Chapter 46

"It's not that I don't want to help. It's just that I only picked up medical ninjutsu partway through my training. If even the best doctors at Konoha Hospital can't do anything, how could you expect me to perform a miracle... Please forgive my incompetence."

It wasn't that Rēn didn't want to help.

If he could use this opportunity to break into the social circles of the other clans—long closed off to the Uchiha—that would undoubtedly be a good thing.

But the problem was that the request Kurama Sōun made was truly a difficult one.

This wasn't something that could be solved with a blade.

Healing the sick wasn't his specialty. He was an expert in killing and burning.

"I understand your concerns, Rēn. But I still hope you'll at least take a look. Regardless of the outcome, the Kurama clan is willing to maintain a friendly relationship with your clan from now on." Kurama Sōun wasn't planning on giving up. He even used the clan itself as leverage.

This wasn't a unilateral decision made by the clan head.

It was a joint decision by the power holders of the Kurama clan.

"...I understand."

At this point, rejecting them again would be rather disrespectful. Though the Kurama clan once claimed their genjutsu could rival the Uchiha's, there was never any deep-seated feud or grudge between the two clans.

The Uchiha were famously alienated and distrusted. Life was hard enough for them even without the Kurama kicking them while they were down.

The Kurama had troubles of their own, ones that couldn't be easily explained to outsiders. Their clan's kekkei genkai was extremely unstable—once in several generations would a prodigy be born who could inherit it. Unfortunately, the current generation's prodigy had been frail and sickly since birth. With all that trouble, they barely had time to concern themselves with the Uchiha.

"I'll go take a look. But I can't promise anything. I'll do what I can."

Rēn nodded and agreed.

"That's enough! More than enough! If it turns out there's really nothing that can be done... then so be it."

"Then tell me when. I'll come by."

"No need for that. We can go now."

"...Is she at the hospital?"

Rēn paused, then understood.

Of course.

Even the mighty Uchiha had to admit the establishment of the medical-nin system was a brilliant innovation. A facility like Konoha Hospital was something clan-based ninjas could never have built. Compared to the unevenly trained medical-nin raised within clans, the hospital's resources were far more trustworthy.

"That's right. Today's the day Yakumo goes in for her routine checkup—once every two weeks. My wife's with her right now." Kurama Sōun stood up. "Rēn, wait here for a moment. I'll bring Yakumo over."

"No need! I'll come with you. I've been cooped up in the hospital room for days. A walk will do me good."

"...Very well."

Kurama Sōun hesitated but didn't refuse.

He was already carrying a fruit basket and standing in Rēn's hospital room. What did it matter if someone saw him walking with Uchiha Rēn? Given the Third's inner circle's paranoid nature, things wouldn't change much. The moment he stepped into this room, the Kurama were likely already marked on a list somewhere.

But considering the Kurama clan's current decline, their ranking on that list probably wasn't very high. There was no need to worry about immediate suppression.

Rēn got out of bed.

He wore the standard Konoha Hospital patient gown. He didn't change out of it, just slipped on his slippers and walked out with Kurama Sōun.

"Ranzan, it's nothing serious. I'm just going with Sōun-senpai to see a patient." Rēn waved to Uchiha Ranzan, signaling that he could return to the police division. "Also, I don't plan on being discharged for another two or three days. You'll need to keep handling things at the police division. If anything comes up, just come find me."

"Understood."

Uchiha Ranzan nodded, then advised, "Still, Rēn, I think it's best not to drag this out too long. If you wait until the clan members lose interest..."

"It's fine. If anyone dares stir up trouble under my eyes, I won't hesitate to make an example of them."

Rēn put special emphasis on the word "eye."

Ranzan understood. The Mangekyō Sharingan...

He knew that secret. Or rather, unless all direct elders had died, or one's ancestors had all been low-ranking or non-ninja for generations, it wasn't hard to hear whispers about the Mangekyō Sharingan.

It was just that the elders strictly forbade the spread of information about the Mangekyō, much like the secret meetings at the Naka Shrine. Only jōnin were permitted to know. Chūnin and genin were excluded from such knowledge.

Seeing that Rēn had made up his mind, Uchiha Ranzan said no more. With a quick body flicker, he vanished from their sight.

"All right, Sōun-senpai. Lead the way."

"This way."

Kurama Sōun was decisive. Though he gave off the air of a scholar, the instincts and habits of a ninja couldn't be washed away. He was efficient and to the point. That was the ninja way—long-windedness was rare.

They passed through the second-floor corridor, ascended the stairs to the fourth floor, and arrived at the head physician's office.

Though the Kurama were in decline, being invited to that meeting four days ago showed they hadn't yet fallen into obscurity. Even a decaying ship still had thousands of nails. The Kurama still had enough influence to request a head physician as their personal doctor.

"Big Brother."

An older-looking man than Kurama Sōun stood at the door. Seeing Sōun and Rēn approaching, he straightened and greeted them.

"Unkai, how's the exam going?"

Kurama Sōun asked.

This man, who looked significantly older than Sōun, was Kurama Unkai—his younger brother. For some reason, Unkai's aging had accelerated. Despite being two years younger, he looked like the elder.

"They're still examining her. Um... Sister-in-law's with her. It's not convenient to go in now."

Unkai answered vaguely.

Kurama Sōun understood. His wife was very traditional. Even though Yakumo was only five, she would still make all the men leave the room during physical exams.

"Unkai, this is Uchiha Rēn—head of the Uchiha clan and commander of the police force."

Since they couldn't go in yet, Sōun turned to small talk.

"Commander Uchiha!"

Kurama Unkai bowed respectfully.

"Rēn, this is my younger brother, Unkai," Sōun introduced.

Rēn nodded lightly in acknowledgment.

At that moment, the nearby closed door silently swung open.

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