Feng Huo sat in the office, recovering his chakra. His small face was slightly sweaty.
The careful pharmacist, Yakushi Nonoyu, gently wiped his face and then stepped out. She soon returned, carrying a nearly-dead fish.
At that moment, Feng Huo opened his eyes and immediately felt that this scene seemed very familiar.
'In the original story, Sakura followed Tsunade to learn medical ninjutsu, and there was a similar scene with her, wasn't there?' he thought.
"Fenghuo, come, try to see if you can save this fish," Yakushi Nonoyu said, placing the fish in front of him.
Feng Huo extended his hands, then looked at Yakushi Nonoyu, slightly at a loss. "Sister Pharmacist, please give me some hints."
"Gather chakra in both hands," she instructed.
Feng Huo followed her advice.
"Close your eyes and feel the flow of chakra in your hands."
"Place your hands on the belly of the fish and sense the cells inside it."
Yakushi Nonoyu guided him step by step, correcting his mistakes along the way. As Feng Huo followed her instructions, she observed him closely. Her eyes gleamed slightly with hope. Perhaps Feng Huo really did have perfect hands—his control was impressive, even when using medical ninjutsu. Under her guidance, the cells in the fish were slightly stimulated, slowly regenerating.
But then...
Boom!
As Feng Huo got too excited, his chakra spiraled out of control, blasting the fish into ashes.
Feng Huo opened his eyes, his face filled with embarrassment.
The white coat of Yakushi Nonoyu, now splattered with fish scales, blood, and flesh, contrasted sharply with her calm expression.
"I'm very sorry, Sister Pharmacist," Feng Huo immediately apologized, his voice sincere despite the damage.
Yakushi Nonoyu raised her hand and flicked Feng Huo's forehead lightly, reminding him to be more careful next time.
After about half an hour, Yakushi Nonoyu had to leave. Feng Huo could only plan to ask for more guidance next time.
"Take the money and make sure to take care of your health while practicing!" she said before leaving, generously borrowing money from Feng Huo again.
"Thank you, Sister Pharmacist!" Feng Huo replied with gratitude.
With the money in hand, Feng Huo became more determined to change the fate of Yakushi Nonoyu. Although doing so could easily bring him into conflict with the scheming Danzo, it was also thrilling, wasn't it?
Living an ordinary life in the world of Naruto was equivalent to seeking a dead end.
"I must become stronger as soon as possible, stronger and stronger!" he vowed.
After returning home, he closed the door and practiced relentlessly, even reducing his sleep to just four hours a night. Refining chakra, practicing hand seals, perfecting gymnastics... and now, practicing medical ninjutsu!
A few days later, Feng Huo visited Konoha Hospital again to continue his medical ninjutsu training under Yakushi Nonoyu.
Yakushi Nonoyu had already taught Feng Huo all the basic knowledge of medical ninjutsu, so now it was all about practice. With her guidance, Feng Huo's experience grew day by day. After half a month, he successfully revived a chicken, a duck, and even a lamb, thanks to his growing skill.
...
In the middle of the night, in a secret underground base in Konoha, a shadowy figure watched a woman kneeling before him.
The woman, with long blonde hair and round eyes, was none other than Yakushi Nonoyu.
"Nonoyu, what have you been doing lately?" a voice, soft yet cold as a snake's, asked from the shadows. The words were slow, but each one seemed to carry the weight of venom.
Yakushi Nonoyu knelt calmly, her head lowered. "Master Danzo, I have been staying at Konoha Hospital, getting close to Princess Tsunade of the Senju Clan to gather information on their movements."
"Is that so?" The man in the shadows stepped forward, revealing his thin face. His eye bags were heavy, his skin sagging. The most notable feature was the two crossed scars on his chin.
This man was Shimura Danzo, the leader of Konoha's Root organization and one of the village's elder advisors, a man of high authority and dark influence.
"The situation with the Senju Clan is clear. Aside from Tsunade, the rest of their clan lacks talent and cannot contribute much. They will eventually fade from the Konoha stage," Danzo said coldly, bending down to look at Yakushi Nonoyu, his eyes predatory. "As for Tsunade, she suffers from blood phobia due to Kato's death. Even if she is called a Sannin, she will never rise beyond her limitations. There is no need to pay attention to her."
"Yes, Lord Danzo," Yakushi Nonoyu answered, her voice obedient.
"I know you have a kind heart deep down, so you'll be pleased with the next mission," Danzo said, narrowing his eyes. "The Second Great Ninja War is over, but the Land of Fire remains in turmoil. I want you to immediately lead a team to search for talented orphans and bring them back. Understand?"
"Yes, Lord Danzo!" Yakushi Nonoyu answered, her voice now colder, her demeanor completely changed. The gentleness she showed with Feng Huo was gone, replaced by the cold, emotionless mask she wore in front of Danzo.
Danzo smiled cruelly. "I'll leave the child alone, then."
"Yes, Lord Danzo," Yakushi Nonoyu replied, her voice shaking slightly, but she dared not disobey his orders.
Moments later, Yakushi Nonoyu's figure vanished into the darkness.
"Come!" Danzo suddenly called.
A figure appeared before him at lightning speed, kneeling respectfully.
"Yes!" The person wore an Anbu uniform, and his hummingbird mask concealed his face.
"Go and investigate the Uchiha boy, Fenghuo."
"Yes!" The Anbu ninja responded before disappearing in a blur.
"Also, I've heard there's another genius among the Uchiha clan... Uchiha Shisui."
"I understand, Danzo-sama," the masked ninja said, before disappearing again.
Danzo chuckled darkly, his thoughts turning to the Uchiha clan. He had never trusted them, despite having worked alongside Uchiha Kagami in the past. Now, with everything shifting, his feelings toward the clan were even colder.
The Senju Clan would eventually fade from Konoha's politics, leaving only the Sarutobi Clan behind, with Hiruzen Sarutobi at the helm. But Sarutobi's control was waning, and Danzo knew this was his time to make a move.
"I need to make a big 'merit' to prove my worth and position myself as the next Hokage..."
He grinned cruelly as he thought of the Uchiha clan.
"And the Sharingan... that powerful, heaven-defying bloodline. I must get my hands on it!"