Clone Organs

Hearing how agreeable Heather was, Hinata relaxed as well.

With the important matters settled, they began chatting casually.

Naturally, the conversation turned to Heather's injuries.

"This injury was caused by falling off a cliff a long time ago."

"Mm, it was probably about fifty meters deep."

Hinata was somewhat astonished. Falling from fifty meters up and surviving really was a miracle.

Heather smiled. "I was lucky. I landed in a tree and barely managed to keep my life."

"How did you...?"

Heather's expression grew a little forlorn.

"I was just careless."

As Heather spoke, Hinata learned that Heather and Doc had originally been childhood sweethearts.

Heather had been mischievous as a child, playing near the cliff edge while swinging a stick around.

Doc had clearly told her to be careful, but she had not listened.

Then the ground beneath her feet gave way, and she fell straight off the cliff.

Doc had desperately caught hold of her.

"Big brother grabbed me right away. He must have hung from the cliffside for a whole hour."

"It was all my fault back then. It clearly wasn't big brother's fault..."

Heather stroked her lower abdomen, her expression darkening.

"After that, we drifted apart. Even when we occasionally met, it was awkward, and before we knew it, we had grown distant from each other."

"I was happy to see him again after so long, but after what happened to Tonika Village, big brother must regret it terribly."

"He lost so many people he cherished."

"I hate exercise, and my arms aren't strong. I couldn't pull Heather up."

"I was so useless back then. I regret it deeply too. If I could walk on walls like you, I definitely could have saved Heather."

"If Heather had died just like that, I really..."

Doc clasped his hands together, seeming to recall that helpless day.

"I hated my weak self. I worked hard to become a guard, and I put in the effort."

As he spoke, Doc let out a breath and smiled self-mockingly.

"But I guess I'm still not suited for it."

After smiling, Doc saw several children playing around.

Somewhat unwillingly, he said, "If I were stronger, I should have been able to save more people."

Kakashi sighed as well.

"What happened in Tonika Village wasn't something ordinary people like you could handle."

"Or rather, even for us, this could be extremely dangerous."

"You and Heather clearly still have feelings for each other. Why can't you let the past go?"

Kakashi did not want to see Doc so dejected, because it reminded him of his former self.

Doc covered his face in anguish.

"Heather loves children, but when she fell off that cliff, her body was badly injured. She'll never be able to have children."

"There's no going back. That can't be changed."

Kakashi patted Doc on the shoulder.

"If that's the issue, Konoha has a way..."

"Heather, your injury can be treated in Konoha."

Hinata's words left Heather stunned. She was hopeful, yet unable to believe it.

"But my uterus was completely removed."

Hinata smiled gently.

"You aren't a ninja, so you may not know this, but Lord Orochimaru, the Fifth Hokage of our ninja village..."

"His biological science is extremely advanced. We've reached the point where a person's organs can be cloned using their genes."

"Really!?"

"Yes. Look at this eye of mine—it was cloned."

Doc had noticed the scar on Kakashi's eyelid long ago. He had previously thought Kakashi was lucky to have kept his eye despite such an injury.

He had never expected it to be a newly cloned eye.

"So Heather's body can recover too, right?"

Doc was overwhelmed with emotion. Medical technology outside had become so advanced now?

"Don't worry, it won't be a problem. This medical technology is already very mature, and it doesn't cost much."

"In Konoha, there are basically no people with missing limbs anymore."

"Waaah... That's wonderful, that's wonderful..."

Doc burst into tears at once.

Seeing Doc cry tears of joy, Kakashi felt somewhat moved.

Whenever moments like this came, Kakashi felt profound respect for Lord Orochimaru, the Fifth Hokage.

How many people had this kind of technology saved?

Hinata handed Heather a towel.

"This time, once everything is over, come to Konoha with us."

Heather first wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, a little embarrassed by her loss of composure.

Though she was naturally open-minded, this matter was still her regret.

"Sorry you had to see that, Hinata."

Hinata gently shook her head.

"It's nothing. Many disabled people in Konoha were once just like Heather."

Heather quickly composed herself. "Your Hokage is truly amazing."

After everyone finished bathing, Kakashi and the others walked in front with the children.

Heather and Doc walked at the very back of the group. Both looked relaxed, no longer burdened by their worries.

They walked very slowly. Kakashi and the others had already returned to the bottom of Heather's building and waited for a while.

Only then did the two return.

After they went back, Heather took the children to arrange sleeping places.

Doc, meanwhile, gave Kakashi and the others a detailed account of Tonika Village's destruction.

"I noticed something strange happening in the village when I was about to go to sleep. The village instantly became a sea of fire."

"I was attacked by ninjas too, but I was lucky enough to escape."

"But the others weren't so fortunate."

"Even after the guards chopped off their arms and legs, those people recovered quickly. They simply couldn't be killed."

"That should be the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu you mentioned."

Kakashi confirmed it. "That's right."

"Tomorrow, we'll go meet that Town Mayor and see what exactly he wants."

"Doc, you and Heather should watch over the children. Also, make arrangements for the other guard members. Don't let Disornas use them."

"I understand. I'll handle those matters."

As he spoke, Doc took out two rods.

"Mina's grandfather, who was also the Village Chief of Tonika Village, gave these to me."

"He told me I could throw them anywhere, but that I absolutely must not tell anyone about this."

"These should be what those people are looking for, right?"

Naruto took the two Tuning Forks and tapped them together, producing a clear, chiming sound.

He could not figure out what they were for.

He then handed them to Kakashi, who weighed them in his hand.

"Tomorrow, we'll use these as bait and see whether this is their target."

After all, Kakashi still could not be sure whether Disornas was working with Obito, nor did he know whether Obito was here.