The Stubborn Uchiha

At this moment, Mito was treating Kosuke's injuries, but the discussion outside the tent from earlier echoed in her mind, and a blush slowly crept onto her face.

She squeezed her eyes shut, not daring to look at the figure lying before her.

The green Chakra in her palms flickered on and off, like fireflies that could vanish at any moment—just like the tangled mess of her thoughts.

"Mizu, is Kosuke doing any better today?" Mina's call made Mito's fingertips tremble, and the green glow of her Chakra nearly went out.

Mina bent down to inspect Kosuke's bandages, completely failing to notice the crimson tips of Mito's ears or the crescent marks her tense fingers had pressed into her palm.

"Treatment takes time." Mito's voice sounded as though it had been soaked in ice water. Though her heart was in turmoil, her tone was frighteningly steady. "Did you need something?"

"Something? Ah, right." The moment Mina saw Kosuke, she nearly forgot why she had come looking for Mito. "I wanted to ask—if you have some free time, could you treat Kosuke and his older brother?"

At those words, Mito's gaze froze on the scar near Kosuke's collarbone.

It should have been covered in gruesome Lightning Release burns, yet under her treatment, it now showed the pale pink of newly grown skin.

After a long while, Mito slowly nodded without making a sound.

Seeing this, Mina thanked Mito profusely.

As for Mito's true identity, she did not take the initiative to expose it.

Instead, she addressed her according to the name she had given herself: "Uchiha Mizu."

Noticing Mina leave, Mito recalled everything that had just happened and could not help falling into deep thought.

"When did I... start feeling this way...?"

One month later...

Madara and Kosuke, who had fallen unconscious, woke up five days apart.

The instant Madara awoke, he noticed Mito treating him.

Izuna, who had been keeping watch at his side, noticed it as well.

He immediately called out excitedly in a hushed voice, "Older brother, how does your body feel?"

Madara's weak gaze swept over his completely changed younger brother, but he did not answer.

Instead, he turned toward Mito. His lips moved with difficulty, and his voice was so hoarse it was nearly inaudible. "Thank you... Kosuke... where is he?"

Mito did not stop her treatment upon hearing this. Her solemn gaze met Madara's weakened eyes.

"There's no need to thank me... Just don't be hostile toward the Uzumaki Clan in the future. Kosuke is still unconscious. He's in the tent next to yours."

Still unconscious...

After hearing news of Kosuke, Madara closed his eyes tiredly.

The pain radiating from every part of his body constantly assaulted his nerves.

For some reason, he suddenly recalled the method Kosuke had mentioned for advancing the Sharingan.

Madara forced his eyes open and stared hesitantly at Mito before him, but no matter what, he could not bring himself to voice the plea in his heart.

At that moment, Izuna, who had been ignored, noticed something strange about his older brother and hurriedly asked again in a soft voice, "Older brother, are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

"Get out!"

Madara growled, though the end of his voice trembled from weakness.

"Got it. Get some proper rest, then. Your little brother will come see you again tonight."

"Little Sister Mizu, I'll leave my older brother to you."

Feeling his older brother's gaze grow colder by the second, Izuna shuddered.

Before his words had even faded, he darted into the neighboring tent like a gust of wind to pour his heart out to Mina.

Thanks to Izuna's interruption, Madara's tightly wound nerves relaxed somewhat.

Then, no longer hesitating, he told Mito everything about the request in his heart.

"What? Are you insane?!" The Medical Ninjutsu in Mito's hand nearly went out of control, the green light in her palm shaking violently. "Don't you know he only said that nonsense to provoke me at the time? You actually believed him?"

"I thought carefully about what Kosuke said afterward," Madara said stubbornly. "Given my current condition, it's worth taking the risk!"

Mito abruptly withdrew the healing Chakra from her palm and looked at the stubborn Uchiha Madara before her with mixed laughter and exasperation.

Where was even a trace of his former arrogance now?

Seeing the determination on his face, Mito found herself in a difficult position.

She was not an Uchiha, after all. How could she make such a decision for the Uchiha Clan's young heir?

"Rest for now." She rose and walked toward the passage connecting the tents, pausing slightly. "I'll discuss it with them next door. After all... I'm only an outsider."

"I understand. Thank you."

These were the most words Madara had spoken since waking up. He was completely different from the arrogant figure in her memories.

Mito passed through the connecting passage between the tents and entered Kosuke's tent. She truthfully told Izuna and Mina that Madara had believed Kosuke's joking words and was determined to take the risk.

"What?!" Izuna and Mina turned toward the figure lying on the bed in astonishment. "Kosuke really said something like that?"

"Yes." Mito's gaze passed over the two of them before settling on Kosuke, who lay quietly there. "He really did say it back then. I imagine their teammates heard his nonsense too."

Izuna and Mina exchanged a glance, both recalling the "special" awareness Kosuke had displayed since childhood. Gradually, they began to believe what Kosuke had said.

The two immediately rose and headed toward Madara's tent with grave expressions.

Watching them leave, Mito had never imagined her attempt at persuasion would fail. After all... that had merely been a joke Kosuke had made up on the spot.

She shook her head and went to sit beside Kosuke's bed.

Her hand naturally settled on his wrist as she sensed the state of his recovery.

"His bodily functions have recovered to the same level as Madara's... so why is he still unconscious?"

With that question in mind, Mito began another full-body examination.

She could not understand it. They were in the same condition, so why had Madara awakened while Kosuke remained unconscious?

Before long, Mina lifted the curtain separating the two tents.

Seeing Mito focused on her technique, Mina did not speak immediately.

Instead, she made a gentle gesture behind her meaning "wait," then slowly approached Mito and silently watched her movements.

A quarter of an hour later, Mito tucked the thin blanket back over Kosuke. Her brows were tightly furrowed, her heart full of confusion.

Seeing this, Mina thought something was wrong with her younger brother and asked anxiously, "Mito, is there something wrong inside Kosuke's body?"

Hearing her, Mito looked up at Mina's tense expression and immediately gave an apologetic smile. "Sister, Kosuke is fine. I'm just wondering why he's still unconscious."

Mina let out a heavy breath, and the weight on her heart finally lifted. "As long as he's fine. Oh, right, Mito... we agree with Brother Madara's idea."

Mina's words made Mito's eyes widen.

She looked at Mina in disbelief, utterly perplexed. Hadn't she made it clear that it was just nonsense Kosuke had casually spouted? Why were they still insisting on it?

Were all Uchiha this stubborn?

"You've thought it through?" Mito's expression turned solemn. "I must make this clear first: during this process, I cannot guarantee that Madara's injuries will not worsen—or even... that he will die!"