Sunagakure's newly built shinobi hospital stood in the village's southeastern corner.
It was a three-story white building.
Smooth stone panels covered the outer walls, giving off a soft sheen beneath the sunlight.
The symbol of Sunagakure was carved above the main entrance.
Across the lintel were the words "Sunagakure Shinobi Hospital," written in bold, powerful strokes.
Supposedly, Teizawa had written them himself.
This place was the core of Sunagakure's medical system.
It was also one of the projects Teizawa valued most.
After returning from Konoha, he had allocated a large sum of money to medical development.
He had recruited quite a few excellent medical-nin from the great nations.
He had also "borrowed" several medical ninjutsu texts from Konoha…
With Tsunade's permission, of course.
After all, the two nations were allies.
At that moment, people were coming and going inside the hospital.
Medical-nin in white coats moved through the corridors with hurried but orderly steps.
The scent of disinfectant hung in the air, mixed with the faint aroma of medicine, somehow making the place feel reassuring.
Teizawa ignored Pakura and walked straight through the open, translucent glass doors.
He had no attendants with him.
Hinata still kept her head lowered, her face flushed.
Being led by him like this, she looked like a little lamb on a leash.
She had already lived in Sunagakure for quite a few days.
But every time she went outside, she still grew nervous.
Especially when Teizawa held her hand like this.
It always felt as though everyone was looking at her.
"Kazekage-sama!"
A medical-nin at the front desk spotted Teizawa and quickly stood, bowing slightly.
Teizawa nodded but did not stop.
He went straight toward the second floor.
Hinata had to jog a little to keep up with him.
The sweat in her palm dampened his hand.
The second floor was the medical-nin training area.
Classrooms and practical training rooms lined both sides of the long corridor.
Through the windows, one could see medical-nin studying seriously inside.
Teizawa stopped in front of a practical training room at the end of the hallway.
Through the glass window in the door…
He saw Karin.
Karin wore a white coat and her signature glasses.
She stood in front of a mannequin model, holding a scalpel in her hand and carefully doing something.
Her movements were focused and serious, her brows slightly furrowed.
Her long red hair shone warmly beneath the light.
Teizawa watched from the doorway for a moment.
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
This girl had adapted faster than he had expected.
When he had taken her from Orochimaru, she had still looked timid and frightened.
Now, she could already stand on her own.
He pushed the door open and walked in.
Karin heard the sound and raised her head.
The moment she saw Teizawa, the scalpel in her hand nearly fell to the floor.
Her pupils shrank slightly, and a trace of panic flashed across her face.
But she quickly regained her composure.
During her days in Sunagakure, she had learned one thing…
Panicking in front of this man was useless.
"K-Kazekage-sama."
Her voice sounded a little dry. She pushed up her glasses, lowered her head, and did not dare look at him.
Teizawa dismissed the others.
He did not waste words and went straight to the point.
"Karin, do you want a new eye?"
Karin froze.
She raised her head, her purple eyes filled with confusion.
A new eye?
What did that mean?
She subconsciously glanced at Hinata standing beside Teizawa.
Hinata also looked completely lost.
Clearly, she had no idea why he had suddenly brought this up.
"What I mean is…"
Teizawa took a culture dish from his robes and held it in front of Karin.
Transparent glass walls. Pale green nutrient fluid.
Suspended in the liquid was an eyeball…
A scarlet base, black patterns, and those patterns were not the ordinary three tomoe of a Sharingan.
They were connected into something strange and magnificent.
A Mangekyō.
Karin's pupils contracted sharply.
Her whole body went still, as if she had been placed under a paralysis technique.
Her breathing grew rapid.
Her fingers trembled. Her lips trembled.
Even the lashes behind her glasses quivered faintly.
"Is that…" Her voice was rough, like her throat was full of sand. "A Sharingan?"
"A Mangekyō Sharingan."
Teizawa corrected her, spinning the culture dish once between his fingers. "The secret of the Uchiha clan."
Of course Karin had heard of the Sharingan.
But what was a Mangekyō Sharingan?
And why were the Uchiha's eyes in this man's hands?
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something.
Only to find that she could not say a word.
"This eye has a very interesting ability."
Teizawa's voice was calm and unhurried, as if he were stating a simple fact. "I need someone I can trust absolutely to possess that ability."
Karin's gaze moved away from the culture dish.
It landed on Teizawa's faintly smiling face.
Suddenly, she understood something.
"No need to be nervous." Teizawa seemed to see straight through her thoughts. "I'm giving it to you."
Karin was completely stunned.
Giving it to her?
A Mangekyō Sharingan?
She was only an ordinary descendant of the Uzumaki clan.
A tool Orochimaru had used as a walking blood bag.
An accessory who had been handed over to Sunagakure.
Something this precious…
Why would he give it to her?
"Why?"
Her voice was as soft as a dream.
"Because you need it."
Teizawa walked up to her and looked down at her.
"You have the Uzumaki clan's constitution. Your life force is strong, and your chakra is abundant. You can endure the burden of the Sharingan. Also…"
He paused. "Your sensory ability, combined with the insight of the Sharingan, will make a perfect combination."
"You will become Sunagakure's strongest sensory-type shinobi. As for Hinata…"
Teizawa turned his head and looked at the blushing girl behind him. "I have plans for her too. You have never fully brought out the power of your Byakugan."
"From now on, you'll study medical ninjutsu with Karin. I'll find you a good teacher."
"Your Byakugan can not only see through the human body, it can also see the flow of chakra. You were born to be a medical-nin."
He sighed. "Konoha wasted you. A complete waste of talent."
The flush on Hinata's face deepened.
She raised her head and met those deep eyes.
Her lips moved slightly.
She wanted to say something, but swallowed it back.
She did not know why he treated her so well.
Nor did she know whether she was worth being treated this way.
But she knew…
She did not want to refuse.
"Of course…"
Teizawa tucked the culture dish back into his robes. "I'm not giving you this eye right now. There's still another one I haven't taken back. And it won't be free."
He looked at Karin.
"I need you to promise me loyalty. Absolute loyalty, without the slightest reservation."
Karin's breathing quickened.
She knew she had no choice.
From the moment Orochimaru had handed her over to this man, she had no longer had a choice.
But at this moment, looking into his deep eyes, a strange feeling suddenly rose in her heart…
It was not fear.
It was not resentment.
It was an expectation she could not explain.
"I…"
She heard her own voice squeeze out of her throat.
"I promise you. I will be loyal to you. Forever."
Teizawa smiled and reached out, ruffling her red hair.
"Good. I'll look forward to it."
He was not so easily convinced.
After all, Karin was still carrying the task Orochimaru had given her: to monitor him.
Perhaps he should find a way to completely eliminate her lingering concerns.
The system might have a solution.
Karin lowered her head, her eyes growing complicated.
Hinata stood to the side.
Watching this scene, a complex feeling rose in her heart as well.
This man always gave people hope without realizing it.
And without realizing it, he made them sink deeper.
She did not know if she would become like that too.
But she knew…
She already could not leave him.
Teizawa withdrew his hand and turned toward the door.
"Hinata, stay here for now. Study with Karin. You two can go home by yourselves tonight."
Hinata nodded.
As he passed by her, she suddenly reached out…
And gently tugged the corner of his clothes.
Teizawa stopped and lowered his head to look at her.
"S-See you tonight."
Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, and her face was as red as a boiled shrimp.
Teizawa smiled, lowered his head, and kissed her forehead.
Then he turned and walked out.
The door closed behind him.
Hinata stood there, the warmth of his lips still lingering on her forehead, her heart racing wildly.
Karin pushed up her glasses and looked at Hinata's dazed expression. The corner of her mouth lifted slightly.
"You like him a lot?"
Hinata's face turned even redder.
She covered her face, wishing she could crawl into a crack in the floor.
Karin did not laugh at her.
Because she knew she was no different.
That man was like a ball of fire.
And they were moths drawn to the flame.
They knew they might burn, yet they still could not help moving closer.
Outside the window, the sunlight was just right.
It fell warmly over the two girls.
(End of Chapter)
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