Chapter Five: A Request… and a Try to Break the Silence

Golden sunlight filtered through the trees, announcing a new morning in Konoha. The wind was gentle, brushing against the leaves still sparkling with morning dew. The streets were alive with shinobi rushing through alleyways, carrying crates, planting flags, and organizing the area with noticeable effort. The village was preparing to receive a delegation from the Uzumaki clan — a rare and significant event.

At the heart of the preparations, the trio had been busy for days.Hashirama guided the teams with his calm smile,Madara oversaw everything in focused silence,While Tobirama, as usual, was sharp, precise, and all business.Shinobi rushed to finish tasks, children helped their parents, and even the elderly smiled at the communal spirit.

Meanwhile, Kazuya lived his days with a simplicity he had never known.Every morning, he opened his modest shop at the edge of the market — a humble but rich resource for any shinobi. It sold high-quality weapons, all kinds of books, and rare medicinal herbs known only to him — or rather, everything related to medical ninjutsu.Children would sometimes stop by to buy candy he'd recently started offering for no particular reason. Elders greeted him politely, and he responded with a slight nod.At night, he returned home in silence. He'd pass through the market, buy his necessities, quietly observe people's faces, and listen to their distant laughter.He never joined them — but he no longer avoided them either.

One evening, sitting on the rooftop of his home, he heard the distant clamor of ongoing preparations. Lights were being hung, flags raised, and his eyes scanned everything in silence."So... the Uzumaki are coming," he whispered to himself.There was no bitterness in his heart, nor warmth. Just calm... silence.

In the village center, Madara was reviewing the guard positions beside a small map laid on a stone board.One shinobi spoke, "The Uzumaki delegation will arrive in three days."Tobirama replied bluntly, "We need reinforcements on the western wing."Hashirama, hearing them both, smiled and said with his usual warmth,"No need to worry, look at how much has already been done — just a little more to go," and his smile grew even wider.

Tobirama seemed about to protest but was silenced by Madara's approving nod toward Hashirama.

Just then, a shinobi came running toward them, panting heavily and shouting,"Hokage-sama! Hokage-sama! Three people are injured — two shinobi and a civilian child around eight years old!"

The trio turned serious in an instant. Hashirama shouted first, "How?!"

The shinobi regained some breath and explained,"Two shinobi went into the forest for wood. One brought his son. While helping each other cut wood, they noticed the child was missing. The boy had wandered near a den of wild bears. The father ran to save him and was injured. The other shinobi managed to rescue them both and return — the boy's alive, but they're all hurt. I've already sent someone to the new medical supply shop."

The three reacted at once.Tobirama, clearly angry, cursed under his breath, "Damn it, of all times… What's their condition now? Where are they?"Madara clenched his fist tightly.Hashirama, deeply concerned, already had a thousand thoughts racing through his mind.He gestured for the shinobi to lead him to the wounded so he could treat them with medical ninjutsu.

…

At that moment, Kazuya was in his shop, neatly arranging medicinal herbs in a specific pattern. He heard fast, urgent footsteps. He turned to the door before the person even arrived — he already knew footsteps like that had a purpose.The shinobi burst through the door without knocking and quickly explained the situation.Kazuya, shocked by the news, grabbed the medical gear he'd need and ran out — leaving the shinobi behind.

Instead of running on the streets, he leaped across rooftops with such speed that those who saw him murmured, "Amazing... it's like a blue flash."

He arrived quickly to find a crowd gathered around the Hokage and his companions, along with the wounded. Kazuya landed with a silent leap, close to Madara. The crowd was stunned — not just by his speed, but how his footsteps were completely silent.Kazuya approached Hashirama, who was treating the child. Hashirama looked up for a moment, mouth agape in surprise at Kazuya's presence, before regaining focus and continuing the treatment.

Kazuya bowed respectfully to the wounded, tied up his long hair, and spoke firmly:"First: I need everyone to step back.Second: I'll need everyone's help, so speed is essential.Third: Most importantly — I need your assistance, Madara - san, Tobirama - san… and especially you, Hokage-sama. Please follow my instructions carefully."

Everyone focused immediately, nodding in agreement.Kazuya pulled out special emergency body flicker seals from his pouch."If I need something urgently or need someone to move fast, use these."Everyone nodded again.

Tobirama and Madara noticed the seals with a brief flicker of curiosity.

Kazuya silently evaluated the situation. The tension was thick. Sweat beaded on their foreheads. Everyone was waiting on him.Then Kazuya broke the silence."It's decided."

He raised his head toward Hashirama and said quickly,"Hashirama-sama, the situation is critical. I know your healing ability is remarkable — you're the best medic in Konoha. But without precise technique and experience, that talent is wasted. So please, follow me exactly. I trust you."

Hashirama was momentarily stunned by Kazuya's words but had no time to respond.He nodded, and the two began working — Hashirama following Kazuya's lead.

Kazuya: "First, look at the wound. Do you notice anything strange? Some animals carry subtle toxins, like rabid dog bites — anything unusual?"

Hashirama: "I don't see anything obvious."

Kazuya: "Alright. Then, raise one hand and direct healing chakra slowly — don't rush it. Control your chakra to reduce the bleeding, but not stop it completely. Copy me."

Hashirama followed his motions exactly.Kazuya: "Good. Now use chakra scalpel on a non-injured spot — a stimulant area that triggers antibody production. Take a blood sample from there, and immediately heal the cut with medical chakra. Control your output."

They worked in silence. Kazuya monitored Hashirama and his own progress closely.Kazuya then shouted:"Someone! Bring us the two blue vials — to me and Hashirama-sama!"

Tobirama handed one to his brother, Madara handed the other to Kazuya.Kazuya: "Hashirama-sama, infuse the blood sample into your hands with the vial's contents. Tobirama-san, pour it slowly — we can't waste a drop. Madara - san, do the same for me."

The mixtures were made.Kazuya: "Now inject the mixture into the wounds directly — make sure it stays inside, no leaking."

They both did it.Kazuya moved slightly and instructed:"Turn the two wounded to face me. One of you get me alcohol. That's your part done, Hashirama-sama."

Everyone stood frozen — even Hashirama.Kazuya shouted, the vein on his forehead twitching:"What are you all doing?! I said move!"

Everyone sprang into action. The injured were positioned. Tobirama brought the alcohol.Kazuya: "Someone hold the wounded tightly — don't let them move!"

Shinobi, along with Madara, Hashirama, and Tobirama, held them down.Kazuya poured the alcohol over the wounds. The patients screamed and squirmed in agony.He dried the area with cloth, then activated his green healing chakra.He turned to Madara beside him,"Show normal chakra on your palm — not medical chakra."

Madara raised an eyebrow, then silently complied.Kazuya activated a strange technique — a thread made from a mix of his healing chakra and Madara's regular chakra.He began stitching the wounds with astonishing speed.

The entire crowd watched in awe, mouths agape.Once done, Kazuya said, "You can deactivate your chakra now, Madara -san."Madara did so instinctively.Kazuya washed over the stitches with medical chakra one last time.

"And we're done. Now they just need rest."

The crowd collectively exhaled, finally releasing the tension from the last five minutes.Just five minutes — and the Hokage had followed Kazuya's instructions to save two dying people using techniques none had seen before.

The shinobi's son approached his father and said, tearfully,"Thank you for saving my dad — especially you, Mister… and Hokage-sama."The shinobi snapped out of their daze.The child suddenly shouted,"Long live Mister and the Hokage!"

The crowd erupted in joy. The wounded were carried off for rest. People returned to their duties — though not entirely. A breath of relief had swept over them.

Kazuya made sure everything was in order, picked up his tools, and prepared to return to his store… returning once again to his quiet self — except for three people: Hashirama, Madara, and Tobirama.

Hashirama tapped Kazuya's shoulder three times.Kazuya turned toward him.Hashirama smiled.Kazuya, feeling a twist in his gut (and a voice inside him screaming this wasn't over), said,"What is it? My work here is done."

Hashirama still smiling, replied,"Kazuya-kun, you just helped heal one of our shinobi. We're short-staffed preparing for the Uzumaki delegation… so, how about the four of us work together for a while~ K~a~z~u~y~a-kun~?"

Kazuya gave him a deadpan look full of complaint and said inwardly,(Just what I feared… I knew this wasn't going to end simply…)