Chapter Thirty-Six: News Report

The following day, unlike his recent routine, Kato Mikaze did not go to the Konoha Hospital. He and Tsunade had already agreed the previous afternoon that today he would report to the base for Mission New Spring, officially joining the operation.

After his usual morning training, Kato Mikaze took advantage of his shower and rest to organize the recent changes and gains within his shinobi system.

…

Shinobi System

Name: Kato Mikaze

Ninja Rank: Jonin

Affiliation: Hidden Leaf Village

Physical Attributes: Stamina 61, Strength 60, Spirit 75, Speed 64

Chakra Nature: Wind 65, Lightning 43, Earth 39, Water 0, Fire 0, Yin 75, Yang 61

Ninjutsu: Wind Style [Blade of Wind, Art of the Wind’s Breath, Lightness of Wind, Great Breakthrough, Thousand Winds Senbon] Lightning Style [None] Earth Style [Swamp of the Underworld, Earth Wall] Medical Ninjutsu [Basic Medical Ninjutsu, Yin Healing Wound Destruction] Three Body Techniques [Transformation, Substitution, Clone]

Taijutsu: Basic Taijutsu, Basic Swordsmanship, Shuriken, Kunai

Secret Technique: Soul Nurturing Art

Remaining Attribute Points: 5

There hadn't been much change in his attributes. The Yang aspect of his chakra, after raising his stamina to 61 and spending considerable time training and adapting, finally matched his physical attributes at 61.

He'd also recently invested fifty attribute points into strength, breaking past the threshold to reach 60—the mark of a Jonin.

His ninja rank had officially changed to Jonin after passing Konoha’s Jonin evaluation. Having reached Jonin, Kato Mikaze could now be considered to have stepped into the upper echelons of the shinobi world—no longer mere cannon fodder, but a piece of some influence on the board.

Beyond Jonin, the ranks further unlocked are: Elite Jonin, Kage, Super Kage, Perfect Sage, and Six Paths. The last three were, for now, beyond his reach. Advancement beyond Jonin would depend both on his actual prowess and the combined recognition of the system and the wider shinobi world.

His ninjutsu list now included Basic Medical Ninjutsu and Yin Healing Wound Destruction—both of which he learned quickly thanks to Tsunade’s invaluable guidance.

Basic Medical Ninjutsu was practically spoon-fed to him by Tsunade, who personally guided him through every step.

Yin Healing Wound Destruction was an A-rank, high-level medical ninjutsu with formidable effects in defense and combat recovery. Mastering it required precise and delicate chakra control, as well as deep knowledge of human anatomy—especially one's own.

Training for it was grueling, requiring him to endure attacks to himself and risk injury if he wasn’t careful. His frequent stays at the hospital recently weren’t just for Tsunade’s company.

Tsunade, the ultimate healer, was truly an exceptional teammate. For this alone, she was worth pursuing. What did it matter that Tsunade was famed for her angelic face, devilish figure, and was known as the most “ferocious” kunoichi in the shinobi world? Was a free-spirited man like Kato Mikaze so shallow? Superficial!

Learning Yin Healing Wound Destruction consumed much of his time and energy, as well as Tsunade’s help. Even so, in the end, he still had to spend a hundred attribute points from the system and two insight opportunities before he could master it.

The original version of Yin Healing Wound Destruction reduced damage by healing targeted areas before enemy attacks landed.

The version Kato Mikaze learned, after so much investment, not only worked during battle but, when combined with the Soul Nurturing Art and soul power, could restore him even after injury. In effect, while not exactly a trump card, it was a practical means of recovery in combat.

However, its cost was high. Chakra consumption was manageable—his reserves were ample for a Jonin—but the drain on his soul power meant that, to maintain his fighting capacity, he could at best use it once per battle.

All considered, with Tsunade and the system’s help, mastering Yin Healing Wound Destruction represented a significant boost to his combat power—particularly its potential when fused with the Soul Nurturing Art, hinting at the restorative abilities of the Sage Body and making it worth further development.

…

The experimental base for Mission New Spring was, for now, one belonging to the Root Organization—a location of utmost secrecy, deeply hidden underground.

As befitted an S-rank mission, the security was tight, and considering the mission’s current phase, there was an unmistakable touch of inhumanity about it. Concealing the main site deep beneath Konoha helped preserve the harmony of the Will of Fire for the entire village.

The base itself was not far from Konoha’s core area, but its location was extremely well concealed. Not only was it deeply buried, but even the entrance was masked by advanced illusionary techniques. Had he not known the exact location and maximized his sensory abilities, Kato Mikaze would have struggled to find it.

Upon entering for the first time, he had to undergo identity verification, present mission tokens, and complete various tedious but necessary formalities—a time-consuming process. This first entry was troublesome, but future visits would be much simpler.

Moreover, Kato Mikaze had been personally designated by Elder Danzo Shimura, the mission’s top authority, as a special high-level shinobi for Mission New Spring. His status was clearly elevated above the ordinary staff—he was not here to run errands.

The underground base was spacious. After completing the procedures, he was led by an administrative staff member through the outer sections toward the core area.

Along the way, he passed rooms marked with different signs: Pharmaceutical Room, Basic Materials Room, Culture Solution Preparation Room, Cell Cultivation Room, Operating Room, Observation Room, Specimen Room, Isolation Room… It all felt somewhat reminiscent of a scene from a biopunk thriller.

Following the staff member through the futuristic, experimental corridors, he was eventually brought before an office door—presumably Danzo’s office within the base.

Kato Mikaze was to report to Danzo Shimura, the current chief of Mission New Spring. Henceforth, he would answer directly to Danzo during the mission.

He followed the staff member and entered the office smoothly, finding Danzo not at his desk but seated in the reception area, a steaming cup of tea on the table before him—a clear sign that he had been expecting Kato Mikaze’s arrival.

“Elder Shimura, Jonin Kato Mikaze of the Hidden Leaf, sent by the Third Hokage to participate in the S-rank mission codenamed New Spring, reporting as ordered.” Kato Mikaze saluted and spoke.

…

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