The next afternoon, sunlight filtered through the blinds, cutting alternating bands of light and shadow across the hospital room floor. Even the air seemed more stagnant than usual.
Ling leaned against the head of the bed, seemingly flipping casually through a medical book, but every sense was heightened to its limit. His Jōgan operated silently, monitoring the energy fluctuations of the Root observer outside the window and every hint of activity inside the hospital.
Time ticked away, second by second.
Finally, as the clock struck two in the afternoon, Ling's Jōgan clearly "saw" a vast, cold chakra source-Danzo-begin moving from the direction of the distant Hokage Building toward the Memorial Stone.
The window of opportunity had opened!
Almost simultaneously, a soft knock came at the door, and the nurse who had previously administered his special "infusions" pushed her cart inside. "Time to change your medication." Her voice was as calm as ever, but she exchanged an extremely brief glance with Ling.
Ling cooperatively extended his hand. The nurse worked deftly, but in the instant between removing the old needle and inserting the new one, her fingertip pressed a certain point on Ling's wrist with incredible speed.
A faint yet peculiar stream of chakra flowed into him. Ling immediately felt slightly dizzy, and his heartbeat and breathing involuntarily became extremely slow and faint. His skin temperature also dropped rapidly, and within seconds, his entire body entered a state resembling life-threatening shock!
"Something's wrong! The patient is suffering an acute rejection reaction! His vital signs are dropping rapidly! Prepare for emergency treatment!" The nurse slammed the emergency call button beside the bed, shouting in "panic"!
The piercing alarm instantly rang through the corridor!
The ninja guarding the door immediately rushed inside, and his expression changed at the sight of Ling "at death's door"!
"Get a doctor, quickly!" the nurse shouted to the guard while "fumbling frantically" to prepare the emergency equipment.
Amid the chaos, no one noticed that the moment doctors and more nurses rushed over and surrounded the bed, an extremely faint Shadow Clone, mimicking Ling's current "dying" energy fluctuations, was quietly left on it-barely created through the fragment's Yin Release energy and the Jōgan's precise control. Meanwhile, sheltered by the nurse's body and that instant of confusion, Ling's real body had already slipped soundlessly through the rear window like a slippery loach. Upon landing, he instantly blended into the shadows and raced toward the designated location!
The entire plan was bold and meticulous, using the brief chaos created by the hospital's emergency procedures and the feigned-death state induced by that miraculous pressure-point technique-clearly an advanced form of Medical Ninjutsu from Tsunade's school-to slip past everyone.
Ling pushed his speed to the limit, avoiding all main roads and crowds as he threaded through narrow back alleys like a ghost. His Jōgan was fully active, anticipating and evading every possible line of sight and patrol.
His heart hammered in his chest, not merely from moving at high speed, but even more from his nervousness and anticipation about the coming meeting.
Soon, he reached the abandoned alley and slipped into the ninja tool repair shop. Dust coated the interior, and cobwebs covered everything. Following the instructions, he quickly found the basement entrance, pushed open the concealed door, slipped inside, and gently closed it behind him.
The basement was small. A single dim oil lamp flickered, barely illuminating an old table and two chairs in the center.
A figure was already sitting in one of those chairs.
Blonde twin tails, a full bosom, a distinct blue diamond mark on her forehead, and amber eyes that were now sharp with scrutiny and unquestionable authority!
The Fifth Hokage-Princess Tsunade!
She had actually come in person, rather than sending Shizune or another representative!
Ling's heart tightened, but he immediately dropped to one knee and lowered his head, speaking as steadily as he could. "Uchiha Ling, reporting to Lord Hokage!"
Tsunade did not immediately tell him to rise. Her gaze swept over him with an almost tangible weight, as though she meant to see through him inside and out. Her powerful presence filled the cramped space, carrying the oppressive weight of someone long accustomed to authority.
"You have only ten minutes, Uchiha brat." Tsunade's voice held a hint of languor, yet carried unquestionable power. "Stand up and speak. Let me hear why you've gone to such lengths to meet me, and what makes you think I'd antagonize that old bastard Danzo for your sake."
Ling rose and wasted no words, taking the Root Token with its damaged runes directly from his Ninja Tool Pouch and presenting it with both hands.
"I obtained this from the Root member who 'died in the line of duty' during the mission. It originally had powerful communication and tracking functions, which I've temporarily blocked." Ling spoke faster, but with perfect clarity. "Root's involvement in the Maple Leaf Town mission was no accident. They had two objectives: first, to seize the ancient, damaged scroll capable of creating a large-scale sleep barrier; second, to kill me and silence me. Because my 'accidental' survival on the night of the massacre makes me a 'variable' Elder Danzo never wanted to see."
Tsunade accepted the token, her fingers brushing over the cold character for "Root" and the intricate runes on its surface as her gaze grew deep. She clearly recognized its value.
"Where's the scroll?" She looked up at Ling.
"During the final battle against the monster controlled by the scroll and the Root member, the scroll was accidentally detonated and completely destroyed. This is its only remnant." Ling took out the jet-black, jade-like fragment and placed it on the table. "It contains extremely pure and dangerous Yin Release energy and mental remnants."
Tsunade's gaze settled on the fragment, and she frowned slightly. She could sense the ominous power within it.
"These... are certainly decent bargaining chips." Tsunade set down the token, tapping her fingers against the table. "But they only prove that Danzo's men appeared during the mission and were plotting something. A crafty old fox like Danzo has plenty of ways to evade responsibility. As for you..." She paused, her gaze sharpening again as she looked at Ling. "How did a Genin like you survive a clash on that level and even obtain these things? You seem to be hiding quite a few secrets."
The crucial question had come!
Ling took a deep breath, knowing he could not conceal everything. He raised his head and met Tsunade's eyes.
The next moment, the black in his eyes abruptly faded, replaced by scarlet, and a peculiar pinwheel pattern, rather than tomoe, began rotating slowly! At the same time, an extremely faint, glassy sheen flowed beneath the scarlet!
"What?!" Even with her vast experience, Tsunade's pupils abruptly contracted, and she leaned slightly forward. "The Sharingan?! But this isn't any known form! And that strange sensation..."
"This is one of the things I rely on, Lord Hokage." Ling maintained his Sharingan, his voice steady. "It isn't a conventional Sharingan. It seems to have undergone some mutation, granting me greater perception and certain... special predictive abilities. I survived largely thanks to it. This is also what Danzo truly fears and wants to obtain."
His explanation mixed truth with falsehood, attributing some of the Jōgan's abilities to an unknown Sharingan mutation. This was the most readily acceptable explanation.
Tsunade stared intently into Ling's eyes, as though trying to discern more of their mysteries. She could sense the strange power and potential within them, far beyond an ordinary Sharingan.
"A mutated Sharingan... an interesting explanation." Tsunade leaned back in her chair, her gaze shifting. "So, what do you want? Protection?"
"Yes, Lord Hokage." Ling made no attempt to hide it. "I need a relatively safe environment in which to grow, rather than constantly worrying about attacks from within. I'm willing to accept your supervision and serve Konoha, but I hope that my abilities and secrets can be placed under your control, Lord Hokage, rather than Shimura Danzō's."
He had offered his terms and his loyalty-to the Hokage, not Danzo.
Tsunade fell silent for a moment. Only the crackle of the burning oil lamp remained in the basement.
Little remained of his ten minutes.
"Your bargaining chips are interesting. Your eyes are even more so." Tsunade finally spoke slowly. "But dealing with Danzo isn't that simple. I can provide you with some protection for the time being. After you're discharged, I'll transfer you into the training program for the Anbu directly under my command, where my own people will personally watch over and train you. That will keep Root's grasp off you to some extent."
Ling's heart stirred. This was better than he had expected! He would enter the Hokage's direct chain of command!
"But," Tsunade shifted her tone, her voice becoming stern, "you'll need to pay a corresponding price. First, I need a more detailed report on those eyes' abilities. Second, you'll need to undergo regular examinations by me to ensure that dangerous power doesn't corrupt you and send you out of control." She pointed at the fragment. "Third, and most importantly, I need you to become a nail driven into Danzo's sphere of influence. When necessary, provide me with everything you know about Root."
She had offered protection, but also laid down her demands-loyalty, monitoring, and serving as a pawn against Danzo.
Ling did not hesitate. This had been his objective all along. "I will obey your orders, Lord Hokage!" He lowered his head and answered in a deep voice.
"Good." Tsunade rose. Time was up. "Go back, according to plan. From today onward, you'll be under my eye. Remember your promise, Uchiha Ling. I appreciate capable young people, but I despise betrayal even more."
With that, her figure vanished soundlessly into the basement's shadows as though she had teleported, as if she had never been there.
Ling slowly straightened, deactivated his Sharingan, put away the fragment, and let out a long breath.
In this ten-minute gamble, he had won the first step.
Although he was now thoroughly caught in the maelstrom of power struggles at the top, he had at least grasped a lifeline, securing a relatively safe starting point and precious time to grow.
The road ahead remained fraught with danger, but he was no longer alone and without support.
He collected himself and once again left the basement like a ghost, retracing his route to the hospital.
The "emergency treatment" in his room seemed to have just ended, and his Shadow Clone had "returned" to a stable condition at just the right moment. With the nurse covering for him, his real body returned soundlessly and switched places with the Shadow Clone.
Outside the window, the sun was setting.
The Root observer remained at his post, completely unaware of everything that had just happened.
Ling closed his eyes, feeling the Yang Release and Yin Release energies flowing slowly within him.
The storm was coming, and he was ready to meet it.
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