It was an hour later when he arrived at Ruri's room.
She was holding a scroll in her hand, carefully studying something. Shiraishi glanced at it and saw that the content recorded was related to Fire Release ninjutsu.
"What is it?"
Ruri shifted her gaze from the scroll and looked up at Shiraishi.
"Ah, well… I want to go to the pharmacy to buy some herbs. We don't have enough in the lab."
Shiraishi scratched his head, his expression as usual, showing no abnormalities.
"Understood. Remember to bring me some natto when you come back."
"Natto?"
Shiraishi nodded, indicating he understood, and then left the room.
Once outside, he let out a soft sigh, relieved that he had managed to get away with it.
Bringing Ayane here to collect body data was simply not reliable and very difficult to accomplish. The probability of being discovered was far too high.
This was the heartland of the Uchiha clan. Even with the Byakugan, one couldn't easily infiltrate it.
Otherwise, the Uchiha clan wouldn't have such a great reputation in the ninja world.
Therefore, collecting Ayane's body data would be better done outside.
Shiraishi had already decided on a location: his old home.
Taking the scroll containing the sealing instrument, Shiraishi first went to buy some natto, to prevent forgetting it on the way back.
Next, he would head to the Hyuga clan's compound to find Ayane.
Infiltrating the Hyuga compound to find Ayane was impossible. Not to mention the Byakugan, the Hyuga clan's compound was close to the center of the village, completely different from the Uchiha's compound environment, and the village's defense forces there were the strongest.
Both were bloodline ninja clans, yet the Hyuga clan could reside in an area close to the village's core, while the Uchiha clan had to live in a slightly more rearward area in the middle of the village.
What was incredible was that the Uchiha also held authority like the Military Police Force. Living in the center of the village would make it easier to mobilize the Military Police Force's actions, wouldn't it?
Such an arrangement was full of contradictions, with too many places that did not conform to normal logic.
Shiraishi had lived in the Uchiha compound for many years, but he didn't really understand the Uchiha's core secrets. Ruri hadn't explained them to him, but he knew that the Uchiha's relationship with the village's higher-ups was only superficially amicable; in reality, their relationship was a mess, filled with mutual vigilance and hostility.
Lost in thought, he had already arrived at the Hyuga clan compound. It must be said that the Hyuga ninjas, compared to the Uchiha ninjas, paid more attention to cultivation. They appeared refined, spoke calmly, and while they possessed the pride of a prestigious family, they didn't exude an overbearing aura.
Of course, this was from an outsider's perspective. If viewed from the perspective of the Hyuga clan members themselves, things might not always be this way.
After all, the Caged Bird Seal, even if explained as a means to protect the Byakugan, such an explanation is difficult to justify.
If it were truly for the protection of the Byakugan, then the function of the Caged Bird only needed to be altered to destroy the Byakugan at the moment of a branch family member's death, and nothing more.
However, the reality was not so. The Caged Bird Seal also possessed a cursed killing ability, capable of inflicting excruciating pain upon branch family ninjas who disobeyed the main family.
Using the excuse of protecting the Byakugan was truly unconvincing. Adding a cursed killing function to the Caged Bird Seal, in Shiraishi's view, was an unnecessary and superfluous act.
If it only had the ability to seal the Byakugan when necessary, that could be called protecting the Byakugan, and branch family ninjas might not harbor such deep resentment towards the main family.
"Shiraishi-kun, why are you here? Are there any new arrangements from Sakumo-sensei?"
Ayane, dressed in neat white clothes with her black hair neatly tied back, showed a hint of confusion on her face when she saw Shiraishi coming to find her.
"It's not like that. I need to buy some herbs to make some medicines that can be used for future missions. But I'm a bit too busy to do it alone, so I was hoping you could help me."
"I see." Ayane tapped her snow-white chin with her finger, considered for a moment, then a pure smile appeared on her face as she said, "Alright then, but we should be quick. I have to be back before dinner."
"That's enough."
Next, Shiraishi took Ayane to the Konoha pharmacy to buy various herbs with different medicinal properties.
Speaking of which, most of Konoha's pharmacies are run by the Nara clan, because this clan is skilled in raising deer, and deer antlers are an extremely precious medicinal material. Therefore, in the pharmacies run by the Nara clan, there are various qualities of deer antlers, which is a major feature.
Even many merchants from other regions would travel thousands of miles to Konoha to purchase the Nara clan's deer antlers, which shows the excellent quality of the Nara clan's deer antlers. Coupled with fair prices and never bullying customers, many pharmacists like to deal with the Nara clan.
Furthermore, this clan, along with the Yamanaka clan and the Akimichi clan, formed the so-called 'Ino-Shika-Cho' alliance. The three clans, all inheriting secret techniques, also have a very great reputation within Konoha.
In addition, the position of Konoha Jonin Commander has always been held by a Nara clan ninja, and with the strong support of the Yamanaka clan and the Akimichi clan, the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance's status in Konoha has also risen steadily. Since the First Hokage's reign, they have never been excluded from the center of power and have been deeply trusted by successive Hokage.
In contrast, the Uchiha clan's position in Konoha was truly awkward.
It was said to be one of the two great ninja clans that founded Konoha, yet at this moment, it had no influential connections within Konoha that it could boast of, not even surpassing the Hyuga clan, let alone the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance, who were deeply trusted by the Hokage.
By the time they left the pharmacy, it was almost three in the afternoon.
After such a long detour, now was the time to get down to business.
Shiraishi's original residence was a considerable distance from the center of Konoha, and with his rare visits over the years, it had long since become an abandoned and forgotten place.
"Shiraishi-kun, does this count as us secretly meeting?"
After entering the room, Ayane clasped her hands behind her back, turning slightly to the side. One could vaguely see a faint smile on her clean face.
"We are doing serious business right now."
"I'm wondering what Shiraishi-kun would do if Ruri found out about this? The person you spend every day with, secretly meeting another girl behind her back. Maybe the shock would be too much, causing her Sharingan to evolve further into a three-tomoe form."
"How could the Sharingan evolve so casually? You're overthinking it."
"That's not necessarily true. After all, Ruri is an Uchiha genius, and intense emotional fluctuations are indeed the best catalyst for Sharingan evolution."
"You know I'm out here risking my life. So, getting down to business is important. Alright, hurry up and take off your clothes."
"Clothes… take, take them off? All of them? Shiraishi-kun, this is for my future husband…"
Ayane hugged her chest tightly, her face immediately flushing with shyness, and the way she bit her lip seemed very embarrassed.
"What are you thinking? Haven't we done this many times already? Not to mention it's just about taking off your jacket, even if you took everything off, I would maintain a doctor's professional integrity and treat everyone equally."
Shiraishi answered Ayane solemnly.
"So, you mean it's okay if I take everything off for examination now, right?"
Ayane's fingers had already unzipped her top, freeing her chest, and some muscles seemed to be bulging, with a hint of a smile deep in her eyes.
"No need. Finish quickly, I'm in a hurry right now."
"Honestly, this was a good opportunity."
"Are you really only twelve?"
"Don't you know girls mature faster? There's a fourteen-year-old girl in our clan who isn't a ninja. Her only purpose is to bear new offspring for the clan, and she's already pregnant, you know. She's going to be a mother this year."
Shiraishi sighed. In an era of frequent wars, population was indeed a problem that could not be ignored.
However, Shiraishi knew that the success rate of childbirth in this world was very high, not only due to the widespread use of chakra but also various miraculous medical ninjutsu.
Shiraishi wasn't very clear about other places, but the records of female fertility in Konoha Hospital showed that only a very few women experienced problems during childbirth, but their lives were saved in time.
The issue of early childbirth in women also needs to be analyzed on a case-by-case basis.
But Shiraishi still didn't really support this, not because of a person's physique, but because of life values.
Whether it's going to the battlefield prematurely or giving birth prematurely, it will lead to various hidden dangers and deviations in the individual's future life values.
However, in this era of war where even basic human rights had no specific laws, saying these things was just wishful thinking. Those in power could say whatever they wanted.
Whether they hadn't thought about this problem, or had thought about it but dared not act, or had thought about it but didn't want to give up their own interests, it had nothing to do with Shiraishi.
One must act according to one's position. He was just a medical ninja; being a doctor was his duty.
Shiraishi unrolled the scroll and began to form hand signs, releasing the body-testing instrument from within.
It must be said that sealing scrolls were extremely practical; as long as it wasn't a living thing, it could be stored inside, though the price would be a bit expensive.
Ayane lay quietly on the cold operating table, no longer teasing Shiraishi, and calmly waited for Shiraishi's analysis results.
Regarding the Caged Bird Seal, she knew the gravity of the matter.
The detection didn't take long, it was done in ten minutes.
Ayane got off the operating table and asked, "Is that all?"
"Yes, I already have a solution for the Caged Bird, but I will find time to tell you the specific methods and steps during our next mission. We still need to live under Konoha's protection for now, and during this time, I will also look for suitable strongholds to live in later."
"Have you found them yet?"
"The Land of Demons and the Land of Iron."
Shiraishi spoke the names of these two countries, and Ayane was slightly startled.
"The Land of Demons and the Land of Iron are permanent neutral nations in the ninja world. The wars that have continuously erupted over the years haven't affected these two countries much. Plus, they are in remote locations, making it less likely for them to be targeted by larger nations. The fertile land of the Land of Fire is the fundamental reason for the outbreak of the ninja wars."
"If that's the case, then those two countries are indeed suitable for living. What about the specific time to leave Konoha?"
"When the next ninja world war arrives."
"The next ninja world war? Will the time be too long?"
The First Great Ninja War and the Second Great Ninja War were separated by more than ten years, and whether the Third Great Ninja War would break out was still an unknown.
"Don't worry. When this ninja world war ends, the next one won't be long in coming, and it will still revolve around the fertile lands of the Land of Fire. At that time, it will be the best opportunity for us to leave Konoha. Engulfed in wars on all sides, they won't have time to deal with renegade ninjas like us who have disappeared without a trace."
Shiraishi made this deduction based on factual evidence.
The gentle diplomacy meant that the other four great ninja villages would not feel awe and fear due to Konoha's strength; instead, it would more easily incite their jealousy and predatory instincts.
During the current Third Hokage's reign, although foreign wars mostly resulted in victories, if you think about it, each time it was a passive counterattack.
Whether it was the war in the Land of Rain or the current Sand Village invasion of the Land of Fire, both were forced counterattacks.
Even if they won, it could still be considered a failure, because after the war, they gained no benefits whatsoever.
The defeated enemy wasn't even asked for compensation, merely gaining a victory in terms of reputation, with no actual benefits.
Seemingly victorious, in Shiraishi's view, it was merely living off the legacy left by the previous two Hokage.
Ayane looked at Shiraishi, half-understanding. Although she really wanted to believe Shiraishi's speculation, Konoha, as the leader of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, had always held the strongest military power. Even if the next war came after this one, it should be many years later. How could he say the interval wouldn't be too long?
Shiraishi smiled faintly, looking at the peaceful scene outside the window, and spoke a profound truth:
"If you seek peace through struggle, then peace will endure; if you seek peace through compromise, then peace will perish. As the strongest nation's military power, Konoha's foreign policy is so tepid and weak that it will only lead to a situation of being surrounded by wolves. The more you desire peace, the only thing you will ever get is forced war."
"But in the past…"
Shiraishi knew what Ayane wanted to add. Having studied Konoha's history, he also understood the story of the First Hokage, so he interrupted, "The Will of Fire only suited the First Hokage. This will, which seeks peace through external compromise, is not suitable for later generations. After his death, no one was willing to dream the same naive dream as him. These two ninja wars are proof of that, and also the basis of my prediction."
"Is the First Hokage the root of the chaos?"
Ayane had never heard such a statement before.
"In a sense, yes, that's right. Even if Konoha were to be destroyed one day, they probably wouldn't understand why they were destroyed. What is called admiration is the feeling furthest from understanding. Too much worship of one person makes it very easy to overlook the essence of things."
To say that the Third Hokage was responsible for Konoha's current disadvantageous state isn't entirely accurate, because the seeds of chaos were already sown during the First Hokage's era.
The Third Hokage was merely taking the blame for the First Hokage and cleaning up the mess.
Therefore, the outbreak of the Third Great Ninja War was inevitable, and the short interval between it and the Second Great Ninja War was also inevitable.
Leaving Konoha at that time would also be the safest time.
Engulfed in a four-sided crisis, Konoha would already be overwhelmed just dealing with the war, with no time to focus its energy on suppressing rogue ninja.
"Is that so? I, you know, have always admired Shiraishi-kun like this. However, I also really want to understand all of Shiraishi-kun. So… when it's just the two of us, please be gentle with me."
Ayane's face showed a pure, unblemished, happy smile, with a hint of shy blush.
Shiraishi was slightly stunned, momentarily unsure what to say.
'Be gentle with me'… So, what exactly did Ayane hope he would do when she said 'gentle'?
This summer, it was truly hot enough to make one feel irritable.
(PS: I'm not very good at writing romance, so please bear with me…)