Chapter 8: The Child-Loving Medic, Yakushi Nonō
"Seiji, there's nothing wrong with you," Yakushi Nonō concluded as the soft green glow of chakra around her hand gradually faded.
Upon hearing that, Seiji asked, "But… I heard most people awaken both Sharingan eyes at the same time."
"There are always exceptions," she replied gently.
"I see…" Seiji lowered his head. That answer didn't surprise him — he had already guessed it.
In the original story, Sasuke had experienced something similar. During his fight against Haku, one of Sasuke's Sharingan eyes evolved into the two-tomoe form, while the other remained at one tomoe. It was a rare case, but not unheard of.
Nonō carefully sealed the medical instruments into a storage scroll. As she did so, her eyes drifted to Seiji's small frame. Those dark, quiet eyes were watching her closely.
To Seiji, this version of Nonō felt unfamiliar. He was more accustomed to her later appearance — dressed in a black nun-like habit, with a white hood covering her head. A single casual movement could trace the curves of her mature form — a graceful, serene figure like a holy mother.
Even now, Seiji was piecing together more details about Yakushi Nonō. She was the head of the Medical Division and one of the most skilled operatives in Root's spy network. Her espionage abilities were so exceptional that even after she retired, Danzo personally pressured her into returning to service for Root.
So, Seiji had no intention of showing off or trying to outsmart her. Whatever she asked, he simply answered.
As for whether he was a spy… that was entirely a one-sided assumption on Cloud's part. They were the ones trying to recruit Yotsuki Seiji. But Uchiha Seiji hadn't responded to anyone — he had never engaged in any acts of espionage.
What about the future? Well, that was something for the future to decide.
"Oh right, Lady Nonō, the green chakra that appeared around your hand just now… is that the same type Lady Tsunade uses?" Seiji suddenly looked up, his tone tinged with curiosity.
"That's correct. It's medical chakra. Among Konoha's medics, this type of chakra usually takes on a light green hue when used externally," Nonō replied with a nod, a strand of golden hair slipping from behind her ear as she spoke.
In medical ninjutsu, this soft green glow was a signature trait — the Mystical Palm Technique being the most iconic example.
Yakushi Nonō noticed Seiji's gaze lingering on the sealing scroll where she had stored her instruments. "You're interested in these?" she asked gently.
She was already aware that Tsunade had examined Seiji's Sharingan, and she assumed the boy's curiosity stemmed from seeing medical ninjutsu in action during that check-up.
Seiji's eyes remained fixed on the scroll she had just put away. After a moment of thought, he asked, "These medical ninjutsu… can I learn them?"
Nonō was slightly surprised. She paused, caught off guard by the sudden request, and studied the boy. Though Seiji looked thin and frail, she could tell from his frame that he had the potential to grow into a strong taijutsu user with proper training.
"Seiji, I think your talents may be more suited to taijutsu," she offered.
"Taijutsu?" Uchiha Mikoto, who had been watching silently, glanced at Seiji. She'd heard that he exhibited some traits of the Yotsuki clan — but no one could specify exactly what those traits were. Maybe it was his natural talent or some exceptional physical trait that set him apart.
Seiji, however, shook his head. "But… there might be others in the clan who are like me. If that day comes, I want to be able to help them, like Lady Tsunade or you."
There was a trace of disappointment in his voice. He scratched his head sheepishly, as if trying to mask his feelings. "So… I guess it's not possible after all."
His shoulders drooped slightly, and the corners of his mouth tugged down. It wasn't an act. He was genuinely disappointed. If even Nonō turned him down, he'd have to find a new plan.
The effect of his skill, [Art of Speech (White)], made his tone sound even more sincere. Nonō felt her heart soften. She had always liked children — especially those who had no one to rely on.
"Don't be in such a rush," she said softly, her voice soothing. "Once you graduate from the Academy, if you can pass the aptitude test for medical ninja reserves, come find me."
It was more than she usually said. Had it been an adult asking her this, she would have pointed them to the proper exam and left it at that. But Nonō had read Seiji's file from Root — he was an orphan at the age of two. For years now, she had been thinking of opening an orphanage after retiring from Root. Meeting Seiji only made that desire stronger.
"Really?" Seiji's eyes lit up with a mix of hope and surprise, and a joyful smile broke across his face. The cloud of melancholy that had hovered over him seemed to lift.
Nonō nodded, her lips curling into a gentle smile. "Why would I lie?"
Mikoto, watching from the side, couldn't help but give Seiji another thoughtful look. Compared to other Uchiha children, this one really did stand out. Tsunade had shown little interest in him before, but now Nonō seemed moved to take him under her wing. And on top of that, there was talk of taijutsu talent as well.
Currently, the Uchiha had neither trained medical ninjas nor specialized taijutsu users. After graduating, most went straight into the Konoha Military Police Force to patrol the village or take on missions. Mikoto herself had done the same.
"Well then, little Seiji, that's all for today. I have other matters to attend to," Nonō said as she rose and casually adjusted her sealing scroll. Just before leaving, her gaze swept across a few books lying on the chair. A studious child, she thought approvingly.
"Thank you, Lady Nonō," Seiji said politely, standing up to see her off. Together with Mikoto, he escorted Nonō to the border between the Uchiha district and the village streets. An old, weathered gate marked the edge of Uchiha territory.
"Train hard," Mikoto said, offering one last piece of advice before heading off. Seiji walked home alone. The stars twinkled above, and the moon was bright — it was already late.
He exhaled slowly. This had gone better than he expected. Of course it did — Nonō was known for teaching medical ninjutsu to orphans who weren't even from the village. Why wouldn't she do the same for someone like him?
Besides, she had been thinking about retiring. That meant fewer ties to Root and less to worry about. Right now, she had no real weaknesses. Only after she opened the orphanage would she be vulnerable — when Danzo used the children as leverage to force her back into spy work behind enemy lines.
"Next step: improve my chakra control until I reach the required standard."
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The next day, Ninja Academy training field.
"Today's class will be a short assessment — fifty laps!" The instructor blew his whistle, signaling the start of the run.
"Agh, running again?" "Wait — fifty laps?!"