Foraging for Herbs

While other countries were caught up in the Second Shinobi World War, Kumogakure had been struggling with its research into the Tailed Beasts.

Despite investing a great deal of time and effort, they had yet to make any real breakthroughs.

Faced with this situation, Kumogakure eventually decided to send elite ninja to infiltrate Konoha and kidnap Uzumaki Kushina, a member of the Uzumaki Clan who could seal the power of Tailed Beasts.

This decision clearly showed that Kumogakure knew far more about the Uzumaki Clan than met the eye.

They understood that the Uzumaki Clan's value lay not only in their exceptional Sealing Jutsu, but also in their powerful vitality.

By studying Uzumaki Kushina, a Jinchūriki, they might find the key to solving the problem of Jinchūriki losing control.

Now, turning to Kirigakure, it was clear that the village also possessed formidable Sealing Jutsu.

During the Third Shinobi World War, Kirigakure's ninja had successfully used Sealing Jutsu to seal the powerful Three-Tails inside Nohara Rin without causing it to go berserk.

Although Uchiha Madara had manipulated events, this still proved that Kirigakure had mastered this kind of Sealing Jutsu.

In addition, the master of Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchūriki, was also someone worth paying attention to.

This master clearly understood the fate and challenges his student would face as a Jinchūriki. He had therefore tried to help Utakata separate the Six-Tails from his body.

To achieve this, he first had to know how to undo the Tailed Beast's seal. More than that, he had somehow been able to keep the Jinchūriki alive while extracting the Tailed Beast.

This undoubtedly showed his deep understanding of Sealing Jutsu and his exceptional skill.

Besides Kumogakure and Kirigakure, there were surely other countries or factions coveting the Uzumaki Clan.

Each of them may have had its own goals and ambitions, hoping to gain some sort of benefit or knowledge from the Uzumaki Clan. This had led to the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools.

The Uzumaki Clan had been scattered, and it was even uncertain whether they would make it safely to Konoha.

After a long period of thought, they finally arrived at a small wooden house. A dilapidated sign hung above the door, with the word "Clinic" written crookedly across it.

Inside, the place was empty. Hyuga Shinichi couldn't see anyone, and couldn't help feeling uncertain. He turned to Uzumaki Michiko, as if seeking an explanation.

Uzumaki Michiko immediately understood what he was thinking and explained.

"Don't bother looking. I'm the doctor. The other doctors went out on patrol with the main force. They're stronger, after all, so they can protect the village better."

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Hyuga Shinichi give her a look that said, "Are you really up to this?" Her cheeks puffed up in anger.

"Hey! What's with that look? Don't you believe in me?"

Seeing her reaction, Hyuga Shinichi realized he'd been rude and quickly apologized.

"Sorry, I..."

"Hmph, don't explain. Put him on the bed and let me show you what I can do!"

Hyuga Shinichi had no choice but to carefully lay Nawaki on a bed. Seeing Nawaki's face as pale as paper, he felt a surge of worry.

Uzumaki Michiko naturally sensed Hyuga Shinichi's anxiety and concern, but she wasn't offended.

Instead, she understood how deeply he cared for his friend. She went to the bedside and skillfully examined Nawaki, then swiftly performed a healing jutsu.

Hyuga Shinichi stood quietly to one side, watching. Uzumaki Michiko was only a few years older than him, but she was highly skilled in healing jutsu. Nawaki's ashen face gradually regained its color.

"Hmph, what do you think?"

"Sorry, I was wrong. Go on."

"There's no need. He's almost recovered. He's a strange one, though. With a constitution that strong, how did he get so badly seasick?"

"Then when will Nawaki wake up?"

"He'll be awake soon. Give him a dose of medicine and he'll be almost fully recovered."

As soon as Uzumaki Michiko finished speaking, she got up and headed straight to the back of the clinic to fetch some medicine. Just then, Hyuga Shinichi heard a puzzled voice from inside the room.

A moment later, Uzumaki Michiko came back out and said,

"We've run out of one of the herbs. I'll have to go out and gather some."

Without hesitation, Hyuga Shinichi replied,

"Then please tell me what the herb looks like. I can go gather it for you. We don't know when Nawaki will wake up, so someone should stay here and watch over him."

"That'll work. Wait a moment, and I'll describe what it looks like and where it usually grows."

After learning what the herb looked like and where it could be found, Hyuga Shinichi gave Uzumaki Michiko a reminder.

"If anyone comes looking for me, tell them I went out to gather herbs. They don't need to come find me."

With that, Hyuga Shinichi turned and left.

Before long, Hyuga Shinichi reached the place where the herb grew: a lake with plenty of it growing along the shore.

He began gathering it, collecting a large quantity to help replenish the clinic's supplies.

Suddenly, a sharp wooden spike shot out of the grass like lightning, heading straight for Hyuga Shinichi's face!

But Hyuga Shinichi had already sensed the danger. He swiftly turned his head and narrowly avoided the surprise attack.

Without hesitation, he unleashed Wind Style: Vacuum Blast. A powerful gust roared toward the grass.

"Ah!"

With a cry, the attacker flew out of the grass. It wasn't a person, as he'd expected, but a Little Green Snake, tumbling painfully across the ground.

"Ow! That hurt!"

"So you're a talking Little Green Snake."

After recovering from the pain, the Little Green Snake straightened up and glared angrily at Hyuga Shinichi with its sharp eyes.

At the same time, it lightly tapped the ground with its tail. In an instant, a small tree root burst from the earth and whipped toward Hyuga Shinichi like a lash!

Hyuga Shinichi was startled and quickly leaped backward to dodge. He stared suspiciously at the strange Little Green Snake before him and asked in disbelief,

"Th-this is Wood Style?! You can use Wood Style too?!"

The Little Green Snake scoffed at his question and snorted dismissively.

"Hmph! Wood what? I don't know anything about that! All I know is that I'm going to teach you a lesson today!"

With that, it swung its tail again. More little tree roots sprang up from all directions, forming a dense net meant to trap Hyuga Shinichi.