Chapter Summary: “Unexpected Change”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ao reflects on how the plan has gone wrong. He had arranged for Yagura, disguised as Kisame Hoshigaki, to fight Hyuga Yizhe and weaken him before Terumi Mei intervened.
• Yagura’s use of the powerful Water Mirror Technique ended the fight prematurely, since the technique effectively neutralized Yizhe’s attacks and discouraged further combat.
• Terumi Mei arrives under the cover identity of an enforcement Mist Ninja from White Dew Town, claiming she came to stop a dangerous battle near the town.
• Yizhe recognizes Mei but assumes she has not discovered his secret identity as the masked figure from a previous incident.
• Mei orders the disguised Yagura to stop attacking, but Yagura—overexcited by the fight and frustrated that Yizhe keeps avoiding him—refuses.
• Yagura proposes that Yizhe and Mei fight him together. Yizhe accepts the idea, while Mei realizes that refusing may only make the situation worse.
• Concerned that Yagura might release the Three-Tails’ power and endanger the nearby town, Mei reluctantly joins forces with Yizhe.
• The chapter ends with Mei launching a Water Release technique at Yagura to force him back while carefully limiting her strength.

Character Developments

• Ao: Revealed as the planner behind the encounter. He is frustrated that Yagura’s unpredictable behavior and Yizhe’s unexpected resilience have disrupted the intended sequence of events.
• Yagura: Demonstrates his impulsive, childish enthusiasm for battle. Once provoked, he ignores the original plan and becomes determined to continue fighting, even throwing a tantrum when Yizhe avoids him.
• Terumi Mei: Shows intelligence, caution, and considerable strength. Although suspicious of Ao’s secretive behavior and opposed to involving Yagura, she takes responsibility for containing the crisis and protecting the nearby town.
• Hyuga Yizhe: Proves unusually durable and resourceful, surviving powerful attacks and using evasion rather than directly confronting Yagura. He quickly sees the advantage of teaming up with Mei.
• Ao and Mei’s relationship: Mei’s doubts about Ao deepen because he withholds information and placed the unstable Yagura in the plan despite the risks.

Significant Themes

• Plans versus reality: The chapter emphasizes that carefully designed schemes can collapse when people act unpredictably or possess unexpected abilities.
• The danger of uncontrolled power: Yagura’s status as the Three-Tails’ jinchūriki makes his childish behavior especially dangerous, since a simple spar could escalate into a catastrophe.
• Manipulation and deception: Yagura is disguised as Kisame, Mei adopts a false public identity, and Yizhe conceals his connection to the masked man from the past.
• Pragmatic cooperation: Mei and Yizhe are suspicious of one another, yet immediate danger forces them to cooperate.
• Strength and restraint: Mei must balance defeating Yagura with preventing him from escalating or damaging White Dew Town.

Character Interactions

• Ao privately evaluates the failed plan and Mei’s role in repairing it.
• Mei confronts the disguised Yagura and orders him to stop, but he dismisses her authority and continues pursuing Yizhe.
• Yizhe questions Mei’s sudden appearance but decides her presence is probably legitimate.
• Yagura invites both Yizhe and Mei to fight him, turning the confrontation into an unstable three-way battle.
• Mei and Yizhe silently agree to cooperate, with Mei attacking Yagura to control the situation while remaining wary of both him and Yizhe.

Chapter Summary: “Escape”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kisame Hoshigaki counters Terumi Mei’s Water Release with a Water Formation Wall, creating a barrier that sends waves and mist through the surrounding forest.
• Using the chaos, Yizhe moves around the barrier and launches a Wind Cutter Technique at Kisame. Kisame senses the invisible attack and dodges, though the wind blade cleanly severs a large tree.
• Kisame responds with Water Mirror Technique, producing a duplicate of Yizhe from the mirror. The duplicate clashes with Yizhe’s water clone, revealing Yizhe’s trick.
• While Kisame is distracted, Yizhe closes in and strikes him with Twentyfold Monstrous Strength. Kisame blocks with the Coral Rod but is sent crashing through several trees.
• Before Yizhe can continue attacking, Terumi Mei uses Water Dragon Bullet Technique, blocking his path and striking Kisame’s position. She then grabs Yizhe and forces him to retreat.
• Terumi Mei explains that Kisame is much stronger than Yizhe realizes and that continuing the fight would be pointless. She uses Hidden Mist Technique to conceal their escape.
• Yizhe creates four shadow clones and sends them in different directions to confuse their pursuer. He reluctantly abandons the fight, recognizing that facing Kisame without Terumi Mei’s support would be reckless.
• Kisame is revealed to be Yagura, who has reverted from his transformed appearance after suffering serious injuries from Yizhe’s punch and Terumi Mei’s Water Dragon. He is badly hurt, with internal injuries and blood at his mouth.
• Furious that Yizhe and Terumi Mei escaped, Yagura uses Wind Release: Typhoon Passes to disperse the Hidden Mist across the forest.
• Yizhe realizes that Yagura possesses an unusually powerful Wind Release capable of countering Kirigakure’s famous mist technique.
• Before Yagura can resume the pursuit, another Hidden Mist spreads through the forest. The caster is revealed to be Ao, who has deliberately intervened to stop Yagura.

Character Developments

• Yizhe demonstrates improved combat ability and confidence, using Wind Release, clones, tactical deception, and his enhanced physical strength. However, he learns to recognize the limits of his power and accepts that retreat is wiser than continuing alone.
• Terumi Mei takes control of the situation, showing superior judgment and battlefield awareness. Though her cooperation with Yizhe is imperfect, she prioritizes survival and successfully creates an escape opportunity.
• Yagura/Kisame is shown to be exceptionally durable and versatile, combining Water and Wind Release techniques. Despite being badly injured, he remains aggressive and eager to continue the battle.
• Ao enters as a significant new presence, apparently opposing or restraining Yagura by restoring the mist and blocking his pursuit.

Significant Themes

• The importance of retreat and survival: Yizhe learns that bravery without support can become recklessness.
• Tactical cooperation: Even though Yizhe and Terumi Mei lack coordination, their combined techniques allow them to escape a stronger opponent.
• Limits of individual strength: Yizhe’s powerful punch can injure Yagura, but it is not enough to defeat him outright.
• Deception and battlefield control: Clones, mist, barriers, and redirected attacks shape the battle as much as raw power.
• Internal conflict and political tension: Ao’s intervention suggests that the conflict involves more than a simple battle, with divisions or competing interests within Kirigakure.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe and Terumi Mei fight side by side but clash over tactics, with Yizhe resenting her interference and Terumi Mei forcing him to retreat.
• Yizhe successfully surprises Kisame/Yagura with a clone-assisted attack, gaining a temporary advantage.
• Terumi Mei’s Water Dragon both protects Yizhe’s escape and damages their enemy, though Yizhe suspects she intentionally blocked his follow-up attack.
• Yagura angrily challenges the fleeing pair and attempts to pursue them, only to be stopped by Ao’s renewed Hidden Mist Technique.

Chapter Summary: “Pacification”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the battle in the forest, Ao catches up with the young Mizukage, Yagura, who is furious that Terumi Mei and the unidentified Hyuga-affiliated young man retreated instead of continuing to fight.
• Ao pacifies Yagura by falsely claiming that the two opponents fled because they were overwhelmed by his strength, particularly his Water Mirror Technique.
• In reality, Ao understands that Mei could have fought Yagura briefly and that the young man had deliberately concealed much of his ability, including the Byakugan and Gentle Fist. Their retreat was intended to prevent Yagura from using the Three-Tails’ power and exposing his identity as the jinchūriki.
• Yagura is reassured when Ao praises his Water Mirror Technique, which can copy opposing techniques and is supported by the Three-Tails’ enormous chakra reserves. Believing he has won, Yagura agrees to return to Kirigakure.
• Ao promises to arrange another opportunity for Yagura to test the young man’s true strength, while advising him not to use the Water Mirror Technique next time so the opponent will be willing to fight.
• Meanwhile, Yizhe and Terumi Mei travel through another layer of mist, realizing that Ao has deliberately concealed or protected their retreat.
• Back in town, the Hoshigaki Brothers emerge with their injured followers and announce their intention to destroy the medical shop. They want to punish its owner for defying them and intimidate the townspeople into recognizing their authority.

Character Developments

• Yagura: Revealed as immensely powerful but emotionally immature and easily manipulated by praise. His anger quickly disappears when Ao flatters him, and he takes pride in the idea that his strength frightened his opponents.
• Ao: Acts as Yagura’s handler and stabilizing influence. He lies tactically to keep Yagura calm, while correctly analyzing the battle and protecting the secrecy surrounding Yagura’s Tailed Beast status.
• Terumi Mei: Demonstrates strategic judgment by retreating before the confrontation escalates and potentially forces Yagura to reveal his jinchūriki power.
• Yizhe: Continues to conceal his full abilities, suggesting that his apparent use of ordinary Wind and Water Release techniques is deliberate.
• Hoshigaki Brothers: Become more openly aggressive and authoritarian. Their plan to destroy the clinic is meant as a public warning against anyone challenging their control.

Significant Themes

• Pacification through manipulation: Ao controls Yagura not through force but through carefully chosen praise and explanations.
• Power and immaturity: Yagura possesses overwhelming strength, yet his childish temperament makes him dependent on more experienced figures.
• Concealed identities and abilities: Several characters deliberately hide their true capabilities, making apparent victories and retreats strategically ambiguous.
• Political control through intimidation: The Hoshigaki Brothers use violence against the medical shop to preserve their influence and discourage resistance.
• Strategic restraint: Retreat is portrayed not as defeat, but as a way to prevent greater danger and protect secrets.

Character Interactions

• Ao and Yagura: Their exchange is the chapter’s central interaction. Ao lies and flatters Yagura to calm him, while Yagura alternates between childish anger, curiosity, and pride.
• Yagura and his opponents: Although he believes he decisively won, Mei and Yizhe retreat for strategic reasons rather than because they were truly defeated.
• Ao and Mei/Yizhe: Ao indirectly assists their withdrawal by spreading mist, showing that he recognizes and supports Mei’s decision to prevent escalation.
• Hoshigaki Brothers and the townspeople: The brothers publicly threaten the medical shop to establish dominance and warn others not to oppose them.

Chapter Summary: “At the Door”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The injured Hoshigaki Brothers’ gang forces its way through the crowded streets, intimidating civilians as they head toward Yizhe’s newly opened clinic.
• Local residents recognize that the gang is likely going to retaliate against Yizhe for taking over Chosaburo’s former establishment. Many worry for the young doctor, while one person goes to alert the Mist Ninja law-enforcement unit.
• A drunken bystander insists that the gang may be visiting the clinic for medical treatment. Another man exploits his drunkenness by betting him one hundred ryo that the gang intends to destroy the clinic.
• Inside the clinic, a greeter warns Yizhe, Tanako, and Kanda that the gang is approaching. Tanako and Kanda panic and suggest that Yizhe escape through the back door.
• Yizhe remains calm and tells them to stay seated, suggesting that the gang may have come for treatment. He instructs the greeter to invite the men inside for medical care, hoping to prevent them from starting a fight at the entrance.
• The gang reaches the clinic. The third brother, Gan Shi Zuozhen, mocks the frightened greeters and boasts about taking over the business.
• When the greeter confidently announces that the young doctor is inside, the second brother, Gan Shi Youzhen, reacts with sudden fear. He stops the group and nervously asks whether Yizhe is truly present, even addressing the greeter respectfully.

Character Developments

• Yizhe is presented as exceptionally composed and confident. Rather than flee or prepare for violence, he uses courtesy and the clinic’s purpose to control the situation.
• Tanako and Kanda initially lose their nerve, showing how seriously they view the gang’s threat. Yizhe’s calm demeanor restores some of their confidence.
• The clinic greeter gains courage from Yizhe’s reassuring attitude and successfully confronts the gang at the entrance despite her fear.
• Gan Shi Zuozhen, the third brother, remains arrogant, foolish, and eager to intimidate others.
• Gan Shi Youzhen, the second brother, reveals a dramatic change in attitude. His confidence collapses when he learns Yizhe is inside, suggesting that he knows Yizhe’s reputation or fears the consequences of confronting him.

Significant Themes

• Fear versus composure: The townspeople and clinic staff fear the gang, while Yizhe’s calmness becomes a source of strength for those around him.
• Reputation and hidden power: Gan Shi Youzhen’s sudden panic hints that Yizhe possesses a dangerous reputation or overwhelming ability unknown to the other characters.
• Intimidation and social power: The gang controls the streets through violence and fear, while Yizhe counters them with confidence, politeness, and control of the situation.
• Community concern: Although the townspeople are afraid to intervene directly, they sympathize with Yizhe and attempt to warn him and summon authorities.
• Irony and foreshadowing: The gang arrives intending to threaten the clinic, but Yizhe treats them as potential patients. The second brother’s fearful reaction strongly foreshadows that the gang may be severely outmatched.

Character Interactions

• Townspeople and the Hoshigaki gang: Civilians avoid confrontation as the gang pushes through them, demonstrating the gang’s influence and brutality.
• The drunk and the clever bettor: Their argument provides comic relief while emphasizing how obvious the gang’s hostile intentions appear to everyone else.
• Yizhe, Tanako, and Kanda: Tanako and Kanda urge Yizhe to escape, but his confidence reassures them and keeps them from panicking.
• Yizhe and the greeter: Yizhe encourages her to invite the gang inside for treatment, turning her into a calm intermediary and preventing an immediate clash.
• The gang and the greeters: The gang attempts to frighten the two women, but one greeter unexpectedly responds with confidence.
• Gan Shi brothers and Yizhe’s presence: Although Yizhe has not yet appeared directly, merely hearing that he is inside causes Gan Shi Youzhen to become visibly nervous, establishing a sharp contrast between the brothers’ earlier arrogance and their sudden apprehension.

Chapter Summary: “Another Severing”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Hoshigaki Brothers arrive at Yizhe’s newly opened clinic with hostile intentions, believing he was lured away and should not still be there.
• The hostess informs them that Yizhe is waiting inside, shocking both brothers. Afraid but unwilling to lose face in front of the watching crowd, they enter the clinic to investigate.
• Yizhe appears calmly, causing the brothers to panic because he is the same person who previously defeated and injured them.
• Gan Shi Youzhen suspects that Yizhe may be a Genjutsu illusion. He attempts to dispel it, first alone and then with help from his third brother, but nothing changes.
• He then considers that Yizhe might be a clone. To test whether the figure has a physical body, he politely offers to shake hands.
• Yizhe accepts and deliberately crushes one of Gan Shi Youzhen’s fingers during the handshake, revealing that the figure is either the real Yizhe or a physical Shadow Clone.
• When the third brother prepares to retaliate, the injured brother stops him, terrified of provoking Yizhe further.
• Yizhe mockingly claims that the finger must have broken because of an old “hidden injury” and persuades the humiliated Gan Shi Youzhen to agree with him.

Character Developments

• Yizhe remains relaxed, confident, and cruelly playful. He effortlessly controls the encounter and uses the Shadow Clone to intimidate the brothers without revealing his true strength.
• Gan Shi Youzhen shifts from suspicion and attempted intimidation to fear, submission, and forced politeness after realizing that Yizhe is genuinely present and capable of harming him instantly.
• Gan Shi Zuozhen, already traumatized by having a finger broken previously, becomes visibly frightened and nearly loses his nerve. He still wants to defend his brother but ultimately follows his lead.
• Kanda and the other onlookers become increasingly confused by the brothers’ uncharacteristic cowardice. They recognize the absurdity of the scene but wisely avoid laughing or intervening.

Significant Themes

• Fear overturning power dynamics: The normally vicious Hoshigaki Brothers are reduced to helplessness because of their previous defeat by Yizhe.
• Humiliation and dominance: Yizhe asserts control through a seemingly harmless handshake, turning the brothers’ attempt to test him into another painful lesson.
• Appearances versus reality: The brothers struggle to determine whether Yizhe is real, a Genjutsu, or a clone, while Yizhe calmly exploits their uncertainty.
• Psychological intimidation: Yizhe’s casual manner and fake apology make the injury even more humiliating, demonstrating that he can defeat them without openly fighting.

Character Interactions

• The hostess cautiously directs the brothers to Yizhe.
• The brothers confer nervously before entering and later attempt to dispel what they believe may be Genjutsu.
• Gan Shi Youzhen tests Yizhe with a handshake, but Yizhe turns the gesture against him by crushing his finger.
• Gan Shi Zuozhen tries to respond violently, but his brother restrains him.
• Yizhe sarcastically reframes the injury as a medical observation, and Gan Shi Youzhen is forced to praise him as a “miraculous doctor.”

Chapter Summary: “Holding Them Here”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gan Shi Youzhen and the Hoshigaki Brothers arrive at Yizhe’s clinic after apparently attempting to damage or attack it. Youzhen has a severely injured ring finger, while many of their subordinates are also wounded.
• Rather than confront Yizhe directly, Youzhen claims that they have come specifically to receive medical treatment because of Yizhe’s excellent reputation.
• Yizhe recognizes the deception but accepts their excuse, deliberately poking Youzhen’s injured finger and making it clear that he has the upper hand.
• Yizhe agrees to treat the injured thugs for a high fee. Youzhen reluctantly accepts and orders his third brother, Gan Shi Zuozhen, to organize the injured men into an orderly line.
• Kanda and Tanako, uncomfortable with the Hoshigaki Brothers’ presence, leave the clinic. Outside, they are shocked to see the normally violent thugs obediently waiting in line.
• The townspeople gather to watch and speculate about the unusual scene. Some doubt that the thugs are genuinely seeking treatment, while others investigate and confirm that they are waiting for Yizhe to treat them.
• The chapter ends by revealing Yizhe’s true motivation: he is using the notorious Hoshigaki Brothers as publicity. Treating the injuries of the town’s thugs will create a spectacle, attract attention, and help establish his reputation as a doctor.

Character Developments

• Yizhe demonstrates confidence, cleverness, and control. He sees through the brothers’ excuse but chooses not to expose them, instead turning the situation to his advantage.
• Gan Shi Youzhen becomes cautious and submissive after realizing that he cannot safely oppose Yizhe. Although he tries to maintain a polite, generous façade, his pain and fear reveal his vulnerability.
• Gan Shi Zuozhen, initially confused by his brother’s sudden change in attitude, quickly understands that cooperation is necessary and takes responsibility for organizing the injured men.
• Kanda and Tanako recognize more clearly that the Hoshigaki Brothers remain dangerous despite their temporary obedience. Their discomfort leads them to leave the clinic.
• The townspeople become increasingly curious about Yizhe and the strange behavior of the thugs, helping create the publicity Yizhe wants.

Significant Themes

• Turning danger into opportunity: Yizhe transforms a threatening confrontation into a business opportunity and a way to promote his clinic.
• Power and intimidation: The Hoshigaki Brothers’ obedience shows that fear of Yizhe outweighs their usual violent behavior.
• Public reputation and spectacle: The unusual sight of notorious thugs lining up for treatment draws public attention and strengthens Yizhe’s status.
• Appearance versus reality: The brothers pretend to be ordinary patients, while everyone involved understands that their visit began as an act of aggression.
• Pragmatism and compromise: Yizhe allows the brothers to preserve their dignity by accepting their false explanation, while they cooperate to avoid a worse outcome.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe deliberately provokes and intimidates Youzhen by examining and poking his injured finger.
• Youzhen flatters Yizhe and pretends to admire his medical skills, while secretly trying to avoid further conflict.
• Youzhen commands Zuozhen to organize the injured subordinates, and Zuozhen gradually realizes that the order is part of their submission to Yizhe.
• Kanda and Tanako mock the thugs’ orderly behavior, but Zuozhen overhears them and intimidates them with a hostile glare.
• Yizhe and Youzhen engage in a tense verbal exchange in which both understand the truth of the situation, though neither openly admits it.

Summary of “Rice Erosion”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yizhe forces the notorious Hoshigaki Brothers and their gang to remain at his clinic, treating their injuries and illnesses.
• He charges them an exorbitant total of two million ryo, effectively extorting payment by threatening that they might suffer further “accidents” if they refused.
• Gan Shi Youzhen angrily objects but ultimately agrees to pay because he fears Yizhe’s retaliation.
• Yizhe treats Youzhen’s broken finger and the gang’s various injuries. Despite his harsh methods and intimidation, he genuinely provides effective medical care.
• The gang leaves the clinic looking healthy and largely recovered, causing townspeople to marvel at Yizhe’s medical abilities.
• Rumors spread that Yizhe has also improved the condition of Kanda’s critically ill brother-in-law. His reputation rapidly rises, and the clinic becomes widely known throughout town.
• The gang’s presence attracts attention but also intimidates ordinary patients, who may now hesitate to visit the clinic.
• The Hoshigaki Brothers depart, resentful over the enormous fee and frightened by Yizhe’s threats. Youzhen resolves not to return unless absolutely necessary.
• Outside town, Yizhe encounters Terumi Mei and pretends they are meeting for the first time, concealing his previous identity and connection to her.

Character Developments

• Yizhe demonstrates both ruthless cleverness and genuine professionalism. He exploits the gang financially and intimidates them, yet he still honors his promise to treat them properly because he values his reputation as a healer.
• His medical reputation grows dramatically, giving him confidence that maintaining the clinic will be easy.
• Gan Shi Youzhen is forced into an unfamiliar position of submission. Accustomed to threatening others, he becomes frustrated and fearful when Yizhe turns those tactics against him.
• Youzhen’s experience leaves him humiliated, financially strained, and determined to avoid Yizhe in the future.
• Gan Shi Zuozhen remains cautious and observant, recognizing that something has clearly gone wrong when he sees his brother’s furious expression.
• Terumi Mei appears at the chapter’s end as someone connected to Yizhe’s concealed past, though their interaction is only beginning.

Significant Themes

• Reputation and social influence: Treating a notorious gang gives Yizhe instant fame, showing how public reputation can spread through rumor and spectacle.
• Power reversal: The gang, normally the town’s intimidators, becomes vulnerable when Yizhe controls their treatment and payment.
• Healing versus exploitation: Yizhe genuinely cures the gang, but he also uses their dependence to demand an enormous fee, blurring the line between medical ethics and manipulation.
• Identity and disguise: Yizhe must hide his true identity from Terumi Mei, emphasizing his need to maintain separate public and private personas.
• Fear as a tool: Yizhe’s implied threats prove nearly as effective as physical force, allowing him to control the gang without openly attacking them.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe and Gan Shi Youzhen engage in a tense power struggle, with Yizhe calmly threatening him while Youzhen struggles to preserve his pride.
• Yizhe reassures the gang that he will provide proper treatment despite charging them heavily, preserving his image as a legitimate doctor.
• The townspeople discuss Yizhe’s actions, spreading praise and increasing his fame.
• Yizhe says farewell to the brothers with deliberately unsettling politeness, causing them to panic at the suggestion that they might return.
• At the end, Yizhe approaches Terumi Mei while pretending not to recognize her, setting up a potentially significant future interaction.

章节摘要：姐姐

1. 关键情节与事件

• 照美冥奉命与少年接触，但少年（伊哲）假装不认识她，照美冥内心愤怒，却配合他演戏，谎称自己是普通巡逻雾忍。
• 两人在镇外交谈，照美冥询问他与“干柿鬼鲛”冲突的缘由。
• 伊哲谎称只是因店铺被干柿一族恶霸觊觎、自己出手教训而招致报复，刻意隐去“鬼鲛身份可疑”等复杂真相，想把大事化小。
• 照美冥要求伊哲称她为“姐姐”，伊哲被迫妥协改口。
• 伊哲担心冒充鬼鲛的神秘强者再来找麻烦，请求照美冥和雾隐村出面解决此事。

2. 角色发展

• 伊哲：谨慎隐忍，为避免暴露身份而妥协低头，意识到自己武力不及对手，选择依赖雾隐村的势力来消除隐患。
• 照美冥：表面嬉笑玩闹，实则心怀任务；因之前屡次在伊哲手中吃亏，借“姐姐”称谓在口头上占便宜而暗自得意。

3. 主要主题

• 身份伪装与相互试探：双方都心知肚明却各自演戏，在虚假的客套中博弈。
• 个体与村子的力量平衡：伊哲个人无法对抗强敌，不得不依托忍村权威自保。
• 言语上的交锋与妥协：表面和谐之下，暗藏警惕与算计。

4. 人物互动

• 伊哲与照美冥全程“双簧式”对话：照美冥步步紧逼，逼他叫“姐姐”；伊哲内心厌恶却只能忍耐。
• 照美冥故意表现得意，期待日后揭穿真相时看到伊哲的表情。
• 伊哲在交锋中落于下风，最终放下姿态向照美冥求助，二人的心理攻防由此形成反差。

Chapter Summary: “Respite”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yizhe asks Terumi Mei to intervene against the dangerous man calling himself Kisame Hoshigaki, claiming that the man’s harassment threatens his clinic and could provoke a fight in town.
• Mei pretends to reprimand him as a law-enforcement Mist Ninja but agrees that, if Kisame returns, Yizhe should come to her instead of attacking immediately. Both secretly manipulate the conversation for their own purposes.
• When Yizhe returns to his clinic, he learns through his Shadow Clone’s memories that the Hoshigaki Brothers and their gang have been treated and have left. The encounter earned him an unexpected two million taels.
• However, the gang’s presence has frightened away all of Yizhe’s patients. Concerned residents avoid the clinic, fearing the gang may return or that the clinic is connected to the incident.
• Yizhe closes the clinic for the day and gives the two women who served as greeters twenty thousand taels to split between themselves. He also plans to pay their employer, Tanako, separately so she cannot take part of their wages.
• The women, delighted by his generosity, hug and kiss Yizhe. Terumi Mei secretly watches the scene and mutters that he is a “pervert.”
• Yizhe accompanies the women to Tanako’s tavern to explain the clinic’s closure and ensure they are not punished or cheated out of their pay.
• He gives Tanako fifty thousand taels as a hiring fee, explaining that workers should not be expected to work without proper compensation. Tanako is pleased and grateful.

Character Developments

• Yizhe demonstrates his resourcefulness and calculating nature. Leaving a Shadow Clone at the clinic protects his property and allows him to profit from the Hoshigaki Brothers’ visit even while he is away.
• He also shows a more compassionate and generous side by protecting the greeters from exploitation and paying both them and Tanako fairly.
• Yizhe’s growing reputation has become a burden: although it brings him money and influence, it also frightens ordinary residents and damages his clinic’s business.
• Terumi Mei continues to act as both an apparent authority figure and a secret observer. She understands Yizhe’s manipulation but plays along, while her reaction to the women kissing him reveals amusement, irritation, or possible jealousy.
• Tanako is portrayed as practical and business-minded, but she is willing to cooperate once Yizhe compensates her fairly.

Significant Themes

• The cost of reputation: Yizhe’s notoriety protects him from some threats but causes ordinary people to fear and avoid him.
• Pragmatism and manipulation: Both Yizhe and Terumi Mei use calculated performances to achieve their goals, making their interaction a subtle contest of schemes.
• Generosity versus exploitation: Yizhe contrasts his own willingness to pay fairly with Tanako’s tendency to take a portion of her workers’ earnings.
• Security and preparedness: Yizhe’s use of a Shadow Clone shows the importance of anticipating danger and protecting one’s livelihood.
• Respite and balance: After the violence and tension of the previous events, Yizhe takes the day off, enjoying a brief break while dealing with the consequences of the conflict.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe repeatedly calls Terumi Mei “Big Sister” to persuade her to intervene, gradually overcoming his own discomfort with the title.
• Terumi Mei responds with mock authority, warning him not to fight Kisame in town and directing him to seek her help instead.
• Yizhe treats the two greeters kindly and financially protects them from Tanako’s wage deductions.
• The greeters express their gratitude physically, embarrassing Yizhe and prompting Terumi Mei’s jealous or disapproving comment.
• Yizhe and Tanako establish a friendly business arrangement when he pays her directly for the women’s services, earning her approval.

Chapter Summary: “Common Cold”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yizhe opens his clinic early but expects few patients because the townspeople still fear the Hoshigaki Brothers, despite the publicity generated by his confrontation with them.
• A frightened subordinate of the Hoshigaki Brothers arrives and delivers a black bag filled with the large consultation fee Yizhe demanded.
• When Yizhe asks why the brothers did not deliver the money themselves, the subordinate claims they have both caught colds and are bedridden.
• Yizhe immediately recognizes the absurdity of the excuse, knowing that powerful amphibious demi-humans should not suffer from ordinary illnesses. He correctly infers that the brothers are simply too afraid or resentful to face him.
• For amusement, Yizhe repeatedly pretends that he intends to visit and examine them. The subordinate panics and desperately discourages him, eventually fleeing the clinic.
• Afterward, Yizhe encounters Terumi Mei, who playfully pretends to be a patient seeking treatment for an illness.

Character Developments

• Yizhe continues to establish himself as a feared and cunning figure. Although he is running a clinic, his reputation as a dangerous “fiend” still overshadows his medical identity.
• He demonstrates strong observational skills by immediately seeing through the Hoshigaki subordinate’s lie, but chooses not to expose it because receiving the money is all that matters.
• Yizhe also reveals a mischievous and teasing side by deliberately frightening the subordinate.
• The Hoshigaki Brothers are shown to be deeply intimidated by Yizhe. Their refusal to appear personally suggests that their authority has been undermined and that they fear further confrontation.
• The subordinate is terrified but dutiful, forcing himself to deliver the payment and protect his leaders by maintaining the lie.
• Terumi Mei remains playful and flirtatious. She enjoys hearing Yizhe call her “big sis” and deliberately exploits his reluctance to acknowledge their familiarity.

Significant Themes

• Fear and reputation: Yizhe’s violent reputation continues to influence how others behave, even when he is acting as a doctor.
• Power dynamics: The formerly dominant Hoshigaki Brothers are now reduced to avoiding Yizhe and sending an underling to negotiate with him.
• Deception and performance: The subordinate lies about the brothers’ illness, while Yizhe knowingly plays along and exaggerates his intention to visit.
• Humor through intimidation: Much of the chapter’s comedy comes from the mismatch between Yizhe’s casual behavior and the subordinate’s overwhelming fear.
• Identity and relationships: Yizhe’s accidental use of “big sis” reveals a degree of familiarity with Terumi Mei, while her teasing shows that she enjoys the informal bond between them.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe and the Hoshigaki subordinate engage in a tense but comedic exchange, with Yizhe calmly teasing and the subordinate desperately trying to avoid provoking him.
• Yizhe’s repeated offers to examine or escort the subordinate expose how easily he can manipulate the man through fear.
• Terumi Mei enters immediately after the subordinate leaves, shifting the mood from intimidation to playful banter. Her teasing and Yizhe’s skeptical response establish their continuing flirtatious and familiar dynamic.

Chapter Summary: “Drama Queen”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Terumi Mei visits Yizhe’s clinic, ostensibly for a medical examination, but Yizhe suspects she has another motive.
• Yizhe hides a mysterious black bag in a drawer and avoids discussing it when Mei asks about it.
• While examining her pulse, Yizhe questions why a powerful ninja like Mei has been assigned to a remote town.
• Mei explains that she was demoted to enforcement duty after commanding Kirigakure’s disastrous battle against the Sky Ninja. She claims the defeat caused heavy casualties and that the Mizukage punished her by restricting her from missions.
• Mei acts sorrowful, and although Yizhe believes most of her story, his instincts still warn him that something is suspicious.
• Yizhe asks about the individual impersonating Kisame Hoshigaki. Mei says she privately negotiated with him and that he will leave Yizhe alone as long as Yizhe stops provoking the Hoshigaki brothers.
• Yizhe agrees, admitting that the disguised figure is too powerful to fight safely.
• Mei reveals that she never truly intended to receive medical treatment; her visit was mainly to deliver this warning and become more familiar with Yizhe.
• The chapter ends with the two trading insults. Mei angrily threatens him, while Yizhe dismisses her and makes it clear he does not want further contact.

Character Developments

• Yizhe: Remains cautious and suspicious, relying heavily on his instincts. He carefully questions Mei while pretending to be casual, showing his awareness that her arrival may be connected to hidden political or military plans. He also demonstrates pragmatism by choosing to avoid conflict with the powerful Kisame impersonator.
• Terumi Mei: Presents herself as a wronged and emotional warrior, but her behavior is calculated. She uses her apparent vulnerability to gain Yizhe’s sympathy while secretly following Kirigakure’s broader strategy of approaching him. Her irritation at Yizhe’s bluntness adds a more theatrical, temperamental side to her character.
• The disguised Kisame/Yagura: Though absent, he remains an important threat. His strength and ability to use the Water Mirror Technique continue to influence Yizhe’s decisions and Kirigakure’s plans.

Significant Themes

• Deception and hidden motives: Mei’s story is largely truthful, but she conceals the larger reason for befriending Yizhe. Both characters conceal information and test each other.
• Political manipulation: Kirigakure is attempting to use Yizhe as a potential link to the Hyuga Clan, making their personal interaction part of a larger diplomatic strategy.
• Caution versus trust: Yizhe wants to believe Mei but refuses to ignore his instincts. His guarded attitude reflects the dangers of alliances in a world dominated by espionage and military power.
• Comic tension and personality clashes: The serious political subtext is balanced by sarcastic banter, with Yizhe’s bluntness repeatedly frustrating Mei’s dramatic behavior.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe and Mei engage in a tense but playful conversation during the supposed medical examination.
• Mei attempts to draw sympathy by describing her demotion and wartime losses, while Yizhe responds with reluctant comfort but continues analyzing her motives.
• Their discussion of the Kisame impersonator establishes a temporary understanding: Mei promises he will not trouble Yizhe if Yizhe avoids the Hoshigaki brothers.
• Their final exchange reinforces their antagonistic chemistry. Mei threatens retaliation, while Yizhe openly dismisses her, ending the encounter on a hostile yet comedic note.

Here is a concise summary of the chapter:

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Terumi Mei leaves the clinic in a huff after her earlier visit.
• The clinic remains without patients for two days; only the pharmacy owner Yamamoto visits to congratulate Yizhe.
• On the third day, Matsuda Koji brings his injured son, Matsuda Koki, to the clinic — the first true patient.
• The town watches to see if local thugs will interfere with patients; none appear yet.
• Yizhe examines Koki, who has terrible, scarred legs from a battlefield injury. Koki appears mentally broken and unresponsive.
• Matsuda explains that Hidden Mist medical ninjas said his son's legs were incurable. He begs Yizhe to help.
• Yizhe feels helpless internally, noting the injuries are too severe — he cannot "turn decay into something miraculous."

2. Character Developments

• Yizhe: Gains reputation as a "legendary" doctor among townsfolk, but is self-aware about his limits. He shows cautious, honest assessment rather than false promises.
• Matsuda Koki: A civilian-boy-turned-ninja whose promising career was destroyed by severe leg injuries. His trauma has left him listless and silent.
• Matsuda Koji: A desperate father who risks thug retaliation to seek a cure for his son, showing deep love and hope.

3. Significant Themes

• Civilian vs. Ninja: The class gap — civilian children struggle to become ninja, and Koki's fall is tragic because he overcame those odds.
• Hope vs. Reality: The town's desperate faith in Yizhe contrasts with his personal doubt about his capabilities.
• Trauma and Identity: Koki's war injuries have shattered his sense of self and purpose.

4. Character Interactions

• Yizhe & Matsuda: Yizhe listens patiently, asks about head injuries, and examines the legs; Matsuda pleads earnestly and shares his family's story.
• Village & Clinic: Neighbors watch the clinic, noting who enters; Matsuda carrying his son is a significant event for the community.
• Background: Terumi Mei, Yamamoto, and law enforcers are noted as non-patients by observers, showing the town's curiosity about Yizhe's clinic.

Chapter Summary: "Ignoring"

Key Plot Points

• Yizhe examines a child's legs, discovering they were previously shattered and poorly treated at Hidden Mist Hospital. The bones healed misaligned, and the ligaments were not properly restored.
• Yizhe concludes the child's legs are permanently crippled — he will never stand again — but offers partial restorative surgery allowing the child to eventually move around while supporting himself against walls.
• Yizhe performs the first surgery, working over an hour but completing less than half. He tells Matsuda two more surgeries will be needed.
• Yizhe charges 33,000 ryo total (30,000 surgery + 3,000 medicine) but offers a 50% first-customer discount: 16,500 ryo. Matsuda only has 10,000 and promises to pay the remainder next time; Yizhe agrees.
• Meanwhile, villagers outside the clinic watch to see if the Hoshigaki Brothers (thugs) will attack Matsuda for seeking treatment. They decide to wait one more day before trusting the clinic.
• At the Hoshigaki estate, the third brother suggests targeting clinic patients to shut down operations. The second brother warns him indirectly by reminding him of his own broken thumb — implying Yizhe would retaliate against them again. The third brother is silenced.

Character Developments

• Yizhe: Demonstrates exceptional medical skill and honesty (doesn't sugarcoat the prognosis), yet shows pragmatism — he prices services based on the client's financial means and accepts partial payment without hesitation. He is also visibly human, exhausted by the demanding surgery.
• Matsuda: A devoted father, initially despairing but quickly grateful for the partial recovery his son can achieve. Honest about not having enough money.
• Second Brother Hoshigaki (Gan Shi Youzhen): Strategic and cautious; restrains his brother's impulsiveness by appealing to consequences rather than morality.
• Third Brother Hoshigaki (Gan Shi Zuozhen): Aggressive and short-sighted; wants direct retaliation but is easily deterred.

Significant Themes

• Medical ethics vs. realism: A doctor delivers bad news plainly instead of comforting lies.
• Power dynamics through skill: Yizhe's medical talent is itself a weapon — the Hoshigaki Brothers fear him because he could break them again if provoked.
• Community trust as a process: The villagers are risk-averse, testing whether the clinic can protect its patients before committing to it.
• The cost of healing: Even dedicated work has limits; some injuries are beyond full recovery, and good treatment comes at a price.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe ↔ Matsuda: Professional but compassionate; transparent about diagnosis, prognosis, and pricing. Matsuda leaves grateful and indebted.
• Villagers (collective): Observed from outside; suspicious, calculating, waiting for proof of the clinic's viability.
• Second ↔ Third Brother: Short but pointed — the second brother uses the third's own injury as an unspoken warning, demonstrating his authority and his fear of Yizhe's retaliation.

Summary of Chapter: "Busy"

1. Key Plot Points & Events

• On the fourth day of opening his clinic, Yizhe finds a long queue of patients waiting outside before he even unlocks the doors—a stark contrast to his first three quiet days.
• He spends the entire morning treating nearly twenty patients, mostly common ailments and minor injuries, with a few more serious cases. This exhausts him.
• He briefly closes the clinic at noon to eat and rest, ignoring the crowd's commotion. A few patients trying to leave for lunch are tricked out of their spots and must re-queue.
• Reopening in the afternoon, he continues seeing patients. One patient has a complicated illness that Yizhe cannot fully cure; he gives free medicine to suppress it and advises seeking another clinic, avoiding charging a fee to protect his reputation.
• By evening, he closes the doors, exhausted. He decides that the workload is unsustainable.
• The next day, he posts two notices outside: consultations limited to sixteen patients per day, and he is hiring an assistant.

2. Character Developments

• Yizhe transitions from theoretical knowledge (learned under Tsunade and by observing Shizune) to practical, hands-on medicine. He gains new insights from treating so many varied cases consecutively.
• He becomes aware of his own limits—physical exhaustion and medical knowledge gaps—and starts to think pragmatically about managing his clinic's workload rather than trying to help everyone at once.
• He shows strong concern for ethical conduct, avoiding false impressions or charges when he cannot cure someone, valuing his hard-earned reputation.

3. Significant Themes

• The Weight of Success: Sudden popularity brings physical and mental strain; success is both a blessing and a burden.
• Medical Ethics vs. Practicality: Yizhe struggles to balance his duty to treat as many patients as possible with his own well-being and the need to protect his reputation.
• Self-Care and Boundaries: Learning to set limits (number of patients, seeking help) is necessary for sustainability as a healer.

4. Character Interactions

• With Patients: The patients show a mix of trust, impatience, and opportunism—some try to cut back in line after leaving, while others cooperate to block them. Yizhe treats them politely but firmly, closing the doors for breaks.
• With the Difficult Case: He interacts sensitively with a patient he cannot cure, providing free medicine and honest advice rather than risking malpractice or overcharging.
• Internal Reflection: Throughout the chapter, Yizhe’s thoughts reveal his exhaustion, his caution about public perception, and his eventual decision to implement structural changes to his practice.

Chapter Summary: “Joining”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yizhe’s clinic has become extremely popular, overwhelming him with patients and disrupting the business of other local clinics.
• To manage the workload and protect his reputation, Yizhe posts two notices:
  • He will hire an assistant.
  • He will limit the number of daily patients, prioritizing external injuries while placing less familiar illnesses second.
• Urgent injuries and illnesses remain exempt from the patient limit, reassuring the public and reducing opposition from rival clinics.
• The clinic closes for one day so Yizhe can select an assistant. Around twenty young people arrive to compete.
• Yizhe announces two basic requirements:
  • Applicants must not faint at the sight of blood.
  • They must be literate enough to read and write prescriptions.
• One applicant leaves because he cannot handle blood, while nearly half depart after admitting they are illiterate.
• Terumi Mei unexpectedly arrives and asks to participate in the selection. She claims she needs a part-time job because she has high expenses, no savings, and no missions after being exiled to the town.
• Her beauty immediately captivates the applicants, especially the men, who begin urging Yizhe to let her join the test.

Character Developments

• Yizhe: Demonstrates practical judgment and self-awareness. He limits patient numbers because his knowledge of pathology and pharmacology is incomplete, showing that he values protecting his reputation and avoiding cases beyond his ability. He also reveals a firm, organized approach to hiring, prioritizing literacy and emotional steadiness.
• Terumi Mei: Presents herself as financially distressed and uses an exaggeratedly pitiful demeanor to gain sympathy. Her arrival suggests she may have ulterior motives, and Yizhe remains suspicious of her intentions.
• Applicants: Their reactions reveal the social conditions of the town: widespread illiteracy, limited employment opportunities, and strong susceptibility to Terumi Mei’s beauty. Many are willing to advocate for her despite not knowing whether she is qualified.
• Other clinics: Their owners initially feel threatened by Yizhe’s success but are relieved when he restricts the number of patients, allowing overflow business to return to them.

Significant Themes

• Managing success and reputation: Yizhe’s popularity creates both opportunity and danger, forcing him to control demand carefully.
• Limits of knowledge: His decision to prioritize injuries reflects the importance of recognizing one’s own limitations rather than risking failure.
• Education and social inequality: Illiteracy eliminates many applicants and is presented as one reason ordinary civilians have difficulty becoming ninjas.
• Beauty and influence: Terumi Mei’s appearance strongly affects the applicants, allowing her to attract support without yet proving her abilities.
• Competition and economic survival: The clinic’s success disrupts the local medical market, while Terumi Mei’s lack of income motivates her attempt to find work.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe addresses the applicants directly and establishes strict requirements for the assistant position.
• The applicants react with disappointment as unqualified candidates withdraw.
• Terumi Mei approaches Yizhe in a flirtatious, self-pitying manner and asks to be included in the selection.
• Yizhe responds skeptically, joking that his “little temple” cannot accommodate someone like her and privately suspects she intends to cause trouble.
• The male applicants, enchanted by Terumi Mei, pressure Yizhe to allow her into the competition, while Yizhe silently dismisses them as foolishly blinded by her beauty.

Summary: Chapter "Scheming"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Yizhe, a medical ninja, is recruiting an assistant. He privately sees through Terumi Mei's claim of financial need, suspecting she has ulterior motives, but allows her to join because refusing her would be impractical.
• Yizhe sets two elimination criteria: applicants must know cooking and have basic herb-identification skills. This reduces the pool to four people: two women, one man, and Terumi Mei (who passes because she was secretly force-fed medical knowledge via a spiritual technique).
• Yizhe gives the finalists a practical test, pulling out four old prescription stubs to evaluate their hands-on abilities.

2. Character Developments

• Yizhe: Shows perceptiveness and caution—he recognizes Terumi Mei's scheming but chooses to tolerate it rather than openly confront her. He is pragmatic and methodical in his selection process.
• Terumi Mei: Displays outward composure (filing her nails, calmly claiming she knows herbs) but internally resents Yizhe for causing her discomfort from the forced knowledge implant. She is determined to carry out her mission despite her frustration.

3. Significant Themes

• Scheming and Deception: Terumi Mei infiltrates Yizhe's clinic under false pretenses for the Hidden Mist's agenda; Yizhe is aware but plays along.
• Espionage and Hidden Motives: The chapter highlights how characters use excuses and feigned ignorance to achieve political or personal goals.
• Cunning vs. Naivety: Yizhe views the other applicants as "idiots" for fawning over Terumi Mei, while he himself remains wary.

4. Character Interactions

• Yizhe silently rebukes the crowd for openly flirting with Terumi Mei, calling them fools internally.
• The young applicants plead for Terumi Mei to join and celebrate when Yizhe agrees; she thanks them with a smile.
• Yizhe directly interacts with the finalists, setting requirements and handing out the prescription stubs for the test.
• Terumi Mei exchanges brief words with Yizhe, maintaining a calm facade while hiding her resentment and her true mission.

Summary: “Gathering Medicine”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yizhe tests four applicants for a single assistant position by giving each of them a different prescription.
• Because he has only one set of equipment, the applicants complete the medicine-gathering task one at a time while Yizhe times them with a pocket watch.
• He explains that timing begins only after the first herb is weighed, allowing each applicant time to locate the ingredients beforehand.
• The first girl finishes with acceptable, though somewhat imprecise, measurements.
• The second girl is slower but measures the ingredients much more accurately.
• The final applicant, a boy, complains that his prescription contains more ingredients and asks to exchange it. Yizhe refuses, insisting that switching would be unfair.
• The boy works resentfully and hurriedly, makes several measurement errors, and mistakenly takes red ginseng instead of white ginseng.
• Yizhe dismisses him and explains that accuracy—not speed—is the primary qualification. Even a minor mistake in dosage constitutes failure.

Character Development

• Yizhe demonstrates fairness, strict standards, and professional responsibility. He deliberately creates an objective test and refuses to let applicants alter the conditions. He also reveals his suspicion of Terumi Mei, believing she is too powerful and potentially dangerous to employ.
• Terumi Mei quickly understands the purpose of the test and points out the practical problem of having only one set of equipment. Her observation leads to the fair solution of testing applicants individually. She appears confident, perceptive, and interested in observing the process.
• The first girl is nervous but cooperative. Her performance is adequate, showing basic competence despite imperfect precision.
• The second girl proves more careful and accurate, though she sacrifices speed.
• The boy becomes anxious and resentful when assigned the most complicated prescription. His insecurity and desire for an easier task affect his performance, ultimately causing careless and potentially dangerous mistakes.

Significant Themes

• Accuracy over speed: The chapter emphasizes that medical work requires precision above all else. Fast preparation is meaningless if the medicine is incorrectly measured.
• Fairness and impartial judgment: Yizhe ensures that everyone is tested under consistent rules and refuses to let the boy change prescriptions simply because his is more difficult.
• Responsibility in medical practice: The red-ginseng mistake highlights how a seemingly small error can have serious consequences for a patient.
• Composure and mindset: The boy’s frustration and rushed behavior contribute directly to his failure, suggesting that emotional control is essential for the job.
• Trust and caution: Yizhe’s reluctance to hire Terumi Mei reflects his awareness of power dynamics and the risks of keeping an extremely capable outsider close.

Character Interactions

• Terumi Mei engages Yizhe directly, questioning the testing arrangement and prompting him to clarify how timing will work.
• Yizhe encourages the nervous applicants but maintains authority throughout the examination.
• When the boy requests a different prescription, Yizhe firmly rejects the request and later explains that the rules were necessary to preserve fairness.
• The boy challenges Yizhe’s decision after being dismissed, but Yizhe’s stern response quickly restrains him.
• Yizhe’s interactions with Terumi Mei are more guarded than his dealings with the other applicants, as he deliberately avoids considering her a serious candidate.

Summary of "Settled"

Key Plot Points

• Yizhe is testing candidates for a medical assistant position through practical examinations in prescription-filling and herb identification
• A male candidate fails catastrophically by mistaking red ginseng for white ginseng—a dangerous error in medicine—and is dismissed
• Two female candidates show acceptable but imperfect performance in the first task
• Terumi Mei insists on participating despite having no need for the position, completing the prescription task with superior speed and accuracy
• Yizhe tries to dismiss her performance as unfair (citing her ninja advantages), then designs a second test—identifying powdered medicinal herbs—hoping to eliminate her
• Terumi Mei flawlessly identifies every ingredient, impressing the other candidates so much they withdraw voluntarily
• The assistant position effectively falls to Terumi Mei against Yizhe's wishes

Character Developments

• Yizhe: Pragmatic and principled about medical standards; grows increasingly frustrated as his attempts to exclude Terumi Mei repeatedly fail; trapped by his own rules
• Terumi Mei: Playful, confident, and extraordinarily capable; openly pursues the assistant role with determination; displays impressive knowledge beyond mere combat skills
• The two girls: Show genuine effort and skill, but recognize Terumi Mei's superiority and gracefully concede
• The boy: Arrogant and careless; shows fear when confronted with the consequences of his error

Significant Themes

• Responsibility in medicine: Prescriptions must be precise; errors can be lethal
• Fairness vs. pragmatism: Yizhe tries to create fair tests but also manipulates rules to achieve his preferred outcome
• Resistance to inevitability: Yizhe fights against what becomes unavoidable despite all his maneuvering
• Hidden talents: Terumi Mei's expertise defies expectations about what a ninja should know

Character Interactions

• Yizhe → Boy: Coldly dismissive after the ginseng error; shows no tolerance for carelessness
• Yizhe → Terumi Mei: Alternates between exasperation and helplessness; attempts to create tests specifically to fail her
• Terumi Mei → Yizhe: Teasing and unflappable; sees through his schemes and counters each one
• The girls → Terumi Mei: Genuine admiration and respect that leads to their voluntary withdrawal

Summary of “Sudden Attack”

Key Plot Points and Events

Yizhe confronts two applicants who have abandoned their test to become his clinic assistants. Terumi Mei has intimidated them unintentionally—or at least without openly forcing them—by making it obvious that she is more qualified and determined to take the position. The girls leave, believing Terumi Mei has romantic feelings for Yizhe and that they would only be intruding.
After they depart, Yizhe closes the clinic and reveals his suspicion of Terumi Mei. She claims that, because there is little trouble for Mist Ninja enforcers in White Dew Town, she wants to become his assistant to pass the time and learn medicine. Yizhe outwardly accepts this explanation and politely offers her water.
However, while Terumi Mei is distracted by the clinic’s patient records, Yizhe suddenly attacks. He grabs her wrist, seizes her throat, and slams her against the wall. He warns her not to use the chakra gathered in her other hand and forces her to stop resisting. Yizhe then demands to know her true purpose.
Terumi Mei denies having any ulterior motive and attempts to appear innocent and vulnerable. Yizhe rejects her performance, pointing out that she has deliberately studied pharmacology and was able to identify every herb in his prescription, including rare ingredients. He argues that an upper-rank ninja would not casually compete with ordinary people for an assistant’s job without a hidden reason.

Character Developments

• Yizhe demonstrates sharp observation, caution, and considerable combat speed. Although he behaves courteously at first, he has been analyzing Terumi Mei’s behavior and is prepared to act decisively when he confirms his suspicions.
• Terumi Mei presents herself as a bored Mist Ninja seeking something productive to do, but her knowledge of medicine and deliberate attempt to become Yizhe’s assistant reveal that she is pursuing a concealed objective. Even when captured, she relies on deception and emotional manipulation rather than admitting the truth.
• The two applicants recognize that Terumi Mei is intentionally approaching Yizhe, but they misunderstand her motives as romantic interest. Their departure removes them from danger and leaves Yizhe and Terumi Mei alone.

Significant Themes

• Deception and hidden motives: Both characters conceal their true intentions, creating tension beneath an apparently ordinary job interview.
• Observation and suspicion: Yizhe relies on inconsistencies in Terumi Mei’s story—especially her medical knowledge and rank—to uncover that her explanation is false.
• Power and control: The sudden attack changes the relationship from a polite interview to a hostage situation, showing Yizhe’s willingness to use force to protect himself and obtain answers.
• Misunderstanding: The girls correctly notice Terumi Mei’s deliberate closeness to Yizhe but interpret it incorrectly, creating comic irony.
• Appearance versus reality: Terumi Mei’s innocent act and Yizhe’s polite hospitality conceal a dangerous confrontation.

Character Interactions

The applicants defer to Terumi Mei, believing she is better suited for the assistant position, while Terumi Mei insists she has not manipulated them. Yizhe questions her desire to work at the clinic but initially accepts her explanation. Their interaction turns hostile when he attacks her at close range, restrains her, and exposes the contradictions in her story. Terumi Mei responds with denial and feigned vulnerability, but Yizhe remains unmoved and directly challenges her hidden agenda.

Chapter Summary: “A Startling Revelation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yizhe realizes that Terumi Mei’s suspicious behavior likely stems from Hidden Mist discovering that he is actually a Konoha ninja. He reflects that he underestimated the intelligence-gathering abilities of the villages’ Anbu, including their capacity to investigate identities and even extract memories.
• Terumi Mei and Ao had planned to reveal Yizhe’s Konoha connection if their covert approach failed. However, they deliberately avoid mentioning Yizhe’s former identity as the masked man who fought alongside Shennong, fearing that revelation would worsen the situation.
• Terumi Mei finally admits that Hidden Mist wants to contact the Hyuga Clan through Yizhe. Yizhe questions why they approached him instead of communicating directly with Konoha, explaining that he is only a Branch House member with little influence.
• Though Yizhe initially loosens his grip and releases Terumi Mei, she immediately attempts to slap him. He effortlessly stops her, warning her not to provoke him further.
• Terumi Mei becomes overwhelmed by humiliation and begins to cry after being physically subdued. Yizhe, surprised by her sudden emotional change, recognizes that his treatment of her was excessive but believes the surprise attack was necessary for his own safety.
• Once tensions settle, Terumi Mei reveals the true purpose of the meeting: Hidden Mist wants to form an alliance with the Hyuga Clan.
• Yizhe is shocked, considering the proposal nearly impossible because the Hyuga are one of Konoha’s central clans. An alliance with Hidden Mist would amount to betrayal and could provoke Konoha into destroying the clan.

Character Developments

• Yizhe: Becomes more aware of the limitations of his disguises and the sophistication of ninja intelligence networks. His suspicion and caution drive him to act aggressively, but he later shows some self-awareness by acknowledging that he may have gone too far. He is also deeply skeptical of Hidden Mist’s motives and the practicality of its proposal.
• Terumi Mei: Shifts from a confident, deceptive negotiator to someone forced to reveal her true objective. Her anger and pride are exposed when she reacts emotionally to Yizhe’s rough treatment, but she ultimately fulfills her mission by disclosing Hidden Mist’s proposed alliance.
• Ao and Hidden Mist: Their indirect strategy suggests they are attempting diplomacy while concealing sensitive information. Their interest in the Hyuga Clan indicates a major political objective rather than a simple personal or professional dispute.

Significant Themes

• Trust and suspicion: Yizhe’s fear of surveillance and betrayal shapes every decision, while Hidden Mist’s deceptive approach makes genuine diplomacy difficult.
• Political alliances and divided loyalties: The proposed Hyuga–Hidden Mist alliance would challenge the existing balance of power and potentially threaten the Hyuga Clan’s relationship with Konoha.
• The danger of hidden identities: Yizhe’s belief that his disguises were secure is undermined by the superior intelligence capabilities of the ninja villages.
• Power and vulnerability: Although Terumi Mei is a powerful ninja, Yizhe’s surprise attack leaves her physically and emotionally vulnerable. The encounter highlights how quickly control can shift between characters.
• Miscommunication and escalation: Both sides approach the meeting defensively, causing unnecessary violence before the actual diplomatic purpose is revealed.

Character Interactions

• Yizhe restrains Terumi Mei against a wall while demanding an explanation for her actions.
• Terumi Mei tries to maintain control through bluffing, then reveals that Hidden Mist wants access to the Hyuga Clan.
• After being released, she attempts to retaliate, but Yizhe stops her easily and warns her against further aggression.
• Her tears force Yizhe to recognize the personal humiliation caused by his actions, softening the immediate tension without resolving the political conflict.
• The chapter ends with Yizhe confronting the startling idea that the Hyuga Clan might ally with Hidden Mist, leaving the proposal—and its consequences—unresolved.