"Perhaps I misheard, then." Kakashi didn't dwell on the matter, taking the Soldier Pills he bought from the counter.
He was heading out to execute a mission in a minor country and needed to prepare emergency rations for the journey.
Soldier Pills were the best choice. Due to their special formulation, the protein inside was easily absorbed. They also had a calming and stimulating effect, helping a ninja maintain composure during battle.
Most importantly, Soldier Pills could restore chakra!
Of course, the chakra boost and recovery weren't instantaneous.
It was a gradual process, incrementally increasing temporary chakra.
However, consuming too many could cause a huge burden on the body.
"Soldier Pills..." Rin Nohara, who had learned a lot about medicine, clearly knew the side effects of Soldier Pills.
She glanced at the batch Kakashi bought, relieved that they were among the best quality.
Rin wanted to say something more but saw a figure in a white jacket similar to hers approaching.
"Kiyoshi." Rin Nohara couldn't help but say.
"Kakashi, Rin." Kiyoshi nodded slightly in greeting.
"It seems Nonō-sensei meant you, Rin." Kiyoshi said.
He had already guessed this before arriving.
In terms of medical talent, Rin Nohara was actually superior to him.
She was someone who mastered Medical Ninjutsu while still a Genin.
Even Sakura, who became Tsunade's disciple, took more time and was older when she mastered the Mystical Palm Technique than Rin.
How could such a talent not draw attention?
It was simply that she died young and didn't have time to show more of her brilliance.
"It must be me." Rin Nohara nodded gently.
She scrutinized Kiyoshi in his white jacket, quite curious.
He was the only male Medical Ninja she had seen in the class besides herself.
"Kakashi, why don't you try the Soldier Pills I formulated?" Kiyoshi smiled, taking out a bag of Soldier Pills.
This was his first batch.
"A three-day supply, one-tenth cheaper than the market price, a friendship rate." Kiyoshi patted Kakashi's shoulder.
Seeing Kiyoshi's enthusiastic sales pitch, Kakashi opened the bag and looked inside.
The appearance was up to standard, he just didn't know about the effects.
"Alright." Kakashi nodded. It was a minor thing.
The White Fang had left him a considerable amount of money, and Kakashi had no particular interest in finances.
If he needed to spend it, he would spend it.
Kiyoshi's smile grew brighter as he took the money Kakashi handed him.
Another sum was added to his account, just enough to buy some high-quality specialized rubber cords.
This was the technique Nonō Yakushi taught him for formulating Soldier Pills.
It wasn't difficult.
Kiyoshi quickly mastered the skill, this was the first batch he had just made.
The recipe for ordinary Soldier Pills was simple. Sakura in the original story could make them too, but she added too many extra ingredients, making the taste awful.
Even the expressionless Sai turned pale after eating them.
"Rin, do you know how to make Soldier Pills yet?" Kakashi turned to Rin.
Since they were both studying Medical Ninjutsu, if Kiyoshi knew how to make them, Rin probably did too.
"Ah, that... I don't know how yet." Rin Nohara clenched her fist.
She truly didn't know how to make them.
She had been involved with the Hidden Leaf Hospital longer than Kiyoshi, but the Soldier Pill recipe wasn't something that could be casually given away.
It was a secondary income source that could bring in money.
"Is that so? I was hoping to try your cooking, Rin."
Kakashi stored the Soldier Pills Kiyoshi gave him along with the ones he bought into his ninja tool pouch.
A dedicated girl like Rin would probably make them taste quite good.
***
"Hoho, Nonō, I hear you've taken Kiyoshi Uchiha as your disciple?"
A figure suddenly appeared in Nonō Yakushi's office.
The person's skin was pathologically pale, and their golden, vertical pupils made it feel like one was being stared at by a venomous snake.
"Orochimaru, he is my disciple. I hope you won't interfere excessively." Nonō Yakushi frowned slightly.
She knew Orochimaru had connections with her superior, Danzō Shimura.
The two were also secretly researching forbidden knowledge together.
Namely, the Hashirama Cells obtained from the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
After Hashirama Senju's death, the Hidden Leaf Village once dedicated all its resources to finding a way to revive the First Hokage's Wood Release technique.
Unfortunately, all adults who volunteered to be test subjects were unable to withstand the transplanted Hashirama Cells and died.
But Orochimaru, with funding provided by Danzō, was still conducting human experimentation.
He actually succeeded in creating a child implanted with Hashirama Cells, known by the Root code name "Kinoe."
Nonō Yakushi even faintly suspected that Danzō Shimura himself had transplanted Hashirama Cells.
She noticed a sudden surge in his physical energy for a period, something the highly perceptive Nonō Yakushi had detected.
Her sensory abilities were not weak.
These events further solidified her intention to leave Root and depart from the Hidden Leaf Village.
"Hoho, you seem to be a good teacher, Nonō." Orochimaru smiled.
But Nonō saw no warmth on his face, only a chilling coldness.
"That child, Kiyoshi, should not be limited to becoming a Medical Ninja. He possesses greater potential. If one day you decide to leave the Hidden Leaf Village, hand the child over to me for guidance. I will give him what he desires."
After Orochimaru finished speaking, his body vanished instantly, having used the Body Flicker Technique to exit through the window.
Watching the imprint of his departure on the windowsill, Nonō Yakushi bit her lower lip.
She had long informed Danzō Shimura of her intention to leave the village.
Danzō Shimura told her to continue serving the Hidden Leaf Village for a few more years, after which he would let her go.
He also promised not to seek her out again.
'Kiyoshi has actually been targeted by Orochimaru.' Nonō Yakushi had no affection for Orochimaru, a person who disregarded life and conducted experiments on countless infants.
'I must speed up Kiyoshi's progress'
Nonō Yakushi thought.
Perhaps she should ensure Kiyoshi possessed independent Medical Ninjutsu skills before she left.
***
That night.
Kiyoshi set up a wooden post in the courtyard and tied a specialized rubber cord to the end of a kunai.
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*
Three kunai were thrown simultaneously.
The specialized rubber cord, thinner than a toothpick, was wrapped around Kiyoshi's fingertips. He moved his fingers, and the three kunai on the far left instantly deviated from their straight trajectory, turning left.
After they flew past the post, he twitched another finger, and the kunai were pulled back.
The three kunai curved as if they were turning a corner and pierced the wooden post behind it.
[You have comprehended the Trait: [Tool Mastery Beginner (White)].]
[Trait: [Tool Mastery Beginner (White)]]
[Requirement: You have gained a unique understanding of operating ninja tools, having learned one tool-manipulation technique.]
[Progress: (Completed).]
[Effect: You have better adaptability to various different tools, and their power is increased by 5%.]
[Note: Can be further advanced later.]
"Not bad." Kiyoshi closed the panel.
This was the result of learning the Manipulating Shuriken Technique.
***
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