The weather was pleasant. The sun hung high in the sky, its rays neither blinding nor scorching. A gentle breeze softly brushed across the rooftops, causing a hat to shift slightly.
A delicate, slender hand lightly patted the hat, steadying it back over the face that the wind had stirred.
Beneath the hat, Nara Mahito had his eyes tightly closed, intently focusing on the card that appeared in his mind.
On the card was a man dressed in strange attire, his face painted in garish makeup, grinning widely to reveal a mouthful of gleaming gold teeth.
[Talent Card: Mayuri Kurotsuchi]
[World: Bleach]
[Quality: Blue (77/1000)]
[Effect: Growth-type Research Talent] (You are a natural scientist and researcher. Your talent will shine in research and development)
[Domain: Your talent in biological and neurological research far surpasses other fields of development]
[Passive: Biological Modification]
[Accumulation: All research requires vast amounts of knowledge and experimentation. The knowledge you acquire will be understood and remembered more efficiently, with feedback provided in unique ways as a reward]
[Achievement: Every recognized invention you create enhances your physical fitness and strength]
[Obsession: To become a scientist surpassing Kisuke Urahara]
Seeing the character on the card, Nara Mahito instantly recognized the man.
How could he not? His memories from his previous life, retained after his reincarnation, had reminded him!
In the world of Bleach, Mayuri Kurotsuchi was one of the three leading figures in research.
While he might not be as terrifying in power as the other two, and his greatest achievements seemed to fall a little short, his research prowess still allowed him to compete for MVP in crucial battles.
Although Mahito felt a bit regretful that his cheat wasn't Aizen or Urahara, both possessing unparalleled strength and intelligence, a card focused entirely on science and research like Mayuri was still acceptable.
The only downside was how it subtly nudged his thoughts toward certain... disturbing directions.
"Sigh~"
Mahito lazily propped himself up, sitting up on the roof.
At six years old, his thin arms and legs resembled that of a scrawny bean sprout, his hair styled in the signature pineapple shape of the Nara clan.
Reluctantly, he glanced back at the warm spot where he'd been lying just moments ago, the perfect place for relaxation. Sadly, his leisure time had come to an end.
Mahito sighed. In his previous life, he had been a freshly graduated doctor, struggling to climb the career ladder, constantly exhausted from the competition.
His reincarnation into this world felt like some form of compensation.
Though this world was far from peaceful and even outright dangerous, at least he wasn't an orphan without support. He had a family to rely on.
Otherwise, being an orphan with a cheat that demanded vast knowledge and resources to exploit would have been pure hell.
Sure, he might survive the battlefield, rise in ranks based on merit, and eventually trade for a few D- or B-rank jutsus, but if luck ran out, he'd simply become cannon fodder. And getting a good mentor? That would require exceptional luck too.
So, with a relatively decent start, Mahito knew he had to seize the opportunity.
Even though the lazy nature of his Nara bloodline constantly pulled him towards slacking off, he forced himself to fight the urge. Today, he'd continue his pursuit of knowledge.
Leaping down from the roof with ease, Mahito landed smoothly in a crouch, dusting his hands off before heading towards his house.
As a clan with hundreds of years of history, the Nara clan had an impressive collection of secret techniques and ninjutsu, but most notably, a wealth of knowledge related to pharmacology and the human body.
Being one of the three core families of the "Ino-Shika-Cho" alliance, each family shared common knowledge and resources, complementing each other in areas where they were strong.
For instance, the Akimichi clan had deep expertise in human anatomy and body-strengthening pharmacology.
In a time when medical ninjas were scarce, members of the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance specializing in medicine quietly supported the newly established Medical Corps.
And coincidentally, this was exactly the kind of knowledge Mahito needed. At his age, with his limited talent in the direct pursuit of power, there was no way he could keep up with the true prodigies.
He had to lay a strong foundation in other areas. After all, the Mayuri Kurotsuchi talent template didn't rely solely on physical strength to fight.
In that sense, the Nara clan was quite similar—both relied on brains, even if the way they used them was different.
Mahito's small house was cluttered with books, many of which were open, displaying diagrams of human meridians and anatomical charts.
Near the window sat a large, palm-sized caterpillar, motionless in a flower pot, looking almost dead.
Grabbing the book he had marked, Mahito started his daily studies.
With the Nara clan's above-average intelligence, combined with the application of Mayuri's talent, even the dense and dull content of these books could be comprehended and thoroughly enjoyed by a six-year-old child like Mahito.
"Woof!"
Time flew by unnoticed as Mahito immersed himself in his reading. He was jolted from his focus by the excited barking of a dog.
Looking up, he saw a small white puppy, its front paws resting on someone's head, trying its best to prop itself up, wagging its tail enthusiastically at him.
As soon as Mahito's gaze fell on the puppy, its tail started spinning like a fan, slapping the head below it repeatedly.
Then, two hands emerged, lifting the lively puppy off the head, revealing a familiar face with two camouflage markings.
"Mahito, it's feeding time."
Inuzuka Yama waved at him with one hand, holding his dog in the other, before leaping over the railing with agility.
"Woof, woof!"
The puppy in Yama's arms wriggled excitedly, its enthusiasm almost uncontrollable.
"Looks like Sanmaru really enjoys the new flavor," Mahito said, standing up and walking over to Inuzuka Yama.
He reached out, lifted the puppy high in the air, and examined it closely.
Sensing Mahito's somewhat invasive gaze, Sanmaru instinctively curled up, its earlier excitement quickly dying down as it licked its lips nervously, staying still.
"After eating the new dog food from your place last time, my father examined Sanmaru and found that its physical condition had improved significantly, and it's been more energetic too."
"He said he's planning to visit your parents in a few days," Inuzuka Yama excitedly recounted, detailing every little change in his dog while also passing on his father's words.