Chapter Twenty-One: An Unexpected Visitor

[Blade Technique lv4: 69/100000] [Transformation lv3: 51/10000] The skill panel still featured Blade Technique and Transformation at the top, but now a third skill had appeared.

[Medical Arts lv1: 0/100]

Acquiring new skills was like opening a mystery box; before it happened, Yu Higashino never knew what kind of skill he would receive. The Medical Arts skill he gained today, to be honest, surprised him.

At level 1, Medical Arts merely allowed Yu Higashino to understand human anatomy, grasp some basic pharmacology, mix simple herbal remedies, treat colds, and bandage wounds.

Yet the potential of this skill was undeniable. Once leveled up, reviving the dead and healing bones and flesh would be well within reach. If someone important died, Yu Higashino could have the opportunity to bring them back.

But why did he acquire this skill from Ayano Natsukawa? Had she once been a medical ninja?

Yu Higashino speculated but didn’t ask further.

“Well, let's head back; it's getting late.”

“All right, see you, Yu!”

“Goodbye.”

“Naruto, let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Yu Higashino and Naruto walked out of the snack shop; the sky outside was nearly dark. What a “full” day it had been.

Upon returning home, Yu Higashino cooked dinner, had Naruto wash the dishes afterward, and then sent him home. Given Naruto’s status, there was no need to worry about him getting lost.

After Naruto left, Yu Higashino began to study the Medical Arts skill he’d acquired, focusing mainly on how to increase its proficiency.

Logically, engaging in related activities should raise proficiency, but the question was, what could Yu Higashino actually do that was related to medical arts?

Treat patients? With his identity, such opportunities were almost nonexistent. That left… mixing medicine.

Yu Higashino planned to buy some herbs and experiment with concocting medicines at home, but it was already late today, so he decided to wait until tomorrow.

Lying in bed, Yu Higashino drifted into sleep for the night.

The next morning, Naruto woke him up again, and when he glanced at the clock, it was barely past six.

“Naruto, why are you here so early today?”

“Because yesterday you didn’t tell me to come later, Yu!”

“…”

“Naruto, from now on, try to come later.” Yu Higashino, now wide awake, found his morning mood much improved.

“Okay, sleepyhead Yu!”

“Thump!” Yu Higashino couldn’t resist knocking Naruto on the head.

“Watch the shop.” With those words, Yu Higashino headed upstairs.

What to have for breakfast today? After some thought, Yu Higashino decided to keep it simple and made two bowls of noodles, unwilling to fuss over anything complicated.

After breakfast, it was already past seven. Yu Higashino had Naruto watch the shop while he went out to the pharmacy to buy herbs.

Halfway there, Yu Higashino suddenly stopped.

He realized there was another, much simpler and more efficient way to increase proficiency in Medical Arts.

All he had to do was “observe.” By analyzing the hidden dangers in others’ bodies through observation, the proficiency of Medical Arts would increase by one point.

In that case, why buy herbs at all?

Yu Higashino turned around and headed back.

“Yu, why are you back empty-handed? Weren’t you going to buy something?”

“No need anymore.” Yu Higashino didn’t explain much.

Sitting at the counter, Yu Higashino gazed out through the front door at the passersby, and as each one walked by, he used his lv1 Medical Arts skill to analyze their physical condition. Whether his analysis was accurate or not, the proficiency always increased by one.

After about ten minutes of this, the Medical Arts skill leveled up.

At lv2, Medical Arts granted Yu Higashino mastery of more complicated treatment methods, like surgery, but it wasn’t a qualitative change.

So he continued grinding proficiency.

To reach lv3 required 1000 points, which, judging by previous efficiency, would take about two hours.

Fortunately, Yu Higashino found it quite interesting to observe people’s physical conditions and guess the reasons behind them; otherwise, it would have been rather tedious.

[Medical Arts lv3: 0/10000]

At lv3, Medical Arts finally underwent a qualitative change. Yu Higashino mastered a healing technique reminiscent of those found in games—capable of restoring others’ health, clearing negative effects, and so on.

But since it was only lv3, its effects were not very strong. Yu Higashino prepared to continue grinding proficiency.

However, people began to enter his shop one after another, completely disrupting his plans.

First came Ayano Natsukawa, carrying a bag.

“Yu, these are the latest snacks from our shop. I brought some over for you to try.”

As she spoke, Ayano Natsukawa placed the bag on the counter.

“Thank you,” Yu Higashino stood up.

“Wow, so many snacks! They all look delicious!” Naruto had already opened the bag.

“As long as you like them.” Ayano Natsukawa smiled. “I won’t disturb you, I’ll head back to my shop.”

“Alright, go ahead.” After speaking, Yu Higashino hesitated, then used Medical Arts to check Ayano Natsukawa’s physical condition.

No major issues, just some hidden injuries.

He cast a healing technique on her, a small return for the snacks she’d brought.

As Yu Higashino’s Medical Arts skill activated, Ayano Natsukawa, just stepping out of Yu’s Odd Jobs Shop, suddenly paused. She felt a remarkable lightness throughout her body.

Without thinking much of it, she continued on her way back to the snack shop next door.

Meanwhile, Yu Higashino’s Medical Arts proficiency increased by 2.

After Ayano Natsukawa left, Yu Higashino thought there wouldn’t be any more customers for a while, but unexpectedly, another visitor arrived not long after.

It was Shisui Uchiha, whom he’d seen not long ago.

Yu Higashino recalled the business card he’d handed over. Did Shisui Uchiha have something to ask of him?

He pondered this while greeting him without delay, “Welcome.”

Shisui Uchiha paused, regret filling him for coming inside.

He’d only entered Yu’s Odd Jobs Shop because he happened to be passing by and remembered Yu Higashino from their previous encounter, curiosity prompting him to step in.

But what he hadn’t expected was to find Naruto here—the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!

Given his position, he should have avoided suspicion, and definitely should not have approached Naruto. But lately, he’d been troubled by matters concerning the village and his clan, and truly hadn’t anticipated Naruto’s presence.

Now what? Neither entering nor leaving felt right.

In the end, Shisui Uchiha could only greet Yu Higashino with a stiff resolve.

“Yu, it’s been a while.”