Itō Yuying had already passed out by the time he was brought to the hospital. His flesh was torn open, with not a single patch left intact, and some of his bones were exposed.
The doctor was shocked too. Why bring him to the hospital in this state? Why not just wheel him straight into the cremation furnace and be done with it?
Complaints aside, his hands never stopped working. Several doctors worked together, stitching what needed stitching and patching what needed patching. Two hours later, a brand-new mummy was born.
"We might as well call you Itō Mummy from now on. We've used every last bit of gauze on you," the doctor grumbled. Then he left the emergency room and told Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō outside, "The operation was reasonably successful. The patient is still unconscious. When he wakes up will depend on his willpower. His injuries were too severe this time. If this happens again, just wheel him straight into the furnace. Don't bring him to me again."
"All right, Muraya, stop complaining," Sarutobi Hiruzen said. "He's Teacher's precious darling, the apple of his eye. Teacher's afraid of dropping him if he holds him in his hands, and afraid of melting him if he holds him in his mouth. That's how much he treasures him. If Teacher hears you, I don't know whether he'll be wheeled into the furnace, but you certainly will."
Kimura replied, "Looking at him now, I really can't tell that he's Lord Hokage's precious darling, the apple of his eye."
Sarutobi Hiruzen knew he had exaggerated a little too, and gave an awkward chuckle.
"Hmph... You don't seem to believe it. Go ahead and wheel him into the furnace, then." Shimura Danzō's voice grew increasingly cold.
Muraya hurriedly said, "I was wrong, I was wrong. I was only joking... He looked like a blood-soaked gourd when he first came in. There was blood all over him. I really couldn't get a good look."
"Hmph..." Shimura Danzō said nothing more.
"All right, enough," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, smoothing things over.
Once Muraya was far away, Shimura Danzō whispered to Sarutobi Hiruzen, "Our junior really is strong. He survived being blasted into that state and even killed two ninja in return. Did you see how nervous Teacher was? He was about to use Flying Thunder God to save him. I've never seen Teacher that nervous."
Sarutobi Hiruzen silently nodded too. "Such a powerful body, and such incredible moves. I didn't sense any chakra fluctuations from the techniques he used. Is this the new technique he created himself? A technique that doesn't use chakra. It's incredible. I want to learn it so badly. No wonder Teacher dotes on him so much and even told the two of us to protect him properly."
Shimura Danzō gazed at the night sky outside the window without speaking for a long time. Only after a long while did he let out a deep sigh... "We must build a good relationship with our junior."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded.
Before long, it was the next morning. Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō had guarded the door all night. Tobirama Senju had visited several times during that period and specifically instructed them to protect Itō Yuying properly. The two went in to check on him from time to time, afraid that spies from another village might come to harm him.
At noon, a tearful voice drew closer from far away. "Yuying, my dearest friend!"
"Why are you in the hospital again?"
When Might Duy heard that Itō Yuying had gone to the hospital again, he worried all morning and could barely pay attention in class. He even secretly wiped away tears in a corner, leaving the teacher at a loss. Once class ended, he immediately opened the first gate and raced toward the hospital, crying and wailing. Uchiha Hanyue chased him the whole way. Watching Might Duy disappear from sight, Uchiha Hanyue silently resolved to train hard in taijutsu.
Hyuga Yeyang, who was hiding some distance away, slowly followed. This time, he had to make friends with Itō Yuying. Last night, he had heard the adults in his family say that Itō Yuying had been exceptionally brave, taking out two ninja spies in an instant. Those were ninja!! And Itō Yuying was still only a child.
Shimura Danzō and Sarutobi Hiruzen watched a child with a bowl cut and thick eyebrows run up to them crying. Both were rather speechless. Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and said, "Little one, you're here to see Yuying, aren't you?"
With tears and snot streaming down his face, Might Duy replied pitifully, "Y-yes... yes, I am."
"Y-Yuying..."
"He's my good friend. Could you let me see him?" He even put on a pleading, pitiful expression.
Looking at Might Duy's ugly yet endearing expression, Shimura Danzō really wanted to punch him. He said sternly, "Itō Yuying is still unconscious. He hasn't woken up yet. Go home for now and come back when he wakes up."
Might Duy's tears, which had only just stopped, began flowing again. "Y-Yuying is still unconscious?" "Yes," Sarutobi Hiruzen said. "So go home for now and come back to see him once he wakes up." Might Duy stopped crying!! He silently went to the side of the corridor and began doing push-ups, muttering, "I have to train hard. I have to get stronger."
The two watched Might Duy without saying anything.
Before long, Uchiha Hanyue and Hyuga Yeyang also arrived outside Itō Yuying's ward. Sarutobi Hiruzen explained Itō Yuying's condition to them again, and the two silently moved aside to wait. Then came Orochimaru's group of three, and Hatake Sakumo arrived too. They all waited quietly nearby for Itō Yuying to wake up.
Evening quietly arrived. Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "It's getting late. You should all go home!" But no one paid him any attention, making things a little awkward. Even the usually unsmiling Shimura Danzō's lips curved up slightly.
Moonlight spilled onto the windowsill and shone over everyone. "Orochimaru, do you think that guy will still be able to become a ninja?" Orochimaru said nothing. No one knew what he was thinking as he stared blankly out the window. Just then, Jiraiya's voice rang out. "I asked Teacher Sarutobi just now. He said there's nothing seriously wrong with Itō Yuying. He's really strong." Tsunade rested her chin in her hands and gazed out the window. "Ah... He really is strong."
"Yes. He's already this powerful before even graduating. He'll definitely reach Kage Level in the future, or even become stronger and stand alongside those two," Orochimaru said quietly.
Just then, Shimura Danzō came out of the ward and said, "All right, come in. He's awake."
Everyone brightened at the news and rushed into the ward. At that moment, Itō Yuying could only move his eyes; every other part of him was wrapped in bandages. Might Duy said excitedly, "Yuying, you're finally awake! I cried until my eyes swelled up. Look, they're like peaches!" Itō Yuying was deeply touched by the sight of Might Duy's swollen eyes. He expressed his thanks with his eyes, and then everyone started talking over one another. For a while, the ward was as lively as a marketplace. Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō stood silently in the distance, smiling.
Jiraiya was the loudest. "Yuying, I heard all about it! You were incredible out there, cutting down everyone in your path. No one could stop you!" He rubbed his hands together. "Hehe... Could you teach me? That move of yours was amazing." He looked utterly shameless, without the slightest embarrassment. The others pricked up their ears to listen closely too. Even Shimura Danzō and Sarutobi Hiruzen in the distance strained their ears, wanting to hear Itō Yuying's answer clearly.
Looking at all these people glancing his way, some openly and others pretending it was accidental, Itō Yuying was speechless too. Then he helplessly nodded.
"Yes... yes... yes! Thank you, Yuying!" Tsunade excitedly hugged Itō Yuying and shook him wildly, until blood seeped through his bandages. Everyone stared at Tsunade.
"Yuying agreed to teach me his technique," Jiraiya said. Only then did Tsunade realize what she had done. Looking at the bloodstained bandages, she stood off to one side in embarrassment. Shimura Danzō roared, "Enough, all of you! Go home right now! Just look at you!" Then he chased the whole group out.
Everyone kept looking back as they left, all agreeing to visit him again the next day.
Before you continue