Despite the pre-designed medical plan, the sheer number of patients still caught the medical team off guard.
The shortage of personnel and the rapid consumption of medicine far exceeded their initial expectations.
The head of the medical team, who had previously visited the Land of Rain, was secretly astonished.
The current situation was even more troublesome than before.
Had Besa's years of isolation further worsened the situation in the Land of Rain?
Regardless, the medical team could not stop.
The head calmly issued commands, and every medical ninja diligently carried them out, ensuring the patients were settled.
At this time, the place was full of patients.
The initial measure taken by the medical team was to keep severely ill patients here for constant observation of their condition, while those with minor illnesses were advised to recover at home.
After all, this was not the Konoha Hospital; space was limited, and it was impossible to keep all patients.
That would be a huge burden on the medical team.
Even so, the place quickly became overcrowded.
In the Land of Rain, where medicine and medical facilities were scarce, the majority of the people were seriously ill.
They often died in torment, but now, with the hope of survival before them, how could they easily give up?
Looking at the people before her, Tsunade felt her heart ache with their suffering expressions.
She had heard about the situation in the Land of Rain, but any hearsay was not as real as seeing it with her own eyes.
Tsunade, living in the Land of Fire, could not imagine the lives of the people in the Land of Rain.
But now, Tsunade saw firsthand how much the people of the Land of Rain suffered.
She was a healer, and as the saying goes, 'a healer's heart is benevolent.'
This was a motto written in the Konoha Medical Ninja Handbook.
Perhaps Tsunade couldn't turn the Land of Rain into a country as prosperous as the Land of Fire, but she could at least alleviate the suffering of the patients before her and help them live longer.
However, this was only an emergency measure.
Was there any other way to better assist the people of the Land of Rain?
This thought flashed through Tsunade's mind, but she had no time to dwell on it.
Instead, she focused on the patients in front of her; that was not what she needed to do right now.
After several days of hard work, the medical team's workload was not as heavy as it had been initially.
Medicines transferred from the main force were replenished in time, and medical ninjas could take time to rest.
Medical aid slowly got back on track.
One day, while Tsunade was receiving new patients, she paused slightly.
This time, a couple came, and the husband was ill.
It wasn't that the illness was particularly strange, but the wife's appearance made Tsunade feel somewhat familiar.
People living in the Land of Rain generally had poor health and gaunt faces.
However, this young woman before her seemed to exude a strong vitality.
No matter how harsh the environment was, it couldn't hide her radiant beauty.
What truly caught Tsunade's attention was her striking red hair, which made one think of other places.
Therefore, Tsunade decided to ask about it.
"Um, what's your name?" Tsunade asked.
"My name is Ise," the pale-faced husband said.
"Okay." Tsunade quickly wrote down his name, then looked at the worried red-haired woman and asked, "And who is she to you?"
Ise didn't find it strange.
Konoha ninjas used real-name registration for convenience of treatment.
He said, "She is my wife, her name is Fuso."
Tsunade didn't hear the familiar surname, but she kept looking at the striking red hair.
The doubt in her heart lingered.
However, it wasn't appropriate to pry into someone's background on a first meeting, even for a healer.
So, she didn't ask directly.
Instead, she tried to probe indirectly while inquiring about Ise's physical condition, but she still didn't get any valuable information.
"Your illness is not serious.
You don't need to stay here.
I'll give you the medicine, and if you take it as I instruct, you should be fine," Tsunade said.
"Thank you," Ise said with some emotion.
He was the pillar of his family, and if he fell ill, it would be very difficult for Fuso, a woman, to survive alone in the Land of Rain.
What made him even more grateful was that the medical team didn't charge any fees for the medicine; all medicines were given as needed.
Fuso also said, "Thank you."
"It's our duty," Tsunade said with a smile, nodding.
However, she wondered what would happen to these patients in the Land of Rain after their medical ninja squad left, as the medical team couldn't stay here indefinitely.
Watching Ise and Fuso leave, Tsunade wore a thoughtful expression.
Fortunately, the reduced workload in recent days gave her time to think.
Just as she was lost in thought, someone approached her side.
Seeing her appearance, the person paused slightly and remained silent.
Tsunade quickly sensed someone beside her.
She turned around, her body relaxing.
With one hand on her face, she said, "Why aren't you saying anything, Sakumo?
You almost scared me."
"Are you that easily scared?" Hatake Sakumo found it amusing.
He pulled up a chair beside her and sat down, saying, "I came to bring you food, but I saw you lost in thought, so I didn't want to disturb you directly.
What were you thinking about?"
Tsunade hesitated for a moment, then decided to confide in her fellow student.
She said, "I just received a couple who came for treatment, and the wife among them made me a little curious."
"Is it because her condition is unusual?
If so, you should notify us immediately," Hatake Sakumo instinctively assumed the wife was the one who was ill and quickly said.
"No, it's not her.
Her husband is the one who's sick," Tsunade shook her head and said.
"Then what is it about her?" Hatake Sakumo paused slightly.
"She looks very much like someone from the Uzumaki clan," Tsunade recalled the appearance of the woman named Fuso and slowly said.
"The Uzumaki clan?
How could someone from their clan appear in this country?
Are you mistaken?" Hatake Sakumo was startled upon hearing this and asked a series of questions.
Although the Uzumaki clan had a different status from traditional ninja clans, being the rulers of a country, ultimately, they were also a bloodline limit clan with a long heritage.
As a bloodline limit clan, they placed great importance on their bloodline and would not allow it to flow out.
This was true for all bloodline limit clans.
Clans like the Hyuga clan even created the Caged Bird Seal to further prevent the outflow of their bloodline limit.
Not every member of the Uzumaki clan was part of the upper class within the Land of Whirlpools, but they undoubtedly held a special status.
No matter what, they shouldn't appear in a poor country like the Land of Rain.
Therefore, Hatake Sakumo wondered if Tsunade might have been mistaken.
"I also think it's unlikely, but she really does resemble them," Tsunade's voice involuntarily grew a little louder.
"Looking at her, she doesn't seem like the typical person from the Land of Rain.
The Uzumaki clan has very tenacious vitality.
If she were from the Uzumaki clan, that would explain it."
"I haven't seen her with my own eyes, so I don't know how to judge, but there should be a reason," Hatake Sakumo said.
"If she really is from the Uzumaki clan, then I don't understand why she would appear here and even marry a commoner from the Land of Rain," Tsunade said.
"Tsunade, if you have doubts, I can investigate.
You have a mission to fulfill, and you have Jiraiya and Orochimaru here to assist you," Hatake Sakumo said.
"Would that be too much trouble for you?" Tsunade felt a little embarrassed.
"No, as you said, if the woman named Fuso is truly from the Uzumaki clan, then her presence here is very unusual, and there must be a reason behind it.
That underlying reason could be very important," Hatake Sakumo said earnestly.
At this moment, Hatake Sakumo suddenly turned his head and looked to the side.
The distant street alley was quiet.
Except for those who came for treatment and those who stayed for therapy, most patients were recuperating at home.
Therefore, this area seemed very deserted—
"What are you looking at?" Tsunade asked, noticing Hatake Sakumo's somewhat unnatural behavior.
"Perhaps someone is watching us, Tsunade.
Be careful," Hatake Sakumo turned back and whispered.
Tsunade paused slightly, then immediately remembered what Senju Risa had warned them about before coming here—to be wary of certain dangers.
It seemed the other party could finally no longer hold back.