Gathering Herbs

While other nations were embroiled in the Second Great Ninja War, Kumogakure remained trapped in a quagmire regarding their research into Tailed Beasts.

Despite investing vast amounts of time and energy, they had yet to achieve any substantial breakthrough.

Faced with this situation, Kumogakure ultimately decided to dispatch elite ninja to infiltrate Konoha and kidnap a member of the Uzumaki Clan—Uzumaki Kushina—who possessed the power to seal Tailed Beasts.

This decision clearly demonstrated that Kumogakure's understanding of the Uzumaki Clan went far beyond what was visible on the surface.

They were well aware that the value of the Uzumaki Clan was not limited to their exceptional sealing techniques, but also extended to their formidable physical constitutions.

By studying Uzumaki Kushina, the jinchuriki, they might just find the key to solving the problem of jinchuriki rampages.

Turning our gaze to Kirigakure, it is evident that they also possessed formidable strength when it came to sealing arts.

During the Third Great Ninja War, Kirigakure ninja successfully utilized sealing techniques to seal the powerful Three-Tails into the body of Nohara Rin without it going on a rampage.

Although the manipulation of Uchiha Madara was a factor, it still proved that they had mastered such sealing arts.

Furthermore, the master of the Six-Tails jinchuriki, Utakata, was also a figure worthy of attention.

This master clearly realized the fate and challenges his disciple would face as a jinchuriki, and thus, he had attempted to help Utakata separate the Six-Tails from his body.

To achieve this goal, one first had to know how to break a Tailed Beast seal; moreover, he was actually able to ensure the jinchuriki's survival during the extraction process.

This undoubtedly displayed his profound understanding and high level of mastery regarding sealing techniques.

Beyond Kumogakure and Kirigakure, there were certainly other nations or factions eyeing the Uzumaki Clan with covetous intent.

These forces, perhaps each harboring their own agendas and ambitions, sought to extract some benefit or knowledge from the Uzumaki Clan, ultimately leading to the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools.

The Uzumaki Clan was left displaced, and it was uncertain if they could even reach Konoha safely.

After a long period of contemplation, he finally arrived in front of a small wooden hut. A tattered sign hung on the door, with the words "Clinic" scrawled crookedly across it.

Entering the room, he found it empty. Hyuga Shinichi did not see anyone, and he couldn't help but feel suspicious, turning his head to look at Uzumaki Michiko as if seeking an answer.

Uzumaki Michiko immediately understood his thoughts and explained.

"Stop looking. I am the doctor. The other doctors have gone out on patrol with the main force; after all, they are stronger and can better protect the village."

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Hyuga Shinichi wearing an expression that clearly said, "Are you really capable of this?" and her cheeks puffed up in anger.

"Hey! What's with that look! Do you not trust me?"

Seeing this, Hyuga Shinichi realized he had been impolite and quickly apologized.

"I'm sorry, I..."

"Hmph, save the excuses. Put him on the bed and let this young lady show you what she can do!"

Hyuga Shinichi had no choice but to place Nawaki securely on a bed. Looking at Nawaki's paper-white face, a surge of intense worry welled up in Hyuga Shinichi's heart.

Uzumaki Michiko naturally sensed the anxiety and concern in Hyuga Shinichi's heart, but she did not get angry because of it.

On the contrary, she understood the concern born from such deep friendship. She walked to the bedside, skillfully began to check Nawaki's physical condition, and quickly performed a medical ninjutsu.

Hyuga Shinichi stood quietly to the side, watching it all. Even though Uzumaki Michiko was only a few years older than him, her mastery of medical ninjutsu was quite high; the color slowly began to return to Nawaki's pale face.

"Hmph, how is that?"

"My apologies, that was my fault. Please, continue."

"No need to continue, he's mostly recovered. This guy is strange; he has such a strong constitution, yet he gets seasick so severely."

"Then, may I ask when Nawaki will wake up?"

"He'll wake up in a while. Give him another dose of medicine, and he'll be just about back to normal."

No sooner had Uzumaki Michiko finished speaking than she stood up and headed straight toward the back of the clinic to gather the medicine. Just then, Hyuga Shinichi suddenly heard a sound of confusion coming from the room.

Immediately after, Uzumaki Michiko walked out of the room and said.

"One of the herbs has run out. I need to go out and pick some."

Hearing this, Hyuga Shinichi spoke without hesitation.

"Then please tell me exactly what this herb looks like. I can go pick it for you instead. After all, we don't know when Nawaki will wake up, and someone needs to stay behind to look after him."

"That works too. Wait a moment, and I'll describe the herb's appearance and where it usually grows."

Not long after, having learned the appearance and habitat of the required herb, Hyuga Shinichi instructed Uzumaki Michiko.

"If anyone comes looking for me later, you can tell them I went out to gather herbs. There's no need to come find me."

With those words, Hyuga Shinichi turned and left.

Before long, Hyuga Shinichi arrived at the place where the herbs grew—a lake, with many of these herbs growing along the shore.

He began to gather them, even picking quite a few extra to help restock the clinic's inventory.

Suddenly, a sharp wooden thorn flew out from the grass, striking toward Hyuga Shinichi's face like lightning!

However, having been on guard, Hyuga Shinichi quickly turned his head, narrowly dodging the sudden ambush.

Without hesitation, he immediately unleashed Wind Style: Vacuum Blast, and a powerful gust of wind roared toward the grass.

"Ah!"

With a sharp cry, what he thought was a person turned out to be a Little Green Snake, which was sent flying by the blast and rolled on the ground in pain.

"Ouch, that hurt like hell!"

"So, it's a talking Little Green Snake."

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

At the same time, it tapped its tail lightly against the ground. In an instant, a small tree root burst from the earth and lashed out at Hyuga Shinichi like a whip!

Hyuga Shinichi was taken aback and hurriedly leaped backward to dodge the strike. He stared at the peculiar Little Green Snake before him, his face full of suspicion as he asked in disbelief.

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

The Little Green Snake scoffed at his question, snorting with disdain.

"Hmph! I don't know anything about some Wood Style! All I know is that I'm going to make you pay today!"

With that, it swung its tail again, and more small tree roots surged forth from all directions, forming a dense web in an attempt to trap Hyuga Shinichi.