Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: The Super Strong Med-Nin

💎 WEEKLY POWER GOALS 💎

🔥 30→2ch | 60→5ch | 100→8ch | 200→15ch | 400→25ch

⏰ Resets Monday!

~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~

Steaming ramen bowls hit the counter, the rich aroma practically drilling into their nostrils.

"Wa-hahaha!"

Sarutobi Aoki's eyes sparkled. He clasped his hands together. "Let's eat!"

No lie. The deluxe version just looked more delicious than Shisui's plain bowl.

The shrimp balls were plump and tender. The beef fragrant and chewy. The braised chicken leg's aroma was downright addictive.

Under the soft, yellow glow of Ichiraku Ramen's lights, steam curled from the noodles. The three kids' faces, young and bright, were filled with genuine smiles.

Seeing this, Teuchi's smile widened.

A gust of wind blew in. Two chūnin sat down beside them.

"Two plain bowls!"

Hakage's eyes flicked up. Her nostrils twitched. A faint, metallic scent—blood—drifted from the two ninja.

"Tch."

"Lost a lot of men again this time."

"Yeah. Not many from that last batch of chūnin made it back."

Hakage's heart clenched as she listened. Takenouchi would have been in that group.

Shisui, sitting closest to the two ninja, frowned. His eyes grew heavy. He wasn't a clueless kid. He'd overheard his family talking about the situation.

A sense of urgency bloomed in Hakage's chest. She finished her ramen quickly. "Sorry. Something urgent came up. I have to go."

She slid off the stool, her gaze at Shisui and Aoki tinged with apology.

Shisui blinked. He remembered the chūnin holding Hakage's hand on their first day. Understanding dawned. He nodded. "It's fine. Be careful."

Sarutobi Aoki nodded too. "Hakage, go do what you need to. Don't worry about us!"

Hakage offered another apologetic look, then slowly faded from the shop.

Shisui watched her leave, silently hoping Hakage's guardian was okay. Aoki stared at Hakage's retreating back, his own eyes clouded with disappointment. Sigh. I finally got a chance to hang out with her…

[Ding! Target: Uchiha Shisui. Favorability: 50!]

Hakage's steps faltered on the road to the Konoha Hospital.

What?

Why did Shisui's favorability just jump?

No time to figure it out. Takenouchi came first.

Night had fallen over Konoha, the streetlights dim. The closer she got to the hospital, the heavier the atmosphere grew.

She pushed the hospital doors open. The thick, coppery stench of blood hit her like a physical wall.

The pristine white floors were packed—a dense carpet of wounded ninja. Blood seeped slowly through hastily wrapped bandages. Their eyes were hollow. Empty. Haunted.

Hakage's own heart sank, heavy as stone.

She picked her way carefully through the sea of wounded, searching for Takenouchi.

Let him be here.

If he wasn't…

There was only one other place he could be.

No one paid the small figure any mind. These men were young. Probably no kids of their own.

"Little one, who are you looking for?"

A woman in white medical robes knelt before her, bringing them eye to eye. Long purple hair cascaded down her back. Cool eyes held a hint of softness.

Wow.

A total babe!

Gulp gulp!

Hakage mourned her useless six-year-old body.

"Big sister, I'm looking for my uncle. His name is Takenouchi!"

She shoved the internal pervert down. Her wide blue eyes looked up at Yūgao Uzuki—innocent, pleading.

Purple hair. Big eyes. Oval face.

Of course it was Yūgao Uzuki, one of Konoha's famous beauties! She might not recognize others, but her? Definitely.

"Chūnin Takenouchi?" Yūgao looked surprised. What a coincidence. She'd just stepped off his operating table.

"Yes!" Hakage's small hand shot out, grabbing hers. "Big sister, do you know where he is?"

Yūgao nodded, gently holding her small hand. "I'll take you."

Hakage squeezed tighter. Hey, she was just an innocent little girl right now.

They walked down a long corridor. Yūgao stopped before the last door. "Your uncle is inside. He just had surgery. Try not to disturb him." She ruffled her silver hair—hair that looked impossibly soft.

"Okay." Hakage nodded obediently. Yūgao left.

Inside the room, Takenouchi was a mummy. Only his eyes, nostrils, and mouth peeked through the bandages.

Hakage stood by the bed and sighed.

What kind of attack did this?

The scene in the main hall flashed in her mind. The weight in her chest grew.

She'd had nine years of compulsory education, grown up under the red flag! She was a successor to socialism! Now she understood why so many in this world fought for peace.

War was truly brutal.

Hakage liked to think she had a conscience. She didn't leave. She curled up on the small couch in the room.

Morning.

A touch ghosted over her small body.

"Who?!"

"Which scoundrel?!"

"Even a child this young isn't safe?!"

Her heart ached. This world! The morals were in decline!

She opened her eyes. Yūgao's beautiful face filled her vision.

Hakage scrambled back in terror.

No way!

Yūgao was like this?!

She thought of her sickly boyfriend. Did she have… strange tastes?!

Yūgao's hand, which had been adjusting her blanket, froze mid-air. Her lovely eyes widened in shock. "What did you say?"

Hakage's gaze dropped. Her hand, still holding the blanket corner, hung there.

"…"

She forced a dry laugh. "Big sister… I had a nightmare…" She squeezed out two kitten tears. "In the dream… I was so scared…"

She flung herself weakly into Yūgao's embrace.

Wow!

Mom, I've reached heaven!

Hakage's appearance was too deceptive. Yūgao convinced herself quickly.

The poor thing. The shock of seeing her uncle like that. Just a bad dream.

"Don't be afraid." Her gentle hand stroked the back of her head.

Hakage sobbed in her arms for a good while before reluctantly pulling back. "Sister, when will uncle wake up?" Her eyes were slightly red, glistening.

Yūgao looked at the mummified Takenouchi. She shook her head. "I don't know." Her medical ninjutsu was still basic. She'd only learned his condition yesterday because she'd been assisting Lady Tsunade.

Disappointment flashed in Hakage's eyes. "Sister, I have to go to school." She bid Yūgao a regretful farewell.

Ninja Academy.

Satō Yoshiki sat in his office, listening to Hakage's request. He shook his head. "Hakage, you've just started. You'll miss too much. I can't allow it."

He was saddened to hear about her uncle, but he had a duty.

Satō had never told these kids. In a few short years, they'd be sent to the front lines. To boost their survival rate, he drilled them relentlessly.

Hakage had exceptional talent. He couldn't let her fall behind.

"Teacher, my uncle has no other family. If I don't take care of him, I'll feel awful!" Stubbornness etched her small face. Tears welled up inevitably. "And with no one at the hospital, I won't be able to focus in class! Please! Once he's better, I'll come right back!"

The Konoha Hospital.

A whole new map for grinding favorability!

Hakage mentally rubbed her hands together.

Satō sighed. He understood her filial piety, but missing class was a high price.

"Teacher, I won't stop training! I promise!" Hakage bowed, her face pleading.

Satō finally caved. He sighed heavily. "Alright. But on one condition."

Hakage's heart leapt. "Name it, teacher."

"Every afternoon, I'll have Uchiha Shisui come to the hospital. He'll tutor you on the day's lessons."

It was the best solution Satō could devise. It would reinforce Shisui's knowledge and keep Hakage on track.

Hakage's eyes lit up.

Brilliant!

I can grind favorability at the hospital AND with Shisui!

Teacher Satō, you're a saint!

This time, the tears in her eyes were real. "Teacher Satō… you… you're too kind!"

She didn't use flowery praise. Just the simplest, most sincere words.

Satō's heart bloomed. Student recognition! The highest honor!

"Ahem." He fought down a smile. "Hakage, you must study hard at the hospital too!"

"Yes!" Hakage nodded vigorously. "I won't let you down!"

Satō's smile finally broke free. His gaze softened. "Do your best. I believe in you."

Back in class, Hakage began packing her things.

"H-Hakage? Wh-what are you doing?" Sarutobi Aoki's panic was visible.

Packing? Is she changing seats?! No! No! No! I can't handle her leaving my side!

"Aoki, I've taken a leave of absence. I won't be in school for a while." Hakage offered an apologetic smile.

"Huh? Why?!" Aoki looked thunderstruck. The thought of her changing seats was bad enough, but not seeing her for a long time? That was a fatal blow.

"Some family matters." She kept it vague.

If she told the truth now, she'd miss out on future favorability spikes. The plan was simple: let everyone eventually find out her uncle was injured, that she'd taken leave to care for him, and that she'd stubbornly hidden the news. The piled-up pity and heartache would then erupt, triggering an explosion of favorability.

Uchiha Shisui watched from the back row. He had an inkling of the truth.

[Ding! Target: Uchiha Shisui. Favorability: 55!]

Hakage slung her small bag over her shoulder and glanced at Shisui.

Shisui gave her a small smile.

Hakage's eyes crinkled in return.

Thanks for the favorability tip, Shisui-bro!

To Aoki, this looked like a secret exchange of meaningful glances.

"Gyaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Aoki contorted once more.

Behind him, Nara Sōsai watched the twitching figure. He clicked his tongue.

"So noisy," he muttered, a mix of complaint and resignation.

On the way to the hospital, Hakage bought shrimp congee. If Takenouchi woke up, he could eat.

The hospital was even more crowded. The smell of blood thicker. Medical staff rushed past, overwhelmed, their footsteps hurried.

Hakage, clutching the hot container, carefully navigated the chaos.

"Look out!"

"Move!"

A commotion erupted. Hakage turned.

A small boy with white hair stood frozen in the middle of the corridor, seemingly petrified. A medical cart was careening straight for him.

Several wounded ninja saw it. Veins bulged on their foreheads. They tried to drag their broken bodies up to save the child. Couldn't.

"MOVE!" A sharp, commanding shout. Tsunade's gaze locked onto the small figure.

She flickered—but someone was faster.

Hakage's form seemed to hang in the air for a split second. Then she vanished, reappearing behind the boy, scooping him up and away from the cart.

She looked down at the kid in her arms. A moment of confusion.

Wasn't this the orphan who came to Konoha with me?

What's he doing here?

"You okay? What's your name?"

The boy just clutched his shirt hem, silent.

Hakage didn't push. War orphans often had scars you couldn't see.

Herself excluded, of course. She was a fake orphan.

Wait.

Not fake. She technically was an orphan.

Her mind wandered, so she didn't notice the shadow falling over her.

"Not bad, kid."

A bold, woman's voice came from above.

Hakage looked up.

Wow.

Two… great…

No!

Two great… orbs!

They blotted out the sky!

She couldn't see the owner's face past the… landscape. But she knew who it was.

The Super Strong Med-Nin—

Tsunade Senju!

Suddenly, she was airborne. Large hands hooked under her armpits, hoisting her up like a radish.

Tsunade's face came into full view. Green flak jacket. Blonde hair. A strikingly beautiful face wearing a mischievous grin.

"Kid. Name?"

Her eyes swept over her.

Not bad looking. In a few years, my title as Konoha's Flower might be in trouble.

Hakage's gaze drifted downward against her will.

She knew it was wrong.

But she couldn't help it

~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~

Read up to (40+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on

Visit us here: patreon.com/GoldenLong

Happy reading, everyone!