The Oppressive Konohagakure, and Nohara Nao's Psychological Collapse Under the Weight of War

Naruto wasn't very familiar with the relationships between the major and minor clans of Konohagakure, but he knew about the Yamashiro Clan. The able-bodied men of the clan generally wouldn't be assigned to the Cannon Fodder Unit.

Calling them Cannon Fodder Unit is a bit of an exaggeration, since Chunin Cannon Fodder Unit wouldn't be equipped with medical-nin. These days, medical-nin are highly sought after; every one who dies is one less available.

Prolonged friction and war led to an ever-increasing casualty rate among ninjas, making medical-nin a force capable of preserving manpower to a great extent. While ninjas were indeed expendable resources, medical-nin were not.

While he was lost in thought, the other two finished introducing themselves. One was called Kishita, and the other was called something like Noma. These days, commoner ninjas didn't deserve to have surnames.

When it came to Naruto, it was much simpler. "Beihiko, he just escaped death."

The boys looked at Naruto's carefree demeanor and noticed the bloodstains on his green vest that couldn't be washed off, and a sense of apprehension arose in their hearts.

To survive a near-death experience and still look like this, one is most likely suffering from a serious illness.

The girl spoke up, "My name is Nohara Nao, and I'm currently medical-nin."

The use of the word "temporarily" was quite subtle. Naruto looked at her, giving her a puzzled look. The latter smiled generously and explained.

"After the Genin exams, I transferred to the Medical Unit, but my Medical Ninjutsu isn't very good."

Upon hearing this, Naruto understood. This situation was not uncommon, after all, medical-nin were in a safer position and would not be killed even in war.

To put it bluntly, he was a mediocre player who didn't want to be cannon fodder. He had some talent for Medical Ninjutsu, so he resolutely joined the Medical Unit as an unofficial member.

He glanced at Nohara Nao openly and noticed that her wristbands were badly worn; she was definitely a latecomer to the medical profession. She was probably on a mission just a few days ago and then went straight to the Medical Unit upon her return.

The Nohara family was somewhat well-known in the village, though it was a small clan. Naruto, however, wasn't too concerned; he was currently focused on how to gather the information.

This isn't like fighting and killing; even if you use force, you have to find the right person. Besides, the situation in Konohagakure is complicated now, with people watching from all sides.

Being too audacious would make them easy to spot, and they might end up losing more than they gain. After all, who would believe that someone who infiltrates Konohagakure would be looking for some trivial information?

Furthermore, Naruto didn't want to cause any trouble, especially since his parents were also in Konohagakure. He had even accidentally run into Kushina, thankfully not recognizing her.

He had no feelings for Minato Namikaze and Kushina; he simply didn't want to be implicated. What if something unexpected happened and his original body couldn't be born?

That.

He doesn't do meaningless things; having a clear purpose makes things easier and less restrictive.

More importantly, one must recognize one's own position. He was well aware that his current identity was that of an intruder, and stealing some data was not a problem.

But if someone were to be foolish enough to provoke Danzo, that would be a real disaster. Danzo's current position in the village is that of the Third Hokage's right-hand man; he is a hero of Konohagakure.

Putting aside all those random thoughts, Naruto has now basically confirmed his target. Nohara Nao is also a self-taught amateur, so she probably won't have access to core information.

However, it's still a stepping stone, so it's definitely a good idea to build a good relationship.

He glanced up and silently surveyed the three Chunin. Aside Chunin the Yamashiro Clan, the other two were definitely weaklings. After the introductions, the group dispersed.

No missions, no fancy group training, let's just do what we need to do. We might have to take on another high-risk mission sometime, so let's not waste each other's time.

Save what you should save, spend what you should spend; the money will remain even after someone dies.

After leaving the Ninja Academy, the group went their separate ways. Naruto saw his two underling teammates eagerly following Nohara Nao away, constantly trying to create conversation.

They probably said something about taking her home, but the girl showed no impatience; her smile and demeanor were polite yet distant.

Naruto glanced at Yamashiro Nobiyori not far away. He looked rather refined. Naruto rolled up his sleeves, glanced in the direction where Nohara Nao and the other two had left, and then looked away.

He glanced at Naruto again as he turned his head, nodded to him, and then left alone in another direction.

As expected, people from big families have a different kind of class status. They maintain their elegance even in this chaotic Cannon Fodder Unit. However, being assigned to this place probably doesn't make them very lucky.

After leaving the Ninja Academy, Naruto smiled and prepared to use the money he had to buy himself a new outfit. Looking presentable depends on clothing, and this shabby appearance certainly didn't inspire much goodwill.

With Beihiko's unremarkable face and without his clothes to back it up, Naruto had no way of getting close to Nohara Nao. While it's true that even a skilled cook can't make a meal without ingredients, you first need to set up a pot.

"Um, that outfit, the one on the inside." Naruto looked up and bought two sets of clothes in the clothing store with his meager savings; the colors were mostly dark.

First, it's convenient to move around in and doesn't draw attention. Second, these two outfits were heavily discounted, and since he didn't have much money, he had to make do for now; he couldn't go everywhere wearing the same green vest.

"One thousand three hundred taels," the shopkeeper said.

"How much?" Naruto exclaimed in astonishment. "Is your clothing made of gold? Are the buttons all silver, or is the stitching Chakra iron?"

"At this price, go look around outside. These days, the village doesn't have the resources to supply clothes," the shopkeeper said confidently. "Just tell me if you want it or not?"

"Of course I want it, I'll pay." He glanced at the shop owner, paid without saying anything, and left.

After buying the clothes, Naruto's money instantly decreased by a tenth.

He couldn't be bothered to argue with the shop owner. If it was a fair price, he'd let it go. But if they ripped him off, he wouldn't have to worry about money for a while, since the shop owner was always lawless.

Food is cheap in Konohagakure at this time of year, probably because it's preparation for war and daily necessities are prioritized. He wasn't sure about clothing prices either; he'd ask someone when he had the chance.

He was too lazy to go back to his dark and damp little apartment to change, so he just found a corner to change into. He threw his old clothes into the trash, and his new clothes weren't particularly eye-catching, but at least they looked much fresher.

After wandering around for a while, Naruto found a shop that sold ninja tools. He went in and headed straight for the wrist guards; he only had Senryo, which wasn't enough to buy anything.

The quickest way to break the ice in a relationship is to give a gift, but it has to be something the other person can accept. Naruto is very skilled at giving gifts; he glanced at the gift and immediately noticed that Nohara Nao's wristband was torn.

The other person didn't seem to be in dire need of money; she herself said she joined the Medical Unit halfway through her career. Whether it was through family connections or her own efforts, it didn't really matter.

medical-nin don't really need wrist guards; in fact, they can be cumbersome. But Nohara Nao still keeps those wrist guards, most likely because she misses her past life as a mission-based ninja.

Whether she was reluctant to part with the old wristband or simply forgot to take it off, the wristband was the perfect gift for Naruto.

It would be impolite to make it any more expensive, and he can't afford it anyway.

Naruto picked out a wristband that cost a thousand taels of silver, paying for it without batting an eye. The quality was above average, and while the price wasn't outrageous, it was definitely a good product.

Konohagakure hadn't changed much, and after wandering around the streets a couple of times, he located the Konoha Hospital. Looking up at the sky, he figured it wasn't time yet, so he found a place to sleep.

When I woke up again, the afternoon sunlight was a bit dimmer. I estimated I had dozed off for two hours. It was still early before Konoha Hospital closed, and I didn't know if it was a 996 work schedule or something.

Anyway, he guessed that with Nohara Nao's personality, she would definitely end up spending time in the hospital if she became a nun halfway through her training. Sakura was the same way back then, saying she wouldn't feel at ease without some training.

He tossed the wristband into the Sealing Space and swaggered along Konohagakure Street. Along the way, he saw the Uchiha guards, their faces filled with arrogance and impatience.

"Hey you over there, you're stealing, aren't you? If you move your teeth again, I'll knock them all out!"

"It's those orphans causing trouble again, there's no peace."

The commotion was so loud that Naruto, who was half a street away from the crowd, quickly moved away. He didn't want to get involved in any trouble, so he simply took a detour.

The Uchiha has a bad reputation, but those who do guard duty don't have a good reputation either. Especially the proud and arrogant Uchiha; in their eyes, there is no Konohagakure without the Uchiha.

Yet now, the Uchiha, one of Konohagakure's two cornerstone clans, are doing this dog-like work. Naturally, they're resentful, and their attitude has become hostile.

This was a calculated move by the higher-ups; the Uchiha's demise was already predetermined, regardless of whether they chose to rebel. Someone had already written the script for them; their extermination was inevitable.

Sasuke was, after all, his brother, his beloved friend, and Naruto deeply regretted this. Then he silently walked away, respecting the fate of others.

The Uchiha are all lunatics; only a lunatic would try to reason with another lunatic.

When he arrived at Konoha Hospital, he didn't go upstairs, but sat down and waited leisurely. Time passed slowly, and he was already very hungry.

Naruto wasn't impatient. As the saying goes, a good wind lends its strength, and rain can shatter a banana leaf. Good things often come with difficulties, especially an art like striking up a conversation. He was inexperienced and arrived early; he'd just have to wait.

He waited and waited until the moon was high in the sky, and then he began to regret showing off.

Looking at the sentry at the gate, he wondered if he should try to build a good relationship with him before leaving, so that when he talked to Nohara Nao next time, the sentry would casually mention that he had been waiting there for a long time.

His goal was to gain trust and deepen the relationship. Naturally, he went with ulterior motives, not wanting to do anything meaningless. They say a thief never leaves empty-handed, and a goose leaves a trace; he always had to leave some mark.

Just as he was about to get up, someone suddenly appeared in the dark corner of the old Konoha Hospital. It was none other than Nohara Nao.

Her steps were unsteady, and she only saw Naruto when she got closer. However, from her perspective, this was her teammate from the lunch meeting, the unremarkable-looking Beihiko.

Although not particularly beautiful, she was still considered pleasing to the eye. She was quite tall with a slightly upturned nose. Nohara Nao had heard a secret from a female senior in the Medical Unit.

You could tell just by looking at his nose. At noon, she did glance at Naruto a couple more times because of this. Her face didn't show any reaction, but she had a strange feeling in her heart.

Before leaving, she politely declined the offer from two teammates who wanted to take her back to Konoha Hospital, feeling indifferent and finding it troublesome. Her impression of Naruto was also fleeting and quickly faded.

For her, teammates weren't that important. She was the only one in her previous team who had survived a near-death experience, and after calming down for two days, she used her family connections to get into the Medical Unit.

Her passion had long since cooled; now, all she felt was a chill towards the cruel ninja world. There were malicious attacks on Konoha Ninja from outside, but powerful Jonin wouldn't be afraid.

But they were just a group of Genin, temporarily promoted to Chunin. The youthful passion cooled down after their teammates were sacrificed.

Having escaped death, she didn't hesitate much.

Just then, the village was vigorously promoting medical and health courses at the Ninja Academy, almost forcing every student to master the most basic self-rescue and first aid knowledge, and Medical Unit were also opened.

A small number of ninjas with refined Chakra Control but lacking medical background may be allowed to switch careers and transfer from ordinary ninjas to Medical Unit.

Of course, this is unpaid and entirely voluntary. After all, the casualty rate of medical-nin is far, far lower than that of ordinary cannon fodder ninjas.

Nohara Nao was already numb to it all, and simply followed her family's arrangements to enter the Medical Unit to begin her studies. She had to master the most basic medical knowledge within this short two-week period, otherwise even Hashirama came, he wouldn't be able to keep her.

The intense pressure of academic competition and the shattering of her values after the bloody baptism of war caused her to hide her true self. To the outside world, she always presented herself as a gentle female ninja.

Beneath the surface, she was numb, in pain, and twisted. A sense of oppression crept up from the tip of her heart, choking her and making it hard to breathe. She felt inexplicably disgusted by everything hypocritical around her.

An intense urge to indulge repeatedly assaulted her senses, which she forcefully suppressed each time. If she were to break down at such a moment, all her efforts would be in vain.

When she saw Naruto, she was only slightly surprised. But a sense of disgust quickly arose in her heart, thinking, "Why the hell are you all trying to steal my life?"

The situation at the front lines is tense, and the more tense it is, the more likely ninjas might be sent to the battlefield at any moment. In this time of uncertainty, everyone is under immense pressure.

If a war breaks out, that would be fine, but there's no definite news. Who knows how long the next war will last, who will be spared, and who will have to rush to the battlefield?

The oppressive atmosphere over time naturally led to a decline in the ninjas' needs. They abandoned higher spiritual pursuits and focused on basic necessities like food, drink, and other mundane matters.

Everyone is under pressure, and both men and women yearn for indulgence. However, most people are on edge, and not many actually do such things.

"I remember you're Beihiko, right?" Nohara Nao smiled gently, her outward calm mirroring her inner turmoil. "Were you waiting for me? Is there something you need?"

Her words were gentle, but they sounded quite different; he could clearly see that there was no smile in Nohara Nao's eyes.

"Yeah, I saw your wristband was torn this afternoon." Naruto stopped in front of her, held out his hand and handed her a new wristband. "Here, take this."