"The criteria for ninjutsu mutation really are hard to grasp..."

  Link frowned as he stared at his haing chakra.

  Whether it was the Chakra Scalpel or Mystical Palm Teique, both required a foundational skill: releasing chakra from the palm.

  To be precise, mediinjutsu was built upon chakra trol and release.

  From the B-Rank Delicate Illness Extra Teique to the A-Rank Chakra Scalpel and Mystical Palm, and even the S-Rank Creatioh that only Tsunade could use, all relied on this foundational yet extremely challenging skill.

  As everyone khe three pos of a jutsu were physical energy, trol, and release.

  While most jutsu required hand seals to transform chakra into an ability, certain teiques didn’t need seals at all. Mediinjutsu, for instance, relied almost entirely on precise chakra trol and release. Different maniputioed in different teiques.

  Question!

  If chakra was simply released without any specifiipution, would Link's unique ability cssify it as a jutsu?

  The answer was no.

  What made this iing was that the Delicate Illness Extra Teique, though simirly just releasing chakra, was cssified as ninjutsu and triggered a mutation.

  "Because I... lear."

  Link uood that his ability to mutate ninjutsu wasn’t tied to visible performa rather to a subjective realization: “I believe I use this jutsu; therefore, it mutates.”

  It rocess that defied logic—much like the Transformation Teique, which operated on a simir "feel it to use it" principle.

  Regur jutsu had defiandards: specific shapes, chakra quantities, and effects.

  But mediinjutsu was unique. When Link learhe Delicate Illness Extra Teique, he didn’t struggle with chakra release. Instead, his challenge was uanding the extensive medical knowledge required for its use. Once he grasped the knowledge, releasing the jutsu became straightforward.

  As a result, even simple chakra release would automatically vert into the mutated version of the teique.

  After a week of dedicated practice, Link had figured out the meics of the Chakra Scalpel but still struggled to execute it.

  "Because I doubt my chakra trol is refined enough to precisely cut human tissue?"

  Through trial and error, he deduced the root cause of his failure. The A-Rank Chakra Scalpel demanded an exceptionally high level of chakra trol, far beyond what ordinary jōnin could achieve.

  But he wasn’t far off. Link could feel that he was close—just a fraore improvement was needed.

  "Nothing to it but to keep practig."

  In addition to training, he spent time in the Konoha Hospital, using his growing medical knowledge to treat minor injuries. Every bit of practihanced his chakra trol, bringing him closer to mastering these advanced medical teiques.

  …

  Half a Month into the First Medical Unit

  Training Ground Seven

  "Nine hundred seventy-two..."

  Link performed single-finger handstand push-ups, sweat streaming from the gaps in his weighted gear. His well-defined muscles glowed red from exertion.

  In his other hand, he held a squealing rabbit, applying chakra to heal a wound he had inflicted earlier for practice.

  These rabbits, introduced to Training Ground Seven, had endured tless "iing studies" and were now thrivie occasionally losing a "voluo his experiments.

  "Nine hundred seventy-three..."

  "My ability to infliohal wounds has gotten so precise tely. At this rate, I should be able to master the Chakra Scalpel and Mystical Palm in another week or two," Link thought as he pnned his steps.

  Suddenly, he sensed someone approag at high speed. He flipped off his fio nd gracefully on a nearby rock.

  "Eeek! Eeek!" The rabbit in his hand squealed as if it were a on.

  "Well, well!" Might Guy excimed as he nded. Seeing Link holding the rabbit like a kunai, everuggled to keep a straight face. Scratg his head, he said, "Let me firm—you’re in Link, right?"

  Link released the now-healed rabbit with a casual toss, his tense muscles rexing. "That’s me."

  Guy’s gaze roved over Link—from his face to his impressive muscuture. His eyes lit up as he excimed, "Good, I’ve remembered you!"

  Remembered what, exactly?

  Li a vein throb on his forehead. Should he feel proud to be remembered by this famously face-blind man—or offended?

  "I’m Might Guy, a jōnin," Guy decred, striking a heroic pose. "I heard you wao learn taijutsu."

  He grinned, his teeth glinting brightly in the sunlight. "Want to train under me?"

  Link blinked against the gre, taking a moment to process. Might Guy was undoubtedly Konoha’s most aplished ahusiastic taijutsu specialist. If he wao learn, there was really er option.

  Bowing deeply, he replied, "Thank you. I’d be honored… Guy-sensei."

  Having Shikaku Nara as his mentor was truly invaluable. For most, seg a jōnin-level teacher was a Herculean task. For Link, it had only taken half a month of waiting.

  "Not bad," Guy said, scrutinizing Link’s physique. He nodded approvingly. "You’ve trained your body well. It’s rare to see such dedication, especially in someone so young. Strong muscles are never a bad thing!"

  His eyes glistened with emotion.

  "This... this is youth!"

  Bleam