Return to the Land of Water

The food was eaten clean, and Shizune tidied up before heading to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

"Kid! Your cooking is pretty good. I'll allow you to stay!"

If she had not already been stuffed, Tsunade truly would have wanted another helping.

"Mm! As long as you're happy!"

And so, the days passed one after another.

Doichi Hyuga's main job every day was cooking according to Tsunade's tastes.

More importantly, he had to help the child regulate and strengthen her constitution once every day.

Tsunade ate at least six meals a day. Sometimes, she would wake up in the middle of the night and bang on the door, sending Doichi Hyuga into the kitchen to make her another meal.

After a month, Tsunade had put on quite a bit of weight. Even Shizune's pointed chin had grown rounder, and every day she cried, "I can't eat anymore! I really can't eat anymore!"

Soon, the day of delivery arrived, and Tsunade smoothly gave birth to a baby girl.

Holding the wrinkled little bundle, Doichi Hyuga's heart shook. I actually have a child? Is this my child?

In his previous life, Doichi Hyuga had been a traditional Chinese doctor. Though his medical skills were not particularly outstanding, he had remained unmarried well into his thirties.

As everyone knew, traditional Chinese medicine was notoriously unprofitable. Doichi Hyuga was also barely considered a doctor of high moral character; when poor people could not afford treatment, he often paid out of pocket himself. By his thirties, he had no savings to speak of and stayed single until his death.

Doichi Hyuga carefully studied the tiny child in his arms, feeling as though the entire world had suddenly become real and familiar.

Tsunade had once told him, "I always feel like you're an observer, as though you don't really care about anything."

Tsunade was very perceptive. Doichi Hyuga truly had felt that this world was unreal, like a dream. Perhaps one day he would wake up, and everything would vanish.

But now things were different. Doichi Hyuga had found his anchor: the child in his hands, his own child!

After placing the child beside Tsunade, Doichi Hyuga began giving Tsunade restorative treatment.

"We still haven't thought of a name for the child. What a headache!"

Tsunade cradled the child in her arms and muttered to herself.

"Let's call her Qianyue."

Doichi Hyuga said.

"Eh! That's a pretty good name! Why didn't I think of it? The little one was born in Thousand Moon Town, so it has commemorative meaning!"

Tsunade made the decision. That was it!

Neither of them mentioned a surname. Tsunade would not agree if the child took the Hyuga Clan name; but using the Senju Clan name would go against the previous Hokage's wishes.

One year later.

Doichi Hyuga lounged on the sofa reading a book, while a little child sat in his arms and wriggled about.

"Daddy! I want to hear you tell a story!"

"Ah! Sure! What does Qianyue want to hear?"

Doichi Hyuga smiled brightly. Who could refuse such a soft and adorable little darling?

"I like anything Daddy tells me!"

Qianyue's little mouth seemed coated in honey, sweet-talking Doichi Hyuga into beaming with joy every day.

Happily, Doichi Hyuga took out a storybook and began reading it earnestly. His voice rose and fell with expression, and from time to time, he teased the little girl.

Tsunade curled her lips and shot Qianyue a glare. The little girl was not afraid of her at all and made a face back at her, making Tsunade's fists clench again.

After becoming a stay-at-home dad, Doichi Hyuga had learned quite a few new child-rearing skills.

Thankfully, he had been a doctor in his previous life. There were always some things in common.

Little Qianyue loved clinging to him most, so Tsunade often made sour remarks and complained behind their backs more than once: That brat only knows how to suck up to you. She was specially sent here to collect a debt from me.

"The Third Hokage is looking for me! I'm heading back to the village!"

Doichi Hyuga found Tsunade. News had come from the Shadow Clone Technique he had left in Konoha.

"Kid! You don't need to tell me things like that!"

Tsunade lay lazily on the sofa and waved a hand casually.

"I'll leave a Shadow Clone Technique behind to keep Qianyue company. If I can't return in time, I'll be counting on you!"

"Shut up! Qianyue is my daughter. If I dared to give birth to her, then I can take care of her! Hurry up and get lost, you damn brat!"

Doichi Hyuga said no more and turned to leave.

Tsunade's expression darkened as she held her daughter a little tighter.

Using the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to Konoha, Doichi Hyuga entered the Hokage's Office.

"Lord Hokage!"

He swept his gaze around the office and found several others present as well.

There were old acquaintances Kakashi and Shikuro Aburame, as well as a woman with face paint.

"Doichi! You've finally returned! Hehe! How is your medical ninjutsu training going?"

"It's quite difficult. I'm still working hard at it."

"This time, we received a special mission issued by Genji, an elder of Kirigakure. They need someone with the Byakugan to go to Kirigakure and help them determine whether the Fourth Mizukage is under genjutsu. Hiashi recommended you to me!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile.

"The mission reward is twenty million ryo, and it is an S-Rank mission! They require every person aware of this matter to keep it strictly confidential. Absolutely no information regarding this mission may be leaked!"

It seemed Kirigakure feared embarrassment. Whether the Mizukage was being controlled or not, once this matter got out, it would severely damage Kirigakure's reputation.

With such a generous reward, there was surely hush money included as well!

Doichi Hyuga had not expected that after going in a circle, this matter would still land on his head. Hiashi Hyuga was quite the bastard too, directly shoving the matter onto him.

"For this mission, Doichi will serve as captain! Kakashi, Shikuro, Tsume, I'll leave it to the three of you to assist him in completing the mission!"

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

The three answered in unison.

With this lineup, their reconnaissance capabilities were nearly pushed to the limit! It was clear that Hiruzen Sarutobi valued them greatly, and their sense of security was through the roof.

"Go back and prepare! Set out as soon as possible!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile.

The four turned and left to make their preparations.

One week later, Doichi Hyuga's group arrived outside Kirigakure.

A beautiful woman with orange hair cascading in large waves emerged from the mist and stopped before them.

"I am Mei Terumi, a shinobi of the Hidden Mist Village. By Lord Genji's order, I have come to receive you all!"

After both sides exchanged identification, they followed Mei Terumi into Kirigakure.

The five entered a secluded courtyard, which would serve as their temporary residence.

"In three days, Lord Mizukage will pass through the area nearby. At that time, I'll be relying on you, little Byakugan brother!"

"Alright! I understand!"

Doichi Hyuga said with a smile.

After making the arrangements, Mei Terumi departed with a graceful sway.

"The Hidden Mist Village is known as the Village of the Bloody Mist, and assassination attempts could happen at any time! Stay alert and take turns resting!"

After Doichi Hyuga spoke, the other three nodded.

"It's way too damp here. I feel sticky all over; it's unbearably uncomfortable! I'm going to rest first!"

Tsume of the Inuzuka Clan grumbled a few times before turning and entering a room.

"Senior Shikuro and Senior Tsume will be one group. You should rest first as well!"

"Alright!"

Shikuro Aburame answered in a muffled voice.

Doichi Hyuga sensed the surroundings. Aside from the Hidden Mist Village's ANBU surveillance, there was also a schemer hiding underground.

It seemed this mission would not go smoothly.

Sure enough, by nightfall, Doichi Hyuga had faced four assassination attempts.

The others were fine; the enemy's main target seemed to be Doichi Hyuga.

And even by the fourth day, the Mizukage still had not appeared nearby.