Looking at the skilled Chakra Scalpel in Hyuga Aokawa's hand...
Sarutobi Biwako fell silent once more.
She understood that the excuse of insufficient Medical Ninjutsu could no longer stop Hyuga Aokawa from joining the Medical Team.
She looked at the youth before her, whose talent was almost monstrous, and forced a strained smile onto her face.
"I didn't expect... Aokawa's talent for Medical Ninjutsu to be so astounding."
"With this level of mastery in Medical Ninjutsu, you are indeed more than qualified to join the Medical Team."
A smile had just begun to appear on Hyuga Aokawa's face when he heard her tone shift:
"However..."
"The Medical Team being selected this time is going to the Front Lines."
"On the Battlefield, just knowing Medical Ninjutsu isn't enough; your survival skills must also keep up."
"In other words, your Taijutsu and Body Flicker Technique must be top-tier so you can protect yourself when the enemy arrives."
"Therefore, this Medical Team selection will also assess your actual combat capabilities."
"This is also Hokage-sama's intention," Sarutobi Biwako added decisively.
Previous investigations showed that Hyuga Aokawa was mediocre in other aspects.
He had even failed miserably at the Gentle Fist, which the Hyuga Clan had studied for years, not to mention anything else.
If Hyuga Aokawa's Medical Ninjutsu was outstandingly Genius, then his other Taijutsu and Ninjutsu were equally outstandingly trash.
Thus, Biwako planned to block Hyuga Aokawa right here.
Me? Hiruzen Sarutobi looked bewildered.
I required a Medical Ninja's Taijutsu and Body Flicker Technique to be top-tier?
Are my standards really that high?
He was just about to speak up and clarify.
"Hokage-sama! Isn't that right?"
Sarutobi Biwako suddenly turned her head, her gaze piercing.
Her eyes were fixed on Hiruzen Sarutobi, the warning within them self-evident.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's throat bobbed as he forced himself to swallow the words on the tip of his tongue.
Following his wife's lead, he said, "Ah... yes, that's right, Aokawa."
"This is also for the sake of your safety."
"After all, for the Village to train one..."
"No problem! My Lords!"
Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could finish, he was decisively interrupted by Hyuga Aokawa, who agreed quite readily.
"Mastering the arts of war and peace to serve the ruler."
The biggest boss of Konoha Village was right here; this was a god-given stage to show off.
It would allow him to demonstrate his strength and pass the Medical Team selection assessment.
Where else could he find such a good deal?
Sarutobi Biwako was stunned, looking at Hyuga Aokawa with uncertainty.
"Aokawa, the combat capability I just mentioned refers to Taijutsu, Body Flicker Technique, and other skills for fighting enemies."
"It doesn't refer to your clinical treatment abilities."
"I understand!"
Hyuga Aokawa nodded with absolute certainty: "I accept the assessment of combat capability."
Seeing his resolute look, Sarutobi Biwako sighed helplessly:
"...Alright, but the selection just ended."
"Re-evaluating requires some preparation. Wait for us by the river downstairs; the formal assessment will begin in half an hour."
"Yes, thank you, Biwako-sama! Hokage-sama! Goodbye!"
Hyuga Aokawa bowed and turned to leave.
As soon as the door closed, Hiruzen Sarutobi hurried forward.
"Biwako, what is going on?"
Sarutobi Biwako didn't respond immediately.
She first summoned the guard outside: "Go, find Sarutobi Kaido."
Then she slowly walked over to the sofa and sat down, rubbing her brow tiredly:
"This kid's talent... is the best I've ever seen."
"I don't want him to die in vain on the Front Lines..."
Looking at the worried Sarutobi Biwako, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly laughed:
"Biwako, you're always so soft-hearted. No matter how good the talent is, one must go through trials to grow."
He instinctively reached for his pipe to take a puff but stopped himself, then continued:
"Like the White Fang's son, Kakashi Hatake! He is also a once-in-a-century Genius, yet I still sent him out to gain experience..."
"He is the promising talent I wanted to tell you about, the one selected earlier."
The more Sarutobi Biwako heard, the more annoyed she became, and she interrupted Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"A promising talent also needs to..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile suddenly froze:
"You mean, he's a talent who was only discovered during this medical training?"
"Hasn't he only been learning for two months?"
Sarutobi Biwako nodded heavily and remained silent.
Waves of shock surged through Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart.
Although he wasn't a Medical Ninja, he was widely knowledgeable.
With his eyes, he could see that the four techniques were not simple, especially the Fine Thread Extraction Technique and the Chakra Scalpel.
They required extremely high Chakra control and personal talent.
To master them to a degree that shocked Biwako within two months...
His talent could be described as absolutely absurd.
No wonder Biwako valued him so much.
He suddenly remembered: "Good talent and the ability to master Ninjutsu don't mean one can be a doctor; extensive medical knowledge is also..."
Sarutobi Biwako cut him off:
"His Genius lies exactly in that; he has not only mastered the Ninjutsu but also has a very comprehensive and solid foundation of medical knowledge."
"Even I only suddenly remembered some obscure knowledge points when he brought them up."
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt no joy, but rather a shock in his heart:
"In that case, we must consider..."
"No! I've already checked him."
Sarutobi Biwako looked straight at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"His records in Konoha since childhood have no issues, and the Hyuga Clan has no Bloodlines left in other countries."
"Furthermore, if you were the enemy, would you be willing to send someone with such extraordinary talent to an enemy country just to obtain some intelligence?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slowly, then shook his head.
The two fell into a momentary silence.
Knock, knock, knock!
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in!"
A tall man with a simple and honest appearance, wearing clothes with the Sarutobi emblem, walked in.
"It's Kaido. Have a seat!" Sarutobi Biwako greeted.
"Alright, thank you, Aunt Biwako!" Sarutobi Kaido smiled honestly.
"Mhm, I'll have to trouble you to assess another doctor in a moment. Is that okay?"
"No problem, I'll do whatever Auntie asks."
"Then for the assessment later, whether it's the Water Surface Walking project..."
"Or the combat assessment, you must give it your all and find a way to prevent the other party from passing. Understand?"
"But Auntie!" Sarutobi Kaido scratched his head. "For that Water Surface Walking project, didn't you tell me the wave intensity shouldn't be too high?"
"If his Chakra control is good, he'll definitely pass."
"You silly child," Sarutobi Biwako chided, tapping him lightly.
"That's for others. For him, you can increase the wave intensity; just do everything you can to make him fall into the water."
"Same for the combat; don't worry even if he gets injured. I'm right here."
"Biwako."
The more Hiruzen Sarutobi heard, the more absurd it became, and he quickly spoke up to interrupt.