My Techniques are a bit off

Land of Rice Fields, Orochimaru's Base, Spacious Training Ground

Tiger → Rabbit → Dog → Ram → Dragon—

[Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique]

"Swish!"

A bandaged boy flexed his fingers as he watched a dummy in the distance sliced into pieces, his expression focused, as if pondering deeply.

"Lord Orochimaru, how are you adapting to your new body?" Kabuto Yakushi emerged from the shadows.

The bandaged boy—Orochimaru—glanced up and said, "My chakra control has permanently deteriorated. The chakra from my previous body contained traces of uncontrollable natural energy. Repeated attempts at forming seals caused the seal's effects to spread into my mental state..."

His tone was unexpectedly calm, his face thoughtful. After a pause, he added, "Kabuto, your hypothesis was correct."

"That is a peculiar type of natural energy—or rather, five types," he murmured, seemingly absorbed in his thoughts.

When it came to his research into immortality and deeper forms of power, Orochimaru was methodical and meticulous.

After a long pause, he asked, "How is that body doing?"

"Extremely unstable," Kabuto replied, choosing his words carefully. "When chakra is injected to perform seals, the seal's effects are still triggered. With the infusion of natural energy, even being near it can disrupt normal chakra operations."

The two left the training ground and entered the depths of the base, arriving at a laboratory.

The body Orochimaru previously inhabited floated in a tank filled with pale blue liquid. Its skin shimmered with an eerie, multicolored sheen, its hollow, iridescent eye sockets seemingly "staring" outward.

"Under the influence of excessive natural energy, its regenerative capabilities are terrifying," Kabuto explained. "We've had to use specialized inhibitors to suppress its activity. If removed, the natural energy would continue to grow, reaching concentrations that could make it indestructible."

"This body has been completely hollowed out, leaving only an empty shell. Yet, the seal maintains a delicate balance, even under the inhibitors. The natural energy is still increasing, albeit slowly."

"Lord Orochimaru, if not handled carefully, this thing might just destroy the world," Kabuto warned, though his gleaming eyes betrayed intrigue. To him, it was less a threat and more a priceless treasure.

Breathing heavily, Orochimaru replied with restrained excitement, "In other words, it's already immortal..."

"Is that correct?"

"If you abandon everything else and exist as an inanimate form, like a subterranean mineral vein," Kabuto adjusted his glasses, "then yes."

…

Konohagakure, Medical Corps Building, New Office

"…Though you haven't learned any medical ninjutsu yet, your chakra control is excellent," the senior medic, Mokusa, said with a pat on Link's shoulder.

"Welcome to the Medical Corps, our youngest member!"

"This is a gift for you," Mokusa added, pulling a scroll from his white uniform pocket and handing it to Link. "We're not particularly busy here. If you have questions, feel free to ask anyone. There's always someone on duty in the building. For project funding, come to me or Hōpō to apply."

"Thank you, senpai," Link replied as he accepted the scroll with a polite bow.

The Medical Corps wasn't directly tied to the village hospital. Instead, it functioned as a special operations unit, deploying to battlefields or high-stakes missions when necessary. During peacetime, its members focused on medical research, innovation, and treating complex cases.

After Mokusa gave Link a quick tour of the facility—showing him the cafeteria, labs, the commander's office, the library, and the specimen room—he left to attend to his own work.

"This is much easier than I expected…"

Sitting in his sparsely furnished office, Link felt at a loss. He had anticipated a busy first day, akin to his previous life's entry-level corporate chaos. Instead, the process had been surprisingly smooth.

Perhaps Shikaku had lent a hand behind the scenes.

His office was basic: a desk, an empty bookshelf, and a flower pot filled with soil—no plant in sight. It was clean and bright but bare.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in," he called.

A curious young man peeked in before stepping inside. "A newbie?" he asked cheerfully.

"I'm Kunshi from the First Medical Unit," he introduced himself with a casual wave.

"I'm Link, a new member of the same unit," Link replied politely.

"Ah, well, I'm next door. Feel free to ask me anything if you need help," Kunshi said before leaving as quickly as he'd arrived.

"They seem like good people…"

Link closed the door, sat at his desk, and began flipping through the books and scrolls he'd been given—all related to medical theory. Even Mokusa's gift contained advanced knowledge, but no actual medical ninjutsu techniques.

To learn those, he'd need to visit the library, where books couldn't be checked out.

"Well, time to focus and study."

Link steadied his restless thoughts and committed himself to this new chapter of learning.