Hiruzen Sarutobi found it increasingly absurd and quickly spoke up to interrupt her.
What did she mean by not being afraid even if he got hurt?
Kaito was a boy who didn't know his own strength; if he wasn't restrained, who knew what the outcome would be?
Just as he was about to speak, Sarutobi Biwako let out a roar that even startled Sarutobi Kaido.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, I don't want to hear your 'Genius growth' philosophy. Medical Ninja don't need the Nirvana of war."
"Aokawa's talent is even greater than Tsunade's back then. The future development of Konoha's Medical Ninjutsu depends on him."
"So, unless he can one day learn Creation Rebirth like Tsunade did..."
"...don't even think about me letting him onto the Battlefield."
"Kaito, let's go!"
Without another word, Sarutobi Biwako grabbed the dazed Sarutobi Kaido and rushed straight downstairs.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed and turned his gaze toward Hyuga Aokawa, who was standing quietly by the river.
He leaped out the window, focused Chakra into his feet, and glided down the wall.
By the river, Hyuga Aokawa focused his mind and finally saw the three of them arrive.
He greeted them with a smile: "Hokage-sama, Biwako-sama."
He also nodded in greeting to Sarutobi Kaido.
"No need for formalities, Aokawa. Let's get straight to the point."
"Practical ability is divided into two parts. The first tests your reactions by combining the most important skill for a Medical Ninja: Chakra control."
She gestured toward Sarutobi Kaido. "This is a Special Jonin, Sarutobi Kaido, who specializes in Water Release."
"In a moment, he will create random waves on the river. You need to stay on the water for 30 minutes without falling in."
"30 minutes?" Hyuga Aokawa was somewhat surprised.
Were the combat requirements for Medical Ninja in the Medical Team this high now?
In the original story, there didn't seem to be any mention of Medical Ninja having such high endurance.
Fortunately, this wasn't too difficult for him.
With his current Chakra control, no matter how big the waves were, they wouldn't knock him over.
"I understand!"
"Then both of you get into position. I'll keep time," Sarutobi Biwako ordered.
Hyuga Aokawa nodded, focused Chakra into the soles of his feet, and stepped firmly onto the river's surface.
Once Hyuga Aokawa reached the middle of the river, Sarutobi Biwako pressed the stopwatch. "Start!"
Sarutobi Kaido instantly formed hand seals, manipulating the river water into a surging, turbulent flow.
Waves continuously rushed toward Hyuga Aokawa on the water's surface.
Yet he moved with composed steps, treading onto the crests as if on level ground and sliding down lightly, as if he were merely strolling across hills on land.
"As expected of a Medical Ninja, this exquisite Chakra control is far superior to ordinary people."
Hiruzen Sarutobi praised him inwardly.
Seeing that a few waves couldn't shake his opponent, Sarutobi Kaido suddenly increased his Chakra output, making the waves higher and more violent.
At the same time, he hid killing intent within the waves, constantly creating sudden splashes that slapped toward Hyuga Aokawa in an attempt to break his center of gravity.
But Hyuga Aokawa seemed to have foresight, his body swaying slightly.
He dodged every sneak attack with a leisurely stroll, remaining bone-dry.
"Not only is his Chakra control exquisite, but his perception is also excellent."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was somewhat surprised.
A layman watches the show, but a professional looks at the technique.
To dodge Kaido's hidden waves so easily required extremely delicate perception to capture the underwater undercurrents at the first moment.
"Still not falling?" Sarutobi Kaido scratched his head anxiously, his hand seals changing.
The waves on the river no longer hid their killing intent; they suddenly gathered, forming a towering wall of water several people high.
It loomed over Hyuga Aokawa, threatening to cover him completely.
Just as the giant wave was about to swallow him, his figure vanished instantly.
"Body Flicker Technique!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's surprise grew even further.
The Body Flicker Technique isn't teleportation; it's a technique that requires the calf muscles to push off the ground rapidly to gain massive acceleration instantly.
Using the Body Flicker Technique on water increased the difficulty exponentially.
It placed extremely high demands on instantaneous Chakra output and fine control.
Therefore, while Ninja walking on water were common, Ninja using the Body Flicker Technique on water were not.
Hyuga Aokawa's figure appeared on another part of the water, where a new giant wave had already risen from the ground.
He simply took advantage of the momentum to leap onto the crest, letting the wave carry him up.
He then sped down the steep back of the wave.
"Still not falling, still not falling..."
Sarutobi Kaido stared at the figure on the water, his brow furrowed as he muttered.
The speed of his hand seals became faster and faster.
A second, a third, a fourth... more and more giant waves converged from all directions to surround and crush Hyuga Aokawa.
Hyuga Aokawa felt a chill in his heart. "Are they choosing a Medical Ninja or an Anbu elite?"
He hurriedly activated his Byakugan and also triggered the Reishi Network in his Sea of Consciousness.
The two sensory methods continuously captured the subtle differences in the surrounding Chakra flow.
He wove back and forth through the gaps in the giant waves like a fish, narrowly escaping danger.
"Why won't you fall down!"
The honesty on Sarutobi Kaido's face gradually faded, replaced by irritability and stubbornness, his breathing becoming more and more rapid.
"If you don't fall, I won't be able to complete my aunt's task."
He gritted his teeth and formed seals once more.
Sarutobi Biwako watched the figure maneuvering through the raging waves on the river, her expression solemn.
Initially, Hyuga Aokawa's ease was within her expectations.
After all, anyone who excelled in Medical Ninjutsu would definitely have excellent Chakra control.
But she hadn't expected Hyuga Aokawa's physical reactions and perception to be this fast.
The giant waves Kaido was creating now had already far exceeded the limits of the Medical Team's assessment.
Yet even so, Hyuga Aokawa remained steady on the river's surface.
He hadn't even gotten a drop of water on him from then until now.
The waves on the river grew larger and larger, and she looked toward Sarutobi Kaido.
The next moment!
Those familiar hand seals gave her a shock.
This was...?
Ninjutsu?
She instinctively wanted to stop Sarutobi Kaido.
Despite her words, when it came down to it, she didn't want to see Hyuga Aokawa get hurt.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi held her back.
"Don't be in a hurry. He hasn't reached his limit yet. I'm watching."
He also wanted to see where this kid's limit was.
Sarutobi Kaido maintained the giant waves while completing the final seals.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique."
On the river, Hyuga Aokawa was treading the waves when the water beneath him suddenly erupted.
Boom!
A ferocious water dragon burst from the water, its massive maw wide open.
"Holy crap!"
"Are you kidding me? Did Rin and Sakura get through their assessments by the back door?"
"I never saw them being this skilled."
Hyuga Aokawa hurriedly dodged, but caught off guard, he was still carried into the air by the violent current.
He quickly sprinted down the winding body of the dragon.
The water dragon twisted and coiled, circling continuously.
The dragon's head lunged and bit ferociously time and again, but Hyuga Aokawa narrowly escaped each time by a hair's breadth.
He had just jumped back onto the water's surface.
"Water Release: Water Bullet Technique."
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