Jokichi did not plan to fuse and upgrade the two Broken Sage Crystals for the time being.
Because it would not be long before Uchiha Itachi came to him to lay his cards on the table, wanting to find a way to peacefully resolve the conflict between the two sides from him.
He had not yet decided whether to help Uchiha Itachi or not.
It was not exactly out of pity...
Hmm! Well, there was an element of pity in it, but mostly it was because there were many things he lacked himself.
He did not know whether he would choose to make a deal with Uchiha Itachi or make some other choice at that time.
If he was going to help, then only Uchiha Shisui's Sage Crystal could help.
Anyway, the items would not run away, and he could fuse and upgrade them whenever he wanted; there was no need to rush.
After sorting everything out, Jokichi threw the rest of the items into the system space, then washed up and went to sleep.
The night quickly passed.
Early the next morning, Jokichi was awakened by the cold.
He sat up from under the quilt, lifted a corner of the curtain, and looked outside. A cold wind hung under the gray sky.
Jokichi could not help but sneeze.
It was late autumn now, and the weather was already very cold.
The hole in the wall allowed the cold wind to wreak havoc in the room all night. He caught a cold; his head felt dizzy, and he could not concentrate.
"Achoo!"
Sneezing again, Jokichi wiped the runny nose, got dressed, washed up, and then headed toward the hospital.
He had to cure his cold first!
About half an hour later, Jokichi arrived at the Konoha Hospital unhurriedly.
Because it was still early and the weather was getting colder, there were not many people in the hospital. He could only see a few nurses on duty occasionally passing by.
Jokichi went to the front desk and said to the nurse on duty, "Hello, I have a cold, can you help hook me up to an IV drip?"
"The doctors are not at work yet. There are only a few medical ninja who just graduated from the academy this year doing their internship. Do you want them to take a look?" the nurse said apologetically.
"Medical ninja who just graduated, huh!"
Jokichi thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.
After all, it was just a minor cold. Even a medical ninja still in their internship would not make a mistake!
Besides, during wartime, there was no such thing as an internship for medical ninja; they went straight to the battlefield. Jokichi still trusted Konoha's training of medical ninja.
After going through the procedures, Jokichi followed the nurse's instructions and went to Ward No. 9 on the second floor to wait.
After waiting for about two minutes, a youth with silver hair, wearing round-framed glasses and a Konoha ninja forehead protector, walked in.
He was about 150 cm tall and about 12 years old, holding medical instruments like a thermometer in his hands.
Upon seeing this person, Jokichi quickly lowered his head.
He was very familiar with this person, so much so that he showed an unnatural expression upon seeing him.
In order not to be noticed, he could only lower his head.
Because the other party was the Dream Realizer Master who walked through multiple countries, the elite spy named Yakushi Kabuto.
"What is wrong?"
Yakushi Kabuto closed the door and came to the bedside with a gentle smile to comfort him, "Do not be afraid, it is just a minor cold, it will be cured very soon."
"Is that so." Jokichi raised his head, the expression on his face turning into a bright smile. "Then I will leave it to you."
Yakushi Kabuto pushed his round-framed glasses. The lenses reflected a cold light, making it impossible to see the expression underneath.
The reflection flashed by, and Yakushi Kabuto smiled, "Let's take your temperature first!"
"Mhm!"
After that, taking temperature and checking heartbeat.
Throughout the process, Yakushi Kabuto wore a smile, and his tone when asking questions was also very gentle and humble, perfectly disguised as the image of a gentle older brother.
If Jokichi did not know in advance that this guy was a Best Actor, he would definitely be fooled.
"Alright, it is just an ordinary minor cold. Do you want to take medicine or get an IV drip?" Yakushi Kabuto put away the stethoscope and said with a smile.
"...IV drip!" Jokichi thought for a moment and said.
Although an ordinary cold is easy to cure either way, in his mind, an IV drip would cure it faster, and he did not want to waste time on a cold.
"Then wait a moment, I will go prepare the medicine."
After saying that, Yakushi Kabuto turned around, opened the door, and left, closing the door behind him.
Jokichi looked at the ward door and fell into deep thought.
Running into this guy on a random visit to the hospital, was it a coincidence or was he being schemed against?
It should be a bit of both!
After all, he did not know he would get sick today either, so it was unlikely that Yakushi Kabuto intentionally stayed at the hospital today waiting for his arrival.
It should be that as Orochimaru's spy, Yakushi Kabuto was lurking in the hospital to build his credentials.
Then, as an intern medical ninja, he took the initiative to offer a diagnosis after seeing his medical records.
As for the reason...
It should be his outstanding performance over the past few months.
After all, as an elite spy, observing new talents in Konoha with potential was also one of the main tasks Orochimaru assigned him.
Thinking of this, Jokichi felt relieved.
In terms of time, Yakushi Kabuto had just returned from the Sound Village not long ago. He would not cause any trouble in the short term. After all, as a spy, attracting others' attention would easily expose him.
It was just that if he performed too well in the future, he would have to worry about Orochimaru seeking him out as a vessel.
But that was a matter for the future. Whether Orochimaru could beat him then was another story!
About two minutes later, Yakushi Kabuto returned to the ward with two bottles of liquid medicine.
He inserted the syringe into the medicine bottle, then hung the medicine bottle on the hook above the hospital bed, and then held the needle and said, "Stretch out your left hand, I am going to insert it."
"Mhm!"
Jokichi nodded and stretched out his left hand.
Yakushi Kabuto felt Jokichi's left hand, found the right position for the blood vessel, and inserted the needle directly, then secured it with medical tape.
After doing all this, Yakushi Kabuto smiled, "Alright, when the liquid medicine is almost finished, press the button at the head of the bed."
"Thank you."
"It is nothing." Yakushi Kabuto pushed his glasses, the lenses reflecting a sharp light. "I listened to your heartbeat earlier, the beating sound is very strong."
"Hmm?" Jokichi looked at him strangely, not knowing the intention of suddenly bringing this up.
"A strong heartbeat represents exuberant vitality. Logically speaking, it is very difficult for someone with a heartbeat like yours to catch a cold or other illnesses."
"And then?"
"I suggest you do a full body check-up."
"Full body check-up?"
"It is not a troublesome thing, just a blood test and such. If you want to do it, I can draw blood for a test right now, and you will have the results after you finish your IV drip."
"I see!"
Jokichi lowered his head, letting his bangs cover his eyes.
"Do you want to do it?" Yakushi Kabuto looked at him with a smile.
"No need."
Jokichi raised his head again, squinting his eyes and smiling, "It is just a minor cold, I will be well soon."
"I see!" Yakushi Kabuto spread his hands, an expression of regret. "Then I will take my leave. Call me when the medicine is finished."
"Mhm!" Jokichi nodded.
Insisting, Yakushi Kabuto turned around and prepared to leave.
"Wait a moment." Jokichi suddenly called out to him.
Yakushi Kabuto's body paused for a moment, then he turned around, looking at him in confusion, "Is there anything else?"
"Come here for a moment." Jokichi waved at Yakushi Kabuto.
Yakushi Kabuto hesitated, but still walked over.
"Lower your head a bit."
"What is wrong?" Yakushi Kabuto showed doubt on his face.
"Do not ask, just lower it and you will know."
"...Alright!"
Yakushi Kabuto hesitated, but still lowered his head.
Jokichi reached out and plucked two hairs from his head.