Pharmacist Nonou

Not long after the Konoha group hurried away, a strange, misty rain began to linger in the mountain forest, where rain had never touched before. Several figures appeared, their eyes cruel and bloodthirsty.

"A group of rats just scurried away from here. Were they Konoha genin?"

"What does it matter? Let's show those Konoha fellows just how strong the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist truly are!"

One by one, the Mist ninja, possessing teeth as sharp as fangs, revealed expressions of bloodlust as they stepped across the border of the Land of Fire, representing one of the Five Great Nations: the Mist Hidden Village.

The Land of Water, which had previously remained in a state of observation, slowly bared its fangs toward Konoha Village in the Land of Fire.

A night passed, and as the distant horizon began to pale, Uchiha Hanazuki, lying in a hospital bed at the Konoha Medical Center, slowly opened his eyes. His long, deep-yellow hair, which had been hanging before his eyes, swayed slightly.

"Please don't move around so much. It was just a simple case of excessive chakra exhaustion; you only need to rest for a few days. You must have been through an unimaginable battle."

The smile was gentle and calm, seemingly imbued with a benevolent, maternal radiance. The toad goggles she wore, combined with her soft features, made it impossible not to lower one's guard.

"A hospital? That's fine, I suppose. At least I don't have to go to the battlefield. I've managed to save my life, at least. Where are the others?"

"Your friends? They have already returned ahead of you. Those two girls were very concerned about your condition. Come to think of it, I haven't seen any of your family members visit. Are they busy with missions?"

The gentle tone made Hanazuki subconsciously look at the pristine ceiling as he replied softly.

"Them? They're already dead. They died on a mission. That's why I hate these ninjas who force children onto the battlefield. It's such a nuisance."

"I'm sorry. It seems I've brought up something I shouldn't have. Please, get some rest. Live a healthy life, carrying the love of your father and mother with you."

The petite woman with the gentle smile lightly touched Uchiha Hanazuki's forehead, and a message popped up, causing him to freeze slightly.

[Character Check-in: Nonou]

[Abilities: Mystical Palm Technique, Chakra Scalpel, Healing Resuscitation Regeneration Technique, Chakra Dissection Blade...]

[Random draw in progress... Check-in successful, obtained: Chakra Scalpel!]

Compared to the offensive methods of a medical ninja, Hanazuki was more concerned with the name.

Nonou, the current head of the Medical Corps, known as the "Walking Miko." Her intelligence-gathering capabilities and medical ninjutsu were easily among the top five in Konoha.

Most importantly, she was the foster mother of Yakushi Kabuto, one of the few in Konoha willing to take in orphans. She was a kind soul who would risk her own life just to ensure the children could survive.

It was a pity that, in the end, she was not trusted by Danzo, who orchestrated a tragedy where child was forced to kill mother. This ultimately led to severe consequences, indirectly contributing to the Fourth Shinobi World War and adding many elites to the ranks of the Allied Shinobi Forces.

The figure gradually walked out of the ward, moving softly as she quietly closed the door.

After a moment of silence, Hanazuki let out a faint sigh.

"What a good woman. I'm already exhausted from all this, so it wasn't in vain that I went to the trouble of faking an illness. At least I don't have to go to the battlefield now."

As his thoughts shifted, bags of snacks descended from the sky onto the pale blue water, causing the Black Nine-Tails to nod in satisfaction.

"Since your sincerity is so sufficient, this Seat will forgive you. Is that forbidden technique useful? Back in the day, when Menma collected bloodline limits and forbidden techniques, he relied on the fox that used this Seat as a host. Wahahaha..."

"I suppose so. At least the reconnaissance aspect is good. Compared to the Nine-Faced Svaha, I really want that scroll in your belly. When will you bring it out?"

His strange, intricate Kaleidoscope stared at the Black Nine-Tails' abdomen. Hanazuki whispered his probe, immediately drawing a rebuttal from the Black Nine-Tails.

"You bastard Uchiha brat, are you dreaming? That is this Seat's hope for returning to the world. Although you're a sensible brat, this Seat still wants to regain its freedom."

"If it weren't for this thing, my chakra would have long since resonated with the Nine-Tails here. If that happened, you brat would be captured too. If you know that, then..."

"As long as those Konoha fellows dare to reach out their claws, I'll chop them off one by one. Compared to so-called villages, my own personal safety comes first."

Stunned for a moment, the Black Nine-Tails couldn't help but laugh out loud, causing ripples to spread across the water.

"Hahaha! This Seat knew I hadn't misjudged you. You aren't as pedantic as I imagined. Just like Menma, who killed his father and teacher without hesitation, you are ruthless!"

Ignoring the Black Nine-Tails as it gorged itself, Uchiha Hanazuki closed his eyes to rest. The "excessive chakra exhaustion" was entirely a pretext to avoid the battlefield.

What kind of jinchuriki would end up in a hospital bed from mere chakra exhaustion? Even a jinchuriki who hadn't reconciled with their tailed beast possessed several times the chakra of an ordinary person.

Not to mention that Hanazuki possessed the Nine-Tails, which held the largest share of chakra. Although it was the "opposite" Nine-Tails, the quantity of chakra was no different.

"I didn't expect to run into the Eight-Tails jinchuriki and the Fourth Raikage. My luck is as terrible as ever. I hope this doesn't attract too much attention, otherwise..."

He raised an eyebrow and subconsciously covered his eyes. Using the Mangekyo Sharingan for too long really would make one go blind.

Konoha Village, Hokage Office.

Looking at the mission report in his hand, the actual power-holders of Konoha, the Konoha F4, looked at each other. Finally, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke first.

"You encountered the AB combination of the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails jinchuriki, and yet there were no casualties? Was it all thanks to Uchiha Hanazuki's Flying Thunder God Technique?"

Sarutobi Hina nodded solemnly, and Hatake Kakashi, who had been called in to testify, gave a slight nod.

Re-examining the mission report, Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a puff of purple smoke. As the tobacco burned slowly, his thoughts drifted back to the disdainful youth he had seen during the pre-war mobilization.

"In any case, we are already aware that Uchiha Hanazuki protected his comrades on the battlefield, successfully completed the mission, and indirectly shattered the Cloud Hidden's efforts. You two should take a rest and prepare for the next mission."

After the two retreated, the gloomy old man, who had remained silent and kept most of his face covered in bandages, said coldly.

"Only 10 years old, yet he was able to retreat unscathed in front of the Eight-Tails jinchuriki and the Fourth Raikage, and even saved a group of fellow ninja. And the injuries he sustained were merely from excessive chakra exhaustion?"

"Such talent, regardless of which clan they belong to, would be a focus of the village's cultivation. But it just had to be an Uchiha..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up slowly and sighed softly.

"Uchiha Hanazuki is willing to save his comrades, which shows that he still identifies with the Will of Fire in his heart. He is a bond worth cultivating to ease relations with the Uchiha clan..."

"Don't be naive, Hiruzen! What if this brat chooses the same path as that person? We should follow the Second Hokage's legacy: nip the threat in the bud and kill him."