The Battle of Medical Kunoichi
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——
Tsunade gained invaluable insights.
She had vaguely understood that psychological issues could lead to illnesses—her own hemophobia being one example—but she'd never considered psychological treatment as a standalone field.
Now, she was eager to dive into research.
But.
Psychological treatment involved extensive case studies and observations. It couldn't be rushed.
And…
There was a more pressing matter for Konoha:
The Chūnin Exams' third round.
Today was the day.
All jōnin in Konoha were required to attend, showcasing the village's strength to the daimyō.
Kyōichi was among them, though he found the event underwhelming.
One-on-one arena battles? Just flashy performances.
This was purely a spectacle!
The daimyō, however, watched with rapt attention, even during the genin matches.
"If this isn't staged, I'll eat my hat."
Tsunade scoffed.
The matchups were too convenient!
First round: Two average genin from Shisui's team.
Second round: Raido Namiashi vs Ebisu.
Third round…
Each fight escalated in intensity, culminating in the fourth round—a showdown between kunoichi, hyped to the max.
Shisui, meanwhile, got a bye.
"It's a show. You don't lead with your trump card."
Kyōichi shrugged.
The daimyō's enjoying it, isn't he?
---
"Finally, their turn!"
Shizune clapped excitedly.
Tsunade shot her a look, and the girl froze.
"Why are you so thrilled? You're not fighting."
"It's rare to see medical ninjas in combat!"
"Kurenai isn't a traditional medical ninja. She's a frontline combat medic—specializing in genjutsu first, healing second."
Most medical ninjas lacked combat skills, making them liabilities on the battlefield.
Kurenai's hybrid approach was Tsunade's old vision—one few could achieve due to the difficulty of mastering both fields.
Now intrigued, Tsunade leaned forward.
Below, Kurenai and Rin formed the Seal of Confrontation. Then…
Both summoned chakra scalpels.
"Chakra Scalpels? For combat?!"
Shizune gasped.
This jutsu, typically used for surgery, was A-rank. How could it work in battle?
Tsunade frowned. "The Chakra Scalpel can sever muscles and blood vessels. Using it this way is dangerous."
"Relax. This is a performance. The goal isn't to win—it's to showcase tactics and flair."
Kyōichi smirked.
Strength alone didn't define a chūnin. Strategy did.
---
The daimyō turned to the Sandaime, puzzled.
"Hokage-sama, what jutsu is this?"
"The Chakra Scalpel. It's a medical ninjutsu repurposed for combat. A testament to Konoha's innovation."
The Sandaime explained smoothly.
The daimyō nodded, impressed.
On the field, Kurenai and Rin clashed—Kurenai aggressive, Rin defensive. A stalemate.
Then…
Kurenai swayed her head oddly.
"What's she doing?"
Shizune squinted.
"Genjutsu. She's using her headband's reflection to manipulate light."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed.
It reminded her of Konoha-Style: Willow—a kenjutsu-based illusion. Nearby, a certain "eternal genin" watched, thoughtful.
Rin broke the genjutsu, but Kurenai was already upon her. A flick of the scalpel, and Rin's leg gave out.
Yet Rin retaliated with Water Clones, buying time to heal her injury with Mystical Palm Technique.
"Clever tactics. Did you script this?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"Performance rules."
Kyōichi grinned.
He'd only asked them to highlight combat medics' potential. They'd exceeded expectations.
---
Rin's leg healed, but Kurenai closed in again.
This time, Kurenai's scalpel struck true—and her left fist slammed the ground.
"Chakra Enhanced Strength?!"
Tsunade stiffened.
Too reckless!
But Kurenai had a plan. She retreated, healing her strained ligaments with Mystical Palm mid-combat.
"I didn't teach her that. She figured it out herself."
Kyōichi smiled proudly.
Kurenai's growth was staggering. She'd adapted Chakra Enhanced Strength into hit-and-run tactics, minimizing strain.
"I yield."
Rin conceded gracefully, earning applause.
The crowd buzzed—medical ninjas could fight!