A Six-Year-Old's Birthday

The bustling main street of Konoha was a sea of people. Yakushi Nonō, looking like an angel, arrived at Sato Hideaka's side. Carrying a cake in her left hand, she pulled him into a tight embrace with her right, tears beginning to well up as if she could not bear the joy of their reunion...

Sato Hideaka's body stiffened as he was hugged by Yakushi Nonō. Although it had been a long time, he still felt somewhat unaccustomed to such an enthusiastic display of affection from her.

"Hideaka, do you know that today is your birthday? I've already prepared a birthday cake at home; let's go back and celebrate!"

Birthday? My birthday?

Hearing the choked-up tone in Yakushi Nonō's voice, Sato Hideaka paused, then asked, "Is today my birthday? I didn't even know myself. How did you know, Sister Nonō?"

"Your Uncle Eisuke mentioned your birthday to me back then, so I wrote it down. Actually, I've been in Konoha all this time, but I've been so busy with work that I haven't had the time to see you. Since today is your birthday and the Third Hokage happened to tell me you were returning, I asked him for a day off to help you celebrate your sixth birthday!"

Asking the Third Hokage for leave?

If Yakushi Nonō was asking the Third Hokage for time off, did that mean she had already left Root?

If that were truly the case, it would be a cause for celebration. Sato Hideaka had always felt a deep repulsion toward Root. The world of Naruto was already one filled with war, bloodshed, and hatred, and Root was the very pinnacle of that—it would be no exaggeration to call the people inside it soulless, inhuman tools.

Yuhi Kurenai watched the two still hugging and couldn't help but ask, "Hideaka, who is this beautiful big sister?"

"This is Yuhi Kurenai, my desk mate and teammate!" Sato Hideaka introduced her to Yakushi Nonō, then pointed to her and said, "Kurenai, this is Sister Nonō. You could say she's my own sister."

Yakushi Nonō adjusted her glasses and said happily, "Hideaka has already made friends at the Ninja Academy? That's wonderful. Today is Hideaka's birthday; Kurenai, would you like to come along and join his birthday dinner?"

"B-but... alright, where are we going to celebrate?"

Yuhi Kurenai's jewel-like eyes glanced at the setting sun before she hesitated for a moment and finally nodded.

"At my place. I've already prepared everything..."

Following Yakushi Nonō to her temporary residence in Konoha, Sato Hideaka realized it was surprisingly close to the largest hospital in the village, just two streets away.

Her temporary home was a standard two-bedroom apartment. The living room table was already laden with fruit, snacks, and prepped ingredients. With the birthday cake she had brought back and a few delicate pastries she had made, a simple birthday feast was ready to begin!

As she extinguished the ceiling light, the slanting rays of the setting sun spilled through the large glass window. The golden sunlight and the dark shadows of dusk created a sharp contrast, making the entire room feel incredibly warm and cozy.

"Alright, Hideaka, you can make a wish now..."

Yakushi Nonō placed six candles on the cream cake, which was topped with watermelon, pineapple, strawberries, peaches, and mangoes. After lighting them, she spoke to Sato Hideaka, who was sitting on a stool.

Sato Hideaka nodded, pressed his palms together against his chest, closed his eyes, and said aloud, "I hope that in the future, Sister Nonō, Kurenai, and everyone can live a stable and happy life!"

"Oh my, my dad told me that if you say your wish out loud, it won't come true! Make another one, make another one." Hearing his wish, Yuhi Kurenai shook her head vigorously from the side, insisting that he make a new one.

Seeing Yuhi Kurenai's earnest expression as she pestered him, and Sato Hideaka's seemingly patient, unbothered demeanor, Yakushi Nonō couldn't help but laugh.

Time slipped away. Amidst their laughter, the sky gradually darkened. Because the dinner had lasted a while and night had fallen, Yakushi Nonō suggested that Sato Hideaka walk Yuhi Kurenai home.

Seemingly convinced that boys should look after girls, she used the excuse of needing to clean up the dishes to send the six-year-old Sato Hideaka to escort seven-year-old Yuhi Kurenai home in the dark. Was she really that unconcerned about two children walking alone at night?

Sato Hideaka felt a bit helpless, but under Yuhi Kurenai's guidance, he walked her to her doorstep. A man stood under the light at the entrance, seemingly waiting for someone. Upon closer inspection, Sato Hideaka realized it was Yuhi Shinku, who had picked her up before.

Since Yuhi Kurenai hadn't returned home on time after the genin exams, it seemed her father, Yuhi Shinku, had been waiting for quite a while.

Just like in his past life, children who didn't return home on time always made their parents worry. Sato Hideaka chuckled to himself; Yuhi Kurenai would surely be lectured by her father. After all, a seven-year-old girl coming home so late was bound to cause concern.

When he returned to Yakushi Nonō's place, the trash in the living room had been cleared away. She was sitting on the sofa resting, and upon hearing him return, she turned to look at him with a strange expression.

"What's wrong, Sister Nonō? Why are you looking at me like that?" Sato Hideaka asked, feeling flustered and awkward.

Yakushi Nonō opened her mouth, gathered her thoughts, and finally said, "Hideaka, with Kurenai here earlier, I couldn't ask, but now I want to know: how do you know about such a detailed and complete Medical Ninja System?"

"What Medical Ninja System? I don't know anything about that... didn't you tell me about it, Sister Nonō?"

Sato Hideaka blinked his blue eyes, looking completely innocent. He really couldn't explain this clearly; a five or six-year-old child solving problems that stumped adults—and even experts—was impossible to justify.

He couldn't exactly tell her he was a transmigrator and that the plan was a way to solve the issue of medical ninjas on the battlefield in the future!

Yakushi Nonō looked at the feigning boy and shook her head, saying sadly, "With my abilities, I could never have conceived of such a perfect Medical Ninja System. If this system had been implemented earlier, perhaps we wouldn't have lost so many medical personnel in that battle due to my wrong decisions."

"Hideaka, everyone has their own secrets. Even though I don't know where you learned about this system, you must never tell anyone else that you came up with it, or I don't know what the consequences might be!"

"Mm, mm. The Medical Ninja System or whatever, you told me all about it, Sister Nonō. I don't know anything!" Sato Hideaka nodded, signaling his understanding.

"In the future, if anyone asks, just tell them what you told me today. But the most troublesome part is that during my conversation with Princess Tsunade, she seemed to know something!" Yakushi Nonō sighed, looking troubled.

When Princess Tsunade had found her at the orphanage and invited her to rejoin the Medical Department to refine the Medical Ninja System, it had truly shocked her. That failed plan had been a massive blow to her, and there had even been many voices in the department opposing her.

She hadn't wanted to participate in any similar plans for the Medical Department again, until Princess Tsunade told her about this "Medical Ninja System," which was so far ahead of its time and incredibly detailed, that she was shocked into agreeing.

However, what left her at a loss was that in Tsunade's tone, it seemed as if this perfect system had been meticulously planned by her. She had never known of such a perfect plan before; why would Princess Tsunade think she had come up with it?

After some subtle probing, Yakushi Nonō finally learned from Princess Tsunade who had first proposed the plan—a five-year-old Blue Demon. In her memory, that could only be Sato Hideaka.

Yet, during that conversation, Tsunade also seemed to notice that she wasn't familiar with the so-called Medical Ninja System, and thus, she had discovered some clues!