Hirohiko, You'd Better Remember This!

"Chiba... Chiba..."

A soft call, accompanied by a gentle shake, broke the morning silence.

"Mmm... Not only do I need to put thought into the medicinal formula, I also need to look for problems in the Chakra circulation pathways... Mmm... Definitely... definitely... It'll be fine..."

Feeling the slight shaking of his body, Chiba cracked his eyes open, then closed them again. As if talking in his sleep, he mumbled a string of words.

Then he turned over, seeming as though he intended to go back to sleep.

Medicinal formula? Chakra circulation pathways?

Yukina, crouching beside Chiba's bed, froze slightly. Her hand stopped shaking his shoulder, and her brows furrowed as she unconsciously looked toward the small square table beside her. A candle there gave off wisps of smoke, beside two unfurled scrolls. She could tell that one was the Chakra circulation diagram she had drawn yesterday after examining Nao's body with her Byakugan. Perhaps because she had spent so long with Chiba, after learning that he intended to treat Nao, she had almost instinctively done it. She had always thought Chiba would likely have the same idea.

The other scroll contained a medicinal formula. She could understand some of it. After all, over the past two years, she had occasionally read the Medical Insights Lady Tsunade had given Chiba, and had learned a little.

Now, she was almost certain that even in his dreams, Chiba was probably dreaming about Nao's condition. She could infer as much from his earlier muttering.

How late had he stayed up last night?

Yukina pressed her lips together worriedly. Looking at Chiba's turned body and sleeping profile, a trace of reproach rose in her heart.

Today was Teacher Kushina's summons. If they were late...

At the thought, Yukina could not help shuddering.

No, she had