Medical Mission

After the three had lunch, Karin trained in the small courtyard.

"Thank you for everything, Senior Rena! You should rest more. You could hire a servant to look after you both."

"I'm already deeply grateful, Lord Dao Yi! I can't trouble you any further."

Two months earlier, Doichi Hyuga had passed the assessment and become an official doctor at Konoha Hospital.

Soon afterward, he had accepted an off-site medical mission from a noble of the Land of Grass. Naturally, the payment had been extremely generous.

Passing through Kusagakure, he had brought the mother and daughter here.

Faced with Doichi Hyuga's overwhelming strength, the Kusagakure leader could only grit his teeth and accept it.

This time, he had come to the capital of the Land of Fire to make a house call for another noble.

After completing the mission, he had stopped by to check on the mother and daughter.

"I'm sorry. Your body has been depleted too severely. There's no saving it now."

"This is a prescription tailored to your current condition. It can replenish your vitality and slow the deterioration of your body. If you're lucky, it might buy you another two years."

Doichi Hyuga handed her a scroll containing not only the prescription, but also some money.

"I can't accept this. My daughter and I already don't know how we could ever repay you."

"Take it. You have no money or source of income right now, so consider it a loan from me. Karin can repay me when she grows up."

Rena Uzumaki had not wanted to accept it, but her daughter was still too young and needed her mother to care for her. In the end, she could only accept helplessly.

Doichi Hyuga was not short on money. Being a doctor had always been a highly profitable profession.

His previous raid on Root had also yielded a considerable amount of money. Doichi Hyuga was now filthy rich.

Furthermore, the Hyuga Clan had raised his monthly allowance to 500,000 ryo, granting him the same treatment as an elder of the main family.

Before graduating from the Ninja Academy, Doichi Hyuga's monthly allowance had been 50,000 ryo. That had been enough for his daily meals and living expenses.

Clothing and cultivation resources were distributed uniformly by the clan.

Most major ninja clans operated this way. It was also the foundation of how ninja clans united their people.

Just like the Ino–Shika–Cho Three Clans, whose family businesses were deer farming, growing and producing medicine, and flower cultivation.

The Hyuga Clan's primary source of funds came from mines. After all, the Byakugan's ability to locate mineral deposits was widely renowned.

More than sixty percent of the mineral resources within the Land of Fire had Hyuga shares.

Although their stake in each mine was less than one percent, the dividends from over a hundred mines were still an astonishing sum.

The usual mining process went something like this: the daimyo, nobles, or other ninja clans would issue an invitation and negotiate the profit shares in advance. The Hyuga would locate mineral veins on their lands, then sit back and wait for the money.

If no deposit was found, everyone simply went their separate ways.

No matter what world it was, those who kept everything for themselves never lived long.

This was also one of the Hyuga Clan's survival philosophies that had endured for a thousand years.

Settling Karin and her mother had already cost tens of millions of ryo, with the house accounting for most of it. After all, property prices in the capital were the highest in the Land of Fire.

"Don't overthink it. I don't know why you refuse to go to Konoha, but the Uzumaki Clan has always been an ally of Konoha. Konoha may have bad people, but it has plenty of good people too."

"In a few years, once Senior Tsunade becomes Hokage, how about I bring you and Karin into Konoha?"

If you can live until then, Rena Uzumaki.

Doichi Hyuga thought to himself.

"Lady Tsunade?... All right!"

They were distant relatives, and both women, so Rena Uzumaki did not feel any aversion toward Tsunade.

She did not have many years left to live. If Tsunade was reliable, Karin would at least have someone to lean on emotionally.

That big-breasted cow had tremendous personal charisma, and her character was widely praised as well. Other than her gambling, drinking, and habit of dodging debts, there was little else to criticize.

"Mm! Then it's settled."

Doichi Hyuga got up to find Karin, tossed her a scroll containing a training plan, then returned to Konoha.

Konoha!

The Hokage's Office.

"Lord Hokage! The mission in the capital of the Land of Fire has been completed. I've come to report."

Doichi Hyuga handed the mission scroll to an ANBU member, who inspected it before passing it to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"The employer's evaluation is very high! Haha! Well done, Dao Yi. You've worked hard!"

After reading the mission record and the employer's signed evaluation, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt much better.

Konoha Hospital had quite a few off-site medical missions every month, but many were abandoned for all sorts of reasons.

Some paid too little. Some doctors did not want to leave the village for fear of danger. Others thought the distance was too great and the journey too exhausting.

For medical ninja, the only way to become Jonin was usually to spend years working at the hospital.

Otherwise, they could only take off-site medical missions and accumulate mission credit to earn a rapid promotion.

Doichi Hyuga's medical ninjutsu and practical medical experience had already reached a very high level.

Director Hanfang had strongly recommended him to the Third, hoping he could accumulate mission qualifications, become a Jonin and attending physician as soon as possible, and ease the hospital's medical burden.

"Dao Yi, there's a medical mission from the capital of the Land of Water here. It's provisionally rated S-Rank. The reward is generous—twenty million ryo. Are you willing to make the trip?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi pulled out a scroll and looked at Doichi Hyuga with a smile.

Twenty million ryo was roughly equivalent to one million yuan in his previous life.

The village took five percent from S-Rank missions, leaving nineteen million ryo. It was quite a lucrative job.

"Lord Hokage! I heard Hidden Mist Village is extremely chaotic. It should be very dangerous, shouldn't it?"

"You can rest assured about that. I'll arrange for two elite ANBU to protect you. Also, I'll send a diplomatic notice to Hidden Mist Village in advance. You can enter normally."

During peacetime, some missions accepted by ninja required them to travel across national borders.

In such cases, the target country had to be notified in advance to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

What else could Doichi Hyuga say? He could only accept the mission scroll.

Five days later, Doichi Hyuga headed to Konoha's gate.

From afar, he saw two people standing before it. They appeared to be waiting for him.

"Yo, Dao Yi!"

Kakashi lowered Make-Out Paradise and raised a hand in greeting.

"So the two of you seniors will be accompanying me on this mission? And this senior is?"

Doichi Hyuga looked at the mysterious man before him. He wore a hood and sunglasses, wrapped himself up tightly, and did not expose even a sliver of skin.

"Hello. I'm Aburame Shikuroo, from the Aburame Clan."

"Hello, Senior Shikuroo. I'm Doichi Hyuga."

Doichi Hyuga briefly explained the mission requirements, and the three left the village, heading east.

Two days later, the three reached Thousand Harbors City on the eastern border of the Land of Fire.

Thousand Harbors City was the most important port city in the eastern Land of Fire. Merchants filled the streets, and countless trading ships came and went.

The three found a merchant ship bound for the capital of the Land of Water. When the owner saw that they were Konoha ninja, he was willing to take them to their destination for free.

After all, ninja could improve their safety. This was one of the minor benefits ninja enjoyed.

Five days later, the merchant ship reached the westernmost large island of the Land of Water.

The ship docked for supplies and rested for a day.

The Land of Water was known as the Land of a Thousand Islands. It consisted of twelve large islands and over a thousand smaller ones.

The capital of the Land of Water and Hidden Mist Village were located on the largest main island. Surrounded by the twelve large islands and over a thousand smaller ones, it was easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Two days later, the merchant ship reached the main island.

The three bade the ship owner farewell and headed toward the capital of the Land of Water.

An hour later, the three stopped.

Four Hidden Mist ninja emerged from the fog and blocked their path.

"We are Konoha ninja here to carry out a medical mission in the Land of Water. This is your village's diplomatic reply. You may inspect it."

Kakashi stepped forward and handed the other side a scroll.

One Hidden Mist ninja accepted it and inspected it carefully, then nodded to his captain to indicate there was no problem.

Kaka caught the returned scroll and secretly sighed in relief.

One Hidden Mist ninja left to report back to Hidden Mist Village.

"Your identities may be in order, but it isn't right to let Konoha ninja pass so easily after finally encountering some."

"Three against three. Fair enough. If you die, then I suppose that's unfortunate."

The Hidden Mist captain bared a mouthful of sharp teeth and let out a strange chuckle.

Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique!

The mist grew thicker and thicker, and visibility swiftly shrank to a radius of two meters.

Water Release: Water Shockwave!

Doichi Hyuga and the other two leaped up and landed safely on the water's surface.

Water Release: Water Fang Bullet Technique!

Three water fangs burst from three whirlpools, shooting straight for their chests.

The three scattered to evade, but before they could steady themselves, a fierce wind came from behind them.

Doichi Hyuga twisted and struck with his elbow, turning the enemy behind him into a splash of water.

It was a Water Clone Technique!

Byakugan, activate!

Kakashi and Aburame Shikuroo were not far from him, each locked in combat with an opponent.

Whoosh!

Two kunai flew at him from behind, and Doichi Hyuga ducked beneath them.

Water Release: Water Prison Technique!

Seeing Doichi Hyuga trapped, the other side revealed smug smiles.

A figure suddenly appeared behind the Hidden Mist ninja and kicked him in the backside.

The Hidden Mist ninja flew away, rolled several times, and plunged headfirst into the water.

Aburame Shikuroo had already finished his fight, while Kakashi was still pressing the opposing Jonin captain into the ground.

Of the three Hidden Mist ninja, only Kakashi's opponent was a Jonin.

Doichi Hyuga hauled the one in the water out, preventing him from drowning.

"You're strong. Next time, we'll definitely win."

The opposing Jonin had lost, yet he still threw out a harsh parting line, unconvinced despite accepting the result.

Doichi Hyuga merely smiled at them without saying anything.

A short while later, three Hidden Mist ANBU arrived.

After recording the three men's names and physical features and sending the information back, the lead ANBU said:

"First, welcome to the Land of Water. We hope you do not become unwelcome visitors."

"Second, you are forbidden from spying on Hidden Mist Village. This includes, but is not limited to, ninja related to the village and all institutions and facilities."

"Any violation will be punished by death without mercy."

"All right, we understand."

Kakashi nodded.

Half an hour later, they had left the outskirts of Hidden Mist Village, and the fog on the road had completely dispersed.

The three Hidden Mist ANBU followed and monitored them the entire way. An hour later, they reached the capital of the Land of Water.

The mission's employer was a high-ranking noble of the Land of Water. A few days earlier, he had fallen from his horse while hunting and had both legs crushed beneath it, suffering comminuted fractures.

The Hidden Mist medical ninja were not skilled enough to treat him, so the mission had been sent to Konoha to seek medical aid.

Doichi Hyuga found the employer, set the broken bones in both legs, applied splints, and instructed him, "Lord Watanabe, your shattered bones have been initially reconnected. You'll need to remain in bed for about another week. I'll come every morning to treat you once. I believe you'll recover soon."

"Thank you, thank you, Lord Dao Yi. The servants have already prepared a feast. Please, esteemed ninja, you must honor us with your presence."

Watanabe Yuken was emotional as he extended a warm invitation.

"All right, then we'll accept your hospitality."

Doichi Hyuga nodded in agreement, and the three Hidden Mist ANBU did not object.

The six ate their fill before taking their leave.

The three went to an inn to stay the night, and nothing happened throughout the day.

That night, Doichi Hyuga prepared to sleep. As usual, he sensed the surrounding rooms and noticed something strange.

In the two adjacent rooms, Kakashi and Aburame Shikuroo lay on their beds asleep.

However, both of their presences had vanished.

They were Shadow Clone Techniques.

Those two had most likely gone to scout Hidden Mist Village at night. The outside world had too little intelligence on Hidden Mist Village, and too many people were interested in it. It seemed they were carrying other missions as well.

Doichi Hyuga did not want to bother with it. It had nothing to do with him anyway.