Naruto: Reborn with the Tenseigan

Back at Konoha Hospital, it didn't seem so bad, but once in the camp, the workload was enough to tire anyone to death.

It may look like medical ninja don't have to go to the frontlines and can stay in the camp, but few people understood just how busy medical ninja actually were.

Especially when there were many wounded; it left hardly any time even to eat.

And as the person in charge of the medical unit, Hyuga Takashi was the one everyone turned to first whenever they encountered a difficult patient.

"Looks like you had a good haul," Takashi noted.

"Not bad, but the next step is up to you, Takashi-kun," Orochimaru replied, placing a sealing scroll on the table. He was curious about how Takashi managed to give puppets life.

"How many?"

Dragging his exhausted body, Takashi picked up the scroll and weighed it in his hand.

"Two hundred."

Orochimaru flashed a grin, his teeth gleaming white. Perhaps his time spent with corpses had given him an eerie aura.

"I'll give you twenty. The rest are mine."

Takashi wasn't too greedy; he gave Orochimaru a tenth of the haul.

"Deal."

Orochimaru agreed without hesitation. He wasn't concerned about the number of puppets—what mattered to him was how Takashi could make the puppets come alive.

Takashi held up the scroll, signaling with his eyes for Orochimaru to leave. The last step was inconvenient to do in front of others.

But Orochimaru showed no intention of leaving.

Seeing Takashi wanting him to leave, Orochimaru made a suggestion:

"Let me watch, and all the puppets created afterward are yours."

"The materials I brought should be enough for five hundred puppets."

What the heck!

Did Orochimaru rob someone? How did he gather so many materials? Is research really this lucrative?

It had only been a little over half a year, and Orochimaru was already filthy rich.

Letting Orochimaru watch in exchange for five hundred puppets—was it worth it?

After considering it, it seemed worthwhile. Even if Orochimaru saw it, he wouldn't be able to replicate it. And even if he could, it would take him time to figure it out through his own research, which wouldn't affect Takashi.

"No deal. Five hundred puppets are too few."

Takashi shook his head. Watching was allowed, but the price had to be right.

"A thousand then."

Orochimaru understood Takashi well. Money? Right now, he didn't lack it. He wouldn't say he had gotten rich overnight, but he had enough, with more income on the way.

As long as money could solve the problem, it wasn't a problem.

Worst-case scenario, he'd continue his old job, doing research and making money. During wartime, in addition to all sorts of ninja tools, ration pills were also in high demand. Orochimaru didn't mind diving into those areas.

As long as it made money—well, he wouldn't sell his dignity, but everything else was fair game.

"Deal."

Takashi snapped his fingers and reminded him, "Make sure to get the puppets to me as soon as possible. Don't delay too long; my life depends on them."

"The materials will arrive at the camp soon. I'll just watch without asking questions, and I won't tell anyone. You can rest easy, Takashi-kun," Orochimaru assured him.

"Good."

With the terms set, Takashi stopped trying to keep Orochimaru away. He took out the prepared puppets from the scroll, placed his hand on one, and, under Orochimaru's curious gaze, infused chakra into the puppet's core.

The puppet, which had previously been lifeless, suddenly twitched, then stood up like a living person. Its closed eyes opened, revealing bright blue irises.

"This…"

Even though Orochimaru had mentally prepared himself, he still stood up, staring incredulously at Takashi's hand.

Infusing chakra could give a puppet life?

Was this even possible?

How was it possible?!

Orochimaru felt his worldview shatter.

"Hahaha, this is incredible—absolutely incredible!"

Suddenly, Orochimaru started clapping and laughing. He wasn't just laughing; his whole body was trembling, almost as if he were having a seizure.

Giving a puppet life—anyone who saw this would have their worldview completely upended.

Especially the puppet masters.

If Takashi's puppets ever met Sunagakure's puppet corps, those puppet masters might start doubting whether they'd taken the right path.

Too bad giving life to puppets was something impossible to replicate—unless they could also awaken the Tenseigan.

With a glance at Orochimaru, who was trembling and laughing, Takashi quickly took out more puppets, injecting them with chakra in rapid succession before storing them away. Soon, all the puppets had transformed into his likeness.

In the room, twenty puppets of inferior quality were left behind. These were for Orochimaru.

"Takashi-kun, it's a pleasure doing business with you."

Orochimaru didn't mind the quality. After all, the puppets in his hands wouldn't be used for fighting—most of them would be disassembled for research or used in experiments.

Appearance didn't matter to him.

"The pleasure is mine. Just remember to keep your promise and don't spill any secrets."

"Of course not."

With his puppets in tow, Orochimaru left in high spirits. If conditions had allowed, he would have started his experiments right there in the camp.

Finally, a chance to rest.

After seeing Orochimaru off, Takashi started to wash up. He had just laid down when, suddenly, the room blurred, and he found himself whisked away from the rest area, transported to the Shikkotsu Forest.

"Takashi-kun, the time to practice Senjutsu has come," said the Slug Sage, shifting its enormous head and reminding him that it was time for his Sage training.

"..."

Can't I just not practice today? I want to sleep.

Before Takashi could say a word, a swarm of small slugs crawled onto his body.

Fine, let's do this. If it doesn't kill me, I'll train until it does. Who needs sleep at my age, anyway?

Everyone's pushing themselves; let's see who gets worn out first.

Takashi sat cross-legged on the ground and began absorbing the dense natural energy from Shikkotsu Forest, following the instructions of the Slug Sage.

Shikkotsu Forest, Mount Myoboku, Ryuchi Cave—these three were known as the Three Great Sage Regions of the ninja world, places where natural energy was far denser compared to the rest of the world.

Training in Senjutsu here was twice as effective, though it also increased the risk of turning into stone.

The abundant natural energy, combined with Takashi's talent, the guidance of the Slug Sage, and the help of the small slugs, soon led to natural energy entering his body.

"Crack!"

On his first attempt, Takashi failed to find the balance, and his arm began to petrify. The small slugs on him quickly crawled over and wrapped themselves around his hand.

As the petrified arm became covered in their mucus, the stone slowly receded.

This was far more convenient than the toad oil from Mount Myoboku.

An imbalance in natural energy would lead to petrification, but the small slugs could absorb the runaway energy, preventing him from turning to stone.

If it weren't for being covered in sticky mucus, Takashi would have given these slugs a thumbs-up and a five-star rating.