The air fell into a deathly silence as Kakashi clutched his abdomen, struggling to stand straight.
But the overwhelming guilt he felt inside was far worse than the physical pain.
Whitebeard's every question left him speechless.
Kakashi knew that his actions made him seem like a traitor.
Minato-sensei had been very kind to him, yet he had not taken care of Minato's child in the same way.
Kakashi couldn't look Whitebeard in the eye.
He didn't know if it was his guilt or his fear.
"I…"
Kakashi finally said, "I think you should go to Konoha Hospital for a checkup. It would be good for both you and Naruto. If there's a problem with your health, you need to get it treated."
He didn't directly answer Whitebeard's questions.
Instead, he redirected the conversation.
"You're… the only family Naruto has now." Kakashi took a deep breath and spoke from his heart.
At that moment.
Kakashi fully acknowledged Whitebeard's relationship with Naruto, which is why he urged Whitebeard to get checked at Konoha Hospital.
Because he knew Naruto had no parents.
Having finally recognized a "father," if this "father" were to leave Naruto due to health issues.
Naruto's situation would be even more tragic.
…
At Konoha Hospital.
Kakashi still had his dead fish eye open. He felt that both he and Whitebeard needed to be checked.
The jab Whitebeard gave him was so painful that even walking a few steps made him gasp for breath.
Oh no!
Could his internal organs be damaged?
With that thought.
Kakashi helplessly glanced back at Whitebeard, unable to complain about the heavy-handed jab.
This led to two notable figures arriving at Konoha Hospital tonight.
One was the famous "Copy Ninja" Hatake Kakashi, and the other was the recent talk of the town, the "Giant" Whitebeard. Their arrival caused a stir at the hospital.
Despite it being nighttime, the medical ninjas gathered around Whitebeard and Kakashi.
Crowding in layers.
"Mr. Giant! You... Hello!" A bearded, elderly medical ninja spoke nervously, but his eyes were filled with excitement, "Mr. Giant, are you here for a checkup?"
Whitebeard glanced at Konoha Hospital: "Your hospital buildings are a bit short!"
The hospital's floors were quite tall compared to residential buildings, each nearly four meters high.
But for someone of Whitebeard's exaggerated stature.
Four meters wasn't enough!
"No problem!" the elderly medical ninja hurriedly said, "We can move all the medical equipment outside."
This was a giant!
These medical ninjas, ranging from their teens to their fifties or sixties, had treated all kinds of people in Konoha.
There were very skilled ninjas.
And there were ordinary people.
But they had never treated a giant before. To these medical ninjas, Whitebeard was a prized opportunity.
They couldn't wait to examine him.
To see how a giant's body structure differed from that of an ordinary person.
"Kakashi-san, you too?" The medical ninjas looked at Kakashi, the Copy Ninja, with eager anticipation.
Kakashi was overwhelmed by their strange enthusiasm.
"Yes…" he said, holding his stomach, "I'm here for a checkup, but can you stop staring at me like that?"
Soon after.
Several medical ninjas took Kakashi inside the hospital while the others began moving medical equipment outside for Whitebeard.
They didn't worry at all about damaging the delicate equipment.
Or about any malfunctions.
The director is not at home tonight.jpg
"Gurararara, this feels familiar." Watching the busy medical ninjas attaching various needles and tubes, Whitebeard felt like he was back on the Moby Dick.
He thought his new Whitebeard Pirates would need skilled medical ninjas.
Maybe…
He could recruit a few from Konoha Hospital.
Whitebeard eyed the medical ninjas with an odd look while they continued examining his aged body.
"It's like a larger version of a normal human?"
The medical ninjas quickly realized that Whitebeard wasn't an abnormal species.
His organs and body functions.
Were similar to those of a normal person.
Except for one thing: Whitebeard's body was incredibly tough, breaking dozens of their needles.
His physical strength was beyond that of any taijutsu user. Could a human body really develop such muscles?
It was unbelievable!
The longer they examined Whitebeard.
The more astonished they became, whispering among themselves as if faced with a medical enigma.
"...Mr. Giant." An older medical ninja, his face behind the mask showing shock, spoke with hesitation.
He couldn't help but glance at Whitebeard's massive frame.
Then, at the fresh report in his hand.
Swallowing hard.
"Gurararara! What is it? Why am I so hesitant? Am I terminally ill?" Whitebeard laughed unconcerned. He knew his own body well.
On the Moby Dick, his sons had arranged countless checkups for him.
"Terminally ill... might be an understatement." The medical ninja took a deep breath.
He asked in shock, "How are you still alive?"
Though this sounded impolite.
It was exactly what the medical ninjas were thinking. How had Whitebeard lived to seventy-two?
"Mr. Giant… if your body's conditions were in a normal person, or even a Konoha jonin, they would be declared dead!"
The medical ninja continued, "Sorry, with our medical capabilities, we might not be able to offer effective treatment."
They had never seen someone with so many internal injuries.
Muscles, bones, blood vessels, organs.
All seemed normal on the surface, but detailed checks revealed.
All four areas…
None were unharmed!
All had issues!
All had hidden ailments!
Their eyes fell on the scar on Whitebeard's chest. They couldn't imagine how many battles and near-death experiences this man had endured…
To accumulate such injuries?
The man before them.
It was a living embodiment of war!
…
…