Chapter 10: How Can the Medicine Be Stopped!
Ōkaku was a stag meticulously raised by Nara Keiko, and also a member of the family. For the past few years, it was by riding Ōkaku that Nara Keisuke had been able to travel between Konoha and Kikyo Castle on weekends and holidays.
Nara Keisuke had always suspected that Ōkaku's status in the family was higher than his own, and... staring at the kitchen knife in Nara Keiko's hand, Nara Keisuke followed her into the kitchen and calmly sat down at the table. He had far too much evidence, both overt and covert!
"I didn't plan on returning to Kikyo Castle today. The time I agreed on with Ōkaku wasn't today either."
The implication in Nara Keisuke's words was that he didn't know Ōkaku's exact location either. As a stag, and a stag who received special attention from the mistress of the house at that, Ōkaku's life in the herd was far more "debaucherous" than one might imagine. He had hooked up with countless does.
Nara Keisuke was—not envious at all.
"So why did you come back?"
Nara Keiko didn't stop her actions of heating the wok and adding oil, only turning her head to glance at her son.
"Don't tell me another big-breasted blonde abducted you and brought you back!"
"You're truly a prophet!"
Nara Keisuke sniffed the air. He could already smell the fragrance of fried eggs.
"But... didn't Sister Nono'o explain the situation to you in detail?"
Sizzle—
Boiling water was poured into the pot. Sliced chashu, ham, deer antler, and other ingredients were added one after another. The golden fried egg bobbed up and down in the milky-white broth, and a rich aroma filled every corner of the kitchen.
"Nono'o?"
Nara Keiko estimated the time, then pushed the noodles into the pot, sneering as she picked up a few green vegetables.
"She just said you were back... I thought you were going to stay at the Kikyo Orphanage again tonight! Hah!"
If you two lovey-dovey, inseparable old sweethearts could spare me even a little bit of warmth from the family, I wouldn't have to live like an orphan... Nara Keisuke complained inwardly. But for the sake of that steaming bowl of luxurious chashu ramen, he didn't say the cold, heartless words out loud.
"I came back to Kikyo Castle with Princess Tsunade today."
Nara Keiko froze, nearly dumping the freshly cooked pot of noodles into the sink next to her.
"Princess Tsunade?"
"Yes."
"Princess Tsunade, one of the Sannin?"
"Mhm."
"Just you? You managed to hook up with Princess Tsunade?"
Nara Keiko brought the bowl of noodles over. She first placed the ramen in front of Nara Keisuke, then reached out to pinch his chin, turning his head up, down, left, and right.
"Besides being handsome, what other good points do you have? And this pretty face... isn't it all thanks to my husband's good genes!"
"Love truly is blind."
Nara Keisuke shook his head, breaking free from his mother's demonic clutches.
"I inherited not only your husband's genes, but yours too! I'll definitely be more handsome than your husband in the future!"
"Even if you praise me like that, I won't change my mind, Little Kaku."
Nara Keiko's lips curled up. She pulled up a stool and sat down next to Nara Keisuke, casually pouring a glass of water.
"Shūsuke is the most handsome man in Konoha Village, in the Land of Fire, in the entire shinobi world!"
What is this feeling of nausea welling up inside me, one wave after another!
Nara Keisuke expressionlessly slurped his noodles. Even the notifications of his [Stamina] increasing on the panel couldn't bring him back to his senses.
There was no mistake, this was—the sour stench of a romantic comedy!
"Spill it. What's the situation with Princess Tsunade?"
Hearing Nara Keiko's words, Nara Keisuke gave a rough account of today's events.
"A spy?"
Nara Keiko's heart instantly tightened. But looking at her unfortunate child slurping noodles in front of her, this bit of worry was instantly thrown to the back of her mind.
"Yes. According to Princess Tsunade, the spy was most likely from Iwagakure. Perhaps Iwagakure has already set its sights on Kikyo Castle."
Nara Keisuke picked up a noodle, slowly slurping it while carefully choosing his words.
"The atmosphere of war is getting stronger now. Even though Kikyo Castle is in the heartland of the Land of Fire, right next to Konoha... with the mobility of ninja, who knows if an enemy village will choose to launch a direct surprise attack on Kikyo Castle."
Without any obstruction, a Konoha ninja could enter the Land of Wind in just three days. This was the powerful mobility of a ninja!
Nara Keisuke was only "prescient," not "omniscient." He knew the general outline of the Third Great War and knew that Konoha would be the final victor. But that didn't mean he could clearly foresee everything that would happen during the war! Nara Keisuke also didn't know if Kikyo Castle would be attacked by enemy ninja during the upcoming war.
But since there were already traces of enemy spy activity in Kikyo Castle, and since Nara Keiko was just a retired Chūnin and Nara Shūsuke was a civilian doctor with no combat ability...
"Once the war breaks out, at least for our family, Kikyo Castle will no longer be a safe place."
Nara Keisuke looked at Nara Keiko and said solemnly, "I suggest our family move out of Kikyo Castle as soon as possible and move to the center of Konoha, to that top-floor corner apartment next to the Ninja Academy. That apartment is close to the Hokage's Office and the Ninja Academy, making it one of the safest places in the village."
In Konoha Year 48, the arrival of the Third Great Shinobi War was almost inevitable. Nara Keisuke couldn't save everyone's lives in the war. But he would do everything in his power to protect the people he cared about.
"War... moving..." Nara Keiko frowned.
As a retired ninja, she wasn't opposed to the prudent measure of retreating to the stable rear during wartime. But as the director of the Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Nara Shūsuke held an important position with a heavy workload. How could they make the decision to move so easily?
"I'll discuss this with Shūsuke."
Nara Keiko looked at her son.
"What about you, then? Little Kaku, if Shūsuke and I move into that apartment, where will you live?"
"..."
Nara Keisuke was silent for a moment.
"That apartment is very large. It's more than enough for a family of three."
"Tch!"
Nara Keisuke's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Nara Keiko.
Did you just scoff? You just... you definitely just scoffed, didn't you?
"It really is a hassle!"
Nara Keiko picked up the clean-eaten noodle bowl and clattered over to the sink.
"I'm only good at taking care of my husband, not a school-aged child... If only the Konoha Ninja Academy was a boarding school."
"...Keiko, I have... already... graduated... from the academy."
...
The next morning, at breakfast.
"Little Kaku, I heard you've already graduated from the Ninja Academy?"
Nara Shūsuke scooped up a spoonful of the special love-filled omurice made by his dear wife and looked at his son.
He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he felt that Keisuke seemed particularly energetic today, eating with gusto. The conversation with Nara Keiko last night had made Nara Keisuke completely give up on this mushy couple. So, hearing Nara Shūsuke's question now, he didn't find it strange at all.
"Mhm. If nothing unexpected happens, I'll be starting my internship at the Beast Rearing and Therapy Class today."
Considering he didn't need to form a squad, meet teammates, or a sensei, Nara Keisuke didn't even need to go to the Ninja Academy today. He just had to report to the Medical Department on time.
"The work in the Beast Rearing and Therapy Class is indeed more relaxed than in other departments..."
Nara Shūsuke nodded. He was very familiar with the department his wife used to work in.
"But your body..."
Nara Shūsuke was still very aware of his son's physical weakness. The "Nara Secret Medicine" that Nara Keisuke took daily when practicing his [Shadow Secret Arts] was also made by him.
"I wasn't in the mood to explain the situation in detail yesterday."
Nara Keisuke pulled his face out of his rice bowl and looked at his parents.
"My physical problem... should be preliminarily resolved."
[Lacquer Eye]!
A lacquer-black shadow covered Nara Keisuke's pupils. This abnormal change instantly drew the high attention of Nara Shūsuke and Nara Keiko.
"Is this the ninjutsu you've been fiddling with for the past few years?"
Nara Keiko leaned in, closely observing her son's eyes.
"It looks kinda creepy!"
Nara Keisuke ended the jutsu and buried his head back in his food.
"That's why I plan to go to a ninja tool shop in the village later to buy a pair of sunglasses."
And a sheet of chakra paper.
Before one's strength reached a certain level, battles between ninja could basically be considered "intelligence warfare." With insufficient intelligence, even an elite Jōnin could be killed by a single sneaky attack. With sufficient intelligence, even an immortal monster could be tricked and run in circles by a Chūnin. Even in daily life, Nara Keisuke paid great attention to concealing his own information.
"Since your physical problem has been resolved, does that mean I don't need to prepare the secret medicine that supplements your body's nutrition anymore?"
Nara Shūsuke didn't doubt his son's words; he just rubbed his chin.
"To be honest, that secret medicine is quite troublesome to prepare, and it seriously affects the quality time between me and my dear wife."
Stop the medicine?
How can that be!
Nara Keisuke looked up in alarm.
He had still taken the medicine and practiced his [Shadow Secret Arts] as usual last night. The only difference from the past was that when he took the Nara Secret Medicine last night, a [Stamina +1] notification had popped up on the panel.
Ingesting high-nutrient substances could indeed increase the efficiency of [Stamina] growth. If it weren't for being too full last night and not wanting to miss his [Shadow Secret Arts] practice, Nara Keisuke would have definitely popped a few Military Ration Pills to try them out!
As a special recovery medicine, Military Ration Pills were not only rich in protein and very easy to absorb, but they also had stimulating and calming effects, allowing the user to recover a large amount of stamina and chakra in a short period. According to unverified rumors, Military Ration Pills could allow a ninja to fight for three days and three nights without rest.
A small bag of Nara Secret Medicine could give him [Stamina +1].
Wouldn't a small Military Ration Pill send him flying?
(End of Chapter)