Haku

Konoha Hospital.

You've been having a really carefree time lately.

Sakura Haruno smiled and chatted leisurely with the girl beside her.

"A carefree life?" The girl tilted her head cutely, a look of doubt in her clear, bright eyes. "It's alright, just a little less busy lately, a bit more free."

"That's not what I meant..." The pink-haired girl gave a knowing look, her eyes crinkling with laughter, but she remained silent.

The pretty girl with red lips and white teeth walking beside her was Shiro, whom she had met in the Land of Waves.

Sakura always called her Yuki Haku, but Haku seriously corrected her.

Shiro's original surname was her father's, and her full name was Haku Asano. Her mother's surname, Yuki, was not passed down, but after leaving the village and starting her wanderings, she never used the surname Asano again.

It's to completely sever ties with the tragic past.

Therefore, Haku's full name is simply Haku. She didn't fill in her surname on the ninja registration form, so it's inappropriate for Sakura to add the surname Yuki consent.

However, after the Chunin Ninja Exams, when a new batch of Genin were promoted to Chunin, Haku was also promoted to Chunin, and when her information was updated, her name became Yuki Haku.

Sakura Haruno only learned later, when she sought her out to research Ice Clone, that Haku had changed his surname back to this.

It was about a few months ago, a month before the Land of Snow mission.

When Sakura Haruno approached Haku, she even teased him about it.

"If it weren't for that uncle at the front desk, I wouldn't have known you officially changed your surname Yuki." Sakura Haruno smiled, her eyes narrowed, like a cat that had discovered something interesting.

When she mentioned to the receptionist that she was looking for Dr. Haku, he shrugged and said there were too many medical-nin named Haku. If she wanted to find the newest and prettiest Dr. Yuki Haku, she was in the third department.

Sakura then realized that Shiro had changed his surname back to this one.

"It's really inconvenient not having a surname. There are seven or eight people with the same name as me in the hospital, and they often call me by the wrong name," the girl in white said with a helpless chuckle.

So everyone calls you the prettiest, Bai?

"That's why I changed my surname Yuki," the pretty girl said, changing the subject. "Lady Tsunade also suggested that I inherit the Yuki name."

The gentle girl with a radiant smile showed no sadness. Unlike Asano, the surname Yuki did not touch her sensitive memories or remind her of her painful childhood.

It seems she doesn't object to the name Yuki, after all, it's the surname of her mother who loves her deeply.

Master Tsunade's suggestion seems to indicate her intention to rebuild the Yuki clan in Konoha. After assuming the Hokage Position, she began to implement sweeping reforms in many areas, and this plan to Yuki name in Konoha is one of them.

As a result, Bai's treatment was greatly improved.

He was promoted to Chunin, became a full-fledged doctor, and there were many more...

Yes, a handsome ninja, a trainee doctor, serves as his follower and disciple.

That's why Bai has been living such a carefree life lately!

"A newly accepted disciple? Or...?" Sakura leaned close to Yuki Haku, nudged her waist with her elbow, and whispered mysteriously.

Could it be that spring has arrived in my home Yuki Haku?

Is even the best cabbage destined to be eaten by a pig?

"No way!" The girl with long, straight black hair rolled her eyes at her. "She's a trainee doctor sent by the hospital to learn from me. She used to be Anbu on field missions."

Oh, someone from the Anbu. No wonder Sakura and he both instinctively became wary of each other when they first saw him.

They all came from the same department.

He seems quite strong. Even with just a glance, Sakura could sense it. The clear and sharp quality of his Chakra, and the precise steps he took, more accurate than if measured with a ruler, were just the tip of the iceberg of his strength.

Hmm... Master Tsunade's actions are both a form of surveillance and protection for Haku, and perhaps also a way of taking advantage of her proximity?

I really don't know where Master found such a ninja. It's rare to find Anbu who meets the criteria of being handsome, highly skilled, and willing to become a medical-nin.

Sakura, of course, wouldn't reveal these thoughts that were surfacing in her mind to anyone else.

She was just teasing the beautiful woman as usual.

"Hmm, you two spend so much time together, haven't you... you know... sparks flowed between you?" The pink-haired girl lowered her voice, leaning close to the white man's cheek, almost whispering.

If Hinata being questioned, Sakura's soft waist or forehead would definitely be in trouble again. The girl with the Byakugan would absolutely react with "You want another beating?" and "No, get lost! Next!"

Bai blushed slightly.

With Sakura so close to her, and her breath as fresh as orchids on her earlobe, she instinctively shrank her neck.

"That's not true at all!" Bai hurriedly clarified, afraid that his close friend might misunderstand.

"Weren't you looking for Sasuke? He's just up ahead. He's fully recovered and was discharged today."

The topic was abruptly changed.

Sakura admired her close friend's embarrassed face for a while before smiling knowingly and saying, "Oh~ I see..."

After her usual flirting routine was over, she got down to business and slipped a scroll into Bai's arms.

"Here you go, this is the next stage of the improved Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals..."

This was her way of returning the favor, as a small token of her gratitude for Bai teaching her Ice Release.

"Huh? Why are you giving me this...?" Yuki Haku turned to look at Sakura, puzzled. "No need, I'm not going to the front lines!"

Indeed, Bai's personality means that he would hold back in life-or-death battles. Whether it's gentleness, soft-heartedness, cowardice, or foolishness, such a mentality is not suitable for a soldier to go to the battlefield.

Despite having Kekkei Genkai, and despite her decent strength.

Konoha wouldn't let her go to the front lines to fight to the death. Of their only two Ice Release ninjas, one had become Anbu who always narrowly escaped danger, and the other, of course, had to be protected. In case of any Yuki, Mizuki could pass on the Ice Release bloodline.

Therefore, Haku's gentle personality is well-liked by the higher-ups. Her desire to be medical-nin is even better; medical units are safe and always short-staffed, so medical-nin with self-defense capabilities are naturally more desirable. On the other hand, the frontline troops wouldn't be greatly affected by losing one Ice Release ninja like her—the higher-ups and the Hokage need a large, established Ice Release clan as another solid foundation for Konoha, not just one or two strong Ice Release ninjas.

Yuki Haku has been in Konoha for almost a year, and she has hardly fought with anyone during that time. If it weren't for Team 7 occasionally pulling her into a few sparring matches, her skills would have long since deteriorated.

Sakura Haruno said she was happy to see Sakura join Konoha Hospital, but she didn't approve of her excessive resistance to fighting.

Becoming a ninja means that battle can break out at any moment. Even medical-nin, who are heavily protected and stay at the back, are not absolutely safe. In fact, tactics of specifically targeting medical units for surprise attacks are common on the battlefield, and there have even been instances where the casualty rate of medical units was higher than that of combat units!

"This isn't Ninjutsu for you to use in battle," Sakura said, pulling her hand and forcefully shoving the scroll into her palm. She stared intently into her clear, dark eyes, "It's Ninjutsu to protect your comrades and those important to you...!"

Having known her for so long, Sakura knows what kind of words she'll listen to.

Indeed, those words shattered Bai's defenses.

She suddenly remembered someone.

"Ah... then I'll accept it." Byakugan reddened slightly, her lips trembled slightly, and she said in a low voice.

Watching Bai put the scroll into her pocket, she nodded and smiled, saying, "There are a few other Ice Release Ninjutsu inside, like Ice Clone and Absolute Defense. I prepared them especially for you. You should make time to practice Ninjutsu; they're all very suitable for you! Also, the hospital shouldn't be too busy lately, right? My mom misses you a lot. Come over for dinner sometime!"

Okay, okay, I will!

After discussing Sasuke's injuries for a while, Sakura's expression softened slightly.

Before long, the three of them arrived at Sasuke's hospital room.

"I won't go in. See you later~"

See you later!

After waving Yuki Haku and watching them walk away, Sakura hurriedly opened the door.

"Sasuke, are you looking for death?"

(This book will be available on September 1st.)

(A new volume has begun, please recommend! Please add to your favorites!)