"The Land of Whirlpools, Uzushiogakure," he said to himself as he drew lines on a new page. "An isolated place, ravaged by war with the natives almost all dead. It's perfect for building something as ambitious as this."
He envisioned a spiral structure, inspired by the Uzumaki symbol, with several underground levels. The laboratory would contain sections dedicated to chakra research, biological data, and technology, as well as training rooms.
"I'll have to include a library," he thought aloud, "filled with accumulated knowledge."
He himself, with all his memories, struggled to properly organize his knowledge and ideas for the future.
Shikai continued working on his plans late into the night, perfecting every detail.
When Tsunade returned, slightly tipsy but still alert, she found Shikai asleep by the fire, with some fuinjutsu technique scrolls on his knees. She smiled slightly, seeing that Shikai, an adult, was already more mature than herself. He was already creating explosive scrolls to make money.
She felt a twinge of guilt. She had spent most of her savings on alcohol and gambling, leaving Shikai in the cold when he could have afforded an inn with his money.
She clenched her teeth but sighed. Alcohol was her only escape.
***
The mountains of the Fire Country rose majestically, their snow-capped peaks glistening in the sun. Tsunade and Shikai had set up camp near a clear stream, surrounded by steep cliffs and dense forests. The fresh mountain air enhanced their focus, perfect for a lesson demanding precision and finesse: the Chakra Scalpel.
Tsunade crossed her arms, standing face-to-face with Shikai, her expression as impassive as it was authoritative. "Shikai, today we're tackling a crucial technique for a medical ninja. The Chakra Scalpel is not just a surgical tool. In the right hands, it's a formidable weapon in close combat."
Shikai nodded.
Tsunade gave a slight smile. "That's where many go wrong. In skilled hands, the Chakra Scalpel can sever muscles, tendons, or even chakra channels, rendering your opponent unable to fight. But it requires exceptional control."
She extended her hand, and a thin blue glow appeared around her fingers. "Watch. This is the result of perfect chakra concentration, channeled into an invisible blade. Now, try."
Shikai furrowed his brows and concentrated his chakra. He formed a glow around his hand, but it wavered, unstable. He tried to maintain the energy, but the technique collapsed, leaving his hand empty.
"Too much chakra," Tsunade interjected, observing closely. "If you put too much power into it, the blade loses its finesse. Focus. Imagine a thin chakra thread, sharp as a scalpel."
For hours, Shikai trained under Tsunade's watchful eye. His progress was slow but steady. Finally, he managed to maintain a stable blade for a few seconds, long enough to slice through a thin branch effortlessly.
"Not bad," Tsunade admitted, nodding her head. "Now, let's see if you can use it in combat."
Tsunade created several shadow clones, each armed with kunais, and sent them to attack Shikai. "Use your chakra scalpel to disarm my clones without destroying them. And don't expect them to make it easy for you."
Shikai activated his scalpel, the blue chakra shining faintly around his fingers. The clones attacked, forcing the young ninja to dodge and counter. He tried to aim for the wrists and hands of the clones, but his precision still needed work.
After several unsuccessful attempts, he managed to sever the kunai of one clone with a precise movement, disarming it before neutralizing it. Shikai smiled,
It was particularly challenging, as concentration was key to maintaining the sharpness of the scalpel.
Tsunade crossed her arms. "It's a start. But don't forget that your enemies won't be as predictable. If you want to perfect this technique, you'll have to learn to integrate it into your own style. Your greatest strength is your speed."
Shikai, ever eager for innovation, pondered a way to make the Chakra Scalpel even more effective. As he trained near the stream, an idea came to him: what if the technique could be enhanced by using Suiton?
He reached out to the water, using his natural affinity to manipulate a thin liquid blade. Then, he combined the chakra of his scalpel with Suiton, creating a cutting water blade, longer and more stable.
Tsunade watched her student, intrigued. "Not bad. But a larger blade means more chakra to control. Can you handle it in combat?"
To test this new technique, Shikai used the water blade against another clone of Tsunade. The fight was quick and strategic. Shikai managed to disarm and neutralize the clone with fluid and precise movements.
Tsunade smiled, impressed. "Not bad, Shikai. You have a natural instinct for combining techniques. But don't forget, every innovation must be perfected before being used in the field."
...
As the sun set behind the mountains, painting the sky with orange and purple hues, Tsunade sat by the campfire, a flask of sake in hand. Shikai, exhausted from training, joined her.
"Tsunade," he began. "You mentioned earlier that the Chakra Scalpel could be used in combat. Have you ever had to use it that way?"
Tsunade seemed to ponder for a moment, a nostalgic smile forming on her lips. "Yes, of course. There's one battle in particular that I'll never forget... the one against Hanzo the Salamander."
Shikai's eyes widened. "Hanzo? You faced him?"
Tsunade nodded. "It was during the Second Great Ninja War. Hanzo was formidable, a master of poison and a brilliant strategist. Even Jiraya, Orochimaru, and I had a hard time standing up to his power."
She paused, her gaze lost in the flames. "The Chakra Scalpel was crucial that day. As his poisonous attacks rendered our weapons useless, I used this technique to disable his tendons and limit his movements. It wasn't an easy fight, but it was after that battle that we were dubbed the Sannin of Konoha."