"…This child is suffering from the Uzumaki clan's hereditary illness. If it were anyone else, they might not even be able to identify what disease she has,"
the elderly Kōyaku muttered to himself.
"Most of my medical ninjutsu was learned from Mito-hime, so I happen to have some understanding of the Uzumaki clan's hereditary illness."
He continued,
"However, my knowledge of the Uzumaki clan's hereditary illness is limited to knowing that such a condition exists. Until now… this child is the first real case I've ever encountered. I have no experience treating this illness, nor do I have the relevant reference materials."
At that point, Kyoichi's shadow clone faintly grasped what this so-called prerequisite condition actually was.
The next moment, Kōyaku continued,
"If I were to start from scratch and slowly research a treatment method, then this child… would almost certainly not last long enough for me to succeed. Therefore… the prerequisite condition is access to the Uzumaki clan's records regarding the treatment of their hereditary illness."
"…Does Konoha not have those records?"
Kyoichi's shadow clone asked.
"These are private records of the Uzumaki clan,"
Kōyaku replied.
"But Uzushiogakure has already been destroyed…"
Kyoichi's shadow clone frowned.
"Dr. Kōyaku, are you telling me to go beg Konoha's Nine-Tails jinchūriki?"
As he said this, his brows knitted tightly. As he had pointed out, although Uzushiogakure had been destroyed through the joint actions of Kirigakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and others, that did not mean the Uzumaki clan's legacy had vanished along with it.
Kirigakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and the other villages had all gained their share of benefits.
But the lion's share had been taken to Konoha along with Kushina Uzumaki, the last surviving descendant of the Uzumaki clan. He had originally thought that those things were all under Konoha's control, but now it seemed that was not the case. On second thought, it made sense.
When Kushina was brought to Konoha,
Uzumaki Mito, the wife of the First Hokage and Konoha's first Nine-Tails jinchūriki, was still alive.
The Uzumaki clan's legacy would naturally have been entrusted to Uzumaki Mito. After her death, those assets were likely transferred to Kushina. From beginning to end, these were private holdings of the Uzumaki clan, not public property of Konoha. Perhaps in the original course of history, it was only after Kushina's death that the Uzumaki clan's many legacies were confiscated.
Leaving Naruto with nothing but expired milk and instant noodles to survive on.
Kyoichi's shadow clone shook his head, clearing those meaningless thoughts from his mind and refocusing on the present.
He had to admit, this prerequisite condition… was troublesome.
Compared to going to beg that Nine-Tails jinchūriki, he would much rather have Kōyaku give him an assassination request.
Even though, due to what happened during his sparring match with Obito, Kushina Uzumaki, the future Hokage's wife, had said she owed him a favor, that favor honestly did not carry much weight. Whether it could be exchanged for materials related to the Uzumaki clan's hereditary illness… he had no confidence at all.
"Begging or bargaining, the method and process don't matter to me,"
Kōyaku said with a genial smile as he looked at Kyoichi.
"What matters is that if I have the Uzumaki clan's records, I have a ninety percent chance of saving your companion."
"…How much time do I have?"
After a moment of silence,
Kyoichi's shadow clone asked.
"Time is relatively sufficient. You should know how tenacious the Uzumaki clan's vitality is. Even their hereditary illness doesn't take their lives easily. Although your companion looks at death's door right now, lasting four or five days won't be a problem. As long as you can bring me the Uzumaki clan's records regarding their hereditary illness within three days, your companion will most likely survive."
Kōyaku raised his right hand and held up three fingers.
"Three days…"
Kyoichi's two shadow clones exchanged a glance.
Then, one of them raised his hand, formed seals, and voluntarily dispelled himself.
At the same time,
the entire conversation with Dr. Kōyaku was transmitted into the mind of Kyoichi's true body at Kogaku Temple on Imoni Mountain.
"Tch. What a hassle,"
Kyoichi clicked his tongue.
This immediately drew a puzzled look from Anjō Oniyuzu.
"What is it, Kyoichi?"
They were currently excavating the belongings that had been dragged underground along with Hōzuki Mangetsu.
Tonight, Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen had lost another member.
Anjō's mood was abysmal because of it. Unlike Mizushiro, who had no roots or backing, even if Mizushiro had not been a Kumo spy, his death would not have stirred much emotion in Anjō. He had long since grown accustomed to death over the course of his career.
But Hōzuki Mangetsu was different.
To be honest, Anjō Oniyuzu did not have much personal connection with Hōzuki Mangetsu. The issue was that Mangetsu was not someone like Mizushiro, who lacked roots and background. The Hōzuki clan, which had once produced a Mizukage, was undeniably a colossal force within Kirigakure. News of Hōzuki Mangetsu's death returning to the village would inevitably cause a huge uproar.
Just thinking about the problems he would face after returning to the village
made his head ache.
Of course, those were troubles for the future. What needed to be done now was to find Hōzuki Mangetsu's body and belongings. The body might be impossible to recover, but the Hiramekarei, were not as fragile as a human body. They had not been destroyed along with Mangetsu, but buried underground instead.
So, they were now excavating Hōzuki Mangetsu's inheritance.
"…Ameyuri's condition isn't good,"
Kyoichi moved closer to Anjō and reported in a low voice.
"My shadow clone left in Konoha just sent word back. Ameyuri has developed the Uzumaki clan's hereditary illness. To cure her, we need records related to that illness from the Uzumaki clan."
Ringo Ameyuri's life and death were not his responsibility alone.
Strictly speaking, Kyoichi had no obligation or duty to save her life.
He and Ringo Ameyuri were merely friends who got along well.
That was all.
There was no reason for Kyoichi to pay any price whatsoever to save her. Such "costs" should, by rights, be borne by the village and the Ringo clan themselves. So he straightforwardly told Anjō Oniyuzu everything and waited for his decision.
Upon hearing Kyoichi's report,
Anjō Oniyuzu's already grim expression darkened further. Hōzuki Mangetsu's death had already given him a splitting headache, and now he also had to worry about Ameyuri's illness… This diplomatic mission to Konoha had truly been one problem after another.
At that moment,
Biwa Jūzō swung his blade, cleaving apart the rock and soil that Kyoichi had raised to the surface with Earth Release. What was revealed within was the relic left behind by Hōzuki Mangetsu—
the twin blades, Hiramekarei.