Rescue

"Mm... tsk tsk tsk... mm..."

In a simple room, Yan Hong sat solemnly on a stool while an elderly man with silver hair and a youthful face stood before him. Two withered fingers held his eyelids open as the old man inspected his eyes with great interest, occasionally making inexplicable noises.

This only made Yan Hong feel uncomfortable all over. It was like going to the hospital and seeing the doctor suddenly frown, shake his head, and sigh while holding your test report, then telling you to eat whatever you wanted while you still could. It was downright creepy.

At last, Yan Hong could not help asking, "Sir, can my condition be cured?"

"Well..." The old man released him, sat across from Yan Hong, and took a sip of tea from the table. "Of course it can be cured."

Yan Hong's eyes lit up. "Really? Then please help me, sir. If you can cure it, I will reward you handsomely."

"There's no need for a hefty reward. I always charge the same price for treatment." The old man waved his hand and continued, "And don't call me sir. I prefer people calling me Tian Lao."

Tian Lao then sized Yan Hong up. "You're a ninja, aren't you? Your eyes clearly suffered backlash to their origin from using some kind of ninjutsu. If I'm not mistaken, you should be from the Uchiha Clan, right?"

Yan Hong did not conceal it and nodded. "That's right. I am Uchiha Yan Hong, indeed from the Uchiha Clan."

"So, curing your eyes is simple. Just stop using that ninjutsu."

"Huh?" Yan Hong froze, wearing an expression that plainly asked whether Tian Lao was messing with him.

"Just kidding. Do you young people not like jokes these days?" Tian Lao waved dismissively, bored. "But your condition really cannot be cured. The origin of your eyes has been damaged, and medicine alone cannot repair it."

"As expected." Yan Hong nodded, not particularly disappointed. He had already prepared himself mentally. If the Mangekyo Sharingan's aftereffects were so easily resolved, this problem would not have persisted for hundreds of years.

"Although I can't cure your eye disease, I do have medicine that can keep your condition from worsening."

"Hm?" The sudden turn gave Yan Hong hope, but there was clearly more suspicion in his eyes. "You're not teasing me again, are you?"

"Young man, I wouldn't lie to you." Tian Lao turned and began rummaging through his home. After searching for a long time, he somehow pulled out a wine gourd and shook it in his hand.

"There's still half left. Here, take it." Tian Lao tossed the wine gourd to Yan Hong and casually explained, "Inside is medicinal wine I... uh... probably brewed about a year ago. Don't drink too much. Take one sip whenever you plan to use your eye technique. The effects last about an hour, and during that hour, your eyes won't suffer backlash from the eye technique."

"Good stuff!" Yan Hong treated it like a treasure and eagerly asked, "Thank you for the medicine, Tian Lao. How much more of this medicinal wine do you have? I'll buy as much as you have!"

"Do you think it's roadside weeds?" Tian Lao said irritably. "The ingredients for this wine are very precious. One of the medicinal herbs is nearly extinct now. This is all there is. Once it's gone, it's gone."

"Even so, thank you very much for your help, Tian Lao."

"Five taels of silver. You weren't planning to not pay, were you?"

Medicine Hidden Village was open to outsiders. Not only ninjas, but anyone who came seeking medicine would be treated, and no matter the illness, they charged only five taels of silver.

Yan Hong took five taels of silver from his clothes and placed it on the table. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Tian Lao, I would like to..."

"Don't even think about it." Before Yan Hong could finish, Tian Lao interrupted him. "I've stayed here for sixty years. I quite like the environment here, and I plan to retire here."

"Ah." Yan Hong sighed helplessly. For someone like Tian Lao, who sought neither fame nor profit and helped the people, there was truly nothing else Yan Hong could do besides try to persuade him. "Very well. Since Tian Lao has made up his mind, I won't force the matter."

"Go back. But I'll still remind you: it's best if you use your eye technique less often."

Yan Hong neither agreed nor disagreed. He stood up, preparing to take his leave, but as soon as he opened the door, he saw a child running toward them in a panic. "Grandpa Tian, this is bad! Brother Tian and the others are in trouble!"

"I told them long ago not to go, but they just wouldn't listen." Though Tian Lao complained, concern flashed across his face. "What happened?"

The child spoke rapidly. "Brother Takuya, who went with Brother Tian, just came back. He said Brother Tian is trapped in a valley and is looking for people to save them!"

"They're all so worrying." Tian Lao sighed, then hurried outside. Yan Hong thought for a moment and quickly followed.

At the village entrance, a group of people had already gathered. Each of them wore simple weapons and equipment, clearly intending to go rescue the others together.

"Hey! What are you trying to do? Go throw your lives away?" Tian Lao hurriedly stopped them. "I know that place better than any of you. If you go there, not only will you fail to save anyone, you'll end up losing your own lives as well!"

Fukuizumi Takuya, who stood at the front, shouted anxiously, "Tian Lao, but Tian Yuan and the others are still trapped inside, waiting for us to save them!"

"Saving people requires ability. Without it, you're just going to die!"

"I don't care! Brother Tian and the others risked their lives to let me escape. I can't just watch them die in there. If none of you are going, I'll go alone!"

Tian Lao was furious. "Get back here! If you go back now to die, wouldn't Tian Yuan and the others have saved you for nothing?"

"Hmph!" Fukuizumi Takuya clenched his teeth and still strode resolutely out of the village.

"Wait!"

At that moment, a young voice called out to him. Turning around, he saw a handsome young man emerge from the crowd. "I'll go with you."

Takuya glanced at the young man and realized he did not know him, so he asked, "Who are you?"

Yan Hong smiled faintly. "Just call me Yan Hong. I don't know exactly what trouble you ran into, but I'm willing to go with you."

Tian Lao shouted from behind, "Hey! Young man, I advise you not to throw your life away. Don't think I'll agree to your request just because you do this!"

"I know. I'm not trying to force you into making a decision through this matter." Yan Hong picked up the wine gourd Tian Lao had given him and shook it. "Consider it payment for this medicinal wine. Chikuma, follow me!"

"Yes, Boss!"

Though Takuya had not fully grasped the situation, seeing that someone was willing to go with him, he nodded in agreement. "Thank you very much for your assistance, sir. Please follow me!"

"Hey, you—!" Watching their figures disappear into the distance, Tian Lao stomped his foot in frustration, yet could do nothing.

"Just don't let anything happen!"