Medical Ninjas

The Uchiha were worthy of their reputation as a prestigious clan that commanded respect throughout the Shinobi World. Their Kekkei Genkai, the Sharingan Genjutsu, was indeed extraordinary.

Uchiha Naraku was perceptive and meticulous. The illusions he wove were almost a guaranteed cure for the patients he treated.

A single illusion could help a shinobi with emotional trauma regain their vitality.

Tsunade came back to her senses. The vacant look in her eyes gradually brightened, showing that her mind had returned.

"Nawaki..."

Tsunade murmured.

It wasn't that Naraku didn't want to keep weaving illusions and show her another one featuring Dan Katō. It was just that using Genjutsu to enter the mind of Tsunade, one of the Sannin, took too much ocular power and chakra.

Naraku needed to rest. Besides, two scenes played one after the other would feel too contrived and could raise suspicion, making them less effective.

"Live well..."

Naraku spoke softly. Because he had watched the anime, the illusions he wove were close to reality, and the words he used could comfort people just right.

"Mm!"

Tsunade answered him. Her eyes gradually grew resolute, and she regained the bearing of a formidable woman.

Tsunade studied Uchiha Naraku. He was tall and handsome, with elegant clothes, and his temperament was worlds apart from her younger brother Nawaki's.

Yet, in Tsunade's eyes, Nawaki's image seemed to overlap with Naraku's. The two different people became one.

Tsunade rubbed her eyes, then blinked.

Tsunade was usually dignified and composed, with an air of authority, but now she seemed a little rude.

Naraku raised an eyebrow slightly, noticing something was off about Tsunade. He was puzzled, but didn't ask.

"I heard from Uzumaki Nao that you wanted to arrange for some people to come study Medical Ninjutsu at Konoha Hospital?"

"Yes, Miss Tsunade. There are many talented young shinobi in my clan's compound. I'd like them to learn Medical Ninjutsu, save lives, and do their part for Konoha."

Tsunade didn't call Naraku out on his intentions. She smiled brightly.

"The Medical Department does need to expand and bring in more people. I've already applied to the Third Hokage for funding. Send ten people over, and make sure they're the sort who can sit still and focus on learning Medical Ninjutsu."

Tsunade seemed to be in a better mood, and her tone had turned playful.

Naraku was seventeen. Though he looked mature, he couldn't help but stare for a moment at Tsunade's unusual, faint smile.

Tsunade's already good mood soured. Looking at Naraku's expression, she saw the familiar face of Jiraiya.

Tsunade grew displeased, her brows knitting tighter and tighter. She was ready to give Naraku a smack on the forehead, just as she did to Nawaki.

"Ahem. In that case, thank you, Miss Tsunade."

Naraku quickly came to his senses and pretended to cough. His face flushed, and he felt a little ashamed of his rudeness. He was a young man in the prime of his life, after all; it was only natural that he'd be unable to resist a mature beauty.

"Hmph. Go make the arrangements. You can get lost now."

"Yes."

Naraku rose and left.

After Naraku was gone, Tsunade stood and went to the window, watching the people coming and going in Konoha.

"Nawaki, don't worry about your big sister."

Konoha Hospital, Mental Health Department, Surveillance Room

Naraku, Fugaku, and several Jonin watched the consultation room.

At Konoha Hospital's Mental Health Department, Naraku had gone from seeing patients himself to serving only as an advisor, nurturing the department's shinobi in their Genjutsu abilities. He also kept an eye on Uchiha Jiichiro and Uchiha Masao, whom he had gone to great lengths to get hired at the hospital.

The two lived up to the Uchiha name: powerful and meticulous. They had become the department's most well-regarded doctors, far surpassing the other Genjutsu shinobi.

Those with ability had to shoulder more responsibility, but the two were so capable that only patients with severe emotional trauma were sent to them. Other patients and those seeking consultations were handled by the department's Chunin, allowing them to develop the whole team.

In Konoha, Jonin were influential figures, while the lower ranks made up the regular shinobi force. Chunin were the backbone of the village, often capable of handling things on their own.

Becoming a Jonin wasn't just a matter of being strong enough; it also required a recommendation from another Jonin.

In other words, you needed connections as well as strength. Faced with this system, shinobi from civilian backgrounds naturally banded together.

There were only two paths to becoming a Chunin. The first was the official Chunin Ninja Exams. It was nearly as difficult as being chosen from among a hundred candidates.

The second was to complete enough missions to qualify for promotion, then pass a simplified examination. That path only required perseverance, so it was the one most shinobi chose.

Only a minority became Chunin through the official exams. The Chunin Ninja Exams were meant to identify gifted shinobi and others with special talents. Though the clan shinobi always ended up claiming the available spots, a few dazzling talents still emerged.

For example, Namikaze Minato, the student of Jiraiya of the Sannin, had distinguished himself in the Chunin Ninja Exams, catching the Third Hokage's attention. He arranged for Jiraiya to take Minato on as his student.

Jiraiya had been searching for the Child of Destiny and had already trained Nagato, believing he had found the one. He didn't think much of the Third Hokage's arrangement and had intended to find an excuse to refuse.

But after interviewing Namikaze Minato, Jiraiya took a great liking to him and taught him all his techniques without reservation.

It became a celebrated story in Konoha.

Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi had his work cut out for him, too. The Sannin were renowned, and the Summoning Beasts of the Three Great Sage Lands were even more famous. Hiruzen wanted to ensure the Sannin's legacy continued.

The legacy of their Summoning Beasts was especially important. But the Sannin had many responsibilities. Nawaki, the successor Orochimaru had trained, had died in battle. Tsunade had trained many medical ninjas, but none had been able to inherit her mantle.

Only Jiraiya had properly trained a successor: Namikaze Minato. For now, Jiraiya was the only one of the Sannin with an heir. Hiruzen still needed to find successors for the other two.

"Fugaku, keep an eye on things. I'm heading back to the Military Police Force before the work piles up too much."

"Understood."

Naraku nodded and turned to leave.

After Naraku left the Surveillance Room, Kurama Ryota followed him out, quickly catching up with Uchiha Naraku.

"Naraku, please wait a moment."

"Mr. Ryota, what is it?"

Kurama Ryota glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then reached into the ninja tool pouch behind his waist.

Seeing him act furtively and reach for his pouch, Naraku couldn't help but grow wary.

But Kurama Ryota pulled out no Kunai or Shuriken. Instead, it was an invitation.

"Naraku, if you have some free time, please come visit me at the Kurama Clan Compound."

"So Kurama Ryota was sneaking around just to invite me. I was overthinking it."

Naraku relaxed a little and accepted the invitation, sending chakra into it.

He confirmed that it wasn't an Explosive Tag, just a piece of paper.

"Certainly. I'll be glad to visit."