Nohara Rin: Shall I come to your place tonight?

At the center of Konoha Hospital's rooftop stood more than a dozen simple clotheslines, hung haphazardly with bleached clothes, towels, and bedsheets.

When the wind blew, the whole expanse of fabric swayed gently, carrying a clean scent of disinfectant mingled with sunlight.

On the bench at the very front, Shinji and Nohara Rin sat close together, enjoying the rare leisure of noon.

Shinji glanced at the large rice ball clenched in his hand. It had only a faint salty taste and was simply wrapped in a sheet of seaweed.

He had barely managed to buy it from the hospital cafeteria. Other than filling his stomach, it had no merits whatsoever.

He could not help lowering his head to glance at the exquisite lunch box on Rin's lap. Rolled omelet, little sausages, and stir-fried vegetables were arranged neatly inside. The sight alone whetted his appetite and stirred a wave of envy in his heart.

Nohara Rin let out a snort of laughter, turning her head toward him with a teasing tone.

"Shinji, do you want some?"

Shinji nodded without the slightest hesitation.

"If Rin feeds me, I'll eat."

Rin's eyes flew wide open. She had not expected him to be so direct, and her heart skipped a beat.

Looking into Shinji's earnest eyes, she lightly bit her lower lip before reaching out to pick up a piece of rolled omelet and slowly bringing it to his mouth.

"I really don't know what to do with you."

She smiled gently.

Shinji lowered his head and took a bite.

The omelet was crisp and fragrant, melting in his mouth as warmth spread from the tip of his tongue.

"It's so delicious, Rin. You're an amazing cook."

At such direct praise, Rin's cheeks gradually flushed crimson. She picked up another piece of sausage.

"Want to try this too?"

"Mm!"

Once he had eaten his fill and patted his stomach contentedly, he could not help sighing. "I wonder when I'll get to have such a delicious lunch again."

Nohara Rin gently closed the lunch box and placed it beside her, lowering her head shyly.

"You're exaggerating!"

"As long as you want to eat it, I'll make it for you again."

Her voice grew quieter and quieter, and her head nearly dipped into her chest.

Shinji chuckled softly and reached out to gently hook his hand around hers.

Rin's body stiffened slightly, but she did not pull away.

This was not the first time they had held hands like this. Deep down, she also enjoyed the steady, warm feeling.

Shinji always felt comfortable whenever he was with Rin.

Her gentleness, tolerance, and quietness all made him feel especially at ease.

He was a man who took the initiative and never turned things down. Obito probably could not even imagine this kind of happiness.

With just one more opportunity, they could enter the second stage.

But whenever he thought of Rin's originally fated ending, Shinji's heart sank.

Everything he was doing now was meant to cut away the fatal danger hanging over her.

That was why he had come to find Rin today.

The two chatted idly about their recent lives, and the topic naturally turned to the disturbance last night.

"I heard about it at the hospital today too. Everyone's talking about it."

Rin gently tightened her grip on his hand, her eyes full of concern. "Shinji, you didn't run into any trouble, did you?"

"Don't worry, I'm fine." Shinji shook his head lightly. "The clan just lost something."

He paused and looked at her. "Come to think of it, I'd like to ask you for a favor."

Shinji released her hand, took Chiyo's medical notes from his clothes, and handed them to her.

"I want you to teach me the practical side of medical ninjutsu related to organ transplants."

"Consider these medical notes a gift for you."

Relying on his talent for Medical Affinity, he had frantically memorized a vast amount of medical knowledge during this period. He had long since committed Chiyo's notes to memory.

Chiyo was highly skilled in puppet modification and could even replace her own limbs with puppets. Not only was she deeply accomplished in human transplantation and meridian reconnection, but she also possessed unique insights.

These notes happened to contain a great deal of related techniques.

What he lacked now was merely a teacher with firsthand practical experience.

And Rin happened to have experience transplanting a Sharingan into Kakashi.

"No problem. I already promised you before that I'd teach you medical ninjutsu."

Nohara Rin agreed with a smile, reaching out to accept the notes. Her cheeks quietly warmed because of the gift.

She looked up at Shinji, her eyes sparkling.

"Can I open it and take a look now?"

Shinji nodded.

Rin immediately opened the notebook carefully.

She had only meant to give it a casual glance, but the moment her eyes fell upon the pages, she could no longer look away.

After a long while, she suddenly looked up at Shinji, then lowered her head to the notebook again, her face filled with shock.

"Shinji... where did you get this?"

"Can you really give such a precious notebook to me?"

As a Medical Ninja who had received formal training, she understood better than anyone the value of this notebook.

She had only skimmed a few pages, yet the ideas and techniques she had never encountered before already left her feeling enlightened.

This was enough to elevate her medical skills to an entirely new level.

Seeing her delighted yet disbelieving expression, Shinji smiled.

"As long as you like it."

Rin's cheeks instantly flushed bright red, and she no longer dared meet his gaze.

She hugged the notebook to her chest and said softly, "I'll treasure this notebook."

Shinji reached out and lightly scraped the tip of Rin's nose with his finger.

"Then you'd better teach me medical ninjutsu properly."

He leaned in slightly, deliberately drawing out his words as he teased her with a smile.

"Teacher Nohara Rin."

"Don't call me teacher."

At that form of address, a faint blush immediately spread across Rin's cheeks.

"I just feel like you're up to no good."

She gave a soft huff, but the corners of her lips could not help curling upward as she took his hand of her own accord.

"How could I be up to no good?" Shinji laughed. "Then starting today, is that okay?"

He had to master the medical technique for organ transplants as soon as possible. He could not afford to delay for even a moment.

No one could predict when Madara Uchiha would make a move against Rin.

"You're in such a hurry?"

Rin looked up at him, somewhat puzzled.

Shinji nodded lightly. "Yeah, a little. There are some things I need to deal with soon."

"Sorry to trouble you, Rin. Right now, I really need you."

He scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed.

Rin's face warmed slightly as she shot him a reproachful look.

"I knew it. You wouldn't have suddenly come looking for me without a reason."

But she was not angry in the slightest.

Simply being able to see Shinji already made her happy. Being able to help him made her even more willing.

Nohara Rin lowered her head and thought for a moment before making a quiet suggestion.

"Then I'll go to your house tonight."

"My house?"

Shinji's eyes widened abruptly.

A lone man and woman, alone late at night, one-on-one instruction—some messy thoughts uncontrollably surfaced in his mind.

Could it be an especially tender night?

His expression became a little strange, leaving Rin utterly confused.

"What's wrong?" Rin looked down at herself and asked in confusion.

"N-Nothing." Shinji quickly coughed twice to hide his embarrassment. "Then come to my house tonight."

He silently cursed himself.

Business came first. This meant Rin trusted him, and he could not let down her feelings.

The two continued chatting side by side for nearly two hours, and Rin's smile hardly faded the entire time.

"I should go now, Shinji." Rin looked at him reluctantly. "I still have a shift at the hospital this afternoon. I need to go relieve someone."

"Aren't we seeing each other again tonight?"

Shinji saw her reluctance and raised a hand to smooth back her hair.

"I'll wait for you at home."

Rin's heart suddenly raced, pounding nonstop.

She hugged the lunchbox and notebook in her arms and said softly:

"Then I'll be going. See you tonight."