That faint pulse of pure, concealed Yang Release chakra was like a pebble dropped into a deep pool. It sent tiny ripples through Ling's Jōgan perception before swiftly vanishing without a trace.
In the neighboring ward, Inuzuka Gaku's vital signs remained stable, but that momentary improvement had been real.
Ling held his breath and pushed his Jōgan's perception to its current limit, carefully scanning every corner of the hospital building. Yet apart from the ordinary chakra of the medical staff on duty, the steady breathing of the guards outside, and the cold, stable energy source of the Root watcher in the distance, he detected nothing unusual.
The mysterious healer had come quickly and left even faster, displaying exceptional skill and leaving almost no trace.
Could it be her? Ling's heartbeat quickened uncontrollably. If it was Princess Tsunade herself, why was she acting in secret? To avoid Danzo's eyes? What was she investigating in the shadows? Did Inuzuka Gaku's injuries involve secrets Danzo didn't want anyone to know?
Countless questions churned through his mind.
This was undoubtedly an extremely important sign! If the Fifth Hokage really had returned to the village unnoticed and begun making moves in secret, then Konoha's seemingly unassailable situation under Danzo's control might well be about to break apart!
For Ling, trapped and desperately in need of a way out, this was undoubtedly a glimmer piercing the darkness.
He had to seize this opportunity!
But how? Go straight to Tsunade? That would be walking into a trap. He would probably be seized by Danzo's Anbu before he even saw her. Reveal himself voluntarily? Too risky. He could not be certain of Tsunade's stance, much less explain the many secrets he carried.
He had to find a subtler, cleverer way to draw her attention and convey the crucial information.
Ling's gaze turned toward the window again, in the direction of the Root watcher. The outline of a bold plan slowly began taking shape in his mind.
The next day, Ling's "injuries" were recovering "well," and he could already get out of bed for some light activity. On the pretext of getting fresh air, he was granted permission to take a short walk in the hospital's small garden.
The sunshine was gentle, and other injured patients were moving about the garden. Ling strolled along seemingly at random, but every step was precisely calculated through his Jōgan. He chose a path that would take him through a blind spot-behind a dense clump of shrubs, a weak point in the surveillance from outside.
The instant the shrubs concealed him, Ling moved like lightning! He had already smuggled a small piece of discarded medical bandage out of his ward. Using disinfectant he had secretly hidden away, he swiftly wrote a line of tiny characters on it:
[The Maple Leaf Town mission report seriously contradicts the facts. Numerous suspicious points involve Root. Request an audience with Lord Hokage. Uchiha Ling.]
The handwriting was hasty but legible. He quickly rolled up the bandage and tucked it beneath a loose paving tile in a corner of the garden that he had scouted out beforehand. The entire process took less than two seconds, perfectly avoiding every possible surveillance angle.
This was his first hidden move. The bandage's hiding place was not completely secure; hospital staff making their regular rounds might very well discover it. But if... if Tsunade's people really were secretly watching the hospital, especially those of them involved in this mission, then the chance of this message being found would increase greatly.
It was both a probe and a pledge of allegiance.
With everything done, Ling continued his walk as though nothing had happened, his face showing the fatigue expected of an injured patient and his enjoyment of the sunshine.
That afternoon, a masked Anbu arrived at his ward on schedule for a "routine" follow-up inquiry into his mission report. Ling could sense that the man's chakra fluctuations were cold and mechanical. He was a loyal subordinate of Danzo.
Ling once again recited his account flawlessly, his expression sincere and his details "rich." He even volunteered a few inconsequential descriptions of the "Unknown Enemy's" terrifying power, further bolstering the story's credibility.
During a pause in his account, however, he seemingly mentioned something in passing, his tone slightly puzzled. "...Come to think of it, when that underground cavern exploded at the end, I think I vaguely saw something gleaming black fall off that dead senior from Root. Its shape was a little strange... but the explosion was so intense, I probably just saw things..."
The shape he described bore a slight resemblance to the Root Token he had damaged, but remained vague.
The questioning Anbu paused almost imperceptibly. Although his mask concealed his expression, Ling's Jōgan clearly caught the momentary stagnation of chakra within his body and an extremely faint emotional fluctuation-wariness!
"Did you get a clear look?" the Anbu asked, his voice still level.
"No, no." Ling hurriedly shook his head, looking "uncertain." "It only lasted an instant. It was probably the flash from the explosion or some debris... Sorry, I might not have fully recovered yet. My mind's been wandering."
The Anbu fell silent for a few seconds before his writing hand resumed moving. "Understood. Every piece of information you provide is important, even if it was an illusion. Rest well."
Once the questioning ended, the Anbu left in a hurry.
Watching him leave, Ling's lips curved almost imperceptibly. The seed had been planted. Whether Danzo believed it or not, it would sow doubt in his mind, making him wonder whether Ling had seen more details about the Root Token or the Scroll. That might prompt him to take further action-and more action often meant exposing more openings.
This was Ling's second hidden move.
The next two days passed without incident. The surveillance continued, and life in the hospital followed its usual routine. Good news came about Inuzuka Gaku: he was out of danger and had awakened from his coma once. Though still very weak, he had regained clear consciousness. This put Ling somewhat at ease.
The bandage beneath the paving tile seemed not to have been discovered by anyone.
Just as Ling was considering whether to take a more aggressive approach, an unexpected turning point arrived.
That night, an unfamiliar nurse wheeled in a medication cart to change his IV bag. Everything looked normal.
Yet as the nurse lowered her head to work, an extremely faint pulse of Yang Release chakra seeped from her fingertips, instantly alerting Ling's Jōgan, and silently merged into the replacement IV bag!
This trace of energy was pure and concealed, carrying powerful vitality, exactly like what he had sensed that night! It blended perfectly into the medicinal solution. Without his Jōgan's extraordinarily keen perception of energy, Ling would never have detected it!
Ling's heart gave a sudden thump, but he kept a drowsy expression on his face.
After changing the medication, the nurse made a routine note and wheeled the cart away. Throughout the process, she never glanced at Ling or exchanged any unnecessary words.
Only after the door closed did Ling snap his eyes open and look at the new IV bag.
[Jōgan analysis: No abnormalities in medicinal composition. Added energy: High-purity Yang Release chakra (extremely minute quantity). Effects: Gently nourishes chakra pathways, accelerates cellular repair, no side effects. Source: Suspected specific kekkei genkai or secret medical ninjutsu.]
One of her people! She really was watching in secret! And through this method, she was not only offering help, but also giving a silent response and probing him!
Suppressing his excitement, Ling accepted this "gift" without letting anything show. The pure Yang Release energy slowly flowed into his body, forming a delicate balance with the Yin Release energy supplied by the fragment. It greatly eased the burning pain in his chakra pathways and accelerated his recovery.
More importantly, this was a clear signal! Tsunade-or rather, her people-had received his message and responded!
Beneath the tight surveillance net Danzo had cast, the two sides had made silent contact and exchanged an unspoken understanding.
Ling knew he had gained their initial attention and a faint measure of trust.
But what came next would be crucial. He needed to offer something more valuable in exchange for further cooperation and protection.
His gaze settled once again on the corner where he had hidden his Ninja Tool Pouch-inside were the damaged Root Token and that increasingly mysterious pitch-black fragment.
It was time to put some real bargaining chips on the table.
Before you continue