Treatment

The moment he entered the hospital, a cacophony of noise rushed over him.

Hyuga Qingchuan's head buzzed from the commotion.

His consciousness had already begun to blur, and his vision was clouded with haze.

After battle upon battle, followed by such a long journey while injured, reaching the village at all had depended purely on his formidable willpower.

In a daze, he was carried onto a hospital bed and taken around for various examinations.

Through the haze, a tall medical worker with delicate features appeared in his field of vision.

She carefully and gently examined him. Then green light rose from her hands as she placed them over his abdomen.

The light was warm, and the areas of his abdomen it illuminated tingled pleasantly.

It felt so comfortable that waves of drowsiness washed over him. Ever since crossing into this world, he had either been fighting or traveling. Mind and body exhausted, all he wanted now was a good rest.

"Tian Lu, how is he?"

Yuhi Shinku looked at the delicate-looking medical worker and asked in a grave voice.

Tian Lu frowned, her expression solemn. "Three broken ribs, two knife wounds on his back. One of them was only one centimeter from his heart."

She paused before adding,

"But judging by the scabbing, these wounds were already seven or eight days old, and someone had treated them before."

"Yet all of the wounds later tore open again."

"Also, there are signs of fractures in both his arms."

A trace of surprise flashed through Yuhi Shinku's eyes.

"He went through another high-intensity battle after being injured, and still managed to make it back to the village."

"Not many children his age possess that kind of willpower."

He looked at Hyuga Qingchuan lying on the bed, admiration in his eyes.

A moment later, Tian Lu withdrew her hands and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"I've given his wounds temporary treatment, but they've become infected. He needs surgery."

"You've worked hard. Notify me immediately when he wakes up," Yuhi Shinku instructed.

"Yes, Lord Shinku."

Hyuga Qingchuan woke up three days later.

Adequate sleep and effective treatment left him feeling completely renewed, though his body was still somewhat weak.

But the all-consuming agony had vanished.

He instinctively stretched, feeling every tendon and bone in his body loosen.

Just then, he caught sight of someone sitting beside the bed from the corner of his eye.

An elderly woman with snow-white hair sat with her head lowered, her hands unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

Her wrinkled face was filled with worry. She had not even noticed that he had awakened.

Sunlight streamed through the window onto her face, revealing the deep furrows carved by time. Her silver hair gleamed brightly beneath the sun.

"Grandma."

Hyuga Qingchuan called out instinctively.

The old woman suddenly trembled and lifted her head in disbelief.

When she saw her grandson's clear eyes looking at her, overwhelming joy instantly appeared on her face.

"Little Qingchuan..."

She practically threw herself to the bedside, wrapped her withered hands around Hyuga Qingchuan, and her eyes immediately welled up.

"Thank goodness. Little Qingchuan, it's wonderful that you're all right..." she choked out incoherently. "Amaterasu bless us..."

"Grandma, I'm fine."

Hyuga Qingchuan forced a reassuring smile.

The old woman wiped away her tears, and the worry on her face immediately turned to delight. Her smile widened, deepening the lines on her face.

"Are you thirsty? Grandma will get you some water and peel you an apple."

Her face was full of affection and indulgence as she spoke, tremblingly preparing to stand.

"No, Grandma."

Hyuga Qingchuan hurriedly got up and leaped from the bed, holding back his grandmother before she could start bustling about.

"Then are you hungry? Grandma will go home, cook something, and bring it to you."

"Ah, there's no need!"

"Grandma, I'm already better. The hospital's healing techniques are amazing."

Looking at the restless old woman before him, he could not help but smile, though his eyes held a touch of helplessness.

His grandmother in his previous life had been just like this too.

Whenever he got sick, she would sit beside his bed, watching him with a face full of concern.

The moment he woke up, she would fuss over this and that, constantly asking after his well-being.

Later, when he could not play games due to anti-addiction restrictions, he used his grandmother's ID to verify his account.

Whenever facial recognition was required, his grandmother would always happily lean into frame.

She thought her grandson wanted to take a photo with her and gave the camera her kindest smile.

Yet it was not until after she passed away that he realized he did not have a single photo with her on his phone.

That day, he cried for a very long time until his eyes were swollen. His mind was filled with his grandmother's gentle smile.

It had remained a long-standing regret of his...

Footsteps sounded outside the door.

Yuhi Shinku and Tian Lu entered together.

"How do you feel? Is anything still bothering you?" Yuhi Shinku asked.

"I'm fine now. Thank you... uh, sir."

Hyuga Qingchuan nodded in thanks, forcibly changing the "Lord Shinku" that had nearly slipped out into "sir."

There had been no connection to Yuhi Shinku in the previous owner's memories. He should not have known Yuhi Shinku.

"I'm Yuhi Shinku. This is Tian Lu from the Medical Corps, and she was also the doctor responsible for your surgery," Yuhi Shinku briefly introduced them.

Tian Lu? Hyuga Qingchuan's heart stirred.

As he recalled, among the people who had helped deliver the Fourth Hokage's child—

Besides the Third Hokage's wife, Sarutobi Biwa, there had also been a beautiful medical worker named Tian Lu.

So it was her. A medical worker trusted to deliver the Hokage's child needed no further questioning regarding her skills or loyalty.

Tian Lu tilted her head and revealed a remarkably friendly smile. "Just call me Sister Tian Lu."

"Yes. Thank you for saving me, Lord Shinku."

"And thank you for treating me, Sister Tian Lu," Hyuga Qingchuan replied politely.

"Hehe, little brother, you're really handsome."

Tian Lu seemed quite interested in him. With a giggle, she reached out and naturally pinched his cheek.

Though Hyuga Qingchuan repeatedly dodged, she still took quite a few liberties with him.

Seeing this, Yuhi Shinku coughed and beckoned to Hyuga Qingchuan.

"Qingchuan, come out with me for a moment."

The moment they left the ward, Yuhi Shinku began asking about his injuries.

Hyuga Qingchuan had long since prepared his story for this.

He told Yuhi Shinku everything, from leaving the village on his mission to returning after being injured.

He only omitted the part about the big man returning.

As for killing those two bounty ninja, he changed it to say that he had been captured.

But along the way, the two men had turned on each other, killing one another and both suffering severe injuries.

He had then seized the chance to strike and kill them, though he had been injured as well.

For now, he did not want to expose his Quincy abilities.

Once his abilities were reported, ninjutsu that had never appeared before might very well attract the attention of Danzo and Orochimaru.

If he was lucky, Danzo's obsession with collecting talents might get him recruited into Root and branded with a tongue seal.

If he was unlucky, Danzo might get the urge one day and hand him over to Orochimaru, who would store him in a jar.

But he did not intend to hide forever either. Only by showing that he was worth cultivating could he receive preferential resources and protection.

Sarutobi Hiruzen placed considerable importance on the new generation. Any promising young talent could receive training.

Therefore, Hyuga Qingchuan had his own plans regarding displaying his Quincy abilities.

It was not that he would not reveal them.

Rather, he would reveal them according to a plan, in stages, before people capable of cultivating him, and according to the circumstances.

Ideally, he would demonstrate them directly before Sarutobi Hiruzen. That would be far more effective than having others relay it.

After listening to Hyuga Qingchuan's account, Yuhi Shinku nodded, indicating that he had noted everything down.

"Since this concerns the annihilation of an entire squad, it must be reported to the Hokage. You don't need to submit the mission report; I'll submit it along with mine."

"Others may come to ask you about the details again later. Cooperate with them properly."

"Yes, thank you, Lord Shinku." Hyuga Qingchuan bowed respectfully.

Yuhi Shinku patted Hyuga Qingchuan on the shoulder, then turned and left.

Hyuga Qingchuan also returned to the ward, intending to help his grandmother home so she could rest.

Before leaving, Tian Lu secretly slipped a piece of paper into his clothes.

She even winked at him, her face flushed as she gave him a meaningful look.

Hyuga Qingchuan pinched the note, still warm from her body heat, and watched Tian Lu's lighthearted departing figure.

His heart suddenly skipped a beat.

"No way?"