Konoha Hospital, second-floor consultation room.
The faint scent of gentian root filled the air.
Sunlight streamed through the Venetian blinds, casting fence-like shadows across the pristine white floor.
Hoshi sat relaxed behind the desk in a neatly tailored white coat, his sleeves rolled up to reveal smooth, lean forearms.
Across from him sat a middle-aged Chunin with a sallow complexion.
“Doctor Hoshi, this old injury on my lower back…
every time it rains lately, it throbs with excruciating pain.
I’ve been to every physical therapy clinic in the village to no avail.
Could you take a look…” The shinobi spoke humbly, even adding a hint of flattery.
“Senior, this is a classic case of nerve necrosis caused by residual Lightning Style Chakra.
It’s likely an old wound from fighting Kumogakure in the Third War that wasn’t treated in time,” Hoshi said without even looking up, lightly tapping his fingers against the patient’s lumbar spine.
A faint, pure emerald glow, like a firefly, instantly seeped into the skin.
“Hold still.
I’ll use a Chakra Scalpel to shave away the dead nerves.
It might feel a bit like ant bites, so bear with it.” Holding the Chakra Scalpel, Hoshi guided it precisely through the patient’s meridians.
Such delicacy would leave even thirty-year veterans of the Medical Corps staring open-mouthed.
“All done.
The registration fee is one hundred thousand ryo.
Remember to pay at the front desk.
Next.” Hoshi signed his name on the medical record with a smooth flourish, looking as casual as if he were issuing strategic supplies.
In his first week at the hospital, Hoshi had become a celebrated figure in Konoha.
Not only did he have a private office approved personally by the Hokage, but he had also effortlessly solved several complex cases that had stumped the chief apothecary for three years.
His reputation exploded throughout the upper echelons of Konoha.
Meanwhile, beside the fountain in Konoha Central Park.
“Aargh!
I’ve had enough!
Why do we keep having to do these mind-numbingly boring missions?!” Uzumaki Naruto sprawled starfish-style on the grass, holding a fat cat he had just dragged down from a tree.
The cat was furiously leaving three fresh claw marks across his face.
“Naruto, quiet down.
This is already the sixth cat we’ve retrieved this week.” Sakura sat dejectedly on the steps, bits of dried grass stuck in her hair—trophies from weeding at an auntie’s place on the east side earlier.
“Hmph.
D-rank missions like this are a complete waste of my talent.” Sasuke leaned against a tree trunk.
Though his expression remained cool and distant, his calloused hands trembled slightly—a lingering side effect of hauling twenty buckets of water for Grandma Wang at the edge of the village today.
Just then, Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji ambled over, looking equally defeated.
“Yo, Naruto.
Did you guys get assigned to clean the sewers too?” Shikamaru yawned, his eyes listless.
“That sticky, slimy feeling is such a pain.” “Don’t even mention it.
I’d rather get injured fighting a Chunin than look at weeds all day,” Ino grumbled, sitting down and looking around.
“By the way, where’s Hoshi?
Why didn’t he come to meet up?” “And here I thought graduating would make you mature a bit,” Sakura remarked sarcastically from the side.
“At least I don’t get covered in dirt just from catching a cat, Billboard Brow.” “Ino-pig, your weeding skills are so impressive.
We can take three missions like that a day—looks like your team’s efficiency is pretty lackluster,” Sakura retorted, leaning in until their foreheads pressed together in a face-to-face glare.
Right as they squabbled, Hoshi appeared in the distance, walking leisurely.
He looked immaculate, smelling faintly of medicinal herbs.
“Yo, everyone.
How’s your day going?
Need a free checkup?” Hoshi walked over with a smile, holding two bags of nicely packaged iced plum juice.
“Hoshi!
Look at my hands!” Naruto flipped up from the ground, thrusting his hands—caked in mud and cat fur—right in front of Hoshi.
“Why do we have to pick up trash and hunt cats every day while you get to lounge in an air-conditioned room?!
It’s not fair!” “Naruto, my friend, that’s the importance of career planning.” Hoshi handed out the iced plum juice at an unhurried pace, casting a minor cleansing jutsu on Naruto with a casual wave.
“I spent the whole morning busy at the hospital, treating three unusual cases for Chunin.
To be honest, staring at bloody wounds gets pretty boring—it’s nowhere near as exciting as fighting cats with you.” “You call that boring?!” Naruto wailed.
“The whole village is catering to you!
I walked past the hospital earlier and saw crowds of people lining up specifically for ‘Doctor Hoshi’!
The appointment list is booked through next month!” “How unfortunate.
Truth be told, I really envy how close you get to nature,” Hoshi spouted complete nonsense with a straight face, his dark humor on full display.
“How about this: next time, I’ll suggest to the Third Hokage that Team 7 take charge of cleaning the medical center’s restrooms?
That counts as a D-rank mission too, and since it’s close to my office, I can inspect your work often.” “Get out of here!” Naruto and Sasuke yelled in unison.
Ino leaned close to Hoshi, taking in his pleasant scent.
“Hoshi,” she asked enviously, “do you really not need to do D-rank missions to build experience and train your body?
I heard Asuma-sensei say your status is already equal to a deputy team leader in the Medical Corps.” “Pretty much.
After all, I’m Lady Tsunade’s successor—appearances must be maintained.” Hoshi shrugged, looking at his three grime-covered peers with a faint, amused smile in his eyes.
In truth, he knew very well that D-rank missions were essential for building teamwork.
But with his combined identity as a transmigrator and a medical powerhouse, he was never destined to follow the standard path of an ordinary Genin.
“Since everyone is so free, why don’t we talk about how Grandma Wang’s cat managed to slip past you three whole times today?” Hoshi dropped another demoralizing topic.
“Damn it, Hoshi!
How do you know about that?!
I’m challenging you to a duel!” Naruto broke down again.
“Is there even any need to ask?
Naruto probably thought the cat was one of his own kind and let it go on purpose.” Kiba’s voice drifted over from a distance, followed by Hinata, who kept her head ducked bashfully, and Shino, whose presence was practically as thin as air.
“Yo, Kiba, Hinata!
What brings you guys here?
Did you just finish a mission?” Naruto greeted them enthusiastically, seeming to genuinely miss Shino entirely.
“H-Hello, Naruto-kun…
long time no see…” Hinata lowered her head even further until her chin nearly touched her chest, her hands rubbing together nervously.
“Long time no see, Hinata!
Why is your face so red?
It looks like steam is coming out!” Naruto asked in confusion.
“Long time no see, Hinata.
You’re as shy as ever.” Ino stepped forward, taking Hinata’s hand and pulling her to the side to rescue her, terrified that Hinata’s brain would overheat and crash the next second.
Perhaps she was the only one present perceptive enough to have realized early on that Hinata liked Naruto; she was just too shy to confess.