"Standard-use pills, emergency-use pills... that's a very reasonable classification. Are you telling me Chiba came up with all of this on his own?"
The Third Hokage stared at the report in disbelief.
"Yes, the rest of us only assisted him," Kitayama Su confirmed with a nod. "The standard-use version is for regular use during missions, while the emergency-use version rapidly restores chakra after intense combat but has lower satiety and reduced strain on the body."
"Implement it as soon as possible."
The Third let out a long breath, a smile forming on his face.
Kitayama bowed and took her leave.
After a moment of silence, a figure flickered into view.
"Kakashi, what do you think?" the Third Hokage asked.
"You mean the boy—or the report?"
"Both."
The Third puffed his pipe, his face hidden behind the veil of smoke.
Kakashi thought for a moment before replying. "Not being able to use chakra nature transformation doesn't mean much. As for the soldier pills—segmenting them into categories is definitely more practical. With these changes, the cost of mission supplies could go down by over a third."
"Three days…" the Third sighed heavily.
Three days. From learning to research to mastery—completed in that time span. It was nothing short of astounding. And he remembered: the kid originally joined the medical corps to study ninjutsu and medical knowledge.
Which meant—soldier pills were likely just a side project to him.
"Are you interested in teaching him?"
"Uh… sorry, Lord Hokage. I'd rather wait."
Kakashi hesitated, then declined with a bow. "I honestly don't think I'm the right teacher for him. I believe the best instructors for someone like him would be Lady Tsunade or Lord Jiraiya."
Of course the Third knew that.
But they weren't in Konoha.
The room fell into silence again.
"In any case," Kakashi added, "I'll keep an eye on him for you. Until a proper squad leader is assigned, I'll help out. But as for being his direct instructor—please count me out."
With that, he offered a polite bow, picked up his book, and disappeared.
The Third didn't try to stop him.
For an elite jōnin like Kakashi—even the Hokage had to respect his wishes. Not to mention, Kakashi wasn't leading a team right now because of the Fourth Hokage's son.
The Third silently relit his pipe.
"Huh? What's this?"
During his midday break at the hospital, Chiba was lying down, reviewing the knowledge he had recently learned when the familiar glowing orb appeared again in his mind.
To his surprise—
The orb was smaller.
No, to be precise, it had condensed. Its light had drawn inward. Its outer shape was now rough, uneven, with strange glowing patterns.
Wait a minute…
That pattern—he had seen it before.
Chiba froze, racking his memory. He dug through fragments of his past life, and finally remembered.
Before transmigrating, he had obtained a bodhi seed—and the patterns on the orb matched it exactly.
It's the bodhi seed?!
His eyes widened in disbelief.
Then he calmed himself.
Now wasn't the time to question its origins.
Whether it was a bodhi seed or a mysterious orb, one thing was clear—this was the very foundation of his survival in the ninja world. And now that it had changed, there had to be a reason.
Restless, Chiba sat up, grabbed paper and pen, and began jotting down thoughts as they came to him.
A few minutes later—
Thud!
He accidentally stabbed the pen into the page.
The soldier pill!
Just a few days ago, he'd modified it. And today, he submitted the research report. By now, it had probably already been approved and distributed.
"I have to learn, gain insight, and share those insights with others. That must be what causes the bodhi seed to change—and rewards me in return."
"But… what exactly did I gain?"
If the light orb had morphed into a bodhi seed, there must've been a corresponding benefit.
Chiba ran a few internal tests.
He quickly realized that the new ability seemed to be enhanced sensory perception—and not just ordinary chakra sensing. He could also feel when someone was watching him.
Just like now.
Someone was watching him.
Chiba didn't turn around. Instead, he used the excuse of getting a new book to glance discreetly.
The observer moved fast, but he caught a glimpse of silver hair and the rim of glasses.
Yakushi Kabuto?
Chiba matched the description in his mind.
It could only be him.
Not surprising. His own teacher was Mizuki—it made sense that someone like Kabuto would be watching.
No need to expose him. Who knows? We might even work together one day.
Chiba quietly walked toward Kitayama Su's office.
The door was open, but the teacher was asleep inside.
Chiba carefully stepped in to change out his book. Just as he was about to leave, something caught the corner of his eye—
Um… Sensei…
It was normal for adults to read "certain materials," but could she not at least close the door?
He silently turned to leave.
Just then—
A surprised gasp.
Then the frantic shuffling of papers.
Before he could turn back, her voice stammered: "A-Ah, Chiba, you're here for another book? Already finished the last one?"
"Yes. I'd like to study something on the nervous system next."
Chiba nodded calmly.
Tsunade blushed faintly and nodded. "Good, good. Go ahead. If it's too noisy outside, you can stay and read in here."
"No need. By the way, Sensei, may I start studying the Chakra Scalpel?"
"That technique… is quite… well—fine. Go ahead."
She had been about to explain that it was an A-rank technique—extremely difficult—but remembered he had already learned the Fourth Hokage's Rasengan. And he had even invented it on his own.
Ugh. Comparing yourself to others really is the path to misery…
"Thank you, Sensei."
As expected…
When someone's suffering from "social death," it's the best time to make bold requests.
Chiba read through the jutsu scroll once, then promptly returned it.
As soon as he left, Tsunade buried her face in her hands and screamed internally.
That little brat definitely saw it!
Please don't let him realize what kind of book it was… or I'll never live it down as a teacher.
Outside, Chiba casually read while forming hand seals, experimenting with the Chakra Scalpel technique.
First attempt: failed.
Shizune, who had secretly been watching since Chiba left the office, quietly exhaled.
Whew. Guess he's not that—
Second attempt: success.
…Never mind.
Shizune silently stood and changed seats to calm her nerves.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Chiba, oblivious to the attention, continued experimenting with curiosity. The Chakra Scalpel lived up to its B-rank classification—it wasn't easy to master.
No wonder it was rarely used in battle.
After all—
Just maintaining it required immense chakra control. Using it effectively in a high-intensity fight was almost impossible.
Those who could maintain it usually had better alternatives. Like Tsunade's monstrous strength, or Chiyo's puppets. Kabuto was more of an outlier.
But—
For Chiba, the technique was a good fit.
He thought for a moment, then began modifying it. Compressing the chakra, reshaping it—
Until it resembled a short chakra dagger.
Not that useful in actual combat, he admitted. But the hand seal and chakra manipulation gave me an idea—for forming chakra needles…