The woman who opened the door was Kurama Murakumo's wife. Sōken remembered that her maiden name had been Aoyama, and that she now went by Rin Kurama. He had met her a few times on the battlefield five or six years ago. If he remembered correctly, her name back then had still been Rin Aoyama, and she had been a Medical Ninja responsible for battlefield first aid.
"Murakumo..."
When she saw Sōken in his hospital gown, it took her two seconds to react. A glimmer of hope appeared on her face, still clouded by an unshakable sorrow. Clearly, the couple—or rather, the family—had discussed inviting Sōken over.
"Rin, how were the examination results?" Kurama Murakumo asked urgently.
"There hasn't been much improvement. It's about the same as last time."
Rin Kurama spoke gently.
"Ah!"
At his wife's answer, Kurama Murakumo let out a disappointed sigh. As expected, ordinary methods couldn't solve his daughter's problem. Now he could only place his hopes in unconventional methods. As the thought crossed his mind, his gaze fell on Sōken.
"Let's take a look first."
Sōken pointed at the half-open door. "Can I go in now?"
"Of course! Please come in!"
Rin Kurama immediately opened the door wider and gestured for him to enter. Sōken walked inside. The room was furnished much like the others in the hospital. A gray-haired woman doctor, probably in her fifties or sixties, was crouched in front of a wheelchair, talking to the little girl sitting in it.
"Whoa!"
Sōken's eyes widened.
His eyes turned scarlet. Seeing through flesh and skin, he beheld spiritual energy as vast as the ocean.
"No wonder... You could call this a case of being loved too much by the world. Heaven bestowed so much care on her that she can't bear the burden... It's practically a joke!"
Rin Kurama asked the woman doctor to step aside. To be honest, the moment she saw Sōken's Sharingan, the older doctor obediently made room for him. Shimura Danzō, the Hokage Assistant, was still in the hospital, being examined by a panel of specialists!
The Uchiha's fearsome reputation had only grown.
"Sōken, is there... is there anything you can do about Yakumo's illness?" Kurama Murakumo's heart was in his throat. The more hope he felt, the more he feared disappointment. Even though he had tried to prepare himself for bad news as best he could...
He still couldn't truly keep calm.
"Having an amateur like me treat someone? Isn't that a joke?"
"So there's no hope?"
The light of hope faded from Kurama Murakumo's eyes.
Rin Kurama, Kurama Yunhai, and even the woman doctor beside them all looked disappointed.
"Like I said, if you need someone saved, find a doctor; if you need someone killed, find a ninja; if you want meat, find a butcher. You brought an amateur like me here to treat someone... Well! You're in luck! If this were a truly incurable disease, I might not have any way to help. But..."
"Huh? Sōken, do you... do you have a way or not?" Kurama Murakumo interrupted him in agitation.
"Let me finish! I said I'm no good at treating illnesses, but this girl's problem isn't some difficult medical case. To be precise, it isn't an illness at all. And you... You already know that, don't you, Senior Murakumo? Otherwise, you wouldn't have gone out of your way to find me."
As he spoke,
Sōken glanced sidelong at Kurama Murakumo.
"Sōken, you really have a way?" Kurama Murakumo grabbed Sōken's sleeve in excitement.
"...Sigh! How many times do I have to say it?" Sōken sighed and flicked his sleeve, shaking off Kurama Murakumo's sweaty hand. "I told you, it isn't an illness. This is within my area of expertise. If nothing unexpected happens, I should be able to solve it."
"If you can solve it, that's all that matters. As long as you can solve it."
His emotions had been rising and falling like the tide, but now that he'd gotten a clear answer, Kurama Murakumo finally relaxed. He didn't think Sōken would make an empty promise. If he couldn't solve Yakumo's problem, he wouldn't just fail to win the Kurama Clan's friendship—he might even make an enemy of them.
Once he calmed down and his ability to think returned, Kurama Murakumo realized Sōken had apparently played a little word game with him.
But he couldn't bring himself to be angry. As long as Sōken could solve his daughter's problem, he wouldn't mind being teased. Even if... No, better not give Sōken the chance. The boy had always been sly and mischievous. Who knew what sort of bad idea he might come up with!
"Big Brother, will I really be able to walk and run normally, just like everyone else?"
The little girl in the wheelchair was named Yakumo Kurama.
She was the daughter of Kurama Murakumo, the head of the Kurama Clan. This five-year-old had inherited the clan's Kekkei Genkai, [Five Senses Control], a Genjutsu passed down once every several generations. Yet it was this very power, inherited through her bloodline, that had tormented her from birth.
Her spiritual energy was so powerful that her body and mind had fallen out of balance. Her barely developed body was crushed beneath her own talent. She was so weak that even walking was exhausting; after taking just a few steps, she would feel dizzy. All she could do was sit in her wheelchair, moving like a puppet on strings at the whim of others.
"It shouldn't be a problem."
Sōken crouched down and looked at the frail little girl, so thin she was nearly skin and bones. Her pale, bluish face made him wonder if she might faint at any moment. He answered her softly.
"Then can I become a ninja, too?"
Yakumo Kurama's eyes widened. Perhaps because she was so thin, her dark eyes shone like gemstones.
"A ninja?"
Sōken raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "Why do you want to become a ninja?"
"Because everyone likes playing ninja games, and I can't play with them!"
"I see! Becoming a ninja shouldn't be a problem. With your talent, you'll definitely become one someday. But... there's one condition." A kind smile appeared on Sōken's face, the sort he wore when coaxing his little sister with snacks.
"What?"
Yakumo Kurama was weak, but she was still clever.
And because she couldn't go out and play with the other children, she spent most of her time at home listening to her father or mother read storybooks and looking at picture books with them. So she understood what the word "condition" meant.
"You have to become my disciple!"
Sōken smiled.
"Sōken?"
Kurama Murakumo cried out in shock.
But Sōken ignored him. Even if all the members of the Kurama Clan were put together, they wouldn't be as precious as Yakumo Kurama alone. It would be a waste to let such a rare talent go untaught. The Kurama Clan's Kekkei Genkai, [Five Senses Control], touched on the essence of Yin Release and possessed the power to "make Genjutsu real." She was an ideal subject for studying Yin Release.
"Well? Little one, do you want to become my disciple? I may look young, but even your father can't beat me!"
"Okay! As long as you really can help me become a ninja!"
The little girl agreed at once,
without even discussing it with her parents.
"Don't worry! Don't worry! I always keep my promises!" Sōken smiled cheerfully and ruffled the little girl's hair. "And remember, from now on, you have to call me Master!"
Before you continue