The next day, human experiments were carried out in secret.
For the medical ninjutsu project, an additional assistant had joined—Elder Shimura Danzō. With his involvement, progress seemed to accelerate significantly.
At a dinner gathering at the Third Hokage's house, Orochimaru and Tsunade appeared noticeably more composed. Initially, the mere sight of meat had made them nauseous, but within a week, they had adapted, even managing to eat sashimi again.
They were adjusting quickly.
Human beings instinctively fear the sight of their own kind's corpses. It is a deeply ingrained response—one that cannot be erased, only conquered through sheer willpower.
"If we're treating internal injuries—say, a bone fracture that punctures blood vessels—our approach should be to cut open the affected area, remove the damaged bone, stop the bleeding, and then suture it back together," Xu Ming explained.
"The blood vessels are crucial. If there's internal bleeding, conventional methods won't be enough to stop it."
After his conversation with the Third Hokage and Danzo, Xu Ming decided to share more of his knowledge. Reviewing the results of human experimentation, he tapped into his profound understanding, guiding Orochimaru and Tsunade in ways that greatly advanced medical ninjutsu.
With his insights, the project progressed at an unprecedented pace.
After all, Xu Ming possessed knowledge of a mature version of medical ninjutsu—akin to having a roadmap while others wandered blindly.
While most were unaware of the extent of his knowledge, Orochimaru and Tsunade were astounded. Even the more experienced members of the project team were left speechless, as though they had just witnessed a miracle.
"How can someone surpass our entire research team just by analyzing data!?" they whispered in disbelief.
However, upon learning that Xu Ming was the original creator of the medical ninjutsu concept, they found it more understandable. After all, he was a true pioneer.
"The process differs depending on the severity of the injury," Xu Ming continued. "If the broken bone is fragmented into large pieces, we can simply clean up the damaged parts and stimulate the remaining bone with medical ninjutsu to encourage regrowth. If the bone is shattered into small fragments, we must first reconstruct it as accurately as possible, then use chakra to stimulate healing. In any case, our priority is to save the patient's life before worrying about the finer details."
Xu Ming's explanations left the entire team overwhelmed with information.
Orochimaru, who had always prided himself on his analytical skills, could not help but marvel.
"Your ability to grasp complex concepts so effortlessly is terrifying," Orochimaru muttered. "I spend endless hours compiling data, yet you surpass me without even trying. I can't help but wonder… Have you secretly experimented on thousands of people?"
"Don't talk nonsense!" Xu Ming shot back, rolling his eyes.
Of course, Orochimaru was merely venting his frustration. He was only ten years old, yet his incredible talent made people forget his age. Despite his maturity, there were moments when his youth showed.
Tsunade, on the other hand, reacted differently.
Whenever she had free time, she would engage Xu Ming in long discussions, delving into topics such as establishing hospitals and training medical ninja teams. These were concepts that would later become her core beliefs, yet Xu Ming spoke of them with remarkable foresight, aligning perfectly with her own unspoken thoughts.
"Xu Ming, are you some kind of mind reader?" Tsunade asked, furrowing her brows. "Why do our ideas match so perfectly?"
"Don't flatter yourself," Xu Ming scoffed. "Your thoughts are just scattered fragments that happen to align with my fully developed ideas. When I first conceived these concepts, you were probably still playing in the dirt."
Used to wielding his knowledge like a master strategist, Xu Ming had long since grown accustomed to taking credit for ideas he knew from future history.
"You're insufferable!" Tsunade huffed, storming off.
Despite her frustration, Xu Ming's words struck a chord with her. The more she thought about it, the more she wondered—had these ideas truly originated within her? Or had Xu Ming subtly planted them in her mind?
The human experimentation phase progressed swiftly.
And just as quickly, test subjects were consumed.
Simply glancing at the experiment records, Xu Ming estimated that hundreds of individuals had been hospitalized—an unfortunate but effective method of reducing Konoha's burden.
"The project is nearing its practical application stage," he mused.
Techniques such as the Healing Jutsu, Hemostasis, and Chakra Scalpel had all been successfully developed. With the upper ranks of Konoha approving the training of medical ninjas, the outlook seemed promising.
But then, something strange happened.
Despite the completion of this phase, Xu Ming received unexpected feedback from his system.
[You have perfectly mastered the S-Rank medical sealing technique: Hundred Healings Mark!]
—A technique that allows high-purity Yang Release chakra to be stored in a seal on the forehead and heart, to be released as needed.
[You have perfectly mastered the S-Rank medical ninjutsu: Ninja Art: Mitotic Regeneration!]
—By releasing the stored chakra from the Hundred Healings Mark, this technique enables rapid self-regeneration, enhancing bodily functions and slowing aging.
[You have perfectly mastered the S-Rank medical Forbidden Technique: Creation Rebirth!]
—By fully unleashing the chakra stored in the Hundred Healings Mark, the body enters a hyperactive regenerative state, instantly healing all damage. However, it consumes lifespan at an accelerated rate, essentially trading years of life for immediate survival.
Xu Ming stared at the system notifications, then slowly looked up at the ceiling in disbelief.
These were the signature Forbidden Techniques that Tsunade would master in the future.
But why had they been unlocked for him… through Orochimaru's research?
Was Orochimaru also blessed with some kind of supernatural foresight?
"…I need answers," Xu Ming muttered.
Then, rolling over, he pulled the blanket over himself.
"It's already ten o'clock. Sleep first—ask questions later."