Doichi Hyuga

Konoha!

Outside the Hyuga Clan District!

By a small river in the forest!

"Doichi, today is my birthday. I arranged for Itachi and Big Brother Shisui to go eat yakiniku together. How about it? Will you come along too?"

The young man sitting cross-legged by the river opened his white eyes and stood up to look at the young woman before him.

"Sure!!"

"Then let's hurry! They're already waiting."

The young woman smiled with her eyes narrowed, a tear mole at the corner of her eye adding a touch of prettiness.

Doichi Hyuga felt helpless inside: Classmates for several years, plus two years of squad teammates—there's no way to just refuse outright!

Back in the Ninja Academy, he sat next to Izumi Uchiha all the way until graduation, unable to shake her off even after changing seats several times.

Later, when they graduated at age ten, the two of them were assigned to the same squad. As beloved teammates, the two spent nearly two years together through their Genin days.

Until half a year ago, their Jonin squad leader and a nameless companion died during a mission. Izumi Uchiha entered the Police Force, and Doichi Hyuga joined Konoha Hospital.

"Izumi. There's always been a question I wanted to ask you; back at the academy, as a genius, why were you willing to make friends with a tail-end like me? Especially since I'm a Hyuga?"

Doichi Hyuga's method of cultivation differed from ordinary shinobi, making him a perennial tail-end for the first three years at the academy.

"I'm not sure myself. Probably because Doichi-kun makes people feel so at ease! Being near you always lets me calm down and concentrate much easier."

It seems it relates to my own cultivation method; she really is a sharp one, Doichi Hyuga thought to himself.

That's right, Doichi Hyuga was a transmigrator. He had already come to this world for seven years.

His past life stemmed from a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, making him a moderately renowned doctor.

He died in an accidental death in his past life and arrived in this world, settling into the body of Doichi Hyuga, a five-year-old branch family brat of the Hyuga.

This kid's mother died on the Sand Shinobi battlefield of the Third Shinobi World War, and his father died on the eastern Front of the Mist Shinobi battlefield while serving as a bodyguard for Hyuga Hiashi.

By organizing the knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine and Daoism from his past life, Doichi Hyuga found a new path of cultivation. After practicing for a few years, he had achieved some initial success!

After all, the upper limit of the Hyuga Clan's traditional cultivation methods was still far too low; it could only serve as auxiliary reference material.

"I heard that Itachi Uchiha has already joined the ANBU."

"Yeah! Itachi, he's just too exceptional."

Izumi Uchiha's large eyes sparkled, brimming with strange emotions. Her flushed little face carried a look of adoration.

Izumi Uchiha's energetic appearance made Doichi Hyuga unable to help sighing inwardly:

Such a wonderful young woman shouldn't meet that kind of end!

Kenji and the filial paragon truly acted inhuman—merciless enough!

"Izumi, do you trust me?!"

Doichi Hyuga sensed his surroundings; no one else was nearby. Hesitating for a moment, he couldn't help asking in a low voice.

"Of course, you're my only friend outside the clan."

No matter how well-behaved Izumi Uchiha appeared on the outside in terms of sociability, she was still an Uchiha at her core.

Deeply rooted in Uchiha genetics, that pursuit of power and disdain for the weak inevitably existed.

"Whatever I say next, don't tell anyone. Including your mother and Itachi Uchiha—can you do that?"

Doichi Hyuga hesitated for a moment and spoke in a low voice.

"Okay... I understand... Doichi, what on earth are you trying to say?"

Izumi Uchiha put away her smile and asked in a low voice.

"First, quit the Police Force. Second, take your mother and form a mission squad to undertake missions outside the village. Finally, once you receive intelligence of Shisui Uchiha's death, abandon the mission immediately, flee the Land of Fire, and get as far away from Konoha as possible."

Doichi Hyuga stared closely at Izumi Uchiha, watching her every move. Since he dared to speak these words, Doichi Hyuga naturally had means to deal with the consequences.

"You're saying Big Brother Shisui will die? How is that possible?... I don't want to leave Konoha, and I won't become a rogue ninja."

Izumi Uchiha asked with agitated questioning, the two tomoe in her eyes spinning rapidly.

"It seems your trust in me is still not enough. I also underestimated your loyalty to the village."

"Doichi, it's not like that... It's just that saying things like this is way too bizarre, isn't it?!"

Izumi Uchiha hurriedly explained.

"Izumi, as a member of the Uchiha, you should have sensed something by now."

Doichi Hyuga stopped in his tracks, activated his Byakugan, and began monitoring any slight disturbances around them.

Izumi Uchiha was a sharp and intelligent young woman. Thinking of the increasingly frequent clan meetings within her family lately and that oppressive, eerie atmosphere, she already understood what Doichi Hyuga was talking about.

A coup d'état!

Izumi Uchiha's complexion changed; fluctuating between pale and ashen, she vividly performed a masterclass in facial expression changes.

"It seems you already understand. I believe I'm not the only one who sees this. There are still smart people in Konoha... Then, let me change the question: do you think the village higher-ups know? And how do you think they will respond?"

Cold sweat poured from Izumi Uchiha. It took her quite a while to calm her emotions:

It seemed her intuition was correct; this classmate who disguised himself as a tail-end was truly extraordinary.

"This... But why do you think Big Brother Shisui will die?"

"Today's Uchiha has already stepped one foot into the abyss. And Shisui Uchiha is the only rope holding the Uchiha back from the edge. Therefore, those with designs against the Uchiha will definitely strike at him."

"...Is this situation truly inescapable? Since you can see all this... If it's you, you must have a way, right?"

Izumi Uchiha clenched her fists, looking expectantly at Doichi Hyuga.

"No!... Sorry, I ruined the good mood of your birthday. Take this as your birthday gift!"

Doichi Hyuga bent down to pick up a small pebble and placed it into Izumi Uchiha's hand.

"This is...?"

Looking at the strange patterns carved on the pebble, Izumi Uchiha asked.

"A small jutsu formula. At a critical moment, it can take you and your mother far away from danger. Consider it a blessing from a friend. I hope you won't ever have to use it."

"Thank you, Doichi."

"I won't be joining your birthday gathering. I hope you remember what I said and don't tell a soul. I'm leaving now."

Doichi Hyuga waved his hand and turned to walk away.

Izumi Uchiha stood still for a moment to steady her emotions before hurrying toward the yakiniku restaurant.

Walking through the streets, Doichi Hyuga leisurely made his way into Konoha Hospital.

"Nanako, is Dr. Mishima around?"

Arriving at the nurse's station, Doichi Hyuga asked.

"Doichi-kun! You came just in time. Dr. Mishima is currently preparing for surgery."

Doichi Hyuga responded with a "got it" and turned to leave.

"Doichi! Come with me! With your help, I'll have much more certainty in the upcoming surgery."

Uegi Mishima, dressed in surgical scrubs, opened the door and tossed a set of scrubs to Doichi Hyuga.

After putting on the clothes, they walked into the operating room together.

A Konoha shinobi lay on the operating table, his entire face scrunched up in a ball from pain and agony.

"Comminuted rib fractures, seven bone fragments in the liver, and twelve bone fragments in the kidneys."

Doichi Hyuga activated his Byakugan to scan the patient once, then raised his eyes to look at Uegi Mishima.

"Mm! Fortunately we have you, Doichi!"

After completing the anesthesia and preparation work, Uegi Mishima held a Chakra Scalpel and carefully incised the patient's chest cavity.

This was not the first time the two of them had cooperated; the surgery was completed smoothly under their tacit coordination.

Leaving the operating room, the two entered the office to rest.

"The Byakugan is truly too convenient; it's practically tailor-made for medical care!"

"It's alright! It's just a pity that there are far too few Hyuga with talent for medical ninjutsu."

If they had talent in medical ninjutsu, the Hyuga Clan would have already taken over Konoha Hospital long ago.

The higher-ups were no fools; the importance of medical ninjas had already been proven during the Third Shinobi World War.

The reason Doichi Hyuga was able to learn medical ninjutsu relied on a cultivation method modified from his past life's traditional Chinese medicine theories.

"That's right, Doichi! Have you mastered the Mystical Palm Technique and the Chakra Scalpel?"

"Not yet. I still need more practice."

Even though he had long since mastered all the medical ninjutsu available to be learned at Konoha Hospital, only a fool would expose all their intelligence, right?

Doichi Hyuga thought to himself.

Shisui Uchiha: Achoo??? Who? Who is gossiping about me??

"Mm! If you have anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me or Director Hanfang. Director Hanfang has high expectations for you, so you must work hard."

Uegi Mishima smiled.

During a mission half a year ago, the squad leader and that teammate had died. Doichi Hyuga had matters to attend to and hadn't gone on that mission, leaving only Izumi Uchiha to return alive.

After that, Doichi Hyuga seized the opportunity to transition into a medical ninja. Because he was essentially self-taught with guidance, he quickly won the appreciation of Director Koshi Hanfang.

The other party had previously hinted at a desire to take him on as a disciple, which Doichi Hyuga politely declined.

As a teacher who had once taken on a few disciples himself, Doichi Hyuga's philosophy was: becoming an apprentice was out of the question—it had always been his exclusive right to take on disciples.

Doichi Hyuga was very satisfied with his work at the hospital; not only could he learn medical ninjutsu, but he could also understand the secrets of the human body more thoroughly through his Byakugan.

To Doichi Hyuga, the human body held no more secrets. This served as a wonderful verification and supplement to his path of cultivation.

He assisted with another surgery in the evening and finally dragged himself to the end of his shift.

Bidding farewell to several familiar doctors, Doichi Hyuga leisurely headed back to the Hyuga compound.