The weather was lovely. The sun hung in the sky, its rays neither harsh nor scorching. A gentle breeze caressed the rooftops, slightly tilting a hat.
Snap!
A youthful, slender hand lightly patted the hat, stabilizing it against the breeze.
Underneath the hat that covered Nara Shikane's face, his eyes were tightly shut as he focused intently on a card that had appeared in his mind.
A man in bizarre attire, with his face painted in heavy and colorful makeup and a mouthful of golden teeth, grinned from the card.
[ Talent Card: Kurotsuchi Mayuri
World: Bleach
Quality: Blue (77/1000) ]
Effect: Growth-Type Research Talent (You are a natural-born scientist and researcher. Your talent will shine brightly in the field of research.)
Area: Your talent in biology and neurology research far surpasses that in other fields.
Passive: Biological Modification!
Accumulation: All research requires extensive knowledge, materials, and experimentation. All the knowledge you possess will be absorbed and understood more efficiently, and can later provide alternate knowledge feedback in the form of rewards!
Achievement: Each time you create a recognized work, the higher the recognition, the more it improves your physical fitness and strength.
Obsession: To become a scientist surpassing Urahara Kisuke.
Bleach's Kurotsuchi Mayuri.
Upon seeing the figure on the card, Nara Shikane immediately recognized the person.
If asked how, it was naturally due to the memories he retained after transmigrating.
As one of the top three research giants in Bleach, Mayuri might not match those two monsters in raw power, and his greatest achievements might seem slightly inferior, but in crucial battles, he could always contend for the MVP title through his intellect and research.
Although it was somewhat regrettable that his golden finger wasn't someone like Aizen or the shopkeeper—figures who possessed both strength and intelligence—it seemed acceptable to immerse himself in science and research like Kurotsuchi Mayuri.
Still, the card had a significant psychological impact, unconsciously pushing his thoughts toward abnormal directions.
Huff.
Nara Shikane lazily propped himself up with his hand, sitting up on the rooftop. His six-year-old body was thin and lanky, like a small sprout, with the Nara clan's signature pineapple-shaped hair.
He was somewhat reluctant to leave the warm spot he'd been lying in—it was his favorite relaxation spot. But alas, leisure time had passed.
Nara Shikane sighed. In his previous life, he had been a freshly graduated medical student—neither especially successful nor completely failed—and had essentially worked himself to death. Transmigration felt like a bit of compensation.
Though this world was just as unstable and dangerous, at least he wasn't a helpless orphan—he had a family to rely on.
Otherwise, an orphan paired with a golden finger that required knowledge and resources would face a hellishly hard mode.
With good luck, one might survive the battlefield, rise through the ranks, and eventually trade for a few D- or B-level jutsu. With bad luck, one might become cannon fodder, wiped out in the first wave. As for finding a good teacher—that would require even more luck.
So, since he had a decent start, he needed to seize the opportunity. Even though the Nara clan's inherent laziness constantly tried to drag him down, he pushed his slothful body to begin today's knowledge acquisition.
He jumped easily from the eaves, landing steadily with his hands on the ground. Dusting himself off, he identified the direction of his house and started walking.
As a clan with hundreds of years of history, the Nara clan had many secret techniques and jutsu, but much of it focused on pharmacology and human anatomy.
As part of the Ino–Shika–Cho trio, aside from each clan's secret techniques, other knowledge was largely shared. The three families often supported one another with resources and training.
For example, the Akimichi clan, representing "Cho" (butterfly), was particularly skilled in the study of human meridians and body-enhancing pharmacology. In this timeline, where medical ninjas were still rare, the Ino–Shika–Cho clans were quietly supporting the newly founded medical department.
Coincidentally, this was exactly the kind of knowledge Nara Shikane needed. At his current age, with this body's natural talent, he couldn't compete with true prodigies destined for power.
He could only build a strong foundation elsewhere. After all, Kurotsuchi Mayuri didn't rely solely on brute strength in Bleach—he used his intellect and research, much like the Nara clan.
Nara Shikane's small room was filled with open books, including dense diagrams of human meridians and anatomical charts. By the window, a fat, palm-sized caterpillar lay motionless in a flowerpot, as if dead.
Picking up a bookmarked volume, Nara Shikane began his daily studies.
With the Nara clan's high intelligence and Kurotsuchi Mayuri's talent boosting him, even the profound, dry material in these books could be understood by this six-year-old boy. He even enjoyed it.
Woof!
Time passed unnoticed until cheerful barking broke the silence. Nara Shikane looked up to see a half-grown, snow-white puppy. Its front paws were stepping on a head, barking enthusiastically at him.
As Shikane looked over, the puppy wagged its tail even harder—like a fan—smacking the head beneath it.
Two hands reached up and lifted the puppy, revealing a familiar face marked by two camouflage stripes.
"Shikane, it's feeding time!" Inuzuka Yama called out, holding the puppy in one arm and waving with the other. He flipped over the railing and landed inside with practiced ease.
Woof woof!
The puppy, Yamamaru, wiggled excitedly in Inuzuka Yama's arms, even more energized after hearing its owner's words.
"Looks like Yamamaru really liked the new flavor," Nara Shikane said, walking over and taking the puppy from Yama. He lifted it high and inspected it closely.
Under Shikane's slightly intense and suspicious gaze, Yamamaru curled up, his excitement instantly fading. He licked his lips quietly while being held.
"After eating those new dog treats you made, my father had Yamamaru checked out," Inuzuka Yama said excitedly. "Turns out his physical fitness improved, and he's bursting with energy! My dad said he's planning to visit your parents in a few days."
Inuzuka Yama chattered on about Yamamaru's improvements over the last couple of days, eagerly repeating everything his father had told him.
End of the Chapter.