46-50

*Chapter 46: The Kurama Family's Request*

"It's not that I don't want to help, but my medical ninjutsu is only at an intermediate level. If even the best doctors at Konoha Hospital can't do anything, expecting me to perform some miracle... I'm afraid I can't help," said Sōgen.

It's not that Sōgen didn't want to assist.

If this opportunity could open up the closed circles that various clans in the village have maintained against the Uchiha, it would certainly be a good thing.

However, the problem was that Kurama Sōgyun's request was genuinely difficult to fulfill.

This wasn't an issue that could be solved with brute force!

Healing and saving people wasn't his specialty—he was an expert in killing and burning things!

"I understand your concerns, Sōgen, but I still hope you can go and take a look. Regardless of the final result, the Kurama clan is willing to establish friendly relations with your clan moving forward," said Kurama Sōgyun, refusing to give up and even going so far as to leverage the clan as a bargaining chip.

This wasn't just his personal decision as the clan leader.

It was a collective decision made by the Kurama clan's leaders.

"...I understand."

At this point, refusing would be somewhat disrespectful. Though the Kurama clan once claimed to rival the Uchiha in genjutsu, in reality, there were no deep conflicts or grudges between the two clans.

The Uchiha were infamous for being unloved by anyone—without needing the Kurama to kick them when they were down, they were already struggling.

The Kurama clan also had their own hidden struggles. Their kekkei genkai inheritance was highly unstable, with a genius capable of inheriting it only appearing once in several generations. This generation's prodigy, unfortunately, was weak and sickly from childhood, bringing about a mess of troubles that left the clan too preoccupied to worry about the Uchiha.

"I'll take a look, but I can't guarantee anything. I'll just do my best," Sōgen finally agreed with a nod.

"That's more than enough! If nothing can be done... well, then that's just how it is."

"So, tell me a time, and I'll visit."

"No need to trouble yourself. You can come right now!"

"...At the hospital?"

Sōgen paused, then understood.

Of course,

Even a clan as strong as the Uchiha had to acknowledge that the medical ninja system was an exceptional innovation, a remarkable transformation. Medical facilities like Konoha Hospital were things that ninja clans in the past could never have established. Compared to the unevenly trained medical ninja within clans, Konoha Hospital's medical force was much more reliable.

"That's right, today is Yakumo's regular check-up day, which happens once every two weeks. Right now, my wife is with her for the exam," Kurama Sōgyun stood up. "Sōgen, please wait here a moment while I bring Yakumo."

"No need for all that! I'll come with you to check on her. After being stuck in the hospital room for days, I could use a walk."

"...Very well."

Kurama Sōgyun hesitated briefly but did not refuse.

After all, he was already carrying a fruit basket into Sōgen's hospital room. Even if they were seen walking together, so what? With the suspicious minds of the Third Hokage's group, there wouldn’t be much difference. From the moment he stepped into this room, the Kurama clan was likely added to some list.

But given the Kurama clan's current declining state, their ranking probably wouldn't be high. There was no immediate concern of being targeted or suppressed.

Sōgen got out of bed,

still wearing the standard hospital gown of Konoha Hospital, not bothering to change, and slipped into his hospital slippers before heading out the door with Kurama Sōgyun.

"Arashiyama, it's nothing major. I'm just accompanying Sōgyun-senpai to check on a patient," Sōgen waved to signal Uchiha Arashiyama to return to the police force. "I'll be staying in the hospital for another two or three days. The police force will need your attention in the meantime. If anything comes up, you can come to me."

"I understand."

Uchiha Arashiyama nodded, then advised, "But Sōgen, I think it would be best not to delay too long. If the clan's enthusiasm fades..."

"No worries. If anyone dares to cause trouble right in front of me, I won't hesitate to make an example of a few people."

Sōgen put extra emphasis on the word "eye."

Uchiha Arashiyama caught the hint—Mangekyō Sharingan... He knew this secret. Or rather, as long as one wasn’t from a direct line of elders who had passed away, or descended from a long line of lower or non-ninjas, it wasn’t hard to obtain some information about the Mangekyō Sharingan.

It's just that the elders strictly forbade the spread of information regarding the Mangekyō Sharingan, just like the secret meetings at Naka Shrine. Only jōnin had the right to know; chūnin and below were not privy to these secrets.

Seeing that Sōgen had his own plans, Uchiha Arashiyama said no more and disappeared with a Body Flicker Technique.

"Alright, Sōgyun-senpai, please lead the way!"

"This way!"

Kurama Sōgyun moved with efficiency, despite his scholarly appearance. Beneath that demeanor, his ninja habits shone through—direct and effective, as was typical among ninja. There was rarely any dragging of feet.

They passed through the second-floor corridor and went straight up the stairs to the fourth floor, arriving at the chief doctor's office.

Though the Kurama clan was declining, being invited to a meeting four days ago showed they weren't entirely forgotten. The old saying goes, "even a broken ship has three thousand nails," and Kurama still had enough influence to hire a chief doctor as a family physician.

"Big brother."

A man who appeared even older than Kurama Sōgyun stood at the door. When he saw them approach, he immediately stood straight and greeted them.

"Unkai, how's the check-up going?" Kurama Sōgyun asked.

This older-looking man was Kurama Unkai, Kurama Sōgyun’s younger brother. For some reason, Kurama Unkai had aged rapidly, making him look older than his elder brother, despite being two years younger.

"They're still inside. Uh... Big Sister is with them, so it’s not convenient to go in right now," Kurama Unkai said hesitantly.

Kurama Sōgyun understood. His wife had a very traditional mindset, and even though Yakumo was only five years old, every time she had to undress for an exam, she would insist on sending the men out.

"Unkai, allow me to introduce Uchiha Sōgen, the head of the Uchiha clan and the head of the police force."

"Uchiha clan leader!"

Kurama Unkai bowed respectfully.

"Sōgen, this is my younger brother, Unkai," Kurama Sōgyun introduced in return.

Sōgen nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

At that moment, the nearby door silently opened.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 47: Kurama Yakumo (!)

The door was opened by a woman—Kurama Sōgyun's wife. Sougen remembered that her former surname was Aoyama, but she had changed it to Kurama Rin after marriage. About five or six years ago, they had met briefly on the battlefield. If he recalled correctly, she was then known as Aoyama Lin, a medical ninja in charge of battlefield first aid.

"Sogyun..."

When she saw Sougen in a patient's gown, it took her two seconds to react. Her face, bearing an expression of lingering sorrow, showed a glimmer of hope. It was evident that the couple—or perhaps the family—had discussed the decision to invite Sougen.

"Rin, how are the test results?" Kurama Sōgyun asked anxiously.

"There's still no improvement, it's much the same as last time."

Kurama Rin's voice was soft.

"Sigh!"

Upon hearing his wife’s reply, Kurama Sōgyun let out a sigh of disappointment. He knew that ordinary methods could not solve his daughter’s problem. Now, their hope was pinned on unconventional means. With this thought in mind, his gaze shifted to Sougen.

"Let’s take a look first."

Sougen gestured to the half-open door. "Can I go in now?"

"Yes! Please come in!"

Kurama Rin immediately opened the door wider and gestured for him to enter. Sougen stepped inside. The room's layout was similar to other medical areas, and an elderly woman, probably in her fifties or sixties, was crouched in front of a wheelchair, speaking to the little girl seated in it.

"Whoa!"

Sougen's eyes widened.

His pupils turned crimson as his Sharingan activated, allowing him to see past the surface and witness the immense, ocean-like spiritual energy within the girl.

"No wonder... this isn’t a sickness. It's more like the world has showered her with too much favor. The heavens granted her too much, and it became overwhelming... It’s almost like a joke!"

The female doctor, at Kurama Rin's request, stepped aside. However, the moment she saw Sougen's Sharingan, this experienced doctor wisely made way, knowing that even Danzo, the Hokage's assistant, was undergoing consultations in this very hospital. The Uchiha's power now was even more fearsome than before.

"Sougen, is there a way to cure Yakumo?" Kurama Sōgyun's heart raced with hope. The more hope he had, the more he feared disappointment, even though he had mentally prepared for bad news.

In truth, he still couldn’t remain calm.

"You're asking someone like me to cure an illness? That’s a joke, isn’t it?"

"No hope, then?"

The light of hope in Kurama Sōgyun's eyes dimmed.

It wasn’t just him; Kurama Rin, Kurama Yunhai, and even the female doctor showed expressions of disappointment.

"I already said it—if you need a doctor, go to a doctor. If you need a killer, go to a ninja. If you need meat, go to a butcher. You’re asking me, an outsider, to cure an illness... well, consider yourself lucky! If this were some incurable disease, I might not have a solution. But..."

"What? Sougen, do you really have a way?" Kurama Sōgyun interrupted, agitated.

"Let me finish! I said I'm no doctor, but this child’s issue isn't some rare disease. Actually, Sōgyun, you already knew this, didn’t you? That’s why you specifically sought me out."

As he spoke, Sougen gave Kurama Sōgyun a sidelong glance.

"Sougen, do you really have a way?" Kurama Sōgyun, now excited, grabbed Sougen's sleeve.

"...Sigh! How many times do I need to repeat it?" Sougen sighed, shaking off Kurama Sōgyun's sweaty grip. "Like I said, this isn’t a sickness. It’s within my area of expertise, and if nothing unexpected happens, it should be solvable."

"As long as it can be solved, that’s enough."

Kurama Sōgyun’s emotions surged like a wave, rising and falling. After receiving a definitive answer, he sighed in relief. He didn’t believe Sougen would lie. If Yakumo’s problem couldn’t be resolved, it wouldn’t just cost them the Kurama clan’s friendship—it could even create enmity.

Calming down and thinking clearly again, Kurama Sōgyun realized Sougen had played a bit of word games with him earlier. Yet, he couldn’t even get angry. As long as Sougen truly could solve his daughter's problem, he didn’t care about the teasing—though it was best not to give Sougen any opportunities. The guy had always been sly, and who knew what tricks he might pull next!

"Big brother, will I really be able to walk and run like everyone else?"

The girl in the wheelchair was Kurama Yakumo.

She was the daughter of Kurama Sōgyun, head of the Kurama clan. This five-year-old had inherited the clan’s rare illusion technique, Five Senses Control, passed down through generations. However, this very power had been a source of torment since birth.

Her immense spiritual power had thrown her body and mind out of balance. Her underdeveloped body struggled to handle the burden of her innate abilities. So weak was she that even walking was exhausting. She often got dizzy after a few steps and had to rely on a wheelchair, moving like a puppet under someone else's guidance.

"It shouldn't be a big problem."

Sougen crouched down, speaking gently as he looked at the frail little girl, whose pale face seemed so fragile that it made him wonder if she would faint at any moment.

"Can I also become a ninja?"

Kurama Yakumo’s large eyes, possibly made to seem even bigger by her frailty, shone like black gems.

"A ninja?"

Sougen raised an eyebrow, curious. "Why do you want to be a ninja?"

"Because everyone else likes playing ninja games, but I can't play!"

"I see! Becoming a ninja shouldn’t be an issue. With your talent, you’ll definitely become one in the future. But… there’s a condition," Sougen said with a smile like an older brother teasing his younger sister.

"What condition?"

Despite her frailty, Kurama Yakumo was quick-witted.

Since she couldn’t play outside with other children, she often stayed home listening to her parents read stories and picture books. So she understood what “condition” meant.

"You’ll have to become my student!"

Sougen smiled.

"Sougen?" Kurama Sōgyun exclaimed in surprise from the side.

But Sougen ignored him. In his mind, no one in the entire Kurama clan was more precious than Kurama Yakumo. Her natural talent for Five Senses Control, an ability rooted in the essence of Yin Release, had the potential to turn illusions into reality. It made her a perfect subject for studying Yin Release techniques.

"What do you think, little sister? Will you be my student? Don’t be fooled by my youth—even your father isn’t my match!"

"Alright! As long as you can make me a ninja!"

The little girl agreed without even consulting her parents.

"Don’t worry! I always keep my promises!" Sougen said with a smile as he gently ruffled her hair. "And remember, from now on, call me Master!"

(End of the chapter)

*Chapter 48: The Movement in the Hidden Mist Village! (Vote! Invest!)*

Yakumo Kurama's weak body limited her daily activities. After talking with Sougen for a short while, she started yawning from exhaustion and was escorted to rest by Kurama Rin. This left Kurama Sōgyun and Kurama Unkai to stay with Sougen.

"Hey, Sougen, what you said earlier... that was a joke, right?"

"What do you mean?"

Sougen shot a sideways glance. "Do you think I'm not qualified to take on a disciple?"

"S-Sougen, I'm not joking with you," Kurama Sōgyun replied, feeling a headache coming on.

"I'm not joking either," Sougen said seriously. "To be honest, aside from me, I doubt Konoha has anyone else capable of helping Yakumo realize her potential. To put it bluntly, leaving that child in your clan would be like burying a precious gem in the dirt."

"Also, Sōgyun-senpai, you should already know what's wrong with Yakumo, right? There's no way you'd come to me just by chance. Your clan must have some records related to Yin Release, don't you?"

Kurama Sōgyun shook his head helplessly. "You found out, huh? As expected, I couldn't hide it... You're right. Our clan has some records left by our predecessors who awakened our bloodline limit. They indicate that our bloodline originates from Yin Release, similar to the Uchiha's Sharingan."

"During the meeting four days ago, I noticed that your spiritual energy had increased significantly! I thought that if it was you, Sougen, maybe you could help solve Yakumo's issues... but I didn’t expect you to offer to take her as your disciple!"

"Four days ago?" Sougen wasn't too surprised.

In the years following the Third Great Ninja War, Sougen had maintained a low profile, rarely revealing his abilities. Any enemy who had witnessed his power was long gone, taken by the King of Hell. It was only during that large event four days ago that there were enough witnesses.

Perhaps Kurama Sōgyun wasn't the only one who noticed something about Sougen. But as long as his strength remained unshaken, it didn't matter if certain secrets were known.

He dismissed the thought and said, "Sōgyun-senpai, I don’t want to repeat myself a third time. Yakumo is a rare talent, and I don't want to see her gifts wasted. When it comes to Yin Release and genjutsu, no one in Konoha can rival me. As for her issues... that's for me, as her teacher, to resolve."

Kurama Sōgyun was speechless.

What else could he say?

On reflection, Yakumo becoming Sougen’s disciple might not be a bad thing. While the Uchiha weren't the easiest clan to deal with, especially given the attitudes of some of the police force members, the fact remained: as long as Uchiha Sougen stood strong, the Uchiha clan was unshakable. The power of the Mangekyō Sharingan was well documented in Kurama clan records.

Not to mention, even aside from the Sharingan, Sougen himself was impressive. With him as a mentor, they wouldn't need to worry about Yakumo straying down the wrong path...

————

While Sougen had just accepted a new disciple, far across the seas in the mist-covered village, a lingering scent of blood tainted the air. Bodies flowed through the water channels that led out of the village.

Last night, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Jūzō Biwa, finally launched his rebellion after delaying it multiple times. He attempted to assassinate the Fourth Mizukage but failed and was wounded before fleeing the village.

Instead of pursuing Jūzō, the Fourth Mizukage began a new round of purges within the village, staining the waters of the Mist red with blood.

"Obito, aren’t you going a bit overboard?"

In a hidden chamber, a yin-yang-faced figure resembling a pitcher plant emerged from the ground, glancing at the pile of Anbu corpses. The white half of the face exclaimed in awe.

"Not enough Mist ninja died!"

Uchiha Obito, wearing his orange-striped mask, sat atop the pile of corpses. His cold, icy gaze pierced through the single eyehole of the mask. "Every last person in this village... deserves to die!"

The bloody heap beneath him was no joke—it was a testament to his murderous intent.

"Zetsu, what’s going on? Didn’t I tell you not to bother me unless it’s important?" Obito asked.

"It’s about Konoha," Black Zetsu’s harsh, gravelly voice grated on the ears.

"The Uchiha clan has a new leader."

"...Fugaku Uchiha stepped down?" Obito blinked. This was interesting news.

"That’s right!" White Zetsu jumped in eagerly. "There was a gathering in some secret room under that shrine of theirs. Fugaku’s been ousted as clan head. The new leader is someone called Uchiha Sougen, apparently only fifteen!"

"Uchiha Sougen?"

The familiar name stirred long-buried memories in Obito.

Unlike himself, who had been the dead last in the Ninja Academy, Uchiha Sougen, though younger, was one of the Uchiha clan’s twin stars, alongside Uchiha Shisui—someone from a completely different world.

Who would have thought that Uchiha Sougen would rise to become the clan head?

"Oh, and there’s more!" White Zetsu added. "That sword, Samehada, is now in Sougen’s possession. And during Konoha’s high-level meeting, he fought with Danzo Shimura, leaving him in a coma, completely paralyzed. Based on my observations, it seems he’s unlocked the Mangekyō Sharingan."

The rapid-fire revelations were overwhelming, even for someone like Obito. He took a moment to process everything.

"The Mangekyō, huh?"

Obito rested his chin on his hand, pondering.

"So, Obito, this Sougen seems like an unstable factor. Should we take him out?" White Zetsu suggested, always eager for action.

"The Mangekyō... It's too risky to act without knowing more." As a Mangekyō user himself, Obito understood its power better than anyone. In his eyes, tailed beasts and their hosts were far less of a threat compared to someone who wielded the Mangekyō.

"By the way, Zetsu, you said Samehada is with Uchiha Sougen?" Obito suddenly asked.

"My clones saw it with their own eyes," White Zetsu confirmed confidently.

"Samehada, huh... Maybe we can still put that to good use." Obito turned his gaze toward the lifeless Fourth Mizukage standing in the corner like a puppet.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 49: Beloved Disciple!*

"Master!"

"Brother!"

"Brother Sougen!!"

Just as Sougen pushed open the office door, a chorus of greetings hit him in the face before he even stepped inside. Upon closer inspection, he saw that a bunch of little kids had invaded his newly renovated office. Instantly, he knew his nap time today was gone.

"Fujika, shouldn't you be in class at the ninja school right now?"

Sougen walked over and ruffled his sister's hair, then glanced at Naruto and... Sasuke, who were standing nearby. This puzzled him. It was normal for Naruto to skip class, but what was Sasuke doing skipping too?

"School is boring! They give us blunt shuriken to play with, and it's no fun at all," Fujika pouted, her small face filled with discontent.

"Fujika swapped out the blunt shuriken for real ones today, so the teacher made her stand outside until school is over. But she ran away," Naruto whispered, revealing the truth.

"Got it," Sougen replied knowingly, not too concerned.

During wartime, six or seven-year-olds would carry knives and head to the battlefield to kill. But now, ninja school had become so delicate that the students lacked the killing intent and ferocity a ninja should have. If they were sent to the battlefield, Sougen doubted even 10% would make it back alive.

In his opinion, training as a ninja should involve real weapons; those blunt toys were pointless.

Besides, Sougen personally taught Fujika how to use shuriken, so he wasn’t worried she'd hurt herself. If she were that clumsy, she might as well give up on being a ninja and just stay home as a proper young lady.

"Okay, Sasuke, what's your excuse today?" Sougen asked, shifting his gaze to him.

"Uh..." Sasuke stammered, his face turning red.

Sougen glanced at Naruto, his little informant at ninja school, who didn’t disappoint. Naruto quickly revealed Sasuke's exploits: After learning the Fireball Jutsu from his father, Sasuke couldn’t resist showing off during combat class...

"...Did you blow up the school?" Sougen's eyes widened.

"No, no! Naruto, stop exaggerating. I just accidentally knocked down part of a wall. It was just a tiny bit, and the school is still standing!" Sasuke, flustered, argued with Naruto. Seeing Sasuke so lively, it was hard to imagine he'd grow into that dark, brooding figure in the original future.

"Fireball Jutsu? You learned it already?" Sougen blinked, only now processing the feat.

Learning the Fireball Jutsu at age five... well, it wasn’t too surprising. After all, Sasuke was the reincarnation of Indra's chakra, and both he and Naruto had exceptional talents. In the original timeline, their potential had been wasted for various reasons, only blooming at fifteen or sixteen.

"My father taught me," Sasuke said seriously.

He couldn’t help but smile when mentioning his father. To him, his father stepping down as clan leader was the best thing ever. Now, his father had more time to spend at home, and for the first time in Sasuke’s memory, he saw his father smile. He even spent hours teaching him the Fireball Jutsu, something Sasuke could’ve never imagined before.

"Well done! But next time, when you use the Fireball Jutsu at school, aim for an empty field or the pond."

Blushing, Sasuke nodded in agreement.

Fujika, standing nearby, rolled her eyes. Despite skipping school together, she and Sasuke didn’t get along. In fact, Sasuke had a better relationship with Naruto. Even though they were both Uchiha and Sasuke admired Sougen, that didn’t mean they had to be friends.

Fujika thought Sasuke was too clingy, while Sasuke felt Fujika was too wild for a girl. They just didn’t get along. On the other hand, Naruto was a social butterfly, able to play with anyone.

Oh, and besides Fujika, Naruto, and Sasuke, Sougen's one and only disciple was also there!

As for why they were all together… well, Kurama Sogyun, out of love for his daughter, had moved her into Sougen’s house, hoping she’d recover faster.

This wasn’t unusual. Among ninjas, the bond between a master and a true disciple was as close as that between father and son. True disciples not only lived with their masters for training but also, if the master were to die, would take on the duty of performing the funeral rites.

And so, the frail Kurama Yakumo moved into Sougen's house and naturally became familiar with Fujika. It was too early to say they were friends, though. Maybe when Yakumo could join in Fujika's mischief, they'd truly become friends.

"Alright, go play outside! Stop causing a fuss in here." After greeting each of them, Sougen waved the kids out. They were too noisy, and he still had important matters to attend to.

"Yakumo, how have you been feeling the past few days?" Sougen asked, pulling up a chair to sit in front of her.

He activated his Sharingan, carefully examining his disciple’s condition and checking the stability of the seal.

"Much better! I even walked around the courtyard this morning and didn’t feel tired at all."

Yakumo nodded vigorously.

"Good to hear. Looks like I’ll have to study sealing techniques more," Sougen thought.

When it came to his disciple’s problem, there were two possible solutions: One was to enhance Yakumo's physical energy, possibly by transplanting Senju or Uzumaki cells to balance her overwhelming spiritual energy. But he didn’t have access to those cells, nor the technology to do it.

Though he could use Samehada, the sharkskin sword, to slowly strengthen her physical energy.

The second option was to weaken her spiritual power, either by sealing it or siphoning it off. After careful thought, Sougen decided to try sealing part of her spiritual energy without using his Sharingan.

As for using "Kinohana Sakuyahime" to steal his disciple's potential and make himself stronger, Sougen wouldn’t stoop that low. Her immense spiritual power was her greatest asset for the future.

In the end, Sougen chose a two-pronged approach. He would use Samehada to slowly boost her physical energy and study sealing techniques to temporarily lock away her excess spiritual energy.

Sougen formed hand seals, summoning Samehada, which was happily feeding in the Konoha prison.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 50: The Envoy from the Mist Village! (!)*

“Samehada!”

Yakumo looked at the sharp-spiked Samehada, but instead of disliking it, she felt unusually close and joyful. She reached out and grabbed the handle of Samehada. With Sougen watching nearby, Samehada didn’t dare act out. It extended its handle willingly, like a small snake coiling around Yakumo’s right arm.

“Amazing!”

Yakumo’s eyes sparkled as she watched Samehada wrap around her arm.

Even though this wasn’t her first time seeing it, the excitement in her heart had never faded.

This was something from the world of ninjas that she had always dreamed of!

“Samehada, you may begin.”

Sougen gently patted the blade of Samehada. The obedient Samehada had already retracted its sharp spikes. Upon hearing Sougen’s command, it slightly twisted its body, and the handle tightened around Yakumo’s arm. A special kind of energy slowly flowed out, being channeled bit by bit into Yakumo’s body.

This was the most purified physical energy, refined by Samehada.

In other words, it was the power of Yang Release.

Of course, this could only be considered a basic form of Yang Release, far from the level of imbuing life into matter. However, even in its early stage, this energy was like a miraculous elixir for Yakumo. As Samehada continued to send in this refined energy, the pale and bloodless complexion that made Yakumo look like a figure from a painting gradually regained a touch of rosy color.

“Yang Release…”

Sougen activated his Sharingan, watching intently as Samehada transmitted the energy.

In the past, like Yakumo, he had always been on the receiving end of this process. Now, observing it from an outsider’s perspective brought new insights. While Yin and Yang Release were grouped with the elemental natures of Fire, Water, Wind, Lightning, and Earth, they were indeed of a higher order.

Before long, Samehada stopped the energy transfer. It wasn’t that Samehada had run out of energy, but Yakumo’s body could only handle so much. Too much of anything can be harmful, and even the best medicine can become poison if overused. Given Yakumo’s naturally weak and frail body, extra caution was needed in her case.

“How do you feel, Yakumo?”

Sougen asked with concern.

“Master, I feel like I could punch a bull to death!” The skinny little girl swung her slender arm with confidence, boasting loudly.

“Looks like it won’t be long before you can attend the ninja academy with Fujika and the others!”

Sougen snapped his fingers, and Samehada immediately retracted itself, obediently lying back on the table.

“Really, Master?”

Yakumo looked over expectantly.

“What good would it do me to lie to a little girl?” Sougen smiled. “If my sealing technique were a bit better, you could’ve gone to the ninja academy even sooner.”

“It’s fine, Master! Being able to go to the academy at all makes me happy. It doesn’t matter if it’s a little later.”

Yakumo responded obediently.

“Are you really happy?”

Sougen didn’t say much more. He had someone escort his disciple to rest. Just as people need time to digest food, Yakumo’s body needed time to integrate this external energy. Fortunately, Samehada had already purified the energy, so the process would just take time, without any complications.

He had some trouble of his own to take care of!

Outside the window, a crow raised by Shisui stood on the windowsill, looking in.

---

“Fujika! Fujika! Don’t run too far; we’ve already left the police force’s compound. Sougen will have a hard time finding us!” Naruto chased after her, yelling, but it was clear he couldn’t stop their leader from doing as she pleased.

Sasuke followed closely, not falling behind.

In reality, he didn’t have much choice. Although he didn’t get along well with Fujika, the problem was that after leaving the ninja academy, he had no friends besides Fujika and Naruto.

Currently, in their clan, only he and Fujika attended the academy; the other kids their age were receiving family education. To be honest, when they met, they’d just say hello and go their separate ways.

After accidentally blowing a hole in the academy’s main building with a Fireball Jutsu and skipping class, Sasuke didn’t want to go home, so he ended up tagging along with Fujika and Naruto.

They left the police compound, moving through a sparsely populated alley toward a nearby park.

“Naruto, you’re too noisy!”

Annoyed by the racket, Fujika turned to scold her little brother, but she didn’t notice the figure suddenly appearing ahead and bumped straight into the person. Unlike the first day of school when she knocked Naruto down, this time, she ended up flat on her back.

“Fujika!”

Naruto and Sasuke rushed to help her up.

They stared warily at the man in front of them, noticing he was wearing a forehead protector that wasn’t from Konoha.

“Hey, Konoha brats! Why don’t you watch where you’re going? What do you think those eyes of yours are for?”

The stranger glared at Naruto and his friends with a fierce expression.

He wore a deep gray ninja vest, different from Konoha’s style, and his forehead protector… Sasuke recalled what he’d learned in class—this was a ninja from the Mist Village.

“Sorry, it was my fault for bumping into you!” Fujika pushed Naruto and Sasuke aside, apologizing loudly.

When you make a mistake, you should admit it. The pride of the Uchiha wasn’t about never making mistakes; it was about being brave enough to own up to them. This was what her brother had taught her. Mistakes are a natural part of life, but what’s shameful is refusing to admit them.

She didn’t fully understand those words yet, but she remembered that when you make a mistake, you should apologize. It was the right thing to do.

“Hey, little girl, do you think a simple apology is enough? I’m pretty sure you’ve broken one of my ribs!” The Mist ninja sneered, clearly not intending to let them off the hook so easily. His bad attitude made it obvious he was looking for trouble—and he was doing it with several Konoha ninjas watching from a distance.

Behind him, three Chunin in green vests hesitated, unsure of what to do.

They were embassy staff, responsible for hosting visitors from other countries and villages.

Logically, this was Konoha, and an outsider shouldn’t be throwing their weight around here. But ever since the incident two years ago, when a Cloud Village envoy died and the Hyuga clan had to sacrifice one of their branch members to resolve the crisis, the embassy staff had been more cautious.

If even the powerful Hyuga clan had paid such a high price, these civilians-turned-ninjas were in no position to bear the consequences of angering the Mist Village envoy. If things went wrong, they’d likely be sacrificed to appease the Mist ninja’s anger.

“So, what do you want, then?”

Fujika stood her ground, staring down the Mist ninja.

“Haha! As expected of an Uchiha kid. Did you know that my father and two brothers were killed by your clan? To teach you a lesson for bumping into me, hand over your eyes!” As he spoke, the Mist ninja reached out to grab Fujika.

(End of Chapter)