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It took an hour to reach Ruri's room.
She was holding a scroll and studying it carefully. Shiraishi glanced at it and saw that it contained information about fire release jutsu.
"What's going on?"
Ruri looked away from the scroll and looked up at Shiraishi.
"Ah, well... I need to go to the pharmacy to buy some herbs, I don't have enough in the lab."
Shiraishi scratched his head, his expression unchanged, showing no signs of abnormality.
"Got it. Just remember to bring me some natto when you come back."
"Natto?"
Shiraishi nodded, indicating that he understood, and left the room.
As he stepped outside, he let out a light sigh, relieved that he had finally made it through.
Bringing Ayane here to collect her body data was not a reliable option. It was difficult to do, and the risk of accidental discovery was too high.
This was the interior of the Uchiha clan. It would be better to collect Ayane's body data outside.
He had also thought of the location—his former home. Taking the storage scroll with him, he went to buy some natto first to avoid forgetting it later.
Next, he would go to the Hyuga clan to find Ayane.
It was impossible to hide within the Hyuga family and find Ayane. Not to mention the disdainful gazes, the Hyuga clan's compound was close to the village center, and the environment there was completely different from that of the Uchiha clan. The village's defense force was also the strongest there.
The Uchiha clan, on the other hand, had to live in a slightly more remote area in the middle of the village.
Unexpectedly, the Uchiha clan also had authority over the garrison, and living in the center of the village made it easier to mobilize the garrison.
This approach was simply contradictory, and it went against normal logic in many ways.
Shiraishi had lived in the Uchiha clan for years. He didn't know the core secrets of the Uchiha, and Ruri hadn't explained them to him.
However, he was aware that the relationship between the Uchiha clan and the village's top management appeared relaxed on the surface, but in reality, it was a messy and guarded relationship full of hostility.
With these thoughts in mind, Shiraishi arrived at the Hyuga clan. It was worth noting that the ninjas of the Hyuga clan seemed to prioritize literacy more than the Uchiha clan.
Of course, this was just an outsider's perspective. If viewed from within the Hyuga clan, things might not always be as they seemed.
After all, even if the Caged bird seal was explained as a means to protect the Byakugan, it was actually quite challenging to maintain. If the purpose was solely to protect the Byakugan, they could simply modify the caged bird seal's function to nullify the Byakugan's abilities when a branch member died.
But that wasn't the case. The caged bird seal also had the ability to curse and kill. It made the branch members who didn't obey the clan feel unbearable.
Using the excuse of protecting the Byakugan was unconvincing. Adding the curse-killing function to the caged bird seal was, in Shiraishi's view, excessive and unnecessary.
If sealing the Byakugan was only done when necessary to protect it, it could be called protecting the Byakugan. The branch members might not hold such resentment towards the clan.
"Shiraishi-kun, why are you here? Did Sakumo-sensei give you any new assignments?"
Ayane wore neat white clothes, and her long black hair was neatly styled behind her. She looked slightly puzzled upon seeing Shiraishi coming to find her.
"It's not that. I need to buy some herbs and make some medicine for future missions. But I'm a bit overwhelmed on my own, so I wanted to ask for your help."
"I see." Ayane pointed her finger at her chin, pondered for a moment, and then smiled innocently. "That's fine, but let's hurry. I need to be back before dinner."
"Alright."
Shiraishi then took Ayane to the Pharmacy to purchase various herbs with different effects.
Speaking of which, most of the pharmacies in Konoha were run by the Nara clan. This clan excelled in deer farming, and deer antlers were highly valued as medicinal materials. The Nara clan's pharmacies boasted a wide range of deer antlers, which was considered their major selling point.
Many merchants from other regions would come to Konoha specifically to buy Nara clan's deer antlers. It was a testament to their excellent quality. Fair prices and respectful treatment of customers made the Nara clan a preferred choice for many.
In contrast, the Uchiha clan's position in Konoha was rather embarrassing.
Although they were one of the two major clans that founded Konoha, they had no connections within the village. They had no affiliation with the Hyuga clan, let alone the three clans deeply trusted by the Hokage.
By the time they left the pharmacy, it was almost three o'clock in the afternoon.
After such a long detour, it was finally time to get down to business.
The place where Shiraishi used to live is quite far from the center of Konoha, and it has been neglected for years.
"Shiraishi-kun, are we meeting secretly like this?"
After entering the room, Ayane placed her hands behind her back and leaned slightly to the side. Her clean face was partially visible, adorned with a faint smile.
"Now we're getting down to business."
"I was wondering, what would Shiraishi-kun do if Ruri found out about this? Sneaking around with other girls behind her back while spending every day and night with her. Maybe the emotional turmoil would further evolve the Sharingan into a Mangekyou Sharingan."
"It's not that easy for the Sharingan to evolve like that. You're overthinking."
"You never know. Ruri is an Uchiha genius, and intense emotional fluctuations are known to be the best catalyst for the Sharingan's evolution."
"You do realize I risked my life to be here. We need to focus on the task at hand. Well, take off your clothes quickly."
"Take... take off? Everything? Shiraishi-kun, this is for my future husband..."
Ayane blushed, hugging her chest tightly and biting her lip, clearly feeling embarrassed.
"What are you thinking? We've done this many times before. Let's not dwell on just removing your coat. Even if you take everything off, I'll treat you equally as a doctor."
Shiraishi responded earnestly to Ayane.
"So, it doesn't matter if I undress completely for the tests now?"
Ayane's fingers had already unzipped her shirt, revealing her chest. Some muscles seemed to be bulging, and there was an intriguing smile in her eyes.
"No need for that. Let's get it done quickly. I'm in a hurry."
"Really, this is such a good opportunity."
"Are you really only twelve years old?"
"Maybe girls mature a bit earlier? In our clan, there's a fourteen-year-old girl. Since she's not a ninja, her only role is to bear children for the clan. She's currently pregnant and due in September this year."
Shiraishi sighed. In this war ridden era, the population was indeed a pressing issue.
However, Shiraishi knew that fertility rates in this world were high, thanks to the prevalence of chakra and various advanced medical ninjutsu.
He wasn't well-informed about the situation elsewhere, but according to the female fertility records at Konoha Hospital, only a very small number of women encountered childbirth complications, and even those cases were successfully managed.
The issue of early childbirth depended on specific circumstances.
Nevertheless, Shiraishi didn't support such practices. It wasn't about physical readiness but rather about values in life.
Whether it was going to the battlefield prematurely or giving birth prematurely, it would lead to various risks and deviations in the future life experiences of those involved.
But in an era without concrete laws safeguarding basic human rights, such concerns were merely wishful thinking, and those in power could dictate as they pleased.
Whether it was due to neglecting this problem, fear of the consequences, or an unwillingness to relinquish personal interests, none of it concerned Shiraishi.
In his pursuit of his own political affairs, he was just a medical ninja, and his duty was to be a doctor.
Shiraishi unrolled the scroll and began sealing, extracting the body-sensing device from it.
It had to be acknowledged that storage scrolls were incredibly useful. They could store almost anything except living beings, albeit at a slightly higher price.
Ayane lay down on the cold operating table and waited calmly. She didn't tease Shiraishi anymore and patiently awaited the results of his analysis.
She understood the significance of the Caged bird's curse mark.
The test didn't take long, only about ten minutes.
Ayane got off the operating table and asked, "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, I have a solution for the caged bird's curse. I'll explain the specific methods and steps when we embark on our next mission. For now, we still need to live under Konoha's protection. During this period, I'll also search for a suitable base and relocate there."
"Have you found one?"
"The Land of Ghosts and the Land of Iron."
As Shiraishi mentioned the names of these two countries, Ayane was slightly taken aback.
The Land of Ghosts and the Land of Iron were permanent neutral countries in the ninja world. The conflicts that had erupted over the years hadn't affected these countries significantly. Moreover, their remote locations made them less susceptible to being targeted by major powers. Their abundant resources were the primary cause of the Ninja World Wars.
"If that's the case, those countries would indeed be suitable for living. When is the exact time to leave Konoha?"
"The next ninja war is approaching."
"The next ninja war? Won't it take too long?"
The First and Second Ninja Wars were separated by over a decade, and it was uncertain when the Third Ninja War would break out.
"Don't worry. Once this Ninja World War concludes, the next Shinobi World War will follow, and it won't be too far off. It will once again revolve around the rich lands of the Land of Fire. That will be the ideal time for us to leave Konoha. They will be engulfed in the war from all sides and won't have time to deal with missing individuals like us."
Shiraishi made this inference based on factual observations.
Konoha's diplomatic approach, while mild, didn't make the other four major ninja villages fear its strength. Instead, it aroused their jealousy and greed more easily.
During the current reign of the Third Hokage, although Konoha had experienced many victories in foreign wars, each time was a reactive response.
Whether it was the war in the Land Of Rain or the recent Suna invasion of Land Of Fire, they were forced into defensive actions.
Even if they emerged victorious, it could still be considered a failure, as there were no benefits gained after the wars ended.
The enemy didn't demand compensation for their losses; they merely sought fame without any substantial advantages.
It may appear as a victory, but in Shiraishi's opinion, it's merely benefiting from the groundwork laid by the previous two generations of Hokage.
Ayane looked at Shiraishi, somewhat understanding his speculation. However, as the leader of the five major ninja villages, Konoha has always held the top position in military power.
Even if another war occurs after this current one, it should take place many years later. How can one claim that the interval won't be too long?
Shiraishi smiled softly, gazing at the peaceful scene outside the window, and spoke:
"Peace survives through struggle, and compromise leads to its demise. Konoha, as the most powerful nation, showcases a lenient and weak foreign policy. This will only result in being surrounded by wolves. The more one desires peace, the more likely they are to face forced wars."
"But in the past..."
Shiraishi knew what Ayane wanted to add and interrupted her: "The Will of Fire was only suitable for the First Hokage. This will to seek peace through compromise is not applicable to later generations. No one wishes to hold the same innocent dream as him after his passing. These two ninja wars are evidence of that. They are also the foundation for my speculation."
"Is the First Hokage the source of the disaster?"
Ayane was taken aback by such a statement.
"In a way, yes. Even if Konoha is eventually destroyed, perhaps they won't understand why it happened. Longing, as they say, is the feeling farthest from understanding."
It's not entirely accurate to attribute Konoha's current unfavorable state solely to the three generations of Hokage. The seeds of chaos were sown during the era of the First Hokage.
The third Hokage merely took on the responsibility for the First Hokage and cleaned up the mess.
Therefore, the outbreak of the Third Ninja World War is inevitable, and a short interval between the Second and Third Ninja World Wars is also expected.
It will be the safest time to leave Konoha at that point.
Konoha, entangled in danger from all sides, will be exhausted from dealing with the war and won't have the time to focus on suppressing rebellions and maintaining tolerance.
"Is that so? I've yearned for you, Shiraishi-kun, for so long. However, I also long to know everything about you. So... when it's just the two of us, please treat me kindly."
Ayane's face displayed a pure and radiant smile, accompanied by a shy blush.
Shiraishi was momentarily stunned, unsure of how to respond.
'Be gentle with me'... To what extent does Ayane desire him to fulfill her wishes?
This summer is truly scorching, enough to make one feel restless.
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