Showing Off

Stepping down from the operating table, Hyuga Yu stripped off his bloodstained surgical gown, casually grabbed a white lab coat, and draped it over himself as he walked out the door.

Furobuki, the head of the Medical Unit, silently watched Hyuga Yu's retreating figure.

The act of putting on the white lab coat concealed the sharp killing intent that marked him as a shinobi, gradually blending him into the atmosphere of the Medical Unit.

He looked just like a real doctor.

But, the Hyuga kid now was strikingly different from the cautious, unassuming figure Furobuki remembered from Konoha Hospital.

It was as if the boy had undergone some kind of upheaval, some catalyst that had completely freed him from a cage—

He was no longer hiding his brilliance!

Furobuki tilted her head slightly, glancing at the surgical timer frozen at 1 hour and 56 minutes. She narrowed her eyes, thinking back—how long had it taken this kid to perform a surgery of this level last time?

It was... 3 hours and 12 minutes, wasn't it?

But now, 16 minutes???

Thinking of the gap between those two numbers, even Furobuki—one of the Medical Unit's higher-ups who had long tacitly acknowledged Hyuga Yu's underperformance—couldn't stop her face from twitching wildly, her gaze flickering like a searchlight.

At that moment, in the field operating room, the astonished chatter among the Konoha Medical Ninjas about Hyuga Yu hadn't died down yet, gradually shifting toward a different direction of discussion:

"Why is that Hyuga kid so skilled, yet we've never heard any rumors about him before? We've barely even seen him around."

"I know that—it seems because of his Byakugan, he caught the attention of the Medical Unit's higher-ups early on. They allowed him to assist directly in high-level surgeries outside the standard protocol. Since the results were apparently good, he ended up staying by their side."

"How could the results be bad!? After all, that's the Byakugan! What doctor wouldn't want a CT scanner that follows them around and gives results almost instantly?"

"Ahh, why is the gap between people bigger than the gap between people and dogs! While I'm still an assistant grinding for seniority, this kid's already leading surgeries and surpassing all of Konoha!"

"Speaking of which, a doctor this strong—shouldn't she have already caught Lady Tsunade's attention?"

"Will she take him as her disciple and make him the youngest high-ranking member of Konoha's Medical Unit?"

Hearing this, not only did several Medical Ninjas perk up with interest, but even the six Medical Ninjas performing another surgery nearby couldn't help but prick up their ears.

And then, Furobuki, the head of the Medical Unit, suddenly darkened her face and barked sharply:

"Are you all that idle?"

"Get the hell out and bring in the next patient!"

At that, the exhausted young Medical Ninjas' faces instantly fell, but they didn't dare talk back to their superior. They cut off their idle chatter and filed out to prepare for the next surgery.

Once they had all left, Furobuki fell silent, a hint of regret rising on her face as she shook her head.

A qualified doctor and a qualified Medical Ninja, were ultimately different things.

Hyuga Yu possessed the most perfect talent for a doctor and the most diligent study ethic. He was the most flawless lead surgeon Konoha Hospital had cultivated since its founding.

The Medical Unit's higher-ups had once secretly invited Princess Tsunade, one of the "Three Ninjas," to observe Hyuga Yu's surgery, hoping to recommend him to her.

But regrettably, after learning about Hyuga Yu's situation, Princess Tsunade had frankly stated:

With Chakra so scarce that he couldn't even master the three A-rank Medical Ninjutsu even if he learned them, Hyuga Yu lacked the talent to become a qualified Medical Ninja.

Even if, after reaching adulthood, his Chakra barely reached the level of 4 in precision, giving him the ability to perform A-rank Medical Ninjutsu, he still couldn't meet the requirements to learn Tsunade's S-rank Ninjutsu.

Tsunade's opinion was that once Hyuga Yu came of age, he should be exceptionally promoted to the Medical Unit's higher-ups, becoming one of Konoha Hospital's top brass.

But she could not take him as her disciple.

Thinking of this, Furobushi sighed, but soon, she suddenly frowned, whipping her head around to look at the empty operating table beside her.

"No... even if he was holding back, there's no way he could shorten the surgery time by that much!"

"In that surgery just now, that kid must have used Chakra!"

"And even if the patient was his fiancée, given his personality, he wouldn't waste Chakra like that."

"Unless..."

At that thought, recalling the rumor circulating in the camp, Furobuki's gaze turned sharp.

And on the other side of the operating room, The medical ninja Yumiko, who was organizing the surgical instruments, also stared at the timer frozen at 1:56. Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, a cold gleam like a scorpion's flash passing through them.

"Konoha... is this another future 'Legendary Sannin' in the making?"

"Heh heh..."

In a corner unnoticed by anyone, a blood-chilling, murderous sneer crept across Yumiko's face.

#

Stepping out of the field operating tent, Hyuga Yu saw Hizashi Hyuga, who had been waiting outside, rise abruptly and stride over.

Frowning, Hizashi asked him, "How is Hyuga Natsu?"

Hyuga Yu knew the man wasn't asking about Natsu's physical condition. As one of the de facto commanders of the entire eastern front, Hizashi Hyuga had no time to worry about the health of a Branch House member.

He nodded to the other man and said:

"No problems."

"Good." Hizashi let out a breath of relief.

With no one else around—the few injured clan members anxiously awaiting the results of another surgery had already been sent away by Hizashi—

He fell silent for a moment in thought, then looked at Hyuga Yu and spoke slowly:

"The fighting in the Land of Waves is fierce. I won't be staying here long."

"I'm leaving tomorrow."

"As for the Main House matter... you've heard, haven't you?"

Hyuga Yu nodded.

Receiving a clear confirmation, Hizashi Hyuga spoke directly:

"I know you, Hyuga Yu."

"Three years ago, the day you defied Hyuga Hiashi of the Main House, I was there too."

This was a declaration of allegiance. From the moment Hizashi addressed his elder brother Hyuga Hiashi by name, his identity was no longer that of Hiashi's younger brother—

But rather, Hizashi Hyuga of the Branch House.

That was why he deliberately covered for Hyuga Yu, and why, when he saw Hyuga Yu's green Chakra, he pretended to have seen nothing.

Hyuga Yu looked at him and asked, "What are you trying to say?"

Hizashi furrowed his brow. "The ones who came this time are all my trusted men. They won't leak your information. As for the Main House, I'll hold off the pressure for now."

"But—"

"Paper can't wrap fire forever. My word alone can only delay the exposure. The Main House will grow suspicious, and as the war intensifies, the next batch of Branch House members sent here will carry the Main House's orders to conduct a more thorough investigation into this incident."

"The moment they see your Chakra, the Main House won't care about your excuses or concealment. They'll summon you back to the clan immediately."

Hizashi spoke bluntly:

"Have you given serious thought to what you'll do next?"

Hyuga Yu nodded. "I have."

"Then I won't ask." Hizashi nodded. After a moment's consideration, he finally revealed a bit more to Hyuga Yu:

"Within the Main House, the debate over the future structure of the Hyuga Clan is not unified."

"There is one person who can help you."

Hyuga Yu asked at once, "Who?"

"The one you've served for thirteen years—Elder Hyuga Takahiro."

"He seems to know a great deal—"

Hizashi struggled to recall what he had witnessed as a child in the Main House, then spoke with some uncertainty:

"Including... the Chakra within you."

"His time is short. It should be within these two years. As a medical ninja, you should know that better than I do."

"If possible—"

"It would be best to find time to see him."