Escape from Konoha.

Aside from regular rest and classes, I spend most of my time practicing.

It was through countless hardships that we achieved our current success.

Within the house's partitioned rooms is a miniature laboratory that Shiraishi has specially separated.

On the table were many distillation flasks, test tubes, and utensils, as well as Bunsen lamps that flickered with red and blue flames.

There were also some glass bottles containing transparent solutions, in which some rare plant specimens and some animal body specimens, such as eyeballs and livers.

Shiraishi skillfully used these tools to mix and match ingredients, hoping to achieve the desired result.

Then the data was recorded on the computer.

To be honest, Shiraishi was quite surprised. He never expected that the ninja world, where industry was not very developed, would already have computers.

Although Shiraishi believes that the current computer processing systems in the ninja world are not yet at a very high level, having them is better than not having them at all.

He is only good at fields such as chemistry, biology, and pharmacology. Although he has some knowledge of mechanical and electronic fields, he is not an expert in them.

Shiraishi simply cannot produce computers himself; professional tasks must be left to professionals.

This computer, which Shiraishi considered to have a very low-level processing system, still cost Shiraishi a lot of money.

Scientific research is like a bottomless pit, constantly devouring Bai Shi's already meager assets over the past two years.

Now that Shiraishi's funds have run out, his research progress will naturally slow down.

He can collect raw materials himself, but some sophisticated equipment and some precious materials still require money to obtain.

Just as Shiraishi was agonizing over these things, there was a sudden knock on the door.

Shiraishi put down his work to open the door.

As expected, it was glass.

Now eight years old, she is a little taller than she was two years ago. Although she still looks childish, her eyes have become sharper and colder, giving people a feeling of aloofness.

It might sound harsh, but Liuli is indeed not a very sociable person.

She doesn't know how to compromise with others, nor is she very good at handling interpersonal relationships, but she is very enthusiastic about becoming stronger.

Therefore, she is a passionate and warlike person at heart.

This may be related to the traditional personality of the Uchiha clan, whose members are usually very passionate and warlike.

Shiraishi believed that if it weren't for her true abilities that made her look at her differently, she probably wouldn't even have been able to say a word.

Because they both knew some of each other's secrets, Shiraishi believed that he and Ruri were a perfect match.

"Is the welcoming ceremony over already?"

Shiraishi led the glass into the room and asked a question out of curiosity.

According to Shiraishi's estimation, Ruri would probably spend a day welcoming the returning heroes of the Uchiha clan.

"No, I just left early, but many people in the clan have sacrificed their lives, and some can no longer live as ninjas."

Liuli seemed a little down.

"After all, it's war."

Bai Shi sighed.

Death or injury in war is undoubtedly a perfectly normal occurrence.

Why didn't you go?

Ruri asked Shiraishi this question.

"I have no relatives who have returned from this war."

Ruri then remembered that Shiraishi's parents had died in the line of duty a long time ago.

"Feel sorry."

"It's okay, I don't care about this kind of thing. Being alone is just a bit more liberating."

Shiraishi smiled at Ruri, indicating that he didn't mind, and then walked towards the partitioned room in the house.

Ruri followed Shiraishi into the cubicle—Shiraishi's private research room.

Shiraishi didn't hide his research from Ruri.

After all, what he was doing wasn't some kind of shady or illegal experiment, and even if Liuli found out, she wouldn't say anything.

They had developed this tacit understanding over the course of two years.

Although she hasn't reached the highest level of "I understand without you saying it", Liuli isn't someone who likes to pry into things.

It's like she knew Shiraishi's true strength, but never had the idea of ​​revealing it to him.

Shiraishi wouldn't ask Ruri why she didn't expose him, and Ruri wouldn't ask Shiraishi why she hid her strength.

Even so, it will not affect the pure friendship between them.

This is the best kind of tacit understanding.

Chapter Fourteen: Blood Research

"You've been fiddling with all this random stuff lately. Have you been neglecting your cultivation lately?"

After scanning the house, Liuli seemed dissatisfied.

In her opinion, Bai Shilong's strange and unusual research was just a waste of time.

"It's just a personal interest. I actually prefer doing research to cultivation."

As he spoke, Shiraishi picked up a small bag from the table and tossed it to Ruri.

After Liuli took it, she frowned.

What's in here?

"This is a good product. It's a special soldier's ration pill that I made. It's more efficient at restoring chakra and stamina than those on the market, and it's easy to digest, so it won't put a burden on the human digestive system."

Soldier pills have the effect of restoring physical strength and chakra, and have always been a convenient food that ninjas often eat when they are on missions.

However, the bitter and unpleasant herbal smell makes many people reluctant to take soldier pills to solve the problem of insufficient physical strength and chakra unless absolutely necessary.

In addition, because it is not easily digested, eating too much of it can easily cause indigestion.

"boast."

Ruri snorted, but still put the bag full of special soldier rations into the ninja tool pouch tied to her leg.

"Why did you decide to make soldier rations?"

"Because you're already eager to graduate from the Ninja Academy, right? You'll come in handy."

Shiraishi said with an expression that seemed to see through everything.

Liuli glanced at Baishi but didn't say anything.

Shiraishi paused for a moment, then continued, "By the way, when do you plan to graduate?"

Liuli replied, "Although your guess makes a lot of sense, unfortunately, you're wrong this time."

"You guessed wrong?"

Ruri smiled faintly and said, "That's right. I personally would very much like to graduate from school early, but the elders in my clan are not happy for me to do so. Graduating at this time means going to the front lines, and for a fledgling genin, the mortality rate is very high."

Shiraishi understood and nodded, saying, "I see. To protect geniuses, it's perfectly reasonable to let them graduate naturally without having to finish their studies early. This is the only logical outcome."

Graduating from school means saying goodbye to a life of ease.

Normally, one needs to complete six years of study at the Ninja Academy to graduate.

Shiraishi and Ruri are currently only third-year students, and they still have a few years to consolidate their growth before graduating normally.

It cannot be ruled out that some self-proclaimed geniuses from the ninja academy graduated early and were then assigned to the front lines.

Shiraishi believed that the Konoha leadership should establish a rule that children under the age of ten should not be allowed to graduate from the Ninja Academy during wartime...

But upon reflection, Shiraishi realized he had been making assumptions.

During the Warring States period, it was common for four- or five-year-old children to go to the battlefield.

Although the situation in the ninja world has improved slightly, it is still common for children under the age of ten to go to the battlefield.

Having graduated from the Ninja Academy, they are already qualified ninjas and should not be treated as children.

However, this will inevitably lead to some problems with their values, making them prone to going down extreme paths.

"Ruri, your clan elders wouldn't want you to graduate only after reaching the level of a Jonin, would they?"

Shiraishi suddenly realized something.

At eight years old, Ruri already possesses the strength of a Chunin. With a few more years of hard work and dedication, she might very well achieve the strength of a Jonin.

Of course, they may lack combat experience, but they certainly don't lack ninjutsu and basic skills.

Ruri received elite education from the Uchiha clan from a young age.

They were already far ahead of ordinary ninjas at the starting line.

After graduation, experience can be accumulated gradually, but the minimum skill level is very important for rookie ninjas.

On the battlefield, every bit of strength increases the chance of survival.

When Liuli heard Baishi say that, she immediately rolled her eyes at him.

Does this guy think Jonin are like cabbages on the street?

The gap between Jonin and Chunin is greater than the gap between Chunin and Genin.

The so-called Jonin are ninjas who are outstanding in one or several fields.

Even though Liuli is proud and arrogant, she dares not say that she can improve her skills in a certain field to the point of being able to graduate in the next few years.

The Jonin selection process is far more difficult than the Chunin selection process.

They chatted at Shiraishi's house for a while, and then at six o'clock in the evening, they went to Ichiraku Ramen to have ramen for dinner before saying goodbye and leaving.

◎

"Sorry, something came up on my end, so I'm a little late."