Chapter 305: Yakushi Kabuto Shows His Talent; Kurenai Strives to Become a Jonin! [HN]

Konoha Hospital, Third Operating Room.

An ANBU shinobi who had encountered an unknown poisonous trap while patrolling the border lay on the operating table.

His entire body was covered in a strange purple-black discoloration, his breathing was weak, his chakra was in complete disarray, and his vital signs were rapidly deteriorating.

Several experienced medical shinobi surrounded him, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.

Their Mystical Palm techniques flickered with green light, but they seemed unable to effectively stop the poison from spreading.

“This won’t work. We’ve never encountered this toxin before. It’s constantly mutating, and conventional antidotes aren’t working!”

One of the medical jonin spoke heavily.

“The chakra corrosion is spreading too quickly. At this rate, his chakra pathways will completely collapse…”

Another shook his head, his expression grim.

Just as everyone was at a loss, the operating room door was gently pushed open.

Yakushi Kabuto, who had received special permission to enter as an intern, walked in.

He wore a slightly oversized medical trainee’s coat, but the eyes behind his round glasses were unusually calm.

He held the preliminary blood-toxin analysis report that had just been completed.

“Senior!”

Kabuto’s voice was steady, carrying a composure far beyond his age.

“According to the blood analysis, the core component of this toxin is a mixed alkaloid, but its structure automatically adapts and mutates according to the host’s chakra nature. Direct neutralization is unlikely to work.”

A medical jonin frowned and looked at him.

“Kabuto, we all know your theoretical foundation is solid, but now isn’t the time for analysis…”

Kabuto did not back down.

Instead, he stepped forward and glanced over the fluctuating data on the monitoring equipment and the spreading purple-black discoloration on the patient’s body.

“Perhaps we can try reverse guidance.”

“Reverse guidance?”

Everyone was stunned.

“Yes.”

Kabuto quickly explained, “Since the toxin actively adapts to chakra, perhaps we can construct a temporary, one-way chakra diversion channel. We can use a specific chakra frequency as bait to actively lure the toxin toward a non-lethal area that is easier to treat, such as the subcutaneous fat layer or a specific dormant chakra pathway. Then we can use surgery or a highly concentrated antidote to eliminate it at a fixed point.”

The idea was extremely bold and even somewhat dangerous.

It required the practitioner to possess incredibly precise microscopic perception and control over chakra.

Otherwise, the slightest mistake could trigger an explosive spread of the toxin.

“That’s too dangerous! It would require chakra control at…”

Before the other medical jonin could finish, Tsunade’s figure appeared at the operating room door.

She had clearly rushed over after receiving the report.

After hearing Kabuto’s proposal, her golden eyes suddenly lit up.

“Interesting idea!”

Tsunade strode into the room and spoke directly to Kabuto.

“Kid, give me the details of your plan! Chakra frequency settings? Diversion route? Risk-control points?”

Facing one of the Legendary Sannin, Kabuto took a deep breath.

He began clearly explaining his complete plan.

He even pointed out several subtle points of chakra congestion that the medical jonin had failed to notice in their earlier treatment attempts.

Those congested points were precisely what had accelerated the toxin’s mutation.

The more Tsunade listened, the brighter her eyes became.

She glanced at the patient’s increasingly faint vital signs and made a decisive choice.

“Proceed with his plan! I’ll establish the main diversion channel. Kabuto, you assist them with precise adjustments and monitor the risks. Everyone else, prepare local debridement and emergency procedures!”

“Yes!”

Kabuto took a deep breath and quickly condensed green medical chakra in both hands.

The operation began.

Tsunade’s powerful chakra acted like a main river channel, forcibly opening a temporary passage.

Kabuto’s chakra was like an agile team of engineers, following closely behind and precisely guiding and clearing the path.

Little by little, he lured the toxin particles out of the patient’s core pathways and organs, directing them toward the predetermined area beneath the skin of the left arm.

Sweat appeared on Yakushi Kabuto’s forehead, but his eyes remained completely focused, and his fingers were as steady as the most precise surgical instruments.

Half an hour later, the purple-black discoloration on the patient’s torso and major chakra pathways had visibly receded.

His vital signs had stabilized.

Meanwhile, his left forearm had swollen and turned black, becoming a “concentration camp” for the toxin.

Tsunade immediately injected a specialized antidote and eliminated the toxin locally.

The hidden danger was completely removed.

“We did it!”

One of the medical jonin stared at the now-normal readings on the monitoring equipment and muttered in disbelief.

A collective sigh of relief filled the operating room.

Everyone’s eyes toward Kabuto had completely changed.

They no longer looked at him as merely a talented junior, but as a fellow medical ninja with the potential to become one of the very best.

Tsunade removed her bloodstained gloves and stared intently at Kabuto, as if she had discovered a rare treasure.

“Kid, did Chiya teach you this?”

“Yes, Lady Tsunade.”

“Yakushi Kabuto…”

Tsunade repeated the name, undisguised admiration appearing on her face.

“Very good! Starting tomorrow, you don’t need to stay with the ordinary intern group. Report directly to my private laboratory. If you pass the temporary assessment I give you, you can participate in the simplified version of the Strength of a Hundred Technique project, where you’ll be responsible for constructing microscopic chakra models and evaluating the risks of its side effects.”

The moment those words were spoken, the operating room fell silent.

Being able to participate in a core project personally led by Tsunade was an opportunity that even many experienced medical jonin could only dream of.

Yet she had given that opportunity directly to a boy who was still an intern.

His face still carried a hint of youthful innocence.

Kabuto was stunned for a moment.

He then pushed up his glasses, suppressed his excitement, and bowed respectfully.

“Yes, Lady Tsunade! I will give it everything I’ve got!”

He knew that this was an enormous opportunity.

It was also the path that Lady Chiya and Director Nonou hoped he would walk.

…

At the same time, Training Ground Forty-Four on the outskirts of Konoha.

“Genjutsu, Tree Binding Death!”

Kurenai’s figure emerged from behind a large tree.

Her hands formed a seal.

Her opponent in the training match was the jonin Yuhi Shinku.

He suddenly saw the world blur before his eyes.

The surrounding trees seemed to come alive, their thick branches twisting toward him like giant serpents.

“The same trick won’t work on me! Release!”

Yuhi Shinku formed a seal and instantly broke through the illusion.

However, the moment the illusion shattered, Kurenai’s figure had already shot forward from the side like an arrow released from its bow.

Her speed was astonishingly fast.

Her footsteps were light and unpredictable, clearly incorporating a movement technique based on genjutsu into her taijutsu assault.

“Genjutsu, Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!”

The instant she closed the distance, a red glow appeared in Kurenai’s eyes, and a brief mental assault struck directly at Yuhi Shinku’s mind.

Although Shinku immediately broke free, his movements inevitably slowed for an instant.

“Now!”

Kurenai’s eyes sharpened.

The girl threw everything she had into the attack, her slender leg sweeping out like a whip.

It cut through the air with a fierce howl and struck directly toward his thigh.

“Bang!”

Yuhi Shinku blocked the kick, but his arm went numb from the impact, forcing him to retreat two steps.

He steadied himself and looked at Kurenai, who was breathing slightly harder but whose eyes remained bright.

Surprise and approval appeared on his face.

“Impressive, Kurenai. You’ve become much more proficient at linking your genjutsu with taijutsu. Your speed and strength are also considerably greater than during our last spar. It seems you’ve really been putting in the work.”

Kurenai wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.

Her chest rose and fell, but a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

“It’s still not enough! Father, please continue!”

Chiya’s words echoed in her mind.

“Once you become a jonin who can stand on your own…”

Become a jonin!

That was her current goal.

She no longer wanted to be excluded from dangerous missions.

She no longer wanted to watch Kakashi, Guy, and the others leave for dangerous missions while she remained in the relatively safe village.

She wanted to stand beside Lady Chiya and become a ninja he could trust with his back, rather than merely a junior or… an admirer who needed protection.

For that goal, she had practically squeezed every last bit of free time out of her schedule.

She trained relentlessly in genjutsu and chakra control and had even asked Might Guy to teach her some basic techniques for explosive physical power.

She knew that genjutsu was her greatest advantage, but her weaknesses were equally obvious.

She lacked a powerful finishing attack and the endurance necessary for prolonged battles.

Therefore, she had begun combining genjutsu with taijutsu, seeking to create an opening and deliver a decisive blow in the shortest possible time.

At the same time, she had also begun studying some basic sealing and barrier techniques to expand her tactical arsenal.

“Good! Then I won’t hold back!”

Yuhi Shinku looked at his daughter, a trace of relief appearing in his eyes.

His daughter had finally grown up.

In the shinobi world, strength would always come first.

“Shadow Clone Technique!”

After completing the hand seals, Yuhi Shinku’s clone appeared.

The clone and the original immediately began attacking Kurenai from both sides.

Figures flashed across the training ground as illusions and reality intertwined.

The sounds of clashing kunai and roaring ninjutsu rang out without end.

The sun finally began to set, and the training session came to an end.

Kurenai was almost completely exhausted as she sat on the ground.

Her body was drenched in sweat, and several bruises had appeared on her arms and legs, but her eyes were exceptionally bright.

She could feel herself improving every day.

That goal seemed to be getting closer with every passing day.

“Kurenai, everyone can see how hard you’ve been working.”

Yuhi Shinku handed her a bottle of water and spoke seriously.

“At your current rate of growth, passing the jonin assessment is only a matter of time. However, becoming a jonin requires more than strength. You also need independent judgment, leadership, and the wisdom to turn the situation around when you’re trapped in a desperate situation. Those things need to be honed through real missions.”

Kurenai accepted the water and nodded firmly.

“I understand, Father. I’ll be ready!”

She looked toward the direction of the Hokage Rock and silently thought.

‘Lady Chiya, please wait for me a little longer.’

‘Soon, I’ll be able to truly stand beside you.’

…

Hokage’s office.

After listening to the ANBU’s report about Yakushi Kabuto’s astonishing performance at the hospital and his exceptional promotion by Tsunade, Chiya’s face showed a satisfied expression.

Kabuto’s growth was even faster than he had expected.

This chess piece had already begun to reveal its value.

He then picked up another report.

It concerned Kurenai’s recent training and her sparring evaluation with her father, Yuhi Shinku.

The report detailed Kurenai’s breakthrough in combining genjutsu and taijutsu, as well as the almost obsessive intensity of her training.

“She’s really a stubborn girl…”

Chiya put down the report and looked out the window, as if he could see Kurenai’s red-haired figure sweating through her training in the training ground.

He did not oppose Kurenai’s efforts.

On the contrary, he admired her determination.

However, the road to greater strength was filled with thorns.

He needed to make sure she was growing along the right path rather than blindly exhausting herself.

Perhaps it was time to give her an opportunity.

An opportunity that could truly test her current growth while still remaining within a controllable range.

Just then, new voices came from the corridor.

“That was really dangerous!”

“Yeah, but we completed our mission!”

“Whoa! Now that’s youth!”