Chapter 35 Leave of Absence
With one main body and three Shadow Clones, Hyuga Mirai's training was progressing steadily and in an orderly fashion.
Because he invented Healing Tags, his request to Hiruzen Sarutobi for a month-long leave was easily approved. During this time, Hyuga Mirai did not have to return to the Uzumaki Maple Squad for missions.
When short-handed, the Uzumaki Maple Squad had two choices: one was to transfer other personnel to supplement the team, as there were still some Genin in Konoha Village without teams; the other was to wait for Hyuga Mirai's leave to end and then have him return to the team.
When Kaminari Kaede informed Hyuga Kiyomi and Kurenai Yuhi of this, they both chose to wait for Hyuga Mirai's leave to end before taking on new missions.
Kaminari Kaede also thought the same. The original three-person squad, after more than a dozen missions, had developed a very tacit understanding in their cooperation. Moreover, Hyuga Mirai had almost developed the qualifications of a Chunin. With a few more mission experiences, he could completely be promoted to Chunin and lead a three-person squad on his own.
If they were to replace him with someone else now, just the process of getting used to each other would probably take several months.
However, Kaminari Kaede was also somewhat familiar with the Healing Tags Hyuga Mirai had developed. After hearing this news, he once thought that Hyuga Mirai would not return to the team and would instead develop within the medical system.
But since the Third Hokage's transfer order had not yet arrived, the Uzumaki Maple Squad was not considered disbanded.
When the squad was short on personnel, Hyuga Kiyomi and Kurenai Yuhi could only take D-rank missions completed within the village or train.
"Tsunade-sama, Yang Release Chakra can both promote and delay cell division. Is it possible to use Sealing Jutsu to seal Yang Release Chakra in every acupoint throughout the body? This way, one could maintain a state of delayed cell division, thereby extending lifespan."
"Brat, don't be so fanciful!"
Tsunade retorted, "Where does Chakra come from? Didn't you learn that in the Nin school? Creating Yang Release Chakra requires refining and combining physical energy and spiritual energy. This will inevitably cause cell division. Your idea is simply—"
"I've experimented with this point. If the Chakra produced by the 130 trillion cells in the human body, when converted into Yang Release Chakra, can delay cell division by three cycles, then by extrapolation, each Ninja could at least double their lifespan. Based on the average lifespan of non-combat deaths in Konoha Village, this could basically increase a Ninja's lifespan to 162 years."
"However, this still requires more research—"
Before Tsunade could finish her scolding, Hyuga Mirai pulled out some research data to refute her.
This was Hyuga Mirai's daily routine after learning Sealing Jutsu and Medical Ninjutsu from Tsunade. Due to a bet, Tsunade had to answer Hyuga Mirai's questions, but while teaching, Tsunade would always mock Hyuga Mirai, calling him 'brat' one moment and 'idiot' the next.
However, although Tsunade was verbally harsh, she was secretly very shocked by Hyuga Mirai's learning ability.
The Third Hokage had given Hyuga Mirai three Sealing Jutsu. Besides the most difficult Four Symbols Seal, Hyuga Mirai had almost learned the other two under Tsunade's guidance.
And this 'learning' meant that Hyuga Mirai constantly questioned the operating principles of the Sealing Jutsu and the effects of the sealing runes, forcing Tsunade to answer seriously.
Every day after learning Sealing Jutsu, Hyuga Mirai would pose some very 'profound' questions to Tsunade.
After Tsunade pondered and answered, Hyuga Mirai would immediately overturn Tsunade's answer, harshly 'slapping' her face.
Today was no different. Before Tsunade could finish her answer, Hyuga Mirai pulled out some experimental data and slapped her face, causing a hint of unnatural anger to rise on Tsunade's face, who hadn't even had a drink yet today.
Bang!
"Brat, let your main body come and discuss with me!"
Before the Shadow Clone could react, it was shattered by a powerful punch.
"Tsk, this damn brat!"
Tsunade, still fuming, picked up Hyuga Mirai's experimental report. It contained a very thorough research process on cells, starting from Yang Release Chakra and listing many experimental summaries on its various effects on cells.
"From the looks of it, what that Byakugan Brat said might actually be possible..."
The experimental report Tsunade was reading contained many other studies, the most important of which were cell gene research and preliminary ideas for cloning.
Of course, Hyuga Mirai didn't just leave one copy with Tsunade; many people in Konoha Hospital had seen his research report.
However, to understand Hyuga Mirai's research material, one needed to have Tsunade's level of medical expertise or a deep understanding of cells.
Otherwise, others were completely confused.
Nevertheless, the fact that Hyuga Mirai could learn and discuss with Tsunade daily was enough to make other Medical Ninja acknowledge Hyuga Mirai's medical skill.
In the forest ten li south of Konoha Village
Hyuga Mirai, who was practicing Body Flicker Technique, paused slightly. The memory of his Shadow Clone being shattered by a punch came to his mind, and this pain made him frown slightly.
"It seems I should stop training at this time of day in the future, because of that violent, big-breasted woman."
If the pain of a Shadow Clone being shattered suddenly came while practicing the high-speed Body Flicker Technique, Hyuga Mirai could very likely be injured. Even if he had Medical Ninjutsu, it was best to avoid injuries if possible.
"The thirty-day leave is almost over. Returning to the squad for missions has its pros and cons. If I can be promoted to Chunin and lead a team out of the village for missions, then the pros outweigh the cons. It seems I need to be promoted to Chunin as soon as possible."
There are two ways to be promoted to Chunin: one is the Chunin Exams, and the other is an assessment issued by the Hokage.
The Chunin Exams are usually held simultaneously with surrounding countries, and the timing is uncertain. More Chunin are promoted through assessments issued by the Third Hokage, such as Kakashi Hatake.
During this nearly month-long period, Hyuga Mirai seized every second. Gentle Fist, physical training, Body Flicker Technique, Medical Ninjutsu, and so on—he didn't neglect any of them.
Ever since the Shadow Clone deepened its research into Yang Release Chakra, Hyuga Mirai had achieved many useful results.
For example, using the gentle stimulation and protection of Yang Release Chakra on digestive organs like the esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, and pancreas to accelerate food digestion, thereby shortening the time it takes for the body to extract energy from food.
Hyuga Mirai thought of this thanks to the inspiration from Tsunade and another person. After Pain's invasion, Tsunade, due to excessive Chakra consumption, ate and drank heavily to recover Chakra after waking up.
He spent three days experimenting with a feasible method.
Through extensive food digestion and the nourishment of body cells with Yang Release Chakra, Hyuga Mirai's Chakra reserves had increased significantly. He should now be at the Jonin level.
Hyuga Mirai checked the time and felt it was about time to return.
"I'll rejoin the squad for missions the day after tomorrow. I wonder if Orochimaru has seen my research report yet. Does he not pay attention to Konoha Hospital?"
Although he had absorbed a lot of useful knowledge from Tsunade, she was, after all, about to leave Konoha Village. Once Tsunade left, Orochimaru would probably be the only one in all of Konoha who could discuss with Hyuga Mirai.
Because they both belonged to the scientific faction!
Please vote, esteemed readers, give me some suggestions. I feel like I'm playing a single-player game.