responded politely. Since the man was a high-ranking Medical-nin, showing respect was necessary—he also preferred to stay as low-key as possible.
"Ryuku."
"Oh, so it is Ryuku-kun. What a good name. And your family name?"
"I don't have one, Hosho-san."
His great-uncle had been an outcast, having severed ties with the family long ago and abandoned their name. When he adopted Ryuku, he never passed down his parents' surname—perhaps out of lingering resentment toward his brother's descendants. Maybe it was a form of silent revenge.
But to Ryuku, the family name held no importance. His great-uncle had provided him with a home, and for that, he felt no resentment toward the deceased man.
So no family? And judging by his chakra, he's definitely a civilian... Good lord, I've finally found a gem! Hosho screamed inwardly.
Putting on a sympathetic expression, Hosho feigned concern. "It must have been hard for you all this time, poor kid..." His voice carried an almost believable sadness, nearly fooling Ryuku—almost.
What's this guy's deal...? He should've lost interest by now...
Both of them kept up a polite front, but their thoughts were entirely different.
Meanwhile, the other participants watched the scene with bewildered expressions, unable to understand what was unfolding between the two.
It was then that Hosho suddenly noticed something.
"Um, Ryuku... where's your ninja headband?" His voice wavered slightly.
Ryuku briefly considered his response before deciding to tell the truth. "I haven't graduated from the Academy yet, Hosho-san, so I don't have a headband."
Hosho remained frozen, standing like a clay statue, as if he had just seen a ghost.
His mind replayed Ryuku's words over and over: Haven't graduated... Haven't graduated... Don't have a headband... Don't have a headband...
The sudden silence from the usually composed examiner surprised not only Ryuku but also the other participants.
"What the heck… So he's just an academy brat? I'm 25, and he's like 12? What kind of joke is this? I don't feel so good now…"
"Hahaha… Did this brat actually think becoming a medical-nin is as easy as eating cake? I can't—this is too funny!"
"Shut up, moron. Let me concentrate…"
Then, as if struck by lightning, Hosho suddenly snapped out of his daze. Without hesitation, he grabbed Ryuku's wrist and, in a serious yet almost fanatical tone, said, "You need to come with me…"
Ryuku, unfazed, allowed himself to be led out of the auditorium without resistance.
The moment the door shut behind them, chaos erupted.
"Hey!! Hey!! What the hell just happened?! Why did he take that brat outside?!"
"What's wrong with you!? How would I know?! Stop bothering me!!"
"Unlucky kid. He probably got disqualified for not knowing his place."
"It doesn't look like that to me…"
While most participants were still chattering, a sharp voice from the front cut through the noise.
"40 minutes left."
It was another medical-nin, who had taken over in Hosho's absence.
The room fell into silence once more, and the participants grudgingly refocused on memorizing the Mystical Palm Technique.
....
Ryuku followed Hosho through the hospital corridors, keeping his calm while glancing around in curiosity. The more he looked, the more impressed he became. This place was far more advanced than he had expected, almost on par with the hospitals from his previous life.
And on top of that, they had chakra healing techniques alongside regular medical practices. That alone made this place even more fascinating.
If I could study human anatomy here…
His thoughts wandered. Those alien parasites… They evolve through genetic mutation and chakra cultivation, adapting to any species they consume. They ascend by absorbing planetary energy...
A damn interesting way to grow stronger fast.
His eyes gleamed as he considered ways to use this knowledge in the future.
Before long, they entered a large lounge filled with fancy couches, an aquarium, and—
Wait, is that a freaking vending machine?
A massive, free-to-use vending machine stood proudly in the corner, exclusive for Medical-nin.
"Have a seat, Ryuku," Hosho said with a grin. He noticed Ryuku eyeing the machine and chuckled. "Heh, don't see those outside, do you? Got it last year. It's pretty damn useful. So, what do you want?"
Ryuku wasn't one to act reserved. "The best one."
"Haha, alright. Take a seat, I'll grab it."
Hosho looked way too excited, treating him like some long-lost relative.
Ryuku sat down on the expensive-looking couch, eyeing him for a moment.
Not even trying to hide your intentions, huh…
A moment later, Hosho returned, handing him a bottle labeled Mixed Juice before plopping down on the couch next to Ryuku.
And the instant he did, he just couldn't resist his urge and spoke immediately.
"Ryuku, I know you used the Mystical Palm Technique in the auditorium—no, I saw you using it. Otherwise, you wouldn't have followed me here silently. So there's no point in denying it now. Am I correct?"
Instead of answering with words, Ryuku chose to respond through action. He circulated chakra into his right hand just like before, and in the next moment, a green glow radiated from his palm, signifying a successful attempt once again.
"It really is the Mystical Palm Technique... And from the intensity of the glow and the near-perfect chakra signature, it's already at the level of an experienced medical-nin..."
Hosho went wild at the sight, unable to stop murmuring in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Ryuku had already finished his mixed juice in a few gulps, suddenly finding himself craving more.
But then, Hosho's voice cut through the air.
"Ryuku," he called out, his gaze filled with intensity. "You're a rare talent—the likes of which I've never seen in my thirty years of life. But you know, no matter how talented someone is, their future is bound to be limited without proper guidance and support. So… what I'm trying to say is… will you become my student, Ryuku? I will be that support and guidance you need from now on!"
In truth, Hosho was extremely nervous. This was his first time witnessing such a rare genius, one who could very well rival Senju Tsunade—if not surpass her. And what made it even more shocking was that the boy before him was only an Academy student. Not even a Genin!
He understood how crucial chakra control and circulation were for the Mystical Palm Technique, which made this situation all the more absurd. The chakra control of the boy seated in front of him was at the level of a seasoned Jōnin!
What kind of talent was this?
A talent he absolutely had to take under his wing.
But Hosho also knew that Ryuku's genius likely extended beyond chakra control alone. His silent, calculating demeanor had not gone unnoticed. This boy… his mind didn't function like that of a child.
And that made Hosho even more anxious.
What if Ryuku aspired to be a frontline ninja instead of a medical-nin?
What if he sought a powerful Jōnin sensei after graduation rather than a medic whose primary duty was to heal?
Hosho had taken everything into account before making his offer, yet now that the words were out, a few beads of sweat formed on his temples.
However, his worries proved unnecessary.
Ryuku's answer came swiftly, almost as if he had already anticipated the question.
"It will be my pleasure to be your student, Hosho-sensei. You are a high-ranking medical-nin in this hospital. For a normal student like me to be your disciple—it feels like a dream come true."
Hosho was momentarily stunned before a wide smile spread across his face.
"It's all your hard work and genius. Don't overthink it, Ryuku. From now on, your life will change completely. Be proud and happy—you will definitely become a top-class medical-nin like Lady Tsunade. I'll make sure of it. Haha..."
Yet, deep inside, an unsettling thought crept into his mind.
His response... It's almost as if he knew I would ask that.
Hosho shivered briefly before forcing himself to dismiss the notion, choosing instead to focus on the future glory that awaited him with Ryuku as his student.
....
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