China?
Nawaki?
Only then...
Did Araki suddenly understand.
So the "Big Sister China" that the boy had called out to was the young nurse now enthusiastically leading him to his interview.
And that boy...
Was actually Tsunade's younger brother!
Was Tsunade's brother still alive at this point?
Araki carefully studied Nawaki. He looked about three years older than him and had already graduated from the Ninja Academy to become a Genin, so he should have been around twelve. The necklace Tsunade had given him was already hanging around his neck.
Araki recognized that necklace.
It was none other than the famous First Hokage's Necklace, a relic of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju. Whenever Tsunade gave it away, its owner would soon meet with misfortune.
After what happened to Nawaki and then Dan Katō, Tsunade called it the Death Necklace.
And now the Death Necklace hung around Nawaki's neck.
Then...
At this point in time...
Nawaki might not have much time left.
Araki clearly recognized the problem. His expression remained unchanged, but his heart grew a little heavier.
Hopefully I won't get dragged into any trouble!
Araki would not concern himself too much with Nawaki. Their lives had no real overlap, and deaths occurred constantly in the ninja world. According to the information he possessed, many people would die. He was no saint and had no obligation to protect everyone.
All Araki wanted was to keep a low profile and quietly farm up, constantly improving his strength. Nothing else mattered to him.
No one else staying alive matters more than me staying alive!
No matter who dies, I can't let myself die!
"My big sister's upstairs interviewing newcomers. I happened to have no missions, so I came to take a look. Big Sister China, get back to your work. I'll be going." Nawaki waved at the young nurse.
"Wait..."
The young nurse immediately glanced at Araki, then told Nawaki, "This little guy is here for an interview. Take him upstairs for me. I happen to have something to take care of."
"Oh, is that so? No problem!" Nawaki looked at Araki and nodded enthusiastically. "Come with me!"
"O... okay..."
Araki's face darkened. He had just been thinking about how to keep his distance from Nawaki, only for the young nurse named China to sell him out.
Rather than go with Nawaki...
He would have preferred to go with China.
Even if that young nurse kept teasing him about being little!
"Little guy, hurry along to your interview. Don't be late!"
After handing Araki over to Nawaki, the young nurse China immediately ran off without looking back, inwardly relieved that she had run into him. If she hadn't, she would have been done for.
She had even wanted to watch the fun!
She had almost become the spectacle herself!
She hadn't expected that lady to be conducting the interviews in person!
That rarely happened in the past. She had been curious to see what the little guy could do, but thank goodness she hadn't gone. If that lady had caught her, she would have been in for it!
After all, this was Konoha Hospital, and she was still on duty. Wandering around like that would definitely earn her a harsh reprimand.
"Good thing I ran fast!"
The young nurse China patted her chest with lingering fear, looking thoroughly shaken.
Chapter 37: Tsunade
"Hi, my name's Nawaki. Nice to meet you!"
Nawaki openly extended his right hand for a friendly handshake, a warm smile on his face. He showed not the slightest sign of looking down on Araki and radiated a sunny disposition.
"I... I... my name's... Araki..."
Araki stammered in reply. He still had to maintain this persona. After hesitating briefly, he raised his right hand and shook Nawaki's in a gesture of friendship.
"Araki."
Nawaki quietly repeated it once, committing the name to memory.
"You really picked an unlucky time!"
Nawaki suddenly shook his head with a sigh, then patted Araki's shoulder like an older brother. "My big sister's handling the interviews today. She's famously hard to pass. All I can do is wish you luck..."
"Th... thank you..."
Araki's expression did not change. He simply nodded at Nawaki to express his thanks.
Nawaki's big sister...
That should be Tsunade!
There's no one else it could be.
Araki had not expected to encounter one of the Konoha Sannin so soon, but he felt this was a good option.
If I can become Tsunade's disciple, Orochimaru probably won't dare act rashly if I run into him later.
"Ah..."
Nawaki gave Araki a long look. Seeing no reaction from him, he couldn't help sighing inwardly.
This little brother clearly hasn't graduated yet.
He has no idea how terrifying my big sister is.
He probably doesn't have any grounding in medical ninjutsu or much basic knowledge. After all, the ignorant know no fear.
Anyone who understood what this meant...
Would know the terror of Konoha Hospital under my big sister's rule!
"Come upstairs with me!"
Nawaki took the lead. He did not pay too much attention to Araki; he was only here to watch the fun. He had merely had a brief interaction with Araki and offered a passing remark, nothing more.
"Mm."
Araki followed close behind. In truth, he did not care all that much either.
Being a medical-nin was certainly an excellent credential.
But he would not force it.
He could just let things take their course.
Nawaki and Araki arrived on the third floor of Konoha Hospital, one behind the other. Neither spoke along the way.
Although Nawaki was optimistic, outgoing, cheerful, and talkative, he had keenly noticed that Araki seemed to have some trouble speaking. Remembering that Araki was about to have an interview, he decided to give him more time to prepare and compose himself rather than disturb him too much.
"This is it."
Nawaki stood outside a room. On a strip of paper across the door, the words "Meeting room" were written in large, conspicuous letters.
"Wait here a moment. I'll go in and check. If there's no one waiting, I'll come out and call you."
Nawaki nodded at Araki, his tone quite gentle, still giving the impression of an older brother looking after a younger one. Then he knocked lightly and went straight into the room.
Araki stood silently by the door, watching Nawaki.
It really does help to have connections!
Nawaki was Tsunade's younger brother, so he moved around here almost as though he were in his own home.
He had entered the meeting room with ease.
If it had been Ibuki-sensei, he probably would have had to wait outside for a response. He might even have needed to pull some other strings before coming here.
Things went more smoothly when you knew someone.
Even the ninja world was no exception.
Thinking about it now, it was quite a twist of fate. Ibuki-sensei had originally registered him, but after he got Ibuki-sensei drunk, it had unexpectedly become Nawaki introducing him instead.
Nawaki did not even need to say anything. Just showing a little closeness might make things slightly easier.
Creak-
Just then, the meeting room door suddenly opened. Nawaki poked his head out, his smile squeezing the two ruddy patches on his cheeks into little red strips.
"Araki, come on! I got you moved up in line. You're next!"
Nawaki called softly. He also knew he shouldn't make too much noise about this. As he spoke, he beckoned Araki over, signaling for him to hurry inside.
"Okay."
Araki hurried forward a couple of steps, passed through the meeting room door, and followed Nawaki. By now, he could all but confirm that he had gained a small connection through Nawaki.
"Araki, do your best in a moment. My big sister remembers you. You're the youngest of this batch of interviewees. You'll be up any second, so don't let me down!"
Nawaki patted Araki's shoulder again. Judging by his expression, it almost looked as though Araki really were his little brother and needed to make his big brother proud.
Before Araki could decide what to say, they passed the meeting room's partition and reached the interview area.
A long table came into view, with three chairs behind it occupied by three people.
In the middle sat a woman with long, pale blond hair and a spectacular figure. She was barely into her twenties, and her youthful face bore a grave, serious expression.
That woman was none other than Tsunade!
But she differed somewhat from the Tsunade in Araki's memories. This was still the young version of Tsunade, in the prime of her early twenties.
Compared with how she looked when she appeared in the main storyline, she had less mature allure and much more youthful innocence. She was lovely and fresh, not yet fully ripe, instead blossoming with a different kind of charm.