Douyang: If you're feeling unwell, a shot will fix it

Kumogakure was the most united of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Almost no rogue ninja had ever emerged from the village, nor had any shinobi clan launched a coup.

In that respect, Konoha fell far short of Kumogakure.

After they finished their meal, Kurenai Yuhi suddenly shut the door. Her beautiful eyes regarded Douyang with an ambiguous smile as she spoke in a highly exaggerated tone.

"Douyang, I haven't been feeling well these past few days. Could you examine me?"

Douyang paused at her words. He looked Kurenai Yuhi over carefully, then said with complete seriousness, "You're perfectly healthy. There's nothing wrong with you at all."

Kurenai Yuhi rolled her eyes, swayed her hips as she walked up to Douyang, and leaned straight into his arms.

With her warm, soft body in his arms, Douyang immediately understood what was wrong with Kurenai Yuhi.

Counting back, their last friendly exchange had been half a month ago.

Shinobi frequently carried out killing missions and faced tremendous mental stress.

It was quite normal for them to get hooked on sex, gambling, or drugs.

The legendary Sannin were all experts in such pursuits.

Besides, Douyang and Kurenai Yuhi were only seventeen, at an age when they were full of energy with nowhere to release it.

"Douyang, it seems you haven't inherited Lady Tsunade's true medical skills. You still have a ways to go."

As Kurenai Yuhi spoke, she gently stroked Douyang's neck with her small hand.

"Kurenai, I can see what's wrong with you now. I'll treat you right away."

Since Kurenai Yuhi was stoking the flames, Douyang would not indulge her. He scooped her up by the waist, became a master of clearing tabletops, and then tossed her onto the table.

An hour later, Uchiha Yui arrived outside the door and said with a flushed face, "Lord Douyang, the clan head said to visit his home when you have time."

Kurenai Yuhi lowered her head to glance at Douyang, tucked the long hair over her forehead behind her ear, and smiled. "'When you have time'? You've really made something of yourself, Douyang. Now even Fugaku... has to show you respect."

Douyang took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes. "Whatever else, I'm Tsunade's apprentice. I've made a name for myself, and I'm indisputably the Uchiha's number two."

Douyang did not give much thought to why Fugaku wanted to see him and fully enjoyed their time alone together.

Toward evening, Douyang left the clinic and staggered toward the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Of course, his unsteady gait was not because his legs were weak.

Douyang was a doctor. If he was depleted, he knew how to replenish himself.

Mostly, his clothes were not properly arranged, and he needed to straighten them.

When Douyang arrived at Fugaku's residence and was about to knock, a servant hurried over and said in a low voice, "Lord Douyang, please follow me. Clan Head Fugaku has been waiting for some time."

Douyang nodded and followed the servant into the inner residence. After passing through a long corridor, he saw Uchiha Fugaku.

"Clan Head Fugaku."

Douyang nodded in greeting to Fugaku.

"No need to be so formal. Sit," Fugaku said with a smile.

Sitting down opposite Fugaku, Douyang asked, "Clan Head Fugaku, why did you ask me here?"

Fugaku took out four bounty notices and placed them in front of Uchiha Douyang. "Douyang, don't go out alone for a while. Someone has set their sights on you," he said evenly.

Douyang picked up the bounty notices and glanced at them, discovering that all four members of Team Kakashi were on the black-market bounty list.

He looked at his own bounty notice, with the amount listed below.

Thirty-five million!

Fugaku's gaze sharpened. "Douyang, did you offend someone while carrying out a mission? Thirty-five million is no small sum."

Douyang carefully thought back, then gave the main details of the trip to the Land of Demons and of Toroi, Yan Luoya, and Juzo Biwa, who had died at Team Kakashi's hands.

Naturally, he said absolutely nothing about the Amber Purifying Pot.

After finishing, Douyang asked curiously, "Clan Head Fugaku, who do you think is behind the bounty?"

Fugaku pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "It doesn't matter who's behind it. In fact, almost every shinobi with status or considerable strength is listed on the black market. It's a symbol of status, standing, and strength."

Douyang nodded slightly at his words.

It was not as though he feared the person behind it.

The fact that they had resorted to a black-market bounty meant they had no way to deal with him through legitimate channels.

Taking a sip of hot tea, Fugaku said evenly, "Douyang, guess how much my bounty is."

"Over a hundred million?"

Fugaku held up two fingers. "Two hundred million!"

Douyang was startled at first, then nodded slightly.

The amount was unexpected, but reasonable.

Beyond Fugaku's strength, much of the two-hundred-million bounty came from his position as the Uchiha Clan Head.

After all, following the Senju's decline, the Uchiha were the foremost prestigious clan in the shinobi world.

Two hundred million for the Uchiha Clan Head's head, along with a precious pair of Mangekyō Sharingan, was more than worth the price.

After returning to the clinic, Douyang shut himself away and continued studying the Four Symbols Seal.

His insufficient chakra reserves were a weakness that troubled him greatly.

Fortunately, his understanding of the Four Symbols Seal had already reached a new level.

The core of the Four Symbols Seal lay in changes to chakra nature. Within ten days to half a month, Douyang would be able to use it proficiently.

Then he would leave Konoha, sneak into the Land of Wind, and steal the Ryūmyaku.

With the Ryūmyaku in hand, he could completely resolve his chakra deficiency.

Fortunately, the village had just been through a major battle and had no special missions, leaving Douyang enough time to practice the Four Symbols Seal.

Seven days later, Douyang walked out of the clinic and breathed in the fresh air outside, his expression revealing an indescribable excitement.

He had thought it would take ten days or even half a month to fully master the Four Symbols Seal, but it had only taken seven days.

Perhaps having the priestess, a master of Sealing Jutsu, to guide him had made his training in Sealing Jutsu much smoother.

After pondering for a moment, Douyang decided to set off immediately, secretly slip out of the village, and head to the Land of Wind to steal the Ryūmyaku.

Before leaving, Douyang sought out Kurenai Yuhi.

After an exchange that went deep and shallow, Douyang held Kurenai Yuhi in his arms and said, "Kurenai, I came this time because there's something I need your help with."

Kurenai traced circles on Douyang's chest with a finger and said sweetly, "Idiot, why are you being so formal with me? Just say what's on your mind."

Douyang toyed with the ends of Kurenai Yuhi's hair and spoke in complete seriousness.

"I'm planning to leave the village tomorrow to handle some personal matters, but I can't let anyone else know.

Before I leave, I'll leave a Shadow Clone behind to keep up appearances. Until I return, come to the clinic to see me as you normally would."

A Shadow Clone could keep up appearances, but it could not fool someone like Kurenai Yuhi, who had been in intimate contact with him.

So he needed to tell Kurenai Yuhi beforehand. If anything went wrong, she could also help him out of trouble.

Kurenai Yuhi looked utterly astonished at his words. "Douyang, what are you leaving the village for?"

Douyang said calmly, "I have some personal matters to handle. They have nothing to do with the village, and there isn't much danger."