Asuma: It's All My Fault

The next day, at noon.

When the dismissal bell rang, everyone in the classroom cheered and rushed to the cafeteria, but a few others gathered around Soseki.

"Hm? Are you guys planning to come with me to the hospital to visit Mizuki?" Soseki asked the few people in front of him.

"I found out, it seems that guy got beaten up because of me." Asuma scratched his head in embarrassment. "No matter what, I have to go visit him."

Shizune clasped her hands into small fists and placed them on her chest. "I'm also a bit worried about Mizuki's condition."

Seeing Soseki look over, Kurenai's eyes drifted. "If you all leave, I'll be quite bored alone at school."

"Alright, let's go together then."

On the way, seeing Soseki looking a bit down, Asuma thought he was worried about yesterday's events, so he casually patted his shoulder and said, "Don't worry, Soseki. If anyone from the Uchiha clan comes to cause trouble for you, I'll... I'll go back and report it to the old man!"

Soseki smiled happily upon hearing this. Given Asuma's chuunibyou and tsundere personality, it must have taken a great deal of internal struggle for him to be willing to seek help from the Third Hokage for him.

"That's not what I'm worried about," Soseki shook his head, pursed his lips, and fell silent for a moment. "When I was giving Mizuki preliminary treatment yesterday, I discovered... his injuries might be quite serious."

Asuma asked in confusion, "Really? I thought he had recovered quite well yesterday?"

Soseki just sighed. "I hope I'm mistaken."

The road to the hospital wasn't too long, and before long, they arrived at the hospital entrance.

Then, led by Soseki, they found Mizuki's hospital room with ease.

"Mizuki, we've come to..." Asuma called out familiarly, but before he could finish, he was startled by the scene before him.

Mizuki was lying stiffly on the hospital bed, his eyes vacant, and he showed no reaction to their arrival.

He looked like a salted fish that had lost its dreams.

"Mizuki, what's wrong, Mizuki?" Asuma shouted in panic. "Oh no, Mizuki's dead!"

Bang!

"Ah? Who hit me?" Asuma cried out, clutching his head.

"Little boy, don't say such things carelessly!" a young nurse stood behind Asuma, hands on her hips.

"Huh? Mizuki isn't dead?"

"He's breathing fine, how could he be dead?"

"Then he..."

However, the nurse no longer intended to answer his questions. Instead, she turned to Soseki and began to organize her words. "Little Soseki, this classmate you brought... he might not be able to study with you all anymore."

Asuma exclaimed in shock, "Wait, what do you mean by that?"

The nurse sighed. "He has lost his qualification to become a ninja. However, perhaps this is a good thing. Living an ordinary life, he won't have to worry about dying on a mission at any time."

"Damn it, how could this happen!" Asuma punched the wall forcefully. If it were any other time, he wouldn't have felt so distressed.

But now he "knew" that Mizuki had become like this entirely because of him!

Even though it wasn't his subjective intention that caused all this, he still felt he owed Mizuki.

The more emotional Kurenai and Shizune had already started crying softly. Although they didn't have much interaction with Mizuki, seeing a familiar classmate in such a state made them feel bad.

As Asuma was feeling dejected, he suddenly caught sight of Soseki's solemn expression, and a flash of inspiration struck him. "Soseki, you must have a way, right?"

Hearing Asuma's call, Mizuki, lying on the hospital bed, also ignited a spark of hope in his eyes.

If it were him, maybe it would really work!

"Perhaps, but," Soseki frowned, somewhat indecisive. "Sister Yumiko is not wrong. The ninja world is inherently dangerous, and if..."

"No, please, give me a chance!"

Hearing that dry, hoarse voice, everyone was overjoyed.

"Mizuki, you're finally alive... pfft, you're finally awake?"

"Mizuki, are you alright?"

Mizuki did not respond, but stared intently at Soseki. "I have no family, no friends. I don't want to lose even my last sense of self!"

"You're wrong, we are all your friends." Soseki shook his head, looking at Mizuki with "sincere" eyes. "However, if you insist, I can try."

Asuma asked from the side, "What exactly do we need to do, Soseki?"

"Given Mizuki's current physical condition, if he still wants to become a ninja, he must undergo surgery. And in our Konoha, there is only one person capable of performing such surgery!"

"I know! It's Lady Tsunade!"

"I ran into Lady Tsunade at the hospital a few days ago." Soseki nodded, then sighed. "If I had known it would turn out like this, I would have asked her where she was staying in advance."

Asuma stroked his chin. "The old man should know where Lady Tsunade is staying. I'll go back and ask him right away."

At this moment, Shizune weakly raised her right hand. "Actually, Lady Tsunade is living with me now."

"That's great!" Asuma first exclaimed excitedly, then asked suspiciously, "But Shizune, why are you living with Lady Tsunade? Could it be that you're Lady Tsunade's illegitimate daughter?"

"Of course not!" Shizune explained indignantly. "Lady Tsunade is my uncle's lover. After my uncle passed away, she has been taking care of me at my home."

"Oh, I see. That's perfect then, let's go find Lady Tsunade to save Mizuki right away."

However, Shizune didn't move. Instead, she seemed hesitant. "Actually, Lady Tsunade hasn't performed surgery in a very long time."

Kurenai asked, puzzled, "Is there no surgery worthy of Lady Tsunade's attention?"

Shizune shook her head. Lady Tsunade's hemophobia was kept confidential, so she didn't know how to explain it for a moment.

Seeing this, Soseki stepped in to ease the situation. "Asuma, Kurenai, you don't need to be involved in what happens next."

Asuma was dejected. "Huh? Why is that?"

Soseki spread his hands helplessly and casually made up a reason. "This may involve some confidential regulations that only Medical Ninja can participate in."

Upon hearing this, the two could only agree. "Alright then, remember to notify us if there's any news."

Just then, Mizuki, lying on the sickbed, suddenly spoke up. "Please... please take me with you! At least let me know if I still have a chance to become a ninja!"

Soseki looked at Shizune and asked, "Is that okay?"

Shizune hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "As long as it's just as a patient, it should be fine."