“Asuma, why didn’t you go find Kurenai today?”
Obito lay on the desk, bored out of his mind.
Rin Nohara was busy organizing her notes nearby; he didn’t want to disturb her, so he had to find someone else to pass the time.
Asuma Sarutobi crossed his arms and said casually:
“I’m studying.”
“You’re lying.”
Obito ruthlessly called him out.
He had noticed during class earlier that Asuma Sarutobi had been stealing glances at Kurenai Yuhi the whole time, and hadn’t written a single word in his notes.
Asuma Sarutobi was exposed, so he dropped the act and snorted irritably.
Asuma Sarutobi concluded that Obito was a simp.
Pathetic.
He only found Kurenai Yuhi to walk home with every day, nothing else…?
“You guy…”
Obito almost choked listening to Asuma Sarutobi’s contradictory logic.
He had only initiated the conversation because he realized Asuma Sarutobi also seemed to have someone he really liked, and felt they had common ground.
Turns out the kid was acting all high and mighty.
Obito turned around and stopped talking.
Asuma Sarutobi ignored him, his gaze fixed on Sosuke, who was talking to Kurenai Yuhi.
The two stood very close, speaking in low voices, but judging by their expressions and gestures, the topic was unusual.
Asuma Sarutobi pricked up his ears to listen.
He couldn’t understand a single word.
Asuma Sarutobi silently withdrew his gaze.
Damn it.
He couldn’t get a word in.
If they were discussing Fire Release or Taijutsu, he could have chimed in.
The Sarutobi Clan was famous for Fire Release, and their Taijutsu wasn’t weak either; he had practiced both since he was little.
But Genjutsu…
That was completely out of his league.
Asuma suddenly regretted refusing when Hiruzen Sarutobi offered to hire a Genjutsu tutor for him, claiming it was too much trouble.
…
Soon, the day’s classes were over.
After school, Sosuke found Rin Nohara.
“Rin, do you want to go to Konoha Hospital together?”
“Konoha Hospital?”
Rin Nohara was stunned for a moment.
“What are we going there for?”
“Konoha Hospital sometimes holds training sessions specifically to screen students with the aptitude to be a Medical Ninja,” Sosuke explained.
This system wouldn’t be formalized until decades later during the Boruto era, thanks to Sakura’s proposal; at this point in time, it was just a semi-official extracurricular activity.
After all, everything in this era was quite underdeveloped; there wasn’t even a department for diagnosing child psychology.
However, Ninja Academy graduates had to go to the battlefield at an average age of twelve…
“There’s such a thing?
This is the first I’ve heard of it!”
Rin Nohara agreed without hesitation.
Sosuke also called Shizune along.
Tsunade had originally told him this news, suggesting he visit Konoha Hospital often so that when internships were arranged later, it would be natural.
“Where are you guys going?”
Obito rushed over and called out to Rin Nohara, who was about to leave.
“Sosuke says there’s Medical Ninjutsu training at Konoha Hospital, so I’m planning to go check it out.”
Rin Nohara finished saying this, waved at Obito, and followed Sosuke and Shizune toward the school gate.
Obito instinctively wanted to follow, but someone pressed down on his shoulder.
“Don’t go.”
Uchiha Tekka patted his shoulder.
“The Uchiha Clan doesn’t have any talent in Medical Practice.”
They were a clan that lived for the thrill of battle; why would they learn something like Medical Ninjutsu?
Obito opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but realized what Tekka said was indeed a fact.
In his memory, he had never heard of anyone in the clan being a Medical Ninja.
When Uchiha members were injured, they went to Konoha Hospital to be treated by Medical Ninjas from other clans.
Obito stood there, watching helplessly as the three figures disappeared into the sunset.
…
Konoha Hospital.
The three walked through the main gate.
“What a handsome kid.”
As soon as Sosuke entered, he heard people whispering.
Several older sisters who looked like nurses stood to one side, watching him with eager eyes; two of them were even whispering to each other with smiles on their faces.
Sosuke continued walking forward without changing his expression.
He hadn’t developed yet, so even if he had the heart, he lacked the means; even the Senju Bloodline couldn’t carry him through this.
It was better to just be a sigma male.
[???
wut]
Shizune led the way; she was already quite familiar with Konoha Hospital.
Walking through the corridor and taking two turns, the three stopped in front of an office with a plaque that read “Medical Team Captain’s Office”.
Shizune knocked on the door.
“Please come in.”
Pushing the door open, a woman in a white coat was sitting behind the desk, looking through medical records.
She looked about thirty-five or thirty-six, with fine lines around the corners of her eyes, but her overall demeanor was gentle.
Matsuzaka Michiko looked up, her gaze lingering on Sosuke for a moment, then she looked at Shizune beside him.
“The one behind is Shizune; I recognize her.”
She smiled.
“Lady Tsunade told me about this beforehand.”
“Hello, Sister Michiko.”
Sosuke said.
Although the woman was old enough to be his aunt, Sosuke wisely chose to address her as “Sister”.
The smile on Matsuzaka Michiko’s face immediately brightened several times over, and the fine lines around her eyes smoothed out.
“This child, such a sweet tongue.”
She stood up happily, her gaze falling on Rin Nohara, hesitating slightly.
“You are…”
“My name is Rin Nohara, I’m Sosuke’s classmate.”
Rin Nohara quickly introduced herself.
“I’m very interested in Medical Ninjutsu, so I came along to take a look.”
“I see, welcome, welcome.”
Matsuzaka Michiko didn’t ask further, turned and called out to the hallway, asking a Medical Ninja to fetch three cups.
Sosuke looked at the crowded training classroom in the corridor outside, filled with young people who had come to attend the lecture; some even had to stand in the back row.
“Don’t we need to go outside and join everyone else?”
He asked.
“No, no need.”
Matsuzaka Michiko waved her hand, signaling the three to sit on the sofa in her office.
“Since you were introduced by Lady Tsunade, you can just have individual instruction here with me.
The class outside is crowded, and the material taught is too shallow; it’s not suitable for you.”
She sat back down in her chair, folded her hands on the table, and looked at Sosuke with a smile.
Lady Tsunade had specifically instructed her to take good care of these children.
Especially Sosuke.
He was, after all, Lady Tsunade’s clansman.
Seeing this, Sosuke had no choice but to nod.
However, he still stood closer to the door.
His biggest goal in coming here was to see if he could pick up any traits.
While waiting, three lines of text suddenly appeared in the corner of his eye.
[Detected collectible trait: Simple Bandaging]
[E-Rank Trait: Simple Bandaging]
[Effect: Speed of bandaging wounds increased by 10%.]
‘As expected, you just need a lot of people.’
Sosuke touched his chin.
Although he didn’t know who had dropped this trait, it was his now regardless.