The standard for judging an anesthesiologist's excellence is how precisely they control the timing of anesthesia. Clearly, the anesthesiologist involved in this surgery is extremely skilled.
Almost immediately after Tatsuma finished stitching the wound, Dan Kato began to wake up. He hadn't even been moved out of the operating room yet, as Tatsuma was still explaining the key points of the kidney transplant surgery to the camera recording the procedure.
Just as he turned off the camera and started packing up the equipment, Tatsuma, the lead surgeon, wasn't particularly busy. He looked at the piece of muscle cut from Dan Kato, which was used to fill the void left by the kidney transplant, and said:
"Sensei, you could sort of be considered Dan Kato's family. What do you plan to do with this piece of meat?"
"Half fried, half grilled!" Tsunade said with a hint of menace. Tatsuma gently pressed the piece of meat and said, "This meat was created using Medical Ninjutsu. The muscle fibers and their orientation are very uniform, so it would definitely taste good if cooked."
"Can I eat now?" Having fasted for twelve hours before the surgery, the still groggy Dan Kato overheard them talking about food and instinctively asked. Tsunade, still angry, picked up the piece of muscle that looked very similar to a kidney and said:
"This is your dinner. How do you want to eat it?"
"You like grilled meat, so let's grill it," Dan Kato said, gazing lovingly at Tsunade, completely unaware of the actual topic of conversation.
"Hmph!" Tsunade was caught off guard by his words, leaving her unsure how to continue being angry. She could only place the piece of meat back on the tray and silently pack up the equipment.
Biwako, standing nearby, had a noticeable smile in her eyes despite wearing a mask, which looked somewhat eerie. However, it was clear that these two had feelings for each other, and as an elder, how could she not be pleased?
Tatsuma, not wanting to get involved, gently pressed the sutured area, ensuring there was no bleeding, then performed a final cleaning and disinfection of the wound. He then gently placed a bandage over it and announced the end of the surgery.
In the observation room, Dan Kato quickly regained full consciousness. Despite not specializing in Taijutsu, his Jonin-level physical condition was much stronger than that of an average person.
Tatsuma asked Dan Kato how he wanted to handle the excess tissue. Dan Kato chose a method most beneficial for learning Medical Ninjutsu: preserving the tissue in formalin, then embedding it in wax for sectioning, so that Tsunade's students could observe and study it.
Regenerative Healing Jutsu is an extremely difficult Medical Ninjutsu, with one of the challenges being the necessity of understanding various human tissue structures. Tatsuma's quick comprehension through books, images, and Tsunade's guidance did not mean others could do the same, so having physical samples to study was the most effective method.
However, obtaining a complete and sufficiently large sample of regenerated muscle, bone, or tendons is quite difficult. It's not practical to extract a large piece of tissue from someone, then use Regenerative Healing Jutsu to repair it, only to remove the regenerated tissue again.
This makes Dan Kato's case highly valuable for research from pre-surgery to intraoperative and postoperative stages. However, the entire process can be quite difficult for most people to accept. Fortunately, Dan Kato, having experienced a near-death situation, has a strong capacity for acceptance and doesn't mind helping the medical community in this way.
"Get plenty of rest, and if you feel any discomfort, be sure to speak up. Don't dismiss it as a minor issue," Tatsuma said earnestly to Dan Kato before leaving the observation room. Dan Kato nodded and said, "I don't feel any discomfort; right now, I just want to eat something, like grilled meat."
"Haha, you'll have to wait a few more days for that," Tatsuma replied, relieved to see Dan Kato in good spirits. He then left to attend to other matters, leaving the care of Dan Kato to Tsunade. Any necessary examinations could be handled by the doctors at Konoha Hospital and Orochimaru.
As long as Dan Kato experiences no adverse reactions, Tatsuma's involvement will be minimal. After observing him for two to three more days and confirming that postoperative functions are normal, the stitches can be removed, and the wound can be healed using Medical Ninjutsu.
The reason for not using ninja techniques during the surgery is that this is part of a medical research project. The case studies, surgical recordings, and subsequent papers are intended not only for medical ninjas but also for other doctors. Keeping the sutures also allows for easier intervention in case of any adverse reactions shortly after the surgery. While extensive preparatory work was done, making complications unlikely, it's better to be cautious.
In the following days, Tatsuma had only one task: to review the method for undoing the Soul Binding Technique. Although Orochimaru had taught him the method earlier, he was unsure if he could currently perform such a precise technique.
One evening, the Senju household had roast piglet for dinner. The next evening, Tatsuma brought another piglet to the kitchen, this time alive, and after it was slaughtered, everyone enjoyed another meal. Tatsuma used the pretext of helping Minato regain his strength, which deeply moved Minato.
On the third day, Tatsuma did not practice with a suckling pig. Firstly, because he had practiced enough the previous day to ensure no mishaps, and secondly, he was tired of it—the taste of roast piglet was even making him burp.
On the fourth day, which was the third day post-surgery, Tatsuma went to the hospital. After reviewing the test results from the past few days, he told Dan Kato, "Everything looks good. We can remove the stitches now."
"Thank you for your hard work," Dan Kato replied. By this time, he had become accustomed to various examinations. Without needing further instructions from Tatsuma, he raised his left hand and placed it behind his head, turning slightly to give Tatsuma the best view and space to work. Such cooperative patients are rare, much like the ideal clients Tony-sensei hoped for—those who would turn their heads during a shampoo and tilt their heads down or up during a haircut.
Tatsuma unwrapped the bandage, inspected the wound, and, finding no issues, focused Chakra into his right hand to form a Chakra scalpel. He gently cut along the suture line and then carefully removed the stitches. The sutures and the incision method had been specially designed for easy removal, so the process was smooth and straightforward.
After removing the sutures, the wound did not split open, indicating that it had already begun to heal. For such a minor issue, Tatsuma didn't bother with sterile procedures. Using Chakra Sensing and some techniques from Delicate Illness Extraction Jutsu to ensure everything was fine, he directly performed the Mystical Palm Jutsu to heal the wound.
"Tsk," Dan Kato made a sound and then said, "I feel like the wound is already healed, but there's still some pain. Is that normal?"
"That's normal," Tatsuma replied lightly. "Your brain hasn't fully adjusted yet. It still thinks the wound should hurt, so you feel pain." He had seen this happen many times, especially on the battlefield, where many people continued to feel pain even after being healed.
The brain is an excellent detective, capable of revealing many hidden things, but it's also the greatest deceiver, employing tricks that are hard for people to resist. In his previous life, Tatsuma had heard a theory that if you fully immerse yourself in watching sports videos, your brain might be tricked into thinking your body is exercising. As a result, even while lying still, the body could enter a state similar to high-intensity training, effectively simulating the effects of exercise.
"Alright, for the next week, you need to have a urine test and a blood test every two days. After a week, do it once a week, and after a month, do it once a month. It's best to continue this for two to three years to ensure that your kidney function has not declined."
As Tatsuma withdrew his hands, Dan Kato cautiously sat up, touched the area where the incision had been, and said with a sense of wonder, "These past six months have probably been the hardest for me to understand. I died and came back to life, I lost a kidney, and now it's all restored. It's truly amazing."
Dan Kato was reflecting on this when he suddenly felt a tingle on his scalp. He realized Tatsuma's hand had somehow ended up on his head. Before he could ask, Tatsuma withdrew his hand and said, "Alright, in a few days, once your body and mind have fully adjusted and you no longer experience phantom pain, you can try using Spirit Transformation Jutsu. Theoretically, there should be no problem, but if any issues arise, make sure to contact me."
"Okay," Dan Kato nodded, feeling even more moved. During this time, he truly felt as if he were in a dream. When he closed his eyes in the rainforest, he had thought Tsunade was merely comforting him when she cried and said he still had hope.
After being revived by Tatsuma, saying that the kidney could recover was a way of comforting himself, and believing that his Spirit Transformation Jutsu had only temporarily lost some time was also a form of self-comfort. But now, it seemed that these things had come true.
For a moment, Dan Kato felt somewhat lost. He had become accustomed to being somewhat disabled over the past six months and now didn't know what to do with himself.
Tatsuma, however, understood. Prolonged treatment can feel like being in prison, and after getting out, people often experience anxiety and confusion. This is even more pronounced when a terminal illness suddenly cures or when a prison sentence is suddenly reduced and release is imminent.
Smiling, Tatsuma asked, "What is it that you most want to do now?"
"Me?" Dan Kato opened his mouth and said, "I want to eat grilled meat, something flavorful."
"You're really persistent," Tatsuma said, unsure how to respond. He understood, though—having had only one kidney before, Dan Kato's detoxification function was compromised, and he needed to eat healthy food. During this period, for the sake of the surgery, his diet had been very bland.
Dan Kato finally broke into a smile and said, "I want to host a celebration for my discharge from the hospital, and I'm thinking of having it at a barbecue place. Is that okay?"
"No problem. Your body has fully recovered. Occasional overeating might only cause some gastrointestinal and blood sugar issues, but with your current condition, you can handle it," Tatsuma replied.
In fact, occasional unhealthy eating or overeating isn't solely harmful. Such behavior can quickly alleviate anxiety and boost happiness. While it's not advisable for ordinary people who are recovering from a serious illness, Dan Kato is already in good health, and with the party likely to include Tatsuma, the lead surgeon, and Tsunade, along with others, it would be hard for anything to go wrong.
Upon hearing Tatsuma's agreement, Dan Kato nodded and said, "I want to invite everyone I've met since returning to Konoha: Tsunade, you, Nawaki, and Jiraiya."
"Jiraiya-sensei?" Tatsuma interrupted upon hearing the name, looking at Dan Kato with a puzzled expression. Dan Kato nodded and said, "I know Jiraiya doesn't like me much, and we've had some minor disagreements and misunderstandings before."
"But he could be a great friend. During this time, he has visited me a few times, and I can clearly feel that he intentionally avoids Tsunade. Even if we can't become friends in the future, I want to clear up the misunderstandings between us."
Dan Kato spoke sincerely. Tatsuma nodded and said, "Jiraiya-sensei won't refuse the invitation, but you'll need to prepare extra money."
"Hm?"
"You'll understand."
The next day, inside the barbecue place, a drunken Jiraiya, holding Minato and sobbing, mumbled, "Let go of me, I can still drink. Boohoo~"
Minato, whose hands were held by Jiraiya and who was unable to move, shrugged helplessly at Tatsuma. Tatsuma gave Dan Kato a look that said, "I told you so."
Dan Kato looked at the scattered bottles of alcohol in the private room and felt a twinge of pain in his kidney. All the money he had saved during his twenty years as a ninja!!!
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