The surgery proceeded methodically.
Kiyoshi's eyes displayed the unique tomoe of the Sharingan, slowly rotating around his pupils.
Magically, as time passed, Kiyoshi grew stronger.
His Sharingan could see more clearly, and the increasing insight allowed Kiyoshi to see even Yamada's blood vessels.
Kiyoshi's scalpel carefully avoided the thick Chakra pathway system entwined around the heart, proceeding with caution on the heart itself.
Every part of the human body has a chakra pathway system.
Blood vessels transport blood, while the Chakra pathway system is responsible for transporting chakra.
They vary in size, with the smallest being hidden within each cell, and the largest being comparable to blood vessels.
The heart has the most chakra pathway systems in the human body.
Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear takes advantage of this by transplanting other people's hearts and their abundant chakra pathway systems into himself, thereby obtaining more chakra natures.
This is a method to gain additional chakra natures on top of innate chakra natures, without undergoing long periods of training.
Ordinary Jonins usually only have two chakra natures, while many Chunin and Genin only have one.
"How... how is it going?"
Hazuki's voice was intermittent, as if she were chewing on takeout.
"Almost done."
Kiyoshi didn't even look at Hazuki, continuing to focus on the surgery for Yamada on the operating table.
...
Half an hour later, Yamada was moved from the operating table to a hospital room.
"Then, I'll be leaving now."
Seeing Hazuki with her head buried and not saying a word, Kiyoshi turned and walked away.
Only after Kiyoshi left did Hazuki slowly raise her pretty face. Her eyes were filled with tears that swirled in her eyes, as if they were about to fall at any moment.
Just then, Yamada let out a soft groan. He frowned and slowly opened his eyes. He saw the familiar white ceiling.
Kiyoshi's precise control of the anesthetic dosage ensured he woke up at the right time.
"Hazuki, I... what is this...?"
Yamada pulled open his hospital gown and found a new layer of bandages wrapped around his body.
"The surgery was successful, Daiyu."
Hazuki wiped away her tears and revealed a smile.
"I don't feel as much pain as before when I try to use chakra."
Yamada was pleasantly surprised to find that his chakra mobilization had become smoother by a lot.
Looking up at Hazuki, who was worried about him and shedding tears, Yamada felt a warm current flow in his heart.
Perhaps because she was too worried about him, Hazuki's hair was messy, and a strand of fine hair fell on the corner of her mouth.
Yamada said gratefully, "Hazuki, thank you so much."
Yamada's tone was sincere.
He had originally planned to gamble on the surgery, letting any available medical ninja perform it without being picky.
But Hazuki had brought in a medical ninja from their Uchiha clan. This unexpected surprise had shocked Yamada.
"By the way, that ninja is... Kiyoshi, right?"
Yamada recalled that he had encountered Kiyoshi when he was with at Nekobaa's place.
"Yes, it's him."
Hazuki nodded lightly.
"I must treat him to a meal when I have time." Yamada made this decision.
...
Kiyoshi's home
After completing the surgery, Kiyoshi began to adapt to the increased power in his right eye, feeling this power gradually nourish his entire body.
He picked up his sword and began practicing simple slashing movements.
The ten-kilogram sword was usable for him, but prolonged swinging would make him tired.
A katana made of other ordinary metal wouldn't be this heavy.
Most ninjas use short swords, or short weapons like kunai.
Kiyoshi's sword could definitely be called a long weapon, which is rare among ninjas. However, Kiyoshi was very satisfied with this weapon.
His height has been increasing, and in a few years, he will be able to perfectly wield this weapon.
The longer the length, the stronger the power.
"So, next is... Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique." Kiyoshi murmured softly.
His skin suddenly split open from the middle, along with his clothes, slowly shedding like a layer of skin.
"You have acquired the trait: [Snake-Type Ninja (White)]."
[Snake-Type Ninja (White)]
[Requirement: Successfully use a variant technique independent of the Five Major Chakra Natures, Snake-Type Ninjutsu once.]
[Progress: Completed]
[Effect: You have a higher affinity for snakes, and the effect of Snake-Type Ninjutsu will increase by 5% on the original basis.]
[Note: Can be upgraded.]
"Snake-type ninjutsu?"
The progress bar had appeared not long after Kiyoshi had started practicing Orochimaru-style Body Replacement Technique, but it had only reached completion today.
"Looks like shedding a layer of skin."
Kiyoshi touched his chin, looking at the shed skin below, which also had the same clothes as him.
Slowly, the skin on the ground constantly withered over time. Kiyoshi estimated that it would probably disappear soon.
"Don't eat it."
Kiyoshi suddenly squatted down and knocked the white snake on the head.
While Kiyoshi was in thought, the white snake had unknowingly come to the ground and opened its mouth to Kiyoshi's shed skin, wanting to eat it.
"Hiss..."
The white snake made a hoarse tone unique to snakes.
Then it reluctantly opened it's mouth and put down Kiyoshi's shed skin, and the crossed red tongue retracted into its mouth.
"You won't be short of food."
Kiyoshi shook his head and threw the shed skin on the ground into the trash can.
Kiyoshi didn't know whether this thing was chakra or flesh. It wouldn't be good if it caused some unknown side effects to his summon.
They were leaving to perform a mission tomorrow, and Kiyoshi didn't want any accidents to happen during the mission.
"Chakra consumption is a bit high."
His body was too 'rigid' and lacked a 'soft' aspect. This technique required the body to be softer. Kiyoshi's previous lightning release body tempering only made his muscles stronger.
If he had soft physique modification, the chakra consumption would be reduced by a lot.
'I have to find a way to get soft physique modification from Orochimaru.' Kiyoshi thought to himself.
Orochimaru's place was good. Not only could Kiyoshi get all kinds of cutting-edge research data, but he could also learn a plethora of snake-type ninjutsu.
He just wondered if summoning a snake counted as snake-type ninjutsu.
Orochimaru's Hidden Shadow Snake Hands and Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes both summon snakes.