Request from the Kurama Clan

"It's not that I don't want to help, but my Medical Ninjutsu is only at a halfway level. If even the best doctors at Konoha Hospital can't do anything, expecting me to work some miracle... please forgive my inability."

It wasn't that Sōken didn't want to help.

If he could use this opportunity to open up the various clans in the village to the Uchiha, who had long been shut out of their social circles, that would undoubtedly be a good thing.

The problem, however, was that the request Kurama Murakumo had made was truly difficult.

This wasn't something that could be solved with the edge of a blade!

Healing the sick and saving lives wasn't his specialty—he was an expert in killing and arson!

"I understand your concerns, Sōken, but I still hope you'll come take a look. Regardless of the final outcome, the Kurama Clan is willing to maintain friendly relations with your clan from now on." Kurama Murakumo wasn't about to give up, even going so far as to stake his clan as a bargaining chip.

This wasn't a unilateral decision on his part as clan head.

It was a collective decision made by the powers within their clan.

"...I understand."

When things had reached this point, refusing would be a slight against someone's face. Although the Kurama Clan was once said to rival the Uchiha Clan in Genjutsu, there were no deep-seated conflicts or grudges between the two clans in reality.

The Uchiha were famously disliked by everyone—no one's favorite relatives or friends. They were already struggling to survive without the Kurama adding insult to injury.

The Kurama themselves had troubles they couldn't share with outsiders. Their clan's Kekkei Genkai inheritance was extremely unstable, with a genius inheriting it only once every few generations. Unfortunately, this generation's genius had been frail and sickly since childhood, leaving them with a mountain of problems to sort out and no time to bother with the Uchiha.

"I'll go take a look, but I can't promise anything. I can only say I'll do my best." Sōken nodded and agreed.

"That's enough! That's enough! If it really can't be helped... then there's no choice."

"Then, please name a time. I'll visit then."

"No need for all that trouble! Now is fine!"

"...Is it at the hospital?"

Sōken was taken aback for a moment, then quickly understood.

Right.

Even a clan as strong as the Uchiha had to admit that the innovation of the Medical Ninja system was an outstanding reform. Facilities like Konoha Hospital were things the ninja clans could never have built on their own in the past. Compared to the uneven quality of medical ninjas trained within the clans, the medical strength of Konoha Hospital was far more reliable.

"That's right. Today is the day for Yakumo's routine checkup at the hospital—once every half month. Right now, my wife is with her, going through the examination." Kurama Murakumo stood up. "Sōken, please wait a moment. I'll go bring Yakumo here."

"No need for all that trouble! I'll go with you and take a look. I've been cooped up in this hospital room for days—it'll be good to get out and stretch my legs."

"...Very well!"

Kurama Murakumo hesitated for a moment but didn't refuse.

After all, he had already walked into Sōken's room carrying a fruit basket. Even if someone saw him walking alongside Uchiha Sōken, what of it? With the Third's lot and their suspicious nature, it wouldn't make any difference. From the moment he stepped into this room, the Kurama Clan had likely been added to some list or another.

But given the Kurama Clan's increasingly declining fortunes, they probably ranked low on that list, so there was no need to worry about immediate suppression or pressure.

Sōken stepped down from the bed.

He was wearing the standard hospital gown of Konoha Hospital. Without changing clothes, he slipped on his slippers and walked out the door with Kurama Murakumo.

"Arashiyama, nothing major. I'm going with Murakumo-senpai to see a patient." Sōken waved his hand, signaling Uchiha Arashiyama to return to the Police Force and stop wasting time here. "Also, I don't plan on being discharged for two or three days. I'll leave the Police Force to you for now. If anything comes up, come find me."

"I understand."

Uchiha Arashiyama nodded, then added with a word of advice, "But Sōken, I think it's best not to drag it out too long. If the clan's enthusiasm fades..."

"No matter. If anyone dares cause me trouble right in front of my eyes, I won't mind finding a few more people to make an example of."

Sōken stressed the word "eyes."

Uchiha Arashiyama understood. The Mangekyo Sharingan... he knew this secret. Or rather, as long as one wasn't in a situation where all direct-line elders were dead, or where one's father and grandfather had been Genin or Chunin—or even not ninjas at all—for several generations, it wasn't hard to come by certain information about the Mangekyo Sharingan.

It was just that the Elders strictly forbade clan members from casually spreading information about the Mangekyo Sharingan. Like the secret gatherings at the Naka Shrine, only Jonin were qualified to know about it; Chunin and Genin had no access to such secrets.

Seeing that Sōken had his own plans, Uchiha Arashiyama said no more. He simply used the Body Flicker Technique and vanished from before Sōken and Kurama Murakumo's eyes.

"Alright! Murakumo-senpai, please lead the way!"

"This way!"

Kurama Murakumo acted with a decisive and efficient manner. Despite his scholarly air, he couldn't wash away the ninja habits ingrained in his bones—energy-efficient and effective. That was the common style of ninja conduct; dawdling was extremely rare.

They walked down the second-floor corridor, went up the stairs to the fourth floor, and arrived at the office of the attending physician.

Although the Kurama Clan was in decline, the fact that they had been called to participate in the meeting four days ago showed they hadn't truly fallen into obscurity. As the saying goes, a rotten boat still has three thousand nails. The Kurama's prestige was still enough to hire an attending physician as a family doctor.

"Big brother."

A man who looked several years older than Kurama Murakumo stood at the door. Seeing Murakumo and Sōken approaching, he immediately straightened up and greeted them.

"Yunhai, how did the examination go?"

Kurama Murakumo asked.

This man, who appeared much older than Murakumo, was named Kurama Yunhai—Murakumo's younger brother. For some reason, Yunhai had aged prematurely, growing old too fast. Though he was two years younger than Murakumo, he looked more like the elder brother.

"Still inside being examined! That... my sister-in-law is watching over her right now. It's not convenient to go in at the moment."

Kurama Yunhai said vaguely.

Kurama Murakumo understood. His wife was quite old-fashioned in her ways. Even though Yakumo was only five years old, every time she had to undress for an examination, she would chase all the men out of the room.

"Yunhai, let me introduce you. This is Uchiha Sōken, the Uchiha Clan Head and Chief of the Police Force."

Since he couldn't get through the door for now, Kurama Murakumo had to find some other topic.

"Uchiha Clan Head!"

Kurama Yunhai bowed his head respectfully in greeting.

"Sōken, this is my younger brother, Yunhai!" Kurama Murakumo turned around and introduced him to Sōken.

Sōken gave a slight nod, acknowledging the greeting.

Just then, the tightly shut door beside them opened silently and without a sound.