The Veterinarian Reputation Was Set in Stone

Was it because the crow had too little Chakra in its body?

Qingfeng took out the Master Potion and fed it another drop. To his surprise, the tiny amount of Chakra inside the Ninja Crow showed no sign of recovering.

I was careless. Low-level Ninja Beasts only have a tiny amount of Chakra to begin with. Even if it recovers, it won't increase.

He checked what remained: only the Shining World Instrument Potion and the Mental Stimulant Potion.

He could only feed it both and see what happened. Taking out the Shining World Instrument, which even he had never drunk before, Qingfeng figured it would be fine to let the Ninja Crow try it first.

Same old method—he fed it a drop directly, and a miracle happened.

The Ninja Crow, which had been too weak to move, actually stood up. Its spirits instantly improved as well.

The Shining World Instrument was actually an antidote. Good stuff.

Only, he still did not know what exactly the Mental Stimulant Potion did. His gaze shifted to the crow that had just recovered.

"Forget it. Anything with 'secret potion' in its name is probably pretty potent. I'll spare this crow for now."

Inuzuka Hana, standing nearby, watched Qingfeng feed the Ninja Beast a few doses of medicine. The crow had actually recovered completely.

"Qingfeng, what kind of potion is that? Was Hai Maru cured the same way last time?"

Of course, he could not tell her that Hai Maru had been faking it and that a beating would have fixed him.

"It's an antidote. I didn't expect it to actually work."

"Can you give me a bottle? I want to take it back and study it."

"It's a family secret. It can't be passed on."

"Your grandfather must be an incredibly skilled veterinarian!"

"Don't talk nonsense. My grandfather is a proper doctor who treats people."

Inuzuka Hana fell silent, but her expression clearly showed that she did not believe him.

There was nothing shameful about being a veterinarian. Most of her entire clan were veterinarians, and their specialty was treating dogs.

Qingfeng had intended to take the crow to Shisui and report back, but the crow, which had just recovered, refused to let him touch it. It flew straight out the window.

???

"This crow is a little ungrateful."

Since it was Shisui's Summoning Beast anyway, Qingfeng went downstairs empty-handed.

Shisui immediately asked, "Did it work?"

"It probably worked, but that crow flew away."

Shisui could hardly believe it. The poison that Konoha Hospital and the Inuzuka Clan had both been helpless against had actually been cured by someone from his own clan.

Remembering that Qingfeng owned a Pharmacy, he realized that Qingfeng's family had apparently inherited the art of veterinary medicine.

He eagerly used the Summoning Technique. Sure enough, the crow had recovered, and the aged bird even seemed a little stronger than before.

"As expected of a hereditary veterinarian. You really are impressive!"

The first time had been an emergency, and only Inuzuka Hana had thought Qingfeng was a veterinarian. This time, besides Inuzuka Hana and her big mouth, Shisui and Itachi had joined in.

It seemed that he would never be able to shake off the title of veterinarian. Other people earned titles through martial prowess, but whenever people mentioned Qingfeng in the future, they would think, Oh, so he's the number one veterinarian in the Ninja World.

Who could say how such things would turn out?

Shisui sent the crow back.

"Qingfeng, the Ninja Crows seem quite fond of you. Do you want to form a contract with them? Itachi has already started raising young Ninja Crows."

There was really no need for Qingfeng to form a contract with crows. In his understanding, crows were not particularly auspicious birds, and they were too weak. They could only be used in coordination with genjutsu. While every Uchiha was skilled in genjutsu, the limitations were far too great.

"I'll pass. I don't want to form a contract with Ninja Beasts for the time being."

Shisui did not press him after Qingfeng refused.

"I happen to be guiding Itachi's training lately. If you have time, Qingfeng, you can join us."

Anything that could improve his strength suited Qingfeng perfectly. He had coveted Shisui's Body Flicker Technique for a long time.

"I'm coming too!" Inuzuka Hana called from the side.

After returning to Leaf Village, Danzō had never stopped thinking about stirring up trouble.

During the war, Minato Namikaze had merely been one of his subordinates. Yet he had leaped straight into becoming Hokage. Even by seniority, it should have been him, Danzō—the Second Hokage's disciple—who became Hokage.

The calls for the Fourth Hokage within the village were far too loud now. In public, Danzō did not even dare say a bad word about Minato.

What angered Danzō most was that he had even lost his authority as Hokage Assistant.

Danzō had originally been the Third Hokage's Hokage Assistant. After Minato Namikaze took office, Hiruzen Sarutobi became the Fourth Hokage's assistant, while Danzō did not even have the title of advisor left. All he had was the Anbu Training Department.

One could imagine how furious Danzō was at the moment, yet there was nothing he could do. He had been the supreme commander during the Third Shinobi War, and he found such treatment utterly unacceptable.

He believed that he had devoted himself wholeheartedly to Leaf Village, only to receive this result in the end.

In the dim underground chambers, Danzō quietly waited for someone to arrive.

Danzō had already approached several clans. Without exception, every one of them had evaded the subject and given him no opportunity at all.

Whenever Danzō recalled the rebuffs he had suffered over the past few days, he would curse viciously, "A bunch of fence-sitters. If Konoha didn't still need them, they should all be eliminated."

In the silent underground, a series of pattering footsteps echoed out, drawing closer and closer.

A Ninja with an unusually pale face and long black hair walked in.

The newcomer was none other than Orochimaru.

Danzō remained seated, with no intention of standing to welcome him.

"Orochimaru, it's been a long time."

They had not met since the war ended. It was as though Orochimaru's desire to become Hokage had vanished. He stayed in his laboratory all day and never came out.

"Danzō, it has indeed been a long time. Why did you call me here?"

Although Danzō was displeased by Orochimaru addressing him directly by name, he did not show it on his face.

"I want to make a deal with you. A mutually beneficial deal."

Orochimaru looked interested. "Oh? Let's hear it."

"Orochimaru, don't you want to become Hokage? As long as we work together, I'll do everything in my power to recommend you as Hokage."

Hearing Danzō's tempting words, Orochimaru remained remarkably calm.

"The Fourth Hokage only took office recently, didn't he? What are you planning to do?"

"As long as we join forces and kill Minato Namikaze, we can recommend you, Orochimaru, as Hokage afterward. Wouldn't Konoha belong to the two of us then?"

Orochimaru had already understood Danzō's scheme. He wanted to use Orochimaru's hand to kill the Fourth Hokage. Unfortunately, Orochimaru's ambitions were no longer limited to the mere position of Hokage.

"My apologies, Danzō. I'm no longer interested in becoming Hokage!"

After saying that, Orochimaru did not linger. He turned and left, leaving behind a stunned Danzō.

"He actually said he isn't interested in becoming Hokage? Is this really Orochimaru? Something must be wrong. I have to investigate this thoroughly."

Orochimaru could not be bothered to guess at Danzō's thoughts. He had serious matters to attend to. Compared to science, the position of Hokage was nothing.

Orochimaru believed that a Ninja was someone who had learned every ninjutsu. But how could one learn every ninjutsu? Only by becoming immortal would he have a chance.