In modern society, once someone knows they will contract a terminal illness, they will definitely change completely, diligently improving their lifestyle habits and trying their best to avoid the possibility of contracting such a disease.
Is it the same in the Hokage world?
Perhaps so. If Inoyue absolutely wants to avoid the path of Uchiha Itachi's early demise, there's a very simple method. She must find someone to seal her spiritual power, then stop being a Ninja and live as a civilian until she dies of old age.
Can such a life truly work?
Absolutely not. Leaving aside whether she herself could accept it, even if the Sandaime agreed, would Danzo agree? Would Orochimaru agree?
At that time, if she were just a civilian, could the Sandaime's prestige still deter Danzo and Orochimaru? Their craving and obsession with power would drive them to act against her.
Therefore, she must strive to become stronger during this period when the Sandaime is still alive and the Fourth Hokage has not yet taken office. Besides her own strength surpassing theirs, Inoyue truly couldn't think of a second way to make them abandon their ill intentions towards her.
So, sealing her spiritual power and living as an ordinary person is simply an impossible task.
...
"I can take you to a training ground to completely resolve your problem of scattered thoughts." The expectant Inoyue finally heard these words from Yuhi Kurenai.
It was very pleasing to hear; at least the schizophrenia could be completely resolved, and she wouldn't have to worry about another personality fighting her for control of her body.
"But, going to a place? This setup seems a bit like the trick used to lure Little girl to see goldfish." Inoyue's thoughts began to wander again, and the look in her eyes as she gazed at Yuhi Kurenai clearly conveyed a 'you're trying to trick me' expression.
This expression quickly flashed away. Inoyue didn't feel there was anything wrong with her expression; she was just frustrated by the negative thoughts that appeared in her mind. She had never realized that her erratic and scattered thoughts had become so severe that her body and mind were in sync.
Yuhi Kurenai's expression was serious. Every single one of Inoyue's actions just now fell into her eyes, and she immediately made a diagnosis in her heart: "This disciple of mine is seriously ill; she's on the verge of schizophrenia."
"Master, shall we go now?" The normal Inoyue immediately asked. She was very concerned about this matter; the sooner this hidden danger could be resolved, the less she would have to worry.
"There's a mission to do today. If it goes smoothly, I can take you there."
There was a mission today, but Yuhi Kurenai didn't specify what it was. It must be an S-rank mission, otherwise, Yuhi Kurenai wouldn't need to go personally.
Yuhi Kurenai was naturally a very busy person, especially on the battlefield. Being able to spare time to teach Inoyue was already a rare thing. So, after guiding Inoyue, she left in a hurry. It must be related to that S-rank mission.
"My mental problem needs to be resolved in a special place. I wonder where that is?"
With a questioning mind, Inoyue resumed her busy training, but the three daily Shadow Clone Genjutsu sparring sessions, which she had always done without fail, were immediately canceled.
Because the risk of such practice was too great, it was better to stop.
...
In the evening, Inoyue, who had finished her training, looked up at the sky.
The weather was bad today; the sky was dark and hazy, getting dark earlier than usual, and there was no moon.
The wind rustled the leaves, and a chill swept in with the breeze. This feeling might be a sign that a heavy rain was approaching.
Walking back to the camp area, Inoyue felt something was off.
There were more people, as if everyone who had been out on combat missions had returned. Soon, an Elite Jonin led a team of people and left the main camp in a hurry.
...
"Suien!" Inoyue suddenly saw a familiar figure, it was Uchiha Suien, who had saved her this time but whom she hadn't seen. This boy had just returned from outside. Inoyue called out to him, wanting to say thank you. After all, his Uchiha Suien had saved her.
But, on second thought, who was this fifteen-year-old Genin accompanying him? Why did he look so familiar?
The Genin saw Uchiha Suien being called, said hello, and left, but Inoyue kept staring at him. Only after he disappeared from her sight did she remember where she had seen this person.
When her Shadow Clone delivered intelligence, this extra had appeared in Kakashi's team. His trembling appearance at that time was still vivid in her memory. Now, she hadn't expected him to appear beside Uchiha Suien again.
"I always feel like there's something wrong with this guy, but I can't pinpoint what the problem is right now."
Inoyue had a strange feeling in her heart, as if she had grasped something, but she just couldn't connect the dots.
"Are you fully recovered?" Uchiha Suien asked immediately when he saw Inoyue spacing out again.
"Ah, yes! Thank you for saving me this time." Inoyue snapped back and immediately thanked him.
"It's nothing, after all, you saved me twice too." Inoyue thanked him, and Uchiha Suien seemed a bit uncomfortable, mumbling.
"Twice? Did I?"
Inoyue was a bit confused; she truly couldn't remember where she had saved Uchiha Suien twice.
"If I say I did, I did. Why are you asking so many questions?" Uchiha Suien turned his face away and said loudly.
His face was a little red, and his tsundere appearance was very cute. After all, this guy was only eight years old, and at eight years old in this precocious world, he might not be very used to standing so close to girls and chatting.
Uchiha Suien's reaction made Inoyue pause, and she couldn't help but think, "This guy was fine, so why is he suddenly tsundere again?"
"Hey! Who was that person just now?" Inoyue had originally wanted to thank him properly. But the tsundere boy's performance was too disappointing, so she immediately focused on that feeling in her heart and directly asked about the extra Genin.
"Oh..." The topic changed a bit too quickly, and Uchiha Suien didn't quite react: "Ah, that! That was Genin Matsuda. We just happened to be on the same mission."
Matsuda? Never heard of him. But for a Genin to live to fifteen years old, he must have some ability.
However, people who aren't generally very bad at something should have become Chunin by fifteen in this era of war. And those Genin who haven't become Chunin by fifteen have almost all had grass growing on their graves.
Inoyue was an outsider, so her views on Ninja survival rates were very unique; at least her analysis was completely correct.
Perhaps there were Ninja in Konoha who lived to be fifteen and were still Genin. But, such people were very few, certainly not the one in front of her.
Because this person in the big camp didn't have the anxiety of a Genin, the tension of not knowing when they would die. On the contrary, he was very adapted to this environment, as if he were strolling through his own garden.
What kind of person can have such a composed state?
Only one kind of person: someone who possesses absolute strength and believes in their own strength.
Inoyue had only seen this state in a few people: Minato Namikaze, Yuhi Kurenai, Jiraiya, Rasa, Karura. They were such a minority. But, all these people were Kage-level powerhouses, or quasi-Kage-level Elites. Yet this extra was just a Genin, which completely defied logic.
...
"Who is this person?"
"Why is he hiding his strength?"
"What exactly is his purpose?"
Inoyue fell into deep thought again. After some simple analysis, Inoyue at this moment felt a sense of uncertainty about this extra.
To say he was a Kage-level or quasi-Kage-level powerhouse, yet there was no oppressive feeling when facing such powerhouses. However, his leisurely stroll and very confident state were very similar to those quasi-Kage-level individuals.
"This extra is not simple! Try not to act with him in the future, understand?" Inoyue suddenly reminded Uchiha Suien.
"Why? He's a very nice person." Uchiha Suien didn't understand Inoyue's meaning.
"I feel he's very dangerous. This is for your own good."
Inoyue stared at Uchiha Suien very seriously and repeated. This serious expression made Uchiha Suien gulp hard after hearing it, as if he was a bit intimidated by Inoyue's serious demeanor.
...
"Uchiha Suien, Chiba Inoyue, gather at the main camp in three hours. That is all!"
A cold voice suddenly rang out beside the two of them. This was an Anbu wearing a cat-faced mask, and one of the messengers around Jiraiya. After confirming that both had received the message, the cat-faced Anbu disappeared with a Jutsu.
Inoyue instantly snapped back. It seemed there was a mission, but this mission was to gather at the main camp, so it must be extraordinary.
Speaking of which, her master, Yuhi Kurenai, had said earlier that there would be a mission today.
Perhaps this mission wasn't just for him to participate in, but she and Uchiha Suien should also be included, otherwise, an Anbu wouldn't have come to deliver the message personally.