The Hokage and Uchiha Madara were the first to enter the hospital building, marking the official start of the medical examination program. The ninjas who had been selected for examinations stood in long lines, nervously studying the reports they had just been handed. Most of the tests listed were new to them.
They could understand the routine physical examinations, but what was this psychological test at the end?
Though they had questions, the familiar faces around them soon swept them up in casual conversation.
Rikusei, disguised as a young man, had already suppressed the turmoil in his heart, but his partner's nervousness was plain to see. It nearly stirred his own calm again.
Most Uchiha who had not awakened the Sharingan had been assigned to positions suited to their individual strengths.
Uchiha Nami was skilled in Medical Ninjutsu, so she had worked here since Konoha's Medical Department was established. She had since become a major figure in the medical system.
Since they were at the final stage of the examination, Rikusei tried to soothe her nerves. "Just treat it like an ordinary checkup. Don't let the patient's identity affect your work."
Rikusei had guessed wrong. Nami wasn't nervous; she was excited. Getting this close to the Hokage and her clan members was a dream for countless people in the village.
Realizing she had let herself get carried away, Nami smiled at the man beside her. "As expected of someone from the research institute, Mr. Naoki. I'm sorry for the trouble."
Rikusei, using the alias Naoki, shook his head and placed the additional test questions on the table, letting her look them over and see if there was room for improvement.
Nami gazed at the words on the page, which had not yet dried, and read them softly.
"Please state your