"After enhancing my perception, my chakra control is much clearer."
Chiba slowed down his hand seals—Hai, Chou, In, Ne—each one carefully executed. Chakra was smoothly gathered inside him, and once again, he successfully used the Chakra Scalpel.
No difficulty at all.
Next, he dispersed his chakra, changed two of the seals, and with some fine chakra control...
After a few more seals, a sharp, needle-like chakra construct appeared in his palm—high-density chakra condensed into a near-solid form.
He tested it with a kunai.
Clang!
It was easily blocked.
"As expected, these seals assist chakra condensation, making it easier to gather chakra. But strong chakra control is still necessary."
Chiba jotted down notes:
Chakra Needle: Difficulty A+
Effect: Can physically pierce; damage potential untested
Optimization: Make finer, increase quantity, improve durability, reduce difficulty
"This isn't something ready for widespread use yet."
Still, it was useful.
The Chakra Scalpel was versatile in surgeries but limited—like when repairing torn muscles and ligaments, precise cutting was difficult.
But the Chakra Needle could fill that gap.
"I need to see it in real application."
Chiba stood and headed to the office.
As a newcomer who hadn't fully mastered medical ninjutsu, he needed Tsunade's permission and supervision to assist in surgeries.
Tsunade had long since moved past trivial distractions—she was too busy leading the medical corps.
When Chiba entered, a brief, awkward memory flickered through her mind.
After a pause, Chiba said, "Lady Tsunade, I just tried integrating the Chakra Scalpel with a technique I've been developing."
"???"
Tsunade looked at him incredulously.
"You just learned the Chakra Scalpel, didn't you? "
She was a bit stunned.
After a moment, she asked, "What technique? "
"I call it 'Chakra Needle.'"
Chiba quickly formed seals and extended his right hand—a chakra needle formed.
"I strengthened its physical form, so it's tangible."
Tsunade's eyes widened.
Though she hadn't worked in the medical corps long, she had plenty of experience and immediately saw the technique's surgical potential.
She pulled out a medical file.
"That's Maruhoshi Kosuke's file," she said.
An elite genin-level medic, actually of jonin caliber.
"During battle, Kosuke severely fractured his left lower leg. Though promptly bandaged, the shattered bone fragments were too many. After Lady Tsunade left, the medical corps couldn't treat him properly, so he was amputated."
Sighing, Tsunade said, "If someone had your technique back then, maybe he could have been saved."
"Are there similar surgeries? I want to try assisting."
"They come up from time to time. Wait a bit."
The next day, Tsunade took Chiba to the operating room.
He wasn't allowed to perform surgery yet—only to observe and acclimate, avoiding panic when the time came.
Not everyone approved, like Shizune—the medical corps leader, senior to Tsunade's assistant.
But Tsunade used her authority as Hokage to allow Chiba to learn.
After a few surgeries, Shizune's attitude toward Chiba softened.
Though clumsy, he respected life and was quick with his hands.
By the second surgery, he was able to help without interfering.
Two weeks later, the surgery Chiba awaited arrived.
A Chunin from the Nara clan, also an Anbu member, had a shattered left hand from an enemy's explosive tag.
His skin and flesh were contaminated with debris.
A high-difficulty operation.
"Such fragmentation..." Shizune said.
"We need to operate simultaneously, or it'll be too late."
Tsunade looked at Chiba hesitantly.
"I want to help."
"You? " Shizune frowned.
Though talented, Chiba had no real surgery experience.
A failure would be a heavy blow to him.
After thinking, she said, "It's too risky. You should help maintain the jutsu."
"I want to remove debris and realign bones."
"Fine, I'll assist you."
Before Shizune could object, Tsunade gave the final word.
All agreed: this was a highly promising technique.
Chiba was assigned the thigh area.
He focused and began the operation.
Hand seals, jutsu activation.
The chakra needle appeared.
Shizune was silent, then began operating.
The patient's condition was critical.
Chiba's enhanced perception let him precisely sense debris locations.
With steady hands and chakra, he removed fragments efficiently.
Minutes passed.
He worked from foot to left waist, never pausing the chakra needle or his other hand.
Shizune and Tsunade were astonished by his speed.
Chiba's left hand used the Chakra Scalpel; his right hand maintained the fine extraction jutsu, pulling debris out.
The room was quiet.
Everyone silently gave space.
Unconsciously, the surgery was led by Chiba.
The chakra needle weaved between bone fragments, cutting away flesh and debris.
Others helped piece bones together.
After some time, all bones were restored and healed with medical ninjutsu.
"Rest now. We'll take over," Tsunade said.
Chiba blinked, coming out of his trance, feeling dizzy.
"The worst damage was on the left side. You removed most debris. We'll handle the rest. Your chakra is running low."
Shizune spoke kindly.
Earlier, her attitude was gentle because Chiba was a prodigy.
Now, it was respect.
Too bad he hadn't mastered medical ninjutsu yet.
Otherwise, he might have become the next Tsunade.
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/Shinazuki