Self-Exposure?

Self-Exposure?

February 20, Konoha Year 51.

Without a doubt, Uchiha Asuka was one of the few members of the Uchiha Clan who was sunny, handsome, and gentle. He lacked the Uchiha family's characteristic arrogance toward outsiders, and he was exceptionally patient with his foolish apprentice.

After all, not everyone could be like the Uchiha Clan and possess the Sharingan to copy ninjutsu. Nor was he a renowned instructor in the shinobi world.

The shinobi world's truly great teacher, Tsunade:

She personally taught her disciple medical arts. In just two and a half years, she turned an intern into someone with outstanding medical skills, who had inherited Tsunade's Super Strength and could treat wounds even Medical Ninja like Chiyo could not handle. Even Sasori, using a prescription to make an antidote, was slower than Sakura Haruno mixing medicine on her own.

The shinobi world's truly great teacher, Jiraiya: His disciples included not only Minato Namikaze, whose speed reigned supreme in the shinobi world, but also the Three Rain Bosses. Every one of his students was a tough customer. After more than two years under his guidance, Naruto went from the bottom of his class to a Konoha hero who punched Orochimaru, kicked Hidan Kakuzu, and talked Nagato into submission, successfully turning his reputation around and achieving a stunning comeback in life.

The shinobi world's truly great teacher, Orochimaru: A scientist with ambition and ideals who could put them into practice often produced unexpected results.

After more than two years of his instruction, Sasuke had successfully gone from a Uchiha orphan with no hope of revenge to someone who could speak with the Nine-Tails using only the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

Meanwhile, his own Three-Tomoe Sharingan could only see Kushina's pale belly and the fine, lightly colored fuzz on its surface. Staring too long could easily lead to misunderstandings.

Uchiha Asuka, on the other hand, was a fake great teacher.

With his superb Medical Ninjutsu, he bought discounted medicinal ingredients from the Nara Clan's pharmacy, then spent his own money on a live fish at the market. After slamming it on the ground a couple of times, he let his apprentice practice on it. If she revived it, they released it. If she killed it, they ate dead fish that night.

As for theory lessons, he personally wrote the teaching materials. Every morning, he casually scribbled something onto a sheet of A4 Paper, and that became the day's lesson material—freshly made.

Though he was nowhere near as absurd as Jiraiya, Tsunade, or Orochimaru, who could teach Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to the point where they could hammer Kaguya Otsutsuki barehanded in just over two years, he was still highly dedicated.

He was fully confident that within five years, he could train Yu Yan into an exceptional Medical Ninja.

This fish soup really was fresh.

"Ah!"

After taking a sip of the fresh fish soup made that day, Asuka gave her a thumbs-up and praised her.

"Your fish-stewing skills have improved far faster than your Medical Ninjutsu."

"Ah, Medical Ninjutsu is so hard!"

After taking a sip of fish soup, Uzuki Yugao pursed her lips and said dejectedly.

"It's already been four days, and I haven't even gotten started.

Teacher, how long did it take you to get started back then?"

Me?

Asuka put down his spoon, leaned back in his chair, and recalled.

"After drinking fish soup three times a day for eighty-seven meals straight, I got started. If I hadn't, I would've starved to death."

"Then, Teacher..."

Uzuki Yugao stared at the fish soup on the table. After unconsciously swallowing, she asked blankly.

"Do we have to drink fish soup another eighty-seven times?"

"That was you. I'm not drinking it."

Asuka wiped his mouth with a napkin. Thinking of the not-yet-born Sakura Haruno and Tsunade, who was probably losing money in some gambling den, he continued.

"Honestly, even now I can't figure out how someone could study for only two and a half years and make Sunagakure's top Medical Ninja willingly concede defeat and admit inferiority.

That old woman is a powerful Medical Ninja who can bring the dead back to life and grant life to puppets.

The only explanation I can think of is that the old woman saw Sunagakure's high-end combat strength was lacking, so she decided to flatter Konoha."

An old woman?

Uzuki Yugao looked at Asuka in confusion. What old woman could grant life to puppets? Why did that sound so fantastical? Was that the Six Paths Sage's kind of ability?

"That old woman is one of Sunagakure's higher-ups—Chiyo."

Pointing in the direction of Konoha's guesthouse, Asuka poked at the fish in his bowl, his voice somewhat low.

"She's Ebizo's older sister. If the shinobi world's medical arts had a ceiling, then the living Chiyo counted as one, and Tsunade counted as one. Compared to those two, your teacher here counts as one-third of one."

"Wow, Teacher, your Medical Ninjutsu is that powerful?"

Stars practically appeared in Uzuki Yugao's eyes. She had only heard that her teacher's Medical Ninjutsu was impressive, but she never expected him to be half as capable as Lady Tsunade.

According to legend, Lady Tsunade could cure every difficult and complicated illness and was the shinobi world's number one Medical Ninja.

Thinking this, she noticed that Asuka had somehow suddenly become a little downcast. Uzuki Yugao quickly left her seat and patted his shoulder in comfort.

"Teacher, you're still young. Don't deny yourself just because you aren't as good as them yet.

You only can't compare to Tsunade and Chiyo.

But from what you just said, in all of shinobi history, how many people could compare to those two? Against opponents you only meet once in a thousand years, no one stands a chance.

If I were you, Teacher, I'd dare to call myself third in the shinobi world."

"True!"

Asuka shook his head, shaking the scenes of the Third Shinobi World War from his mind. Then, with his hands on his hips, he looked beyond the village, pride appearing on his face.

Chiyo was fifty-seven this year, and Tsunade was thirty-eight.

Once Chiyo died, I'd be second in the shinobi world. Once Tsunade died, I'd be first.

Dong! Dong! Dong! At that moment, the clock on the wall suddenly chimed. Asuka glanced at the time. When he saw the hour hand pointing at ten, he rose to his feet.

"I'm heading out to take care of something. Once you're done eating, hurry home."

"Okay!"

Asuka then leaped onto the roof and bounded all the way to the Nara Clan Grounds.

He touched the letter of accusation in his clothes and looked toward the center of the clan grounds.

Over the past few days, he had gradually reported the information about his visits to the Nara Clan Grounds to Nara Yoshino.

Out of a detective's professional integrity, he only needed to finish up today's work—his final treatment for Ryoko's son—before handing her the remaining information tomorrow.

Then Nara Yoshino would discover that this private detective of hers was actually the true culprit who had trespassed into the Nara Clan Grounds and knocked on a Widow's door in the middle of the night.

Well... barring any surprises, there probably wouldn't be any surprises.

Asuka smiled, then familiarly pushed open the door and walked inside.

Other than Naruto, that softhearted fool influenced by Asura, everyone else in the shinobi world repaid kindness with kindness and revenge with revenge.

Danzo's forces, minus one.

Creak!

Hearing movement at the door, Nara Ryoko, who had been hiding inside the room, turned to look at it.

Huh? Why was he here?

When she saw Asuka sneaking into the room, she immediately frowned. Then, as if she had thought of something, realization instantly appeared on her face.

This guy must have come for the same reason as us—to catch the "true culprit" and obtain solid evidence.

And judging by how practiced he looked, it seemed this was not his first time entering.

A professional. He had even scouted the place in advance.

"Why did you come in this way?"

Looking at the suddenly appearing Nara Ryoko, Asuka blinked, looking slightly baffled.

He had come here several times already. Hadn't he always entered this way after avoiding the patrols?

Nara Ryoko lowered her voice.

"Quick, find somewhere to hide."

??? Hearing that, Asuka became even more confused.

I still have to go back to sleep after treating your son. Why would I hide? With that thought, he casually closed the door and got straight to the point.

"Where's the kid?"

Nara Ryoko pointed toward the unoccupied room next door and lowered her voice.

"He's in the empty room next door."

"Fine."

Asuka turned to leave.

If he had known her son was next door, why had he come here at all?

Besides, something about this woman felt strange today.

At that moment, Nara Ryoko suddenly grabbed Asuka's arm, frowning.

"Where are you going?"

Then, she rose and seized his arm, lowering her voice.

"You were unusually calm when you saw me just now, which proves you've also guessed some things.

That's right.

Based on the information you provided, we roughly deduced that the person might come again in the latter half of tonight.

So we came here today to catch him ourselves.

I didn't expect your idea would actually coincide with ours.

If you leave now, you might ruin our plan. The patrols at the Nara Clan Grounds received orders today to pretend they saw nothing when outsiders entered. But anyone leaving from inside can easily be caught red-handed by clan members hiding in the shadows.

Since you know about this too, wait here with us. Hurry and hide."

"Us?"

Hearing Uchiha Asuka's puzzled voice, she pointed at the furniture around the room.

"There's already someone here. There's someone behind those curtains too. There's someone in the cabinet next door as well. There's dust under the bed, so no one's there."

"..."

Asuka silently walked toward the curtains. He secretly lifted one corner and saw the Akimichi Matron hiding inside, giving him a friendly smile.

He then went to the cabinet and opened a crack in its door. Inside, he saw the Nara Matron and the Yamanaka Matron hiding there, with the Yamanaka Matron even gesturing for silence.

Five people were hidden in this tiny room.

Oh, six including me.

Should I expose myself now? Or tomorrow?