A blonde woman in a tea-green coat, bathed in the afternoon sun, stepped through the gates of Konoha, walking like the wind straight into the village.
"Lady Tsunade, wait for me!"
Behind her, a black-clad girl of about ten years old trotted along.
She cradled a pink piglet that was barely a month old, fumbling as she almost dropped her luggage.
Fortunately, someone nearby reached out in time to catch the box, holding it steadily by his side.
"Ah, thank you, Sakumo. I'll take this now."
Shizune took the box, looked at the pile of luggage over a meter high in Sakumo Hatake's other hand, and smiled a little sheepishly.
"I've caused you trouble."
"Not at all. I should be thanking you both."
Sakumo Hatake looked helplessly at Lady Tsunade's hurried retreating figure.
He decided to say less, lest he be caught in the crossfire.
"Hurry up, Shizune! We need to finish quickly and leave. Otherwise, if that old man catches us, he'll definitely nag us and pile on a ton of work."
Just thinking about being nagged made Lady Tsunade quicken her pace.
Shizune muttered softly, "That's because you still owe Hokage-sama his private funds..."
"Shizune!"
"Yes! Coming!"
...
Lady Tsunade arrived at the hospital, ignoring the surprised and adoring gazes of the surrounding medical ninja.
She threw open the ward door, walked to Naraku's bedside, and carefully observed him.
She then reached out to grip his arm and check his chakra.
Kakashi saw that she seemed to be performing a medical examination.
Since his father had appeared at the door, he didn't say much, waiting silently by the side.
"You... you are..."
Naraku shifted, feeling a little constrained.
His expression was not much different from when one is stared at by unfamiliar relatives during New Year's—a mix of awkwardness and embarrassment.
"This is Princess Tsunade."
Sakumo Hatake spoke in time to break the awkwardness, introducing her to Kakashi and Naraku, who were unfamiliar with Tsunade.
"Tsunade is Konoha's most outstanding medical ninja. With her on the case, there will definitely be no problems."
"Master!"
Naraku's eyes lit up.
"Hmph, stop flattering me."
Tsunade straightened up.
She took the medical record handed to her by Shizune and quickly flipped through it, her brows constantly furrowed.
It reminded Naraku of what netizens in his previous life used to say: that sudden feeling of your heart plummeting when you go to the hospital for a check-up, and the doctor sighs while looking worried.
Sakumo Hatake looked around and asked, "Is Kana not here?"
"Sister Kana went to the academy with Senior Kushina to complete the enrollment procedures."
Naraku looked very happy about this.
"She can start school tomorrow."
Since Kana was already over ten years old, she would only attend the Ninja Academy for one or two years.
Once she could refine chakra and learn the Three Basic Jutsu, she could graduate directly and become a ninja.
Kushina would teach her the other Uzumaki Clan ninjutsu separately.
Sakumo Hatake smiled approvingly.
"Hmm, that's truly good news."
"Alright, Shizune."
Tsunade closed the medical record and issued instructions.
"Take him for a more detailed examination, expedited. The report needs to be ready tonight."
"Yes!"
Shizune was about to help Naraku, but Kakashi was quicker.
He had already helped Naraku into a wheelchair and was pushing him out, so Shizune quickly followed to lead them to the appropriate examination room.
Left alone in the ward, Sakumo Hatake and Tsunade could still hear voices echoing from the corridor.
"Kakashi, I can actually do it myself..."
"Hmm? Do you have an objection?"
"No, no, I super love sitting in wheelchairs..."
Sakumo Hatake couldn't help but chuckle.
Had Naraku somehow fallen into Kakashi's clutches while he was away these past few days?
After his amusement, Sakumo Hatake's smile faded, and he asked in a low voice, "How is it?"
Tsunade crossed her arms and tapped her fingertips against them.
"Judging by the symptoms, it's not too severe yet; there's a possibility of saving him. Speaking of which, you, as a father, truly have it tough."
"Children are the most precious treasures in the world."
Sakumo Hatake sighed, gazing at the empty bed for a long time.
Finally, a barely perceptible murmur escaped him.
"So I absolutely cannot allow...!"
"What?"
Tsunade looked at Sakumo Hatake, noticing a cloud of gloom between his brows.
"No, nothing."
Sakumo Hatake said seriously, "I'll temporarily entrust Naraku to your care. I have something to attend to recently."
...
While the children were busy with their examinations, Tsunade found a familiar small tavern, planning to have a few drinks.
By the time all the dishes were served, it was almost dinner time, and the tavern gradually filled with people.
The chatter rose and fell, a buzzing chorus of voices surrounding her, making it impossible not to overhear.
The most frequently mentioned name was Sakumo Hatake.
Tsunade listened for a while as she drank, and a cold sneer involuntarily curved her lips.
Her political acumen wasn't bad; she could naturally tell that many things were amiss.
Coupled with the fact that Sakumo Hatake—even at the cost of calling in countless favors—had to ask her to return to treat his apprentice, who was an Uchiha... it was clear who was behind this.
It was still the same rotten state of affairs.
Simply revolting.
She wondered if that stubborn Sakumo Hatake would ever come to his senses.
Tsunade lost her appetite and called the owner to pack her food.
...
Finally, all the examinations were completed.
Naraku, pushed in a wheelchair by Shizune, led the way.
Kakashi followed behind, carrying a large stack of folders.
They arrived at Tsunade's exclusive office.
The office had not been used for a long time and was covered in a thick layer of dust.
Tsunade sat lazily in the only relatively clean chair, her feet crossed on the desk, holding a document of unknown content in her hand.
Next to the desk was a large bag of neatly packed meal boxes, emitting a faint scent of alcohol.
Kakashi looked at the dusty desk, unsure where to start.
It was Shizune, familiar with the place, who took a duster from the cabinet and cleaned the desktop, finally creating a space to put things down.
"Alright, you two go back and rest. Shizune can stay."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
After Kakashi pushed Naraku away, Shizune poured two cups of hot water.
She placed one on the desk and held the other, sipping slowly.
Tsunade took her feet off the desk and went through the examination results, one by one.
By the end, her expression was no longer as grave as it had been during the day.
She bit her fingernail thoughtfully and let out a long sigh.
Shizune leaned over the rim of her cup, feeling the continuous warmth on her face, and mumbled, "Lady Tsunade, how is Naraku doing, exactly?"
"His pupil power increased too rapidly. His physique and chakra reserves couldn't keep up, leading to uncontrolled backlash on his body and excessive depletion."
"Then what should be done?"
"Sealing his excess pupil power might buy him some time, but it's only a temporary solution. The best way is to make his body compatible with his pupil power, but this will require many attempts to find the right ninjutsu."
Tsunade tossed the documents onto the desk and stretched.
"In any case, we'll stabilize his pupil power tomorrow."
...
Under the watchful eyes of Shizune, Kakashi, and Kana, Naraku touched the tiny diamond-shaped seal on his forehead, feeling no different from before.
Tsunade confirmed that her ninjutsu had no issues, sat back in her chair, and instructed, "Try activating your Sharingan."
After Naraku blinked, his eyes turned into blood-red Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Only then did he realize that the chakra flow within his body had become much smoother.
Although his pupil power was so calm that it seemed a bit inactive, the discomfort of the boiling energy was greatly reduced.
"How do you feel?"
"Hmm..." Naraku smiled happily. "It doesn't hurt anymore! Thank you, Lady Tsunade!"
"Did it hurt before?" Kana asked worriedly.
"A little bit, but it's all better now."
"Idiot!"
Kakashi poked his head with his index finger, annoyed.
"If Lady Tsunade hadn't treated you, how much longer would you have endured it yourself?"
"I'm sorry..."
"If you know you're wrong, then change it..."
Tsunade's lips curved slightly.
She rested her chin on her hand, quietly watching the teenagers bicker in front of her.
Perhaps it had been too long since she had felt such an atmosphere.
None of this felt noisy to her, but rather a little nostalgic.
Even such a rotten and withered old tree could still sprout new buds.