Yakushi Nonō's Departure

The better ninjutsu either required outstanding contributions or was passed down only to one's own people, never outsiders.

Sakura, who was on Team 7 with Sasuke and Naruto, had earth, water, yin, and yang nature transformations, but she only knew how to use Yang Release ninjutsu.

All the techniques she used had been taught to her by Tsunade.

If Tsunade hadn't taken her on as a student, what powerful ninjutsu would Sakura have known?

Even if she was set up as a top student with amazing chakra control, it wouldn't matter. Without access to instruction, her potential would go to waste.

"I might have to leave on a mission tomorrow. I'll be gone for a long time."

Yakushi Nonō gazed at Shimizu's sunny smile, looking somewhat dazed.

For personal reasons, she liked Shimizu very much... as a child.

Shimizu had also gotten along well with her during their time together. Being around him was comfortable.

But all good things had to come to an end. After Yakushi Nonō assassinated several targets for Shimura Danzō, Danzo had agreed to let her go.

She had saved up some money, enough to open an orphanage.

She should have left a week ago, but had dragged it out until today. She'd hoped Shimizu could learn a little more while she was still around to answer his questions.

"Then... how long will it be before you come back?"

Shimizu stopped what he was doing.

It seemed it was time for Yakushi Nonō to leave.

"I don't know, little brother. If we get the chance, we'll meet again."

The Uchiha Settlement.

A pale green light appeared in Shimizu's hands as he healed a piece of pork.

The cut, deep enough to expose the bone, closed before his eyes.

The pork had been specially prepared and cut into uniform squares. It was usually kept in an incubator to preserve its vitality.

Now, he was healing it with the life energy still remaining in the meat, making full use of every bit of energy without wasting any.

Once he got used to it, applying the technique to a human body would produce twice the results with half the effort.

"An orphanage, huh..."

Shimizu sighed.

That was Yakushi Nonō's own wish, and he couldn't very well stop her.

After sharing a meal with Yakushi Nonō, he watched her leave the Hidden Leaf Village.

Whatever the case, Yakushi Nonō had taught Shimizu a lot. Even if his motives had been impure and he had approached her with an ulterior purpose,

Shimizu couldn't just stand by and watch Danzo drive her to her death when he could help without sacrificing anything of his own.

Shimizu didn't consider himself a good person, but he wouldn't let someone who had helped him die for nothing.

"Coo."

A White Dove flew down from beneath the eaves, ruffled her sleek feathers, and pecked a piece of skin from the pork. As Shimizu continued healing it, she ate.

Shimizu ignored the White Dove's thievery and kept releasing chakra.

His chakra was draining at an astonishing rate, and the pale green light in his hands grew brighter and brighter.

The reason he had been able to memorize so much medical knowledge in such a short time was that he had drawn memories of it from the Simulator.

Through the same method, Shimizu had also drawn some Medical Ninjutsu.

The technique he was using now was his strongest Medical Ninjutsu.

A-rank Medical Ninjutsu—Mystical Palm Technique!

It used chakra to activate all the cells around a wound, healing it in just five minutes.

Even among medical ninja, few could master the Mystical Palm Technique.

Shimizu could already pass as a medical ninja in the support corps. All he had to do was apply once war broke out.

"Shimizu, Lord Fugaku wants to see you!"

Uchiha Tekka's voice came from outside the courtyard.

"Got it."

Shimizu called back toward the courtyard entrance.

The Uchiha Clan couldn't help but know that he had been studying Medical Ninjutsu with Yakushi Nonō.

Uchiha Fugaku had approached Shimizu for a talk months ago.

Shimizu had revealed some of his talent for Medical Ninjutsu, so Fugaku wouldn't accuse him of neglecting his duties.

To his surprise, Fugaku hadn't objected at all. He had even regarded Shimizu as a rare genius of the Uchiha Clan.

Shimizu could still remember Fugaku's excited expression. It had been as if he'd glimpsed a guide holding a torch in the darkness.

Shimizu guessed that Fugaku had looked at the Uchiha Stone Tablet and learned at least a little about the Mangekyō Sharingan causing blindness.

Or perhaps Fugaku himself possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan.

With relations between the Uchiha and the Hidden Leaf Village growing increasingly delicate, Uchiha Fugaku knew that if the Uchiha Clan wanted even greater power—the Third Power, the Power of God—they would have to awaken the Mangekyō.

But the price of awakening it was, sooner or later, going blind.

Whether or not one used the Mangekyō's techniques, one's visual prowess would grow over time, and one's vision would gradually blur until one became completely blind, unable to see even a sliver of light.

That was why the Uchiha's Kekkei Genkai was said to be a curse.

The Mangekyō's tendency to cause blindness was a secret of the Uchiha Clan, known to few outsiders.

So no one knew how to cure it. Then, all of a sudden, the Uchiha had a member studying medicine—and one with remarkable talent at that.

It was only natural that Uchiha Fugaku would be so excited.

Shimizu chopped up the pork and told the White Dove to keep a close watch on the house, in case Danzo sent someone to tamper with anything.

He packed his things, straightened his collar, and headed to the meeting place.

He had shot up in height, looking almost like an eleven- or twelve-year-old boy. Many of his old clothes no longer fit.

The pants that once reached his heels now came up to his calves.

Half an hour later, at Uchiha Fugaku's home,

Shimizu arrived at the entrance to a traditional Japanese-style garden, carrying a bag of tomatoes.

He'd gotten into the habit of bringing fruit to Yakushi Nonō every day.

Whenever he went to visit someone, he made sure to bring a small gift.

"Fugaku's waiting inside. Come on in."

A voluptuous, beautiful woman spotted Shimizu from the garden's veranda. She stopped hanging up the bedding, turned, and greeted him with a smile.

She wore a traditional housewife's outfit, and her features held a gentle air.

"Big Sister Mikoto, these are tomatoes I bought. You've always taken such good care of me, so I wanted to thank you."

Shimizu smiled as he held out the bag.

His already handsome features, framed by his black hair, gave him the innocent air of a young boy.

"You shouldn't have gone to the trouble, Shimizu. You're already here—why bring anything?"

Uchiha Mikoto stopped hanging up the bedding and invited Uchiha Shimizu inside.

Shimizu really is such a good boy, Mikoto thought, her mind wandering as she looked at Uchiha Shimizu. A touch of affection entered her eyes.

Uchiha Shimizu's parents had both been Genin and had died in the war, leaving him to live alone.

But that hadn't broken his spirit or made him gloomy. He was cheerful instead, and according to Fugaku, he even had the kind heart of a doctor.

She just couldn't figure out why he looked at her so strangely.

Mikoto was baffled. I must be imagining things.

What am I thinking, acting like an old woman?

Mikoto shook her head to herself. She was old enough to be Shimizu's mother, after all. And it wasn't as though her aging, worn-out body was anything special.

Mikoto took the bag and led Shimizu into the entryway.

He changed into slippers and stepped onto the wooden floor.

Without showing it, Shimizu studied Mikoto, focusing on her abdomen.

She hasn't gotten pregnant with Itachi yet.

Shimizu pondered.

Mikoto's stomach was flat. She clearly wasn't pregnant.

Shisui's birth couldn't be prevented, and Shimizu couldn't exactly assassinate him.

But Itachi hadn't even been conceived yet. Was there some way to prevent his birth at the source?