Even after returning home, Gisei Shiraishi was still thinking hard, feeling that something was wrong somewhere but unable to put his finger on it.
Perhaps there will be an answer in the future. He could only think so.
Seeing his preoccupied look, Eisawa grabbed his ear and said grumpily, "You are still young. There is plenty of time, no need to agonize over it."
Eisawa took out a scroll from his chest pocket and handed it to him.
"Your three types of summoning butterflies will take about half a year to breed successfully. The ordinary butterflies, however, can be used in at most five days. This scroll contains the secret techniques and ninjutsu I have selected for you. Consider it a small consolation."
"In a few days, I will find you a teacher. By then, you won't have the mental space to think about these heavy things."
"Thank you, Uncle Eisawa."
After taking the scroll, Gisei quickly retreated to his room and unfurled the ninjutsu scroll his "beloved" uncle had given him.
Butterfly Clone (Chō Bunshin), Lightning Ball (Raikyū), Body Flicker Technique (Shunshin no Jutsu), Water Dragon Bullet (Suiryūdan), Lightning Butterfly (Raichō), Water Dragon Bullet Volley (Suiryūdan Renda), Earth Flow (Doryū)...
The scroll was densely packed with ninjutsu. Gisei was dazzled just looking at it; some of these were obviously way beyond his current level.
Did he just dump every single Lightning and Water Release jutsu the clan owned onto this scroll?
For a moment, Gisei had mixed feelings.
Regardless of whether he felt a true sense of belonging to this clan, at this moment, his heart was full of genuine gratitude.
If he hadn't been born into this clan, let alone secret techniques, even acquiring these ordinary ninjutsu would have been a massive headache. But now, here they were, handed to him on a silver platter without him having to lift a finger. And on top of that, Eisawa was specifically hunting down a private tutor for him.
Although he didn't know who it would be, this teacher would undoubtedly be perfectly suited to his lightning and water affinities.
This is a ninja clan, he thought. They indeed have the capital to be proud.
Closing the scroll, Gisei sighed and began to think.
With these ninjutsu and a specialized teacher, there seemed to be no need to rot away in the Ninja Academy anymore.
Graduate early?
The assessment for early graduation would definitely involve practical combat. His current combat skills were, to put it mildly, trash.
And after graduation, he would have to join a ninja squad and do those tedious D-rank missions—catching cats and weeding gardens.
Wait.
Gisei's eyes darted around as an idea formed. Some things seemed impossible for him, but his resourceful uncle might have a way around them.
What's more, there was one thing weighing heavily on his mind: Eisawa's health.
He had originally decided to pursue medical ninjutsu simply as an excuse to hang around the Ninja Academy longer because of the butterfly species issues. But now, the priority had shifted. It wasn't about learning cool ninjutsu anymore; it was about saving his uncle.
The combat ninjutsu were already in his hands; he could learn them anytime.
But Eisawa didn't have much time left. If he hadn't lied, then in at most three years, Gisei would be all alone in this world.
However, Eisawa didn't seem to care about his own body. Was he perhaps still longing for death?
Crazy, Gisei couldn't help but curse inwardly. What's the point of saving someone who is bent on dying?
Thinking of this, his enthusiasm dampened significantly. Gisei looked listless, unable to think of a good solution.
His eyes rolled around as he pondered why his uncle wanted to die so much. Were spare ribs not fragrant? Were women not beautiful?
Wait, women...
His uncle was thirty this year and still a bachelor. If he found him a wife, maybe his mental state would change?
But then he worried again. He had no friends and no connections. Aside from being good-looking, he only had his face...
The key problem was that this face was useless for matchmaking!
The more he thought, the more confused he became. Gisei simply lay on the bed and started throwing a tantrum, rolling around in frustration. Suddenly, a person appeared in his mind.
Teacher Kawano!
His life mentor. Although the man looked a bit fierce, he was absolutely a good person. The most important thing was that he had a pretty daughter!
Just that she was a bit young—fifteen years old.
Eisawa was already an "old man" of thirty. Would it be too much of a case of an old cow eating tender grass?
At this moment, one had to marvel at the profoundness of Chinese culture, because Gisei suddenly remembered a phrase.
"An old husband and young wife adds more tenderness and affection!"
Who said this? Seemed to be Lu Xun? Or maybe Zhou Shuren?
Hmm, it must be him. Simply too understanding of human nature!
As for the issue of Eisawa's short life span, Gisei had completely thrown it to the back of his mind. Even if it really happened, they couldn't get married immediately; there had to be a process.
And during this process, if Gisei didn't find a medical solution, then they would just part amicably. If he did find one, wouldn't it be a perfect happy ending?
Thinking of this, Gisei jumped up from the bed with a kip-up. Pushing open the door, he found that the sky had already turned completely dark.
Better wait for tomorrow. It just so happened that he also needed to talk to his uncle about his own plans.
The next day, before going to school, Gisei mentioned his idea of graduating early—and casually threw in that he wanted to take a position at the hospital.
Trying to learn medical ninjutsu from scratch wasn't simple. Could you build a jumbo jet behind closed doors? Keep dreaming.
He had thought about getting into the hospital a long time ago. Not only for the theoretical knowledge, but practical experience was indispensable. Crouching at home, it was impossible to get that kind of exposure.
"Graduate early? A position at the hospital? Is there something wrong with your brain?"
Eisawa's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
"What's wrong?"
"Take a good look at yourself."
Gisei looked himself up and down. Nothing wrong!
"You are only eight years old this year. Do you know what other eight-year-old children are doing?"
"Going to school?"
He really hadn't paid attention to this. The key was that he couldn't play with children his own age at all.
The level of thinking was too far apart. Forcing them together would only make him look like a freak. Even Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya—three obviously precocious children—couldn't really play with him on his level.
Although part of it was because Gisei deliberately alienated himself, it also illustrated just how complicated interpersonal relationships were.
Gisei expressed that his brain cells were limited, and he really couldn't be bothered to rack his brains figuring out social dynamics.
"Impossible. In short, go to school obediently, graduate honestly, and we'll talk about the hospital then."
Eisawa had an expression like he wanted to eat someone, which made Gisei's heart tremble.
But this kind of thing had to be done as early as possible. Wait another four years and he might turn into a butterfly...
What would be the point of going to the hospital then? Purely to cure diseases and save people, to benefit all living beings?
Do I look like such a noble person?
With that time, he might as well learn a few more ninjutsu so his chances of surviving on the battlefield would be higher. As for medical ninjutsu, if he didn't do it, Tsunade would definitely do it. Wouldn't it be nice to just learn the ready-made techniques from her later?
Eisawa's attitude seemed very firm. Helpless, Gisei could only use his ancestral "Cuteness Technique."
Pulling Eisawa's sleeve, shaking his small body vigorously, plus widening his little eyes until they looked like they were about to weep...
Eisawa: "I got it."
Solid.
Since he was little, this uncle had no defense against this technique, and it seemed it was still effective. It was just that when he was little, it was mostly for mischief; now, it was to save his life.
Cheering, Gisei turned and ran out the door. The things his uncle promised had never disappointed him, so he wasn't worried at all.
The thing he was most worried about now was the practical combat assessment.
Theoretically speaking, students who mastered the Three Basic Jutsu could apply for graduation, but the practical combat assessment was really a bit difficult for him.
His shuriken jutsu was considered excellent. Although he had been punching wooden stakes for taijutsu these past two years, to be honest, punching wooden stakes also depended on talent.
In the original work, Rock Lee punched stakes every day and didn't seem to have any problems, but when it came to Gisei, he felt something was wrong.
Punching the wooden stake once required him to rest for two or three days; otherwise, he would probably be crippled by now.
Gisei had thought more than once about why Rock Lee could do it and be fine. The final conclusion could only be: talent.
Talent, Gisei clicked his tongue. Why should a man who relies on his clan for a living compare talent with others? Isn't looking for excitement when there's nothing wrong just asking for suffering?
But he was so angry, so envious—really so jealous!
His current taijutsu level at most touched the edge of a Genin. Trying to pass the assessment relying on this definitely wouldn't work.
Even if he practiced ninjutsu now, with his chakra amount, casting one C-rank ninjutsu would probably deplete his mana entirely.
Pass the assessment relying only on the Three Basic Jutsu and shuriken?
It would be great if there was intelligence on the test. Thinking of this, Gisei thought of three people.
Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya.
If he had to choose one from the three, the answer could only be Orochimaru.
He knew Tsunade but wasn't familiar with her. Moreover, with that woman's personality, she would probably mock him first before telling him anything.
As for Jiraiya, the relationship between the two had never been good. The entrance ceremony incident was not only Jiraiya's shame but also something Gisei still brooded over.
Decided. It's his deskmate, Orochimaru.
After arriving at school, the morning consisted of boring theoretical classes, and the afternoon was practical combat training.
In order to graduate early, Gisei decided to show some real skill.
Practical combat training was actually the same old routine. First throwing shuriken, then ninja sparring. He hadn't seen Teacher Kawano change the pattern much in these two years.
After the shuriken practice, the ninja sparring began quickly.
After watching several rounds of boring matches, Gisei started yawning.
Calling it "ninja sparring" was generous; it was actually children fighting. You punch me, I kick you. In his class, since the Sannin graduated, he hadn't seen anyone use actual ninjutsu.
That guy Hiruko seemed to know the Clone Technique, so now he was the class boss.
"Next group: Gisei Shiraishi vs. Taro Mitsui."
Finally, his turn. Gisei rubbed his fists and palms, preparing to go all out. He hadn't spent these two years in vain; he had summarized some tips for sure victory.
Children fighting: firstly, it's about momentum; secondly, it's about bluffing. As long as he had the upper hand in these two, he would be successful.
In the past, he relied on this move and took quite a few punches from Tsunade. Saying some weird things to baffle her, then taking the opportunity to sneak attack. If the difference in strength wasn't so vast, Tsunade would have been rubbed into the dirt by him long ago.
After Taro and Gisei formed the Seal of Confrontation, Teacher Kawano shouted: "Start!"
"Taro Mitsui, right? I advise you to admit defeat early. The me of today is different from the me of yesterday."
Taro sneered. "What are you saying, you dead-last? Trying to use that trick of yours to fool people again? Who in the class doesn't know that you only have a glib tongue and are no good at anything else?"
Gisei: "..."
Operation failed. He charged directly, smashing a fist toward Taro's face.
Taro didn't dodge or evade, spreading his arms to tackle him by the waist, intending to throw him to the ground.
Gisei started forming hand seals. "Body Replacement Technique!"
Poof.
A log fell to the ground. Taro was a bit confused and hurriedly looked around.
When he turned back, he saw the "homeroom teacher"—Teacher Kawano—standing behind him with a dark face, raising his hand to give him a slap, then kicking him to the ground.
"Bastard! Bring your parents tomorrow!"
Taro hadn't reacted yet. The teacher hit him, and he didn't dare fight back. Then, hearing that he had to bring his parents, he was completely dumbfounded.
Not sure what he thought of, his mouth twisted, and tears fell down.
Crying...