A Beautiful New World

Hoshino Maki was so startled that he hurriedly raised his hand in a French salute, signaling that he hadn't done anything.

Then he remembered that he was in the Ninja World now, where no one would take photos and write gossip about him. He quickly lowered his hand and helped the woman in front of him to her feet.

Miho watched the woman stand and realized what was going on. She murmured, "Yuko."

She glanced at Hoshino Maki and hesitated, but this time she didn't step in to stop him.

"Take me to see the patient first."

Yuko took a deep breath to steady herself, then bowed her head and nodded. She led them toward the ward, followed by several people who wanted to see Hoshino Maki's medical skills for themselves.

While they walked, Miho briefly explained Yuko's situation to Hoshino Maki.

Yuko's husband was a Chunin from Sunagakure, and she ran a flower shop in the village. They had a son and, by all accounts, were a happy family.

But during the Cloud Ninja's surprise attack, her husband had been badly injured and sent back to the village for treatment. The village's Medical Ninjas were helpless, and had told her to prepare for his funeral.

The family's breadwinner had fallen, and to make matters worse, the Land of Wind had very few varieties of flowers. Most had to be imported, but with war looming, the flower shop's supply lines had been disrupted. People had little need to buy flowers, and business was likely to plummet until the shop could no longer stay open. As a helpless woman with a child to raise, she faced a painfully difficult future.

Besides, as far as Hoshino Maki knew, Sunagakure's compensation for bereaved families was meager. It was barely enough to get by, and there was no guarantee it would arrive on time. If you didn't bribe the Ninja responsible for handing it out, a six-month delay was considered lucky.

The families of the dead could only put up with it. After all, those Ninja belonged to the Elders' clans, and no one would stand up for them.

So everyone knew the Unspoken Rule: payments would be late and short.

Miho had previously stopped Hoshino Maki from treating anyone else because the hospital doctors handled all the simple, treatable cases. Only those with no other options came to him, hoping for a miracle. They had either rare conditions or needed difficult surgeries, and a single mistake could cause him serious trouble.

After all, no one would have his back.

But Miho knew Yuko and her family well. If Hoshino Maki couldn't save her husband, Yuko wouldn't blame him. They might as well give it a try, even if the patient was as good as dead.

"Ziluo, Mom's back."

The woman steadied herself outside the ward, then opened the door with a smile and spoke to the boy who was wiping his father's face.

The boy looked about four or five. He wore a dark green T-shirt that had faded from frequent washing, with frayed edges. Beneath his bristly, pale gray hair, his eyes lacked the innocence of other children. Instead, they held a maturity beyond his years.

"Mom. Aunt Miho."

"Good boy, Xiao Ziluo."

Miho bent down with a smile, rubbed the little boy's hair, then glanced at Hoshino Maki.

Sigh...

He was so cute when he was little.

Hoshino Maki looked at her speechlessly. She hadn't said anything, but he understood what she meant.

He didn't have time to complain, though, because the name Ziluo had caught his attention.

Among the anime characters with memorable Taijutsu skills, only Kai and Rock Lee stood out more than Ziluo. Kai could actually use Ninjutsu, but his talent for it was questionable.

Unlike Rock Lee, who had attended the Ninja Academy from a young age and learned the Eight Inner Gates under Might Guy's guidance, Ziluo had no one to guide or encourage him. He couldn't even get into the Ninja Academy. He endured scorn and mockery, relying solely on his own hard work to create the Seven Days Breathing Method and Silent Fist. From what the anime showed, he might not have finished developing the Seven Days Breathing Method, but his talent for Taijutsu was still astonishing.

"Xiao Ziluo, you'll grow up to be an excellent Ninja. If you ever have a problem, you can come to me."

Hoshino Maki bent down, patted Xiao Ziluo's head, and smiled encouragingly.

"Huh?"

Xiao Ziluo hadn't started training in Ninjutsu yet, so he didn't understand what this handsome older brother meant. He looked up at him in confusion.

Hoshino Maki didn't explain. He nodded toward the hospital bed, and Miho nodded back before taking Ziluo's hand. "Xiao Ziluo, why don't you come eat something with Aunt Miho?"

Ziluo glanced at his mother. When she nodded, he obediently followed Miho out. She closed the door behind them, keeping the crowd of onlookers from peering inside.

Put simply, Medical Ninjutsu stimulated the body's cells or tissues through precise Chakra control. By consuming the cells' vitality, it encouraged the body to heal itself.

Ninjutsu that required such precise control worked best with as little interference as possible. Miho knew this, so she took the child outside.

Yuko unfastened her husband's hospital gown. Scars covered his chest and abdomen; there were at least a dozen, some of them fatal. The fact that he was still alive was partly down to luck. He was clearly an experienced veteran Ninja.

Hoshino Maki looked at the unconscious man before him and felt nervous too.

He wasn't Hoshino Maki—or rather, he was now a combination of Hoshino Maki and Ye Mu.

In his previous life, Ye Mu had been an office worker trapped in a 996 work schedule. His company wanted to produce a set of Naruto-themed gift souvenirs and had asked him to come up with a proposal. So he stayed up all night for three days to finish watching the long-running anime, with "100 episodes of the main story and 620 episodes of flashbacks." Just as he was about to sleep for days, his boss called and told him to hurry over for drinks.

And then... well, that was that.

What a booze-soaked memory.

Hoshino Maki shook the memories from his mind. Why had he started reminiscing so much after coming to the Ninja World?

His gesture alarmed Yuko, who had been anxiously watching his expression. He hadn't even started treatment, and he was already shaking his head. Was her husband so badly injured that Hoshino Maki could tell at a glance he was beyond saving?

Thinking of the dark, hopeless life ahead, grief overwhelmed her. She collapsed against her husband's chest and burst into tears.

"Ma'am, don't cry yet. He's still alive."

Hoshino Maki was startled by her reaction. Was he Conan reincarnated? Maybe her husband still had a chance, but the moment he arrived, the man was done for?

He quickly took the patient's wrist. Feeling a pulse, he let out a long breath and couldn't help making a joke.

"Huh?! I-I'm sorry. You kept shaking your head, so I thought..."

Yuko felt the faint beat beneath her palm. Her face flushed, and she sprang up like a startled rabbit, red-cheeked and flustered.

Hoshino Maki shook his head without saying more. He circulated the Chakra in his body. A pale blue flame of Chakra covered his hand as he pressed it against the man's chest, sending it through his meridians.

The situation was much as Miho had described. His ribs were broken, and the jagged bone had pierced his lung, causing internal bleeding. Fortunately, it hadn't gone in very deep, which was why he had survived this long.

But the bone had pierced a terrible spot, right beside two pulmonary arteries. Without exceptional Chakra control, no one could be sure of successfully performing the surgery. If he damaged an artery, the patient wouldn't make it off the operating table.

No wonder the hospital's Medical Ninjas had said he was beyond saving.

From Hoshino Maki's original memories, surgical skills were poor throughout the Ninja World.

Sunagakure's harsh environment was full of poisonous insects and snakes. And since the leading figure in its Medical Department, Chiyo, was an expert in poisons, the village's medical development focused on poisons and antidotes. This kind of surgery could perhaps be done by an elite Medical Ninja, but an ordinary Chunin couldn't get one to come.

The Hoshino Maki of before probably would have been helpless too. But now...

Hoshino Maki called up the system panel.

Current Medical Value: 0/100

Available Upgrade Points: 0

Ninjutsu Owned: Chakra Refinement

The Medical Ninjutsu he had originally possessed had been directly evolved by the system's initial evolution point into Chakra Refinement. In theory, his control over Chakra was even better than that of Tsunade, the pinnacle of Medical Ninjutsu!

That didn't mean his medical skills were better than Tsunade's. Medical knowledge and skill were both essential, and his own knowledge was still shallow. But... he had a cheat, too!

A cheat like this was utterly broken in surgery.

Hoshino Maki tried slipping his Chakra into the gap between the man's abdomen and broken rib. The pale blue Chakra wrapped around the bone, and Chakra Threads slowly drew it out.

It worked!

The feeling of having such precise control was mysterious and wonderful. Under Hoshino Maki's command, Chakra seemed like a part of his body, carrying out one move after another that ordinary Medical Ninjas could hardly manage.

"Mm—!"

Yuko saw her unconscious husband suddenly frown and groan. She let out a startled cry, then quickly covered her mouth.

It was the first time her husband had reacted since falling unconscious. She was terrified of interrupting the boy's treatment.

Setting the ribs, clearing out bone fragments, repairing cells.

Before long, the surgery was nearly over. Hoshino Maki used Chakra to grind the last small bone fragment to dust and couldn't help letting out a long breath.

"He'll be fine. Make sure he rests, and he'll recover soon."

He could perform the surgery for him, but he couldn't replenish the strain his body had suffered over this period. At least, he hadn't mastered that technique yet.

Yuko had stood nearby, hands clasped tightly as she waited anxiously, afraid the boy might suddenly look grave and tell her the bad news.

Only now could she finally breathe.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

She glanced at her husband, whose face had regained a hint of color, and started to kneel in gratitude. Hoshino Maki immediately stopped her. "There's no need to thank me. We're just helping each other."

Hoshino Maki didn't mind the confusion on her face.

You think Maki's gone mad; Maki knows you can't see the truth.

On the panel that only Hoshino Maki could see, the following was displayed:

Medical Value: 3/100

Saving one person earned three points. Wouldn't it be easy to dominate the Shinobi World?

Fake transmigrator: Endure humiliation and struggle to survive ×

Real transmigrator: Save a few people and take off √

Just as Hoshino Maki lost himself in a beautiful vision of the future, a commotion came from the doorway.

Some of the people waiting outside had left, but many were still there.

Most of those who had stayed had incurable illnesses or needed surgery but couldn't find an elite Medical Ninja. When they heard the quiet inside break, they crowded over, craning their necks or pressing their ears against the door to find out what had happened.

"Everyone, please make way."

The little nurse who had been keeping watch nearby noticed something was happening inside and immediately went to inform the head nurse. Miho hurried toward the ward with Xiao Ziluo.

Just then, the ward door opened, and Hoshino Maki walked out looking as calm as ever. Miho's heart sank.

Oh no.

From her experience assisting Medical Ninjas, it was normal for them to be drenched in sweat and pale after a high-precision surgery. Some even passed out halfway through, forcing everyone to hurry and find another Ninja to take over.

Medical Ninjutsu was a threefold test of Chakra reserves, control, and mental strength. An ordinary Medical Ninja could perform only three routine surgeries a day.

Of course, some talented Ninjas could break that limit, but none had ever seemed as unaffected as Hoshino Maki. Miho looked him over carefully.

Hmm. Did that one drop of sweat count as exhaustion?

She was more willing to believe that someone had left the window open and that the heat outside, which was over forty degrees, had done it.

"Life and death are up to fate. Ziying wouldn't blame you, either."

As she spoke, she opened her arms and stepped forward to give Hoshino Maki a comforting hug.

But a shadow sprang out from behind Hoshino Maki and wrapped its arms around Miho, sobbing loudly.

"Yuko, my condolences—"

"He's going to be okay! He's better!"

Miho froze in Yuko's embrace, then looked up at Hoshino Maki. He smiled and nodded at her.

The crowd surrounding them erupted into an uproar.

During Ziying's stay in the hospital, Yuko had repeatedly begged them to let a better Medical Ninja treat him, but they had always refused.

She had become fairly well known around the hospital, and many people understood her situation and felt sorry for her.

Now that the problem had been resolved, did that mean...?

Without even sparing a glance at the two women embracing, the crowd surged toward Hoshino Maki, telling him about their own illnesses or those of their relatives. Some of the more impatient people even grabbed his hand and tried to drag him away. The doorway became as chaotic as a marketplace.

"Silence!"

A woman's voice rang out, stern and low. Everyone immediately fell silent and bowed their heads.

Anyone who came to the hospital regularly would remember the voice of Lord Moyuzi.

Hoshino Maki raised his head slightly to look at the newcomer, but Miho quickly tugged at his sleeve to remind him.

"Do I really need to remind you that making a racket is forbidden in the hospital?"

As she spoke, her sharp gaze swept over the crowd before settling on Hoshino Maki.

"Miho, tell me what happened."

Moyuzi listened to the story. Beneath her lowered eyelids, her eyes occasionally flashed with a keen light. If everything Miho said was true, Sunagakure might soon have a prodigy in Medical Ninjutsu who could rival Lord Tsunade!

"Take me to see Ziying."

Without waiting for Miho to lead the way, she headed straight for the bed and covered her right hand with Chakra. She carefully examined Ziying's condition.

After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Moyuzi withdrew her hand and fell silent.

Yuko, who had just begun to relax, tensed up again.

Had the surgery failed after all?

Was there some other problem?

"Your name is Hoshino Maki, right?"

Moyuzi looked at the boy in front of her, then waved for the others to leave the room. In a low voice, she said, "Get ready. I'll take you to meet Lady Chiyo in three days."

"Yes."

Hoshino Maki nodded.

With Lord Moyuzi's intervention, the onlookers didn't dare bother Hoshino Maki again. Before leaving, however, he volunteered to treat patients in need the next day. This made Moyuzi, who hadn't gone far, regard him in a new light.

This kindhearted child might bring peace and hope to this decaying village.

That was what she thought.

War. Sunagakure needed a war.

Back in the ward, Hoshino Maki looked out the window at row upon row of earthen-yellow houses and the flying sand that blotted out the scorching sun. He began to form a rough plan for the future.

To be honest, if the barrier to moving to another village weren't so high in this world, he would have wanted to flee to Konoha and find someone powerful to protect him.

In both Ninja strength and resources, Konoha was unquestionably number one.

He could become a Chunin and teach at the Ninja Academy. The Konoha 12 would all be his students. Wouldn't that be great?

But after thinking it over, he rejected the naive idea.

First, the moment he left his village, he'd be branded a Rogue Ninja. If he encountered a Sunagakure Ninja later, they'd be duty-bound to eliminate him. Kirigakure was even more extreme: it had a special Chasing Ninja Squad dedicated to hunting down Rogue Ninjas.

So, if he wanted to stay alive, his only option was to choose among the Five Great Shinobi Villages. But he was already in Sunagakure, and aside from Konoha, the other villages didn't appeal to him much.

But getting a green card in Konoha wasn't that easy.

Especially after the Third Hokage took power and became unwilling to clash with other countries, particularly the great nations' villages. If Hoshino Maki defected, he'd probably be rejected—or even escorted back to Sunagakure.

Even if Konoha accepted him, he'd probably be treated like a second-class citizen. It would take generations of intermarriage before he could become "one of the people."

Take the Hōki Clan. They'd moved as a whole from Konoha to Sunagakure several years ago. They had intermarried and actively helped build the village. They'd given everything and received nothing in return. Their clan still lived on the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Rivers. If Konoha attacked, they'd be the first line of defense, "voluntarily" bleeding and suffering for Sunagakure.

And that was a whole clan defecting together. If he went alone... no village would trust a lone Ninja.

As for following Akatsuki's path... he might as well stay and build a beautiful, prosperous new village instead.

So Hoshino Maki had no choice but to go it alone and stay in his village.

But when he thought about it, it wasn't so bad. Sunagakure might be the weakest of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, but it was still far stronger than most villages. And if history played out as it had before, then during the Third Shinobi World War and the Nine-Tails' Rampage, he could tear a huge chunk out of Konoha if he played his cards right!

Hoshino Maki leaned against the window and stared blankly at Sunagakure outside. It was a place entirely different from the world he had lived in before. After a long while, he held out his hand and curled it into a fist, murmuring, "What a beautiful world. It makes you want to conquer it."