Even though Takashi claimed that while he couldn't see anything with his eyes, it didn't affect his ability to treat patients.
Unfortunately, many still held a doubtful attitude towards this statement.
Takashi could understand everyone's concerns—anyone needing medical attention would naturally feel uneasy if they discovered that their doctor was blind.
It was a normal psychological reaction, unless Takashi had actually treated someone successfully while not being able to see.
Sadly, he never had the chance to prove himself.
At the border camp during peacetime, conflicts and skirmishes were rare, let alone large-scale battles. Without battles, there were no wounded. And if someone managed to injure themselves without a battle or stepping on a trap, they'd surely be laughed at by the others.
Hanzo of the Salamander had ambition, but he wasn't foolish. He wouldn't provoke Konoha without reason. As a result, the border camp remained peaceful, with Konoha's shinobi refraining from crossing into the Land of Rain, and the Rain Village's shinobi avoiding any entry into the Land of Fire.
Tsunade would periodically send messages and intelligence from the village to the camp using puppet crows, which allowed Takashi to keep up with changes in the world of shinobi.
Sunagakure's provocations and probes towards Konoha continued—although each attempt was superficial, it was still as annoying as a fly buzzing around your head.
Aside from Sunagakure's continual provocations, a more significant piece of news involved Kushina.
Mito Uzumaki's health had declined significantly compared to the previous year.
Mito's deteriorating health was absolutely bad news for Konoha.
This meant that the transfer of the Nine-Tails had to be brought to the forefront.
Transferring the Nine-Tails wasn't something that could wait until after Mito's death; it had to be done before then.
This method of transfer would allow Mito to help suppress the power of the Nine-Tails.
Without Mito's suppression, it wasn't certain that Kushina could handle the power of the Nine-Tails. Moreover, once a jinchuriki died, the tailed beast would regain its freedom. Whether Konoha would be able to recapture the Nine-Tails during this era was highly questionable.
Without someone like Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha, even Tobirama Senju would have a hard time against the Nine-Tails.
Let alone the current Third Hokage and his peers.
If the Nine-Tails escaped its seal, the "Night of the Nine-Tails" might happen sooner than expected. Right now, Konoha had no shinobi capable of using the Flying Thunder God Technique to divert the Tailed Beast Bomb.
If the Nine-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb detonated in the village, the outcome would certainly be catastrophic.
After countless comparisons by many online users, it's widely believed that a fully charged Tailed Beast Bomb from the Nine-Tails is as destructive as a nuclear bomb, though without the dangerous radiation.
Just imagine how terrifying it would be if an explosion comparable to a nuclear bomb happened in a village.
The casualties during the Night of the Nine-Tails were numerous, even with the assistance of the "blond kid" who had diverted both the Tailed Beast Bomb and the Nine-Tails away. If a major battle broke out within the village, who knows how many people would die?
While the Third Hokage wasn't necessarily a great person, he had one merit—he was aware of his own limitations. He would never compare himself to Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha.
He knew very well that if the Tailed Beast escaped, no one in the village would be able to stop that fearsome fox.
Mito Uzumaki was simply too old. She could still suppress the Nine-Tails while it was sealed, but if it escaped, even if Mito didn't die immediately, she wouldn't be a match for it.
Thus, the smooth transfer of the Tailed Beast had become a top priority for the village.
Even Sunagakure's provocations were relegated in importance.
Transferring the Tailed Beast meant that Mito Uzumaki would die. Tsunade had already prepared herself mentally, but Nawaki and Kushina would likely be grieving for a long time.
"I hope everything goes smoothly."
Takashi sighed, then destroyed the scroll Tsunade had sent.
Far away at the border camp, there was nothing he could do but hope for a successful transfer of the Tailed Beast.
In fact, even if he had been in the village, the elders council wouldn't have allowed him to interfere. To them, Takashi was, at best, half a person—trustworthy, but not entirely.
So he was never going to get the opportunity to be involved in something like this.
---
"Kushina, what's wrong? Are you feeling down?"
Lately, the atmosphere at home had become quite heavy. Tsunade hadn't gone to work for days, staying at home to keep her grandmother company, and Kushina hadn't shown her usual smile.
Both Tsunade and Kushina knew what transferring the Tailed Beast implied.
Only Nawaki, the clueless one, was kept in the dark.
"What's with all the questions?"
Tsunade slapped Nawaki on the head and advised earnestly, "Nawaki, when you visit the Daimyo this time, you have to behave yourself, understood? Don't even think about causing trouble at the Daimyo's residence."
To prevent Nawaki from having an excessive reaction, the best way was to send him away.
This was Mito's decision.
She hoped that when everything was over, they could bring Nawaki back and then tell him the truth.
"Got it, no need to be so fierce."
Nawaki pouted unhappily. He didn't want to go to the Daimyo's residence, but since his grandmother was too old to travel and Tsunade was occupied, he had to go as their representative.
"You brat, asking for a beating?"
Tsunade's face darkened. This brat—give him an inch, and he'd take a mile.
"…"
Danger!
Noticing his sister's expression, Nawaki quickly shut his mouth and obediently continued eating, deciding to figure out why Kushina was upset after he returned from the Daimyo's place.
"This time, Jiraiya will accompany you to the Daimyo's residence."
After giving her brother a minor warning, Tsunade tossed him a bone—Jiraiya would be going with him.
Although Jiraiya wasn't reliable with minor matters, he had never slacked off in important ones.
Tsunade was confident in leaving Nawaki in Jiraiya's hands.
The only downside was that Jiraiya would probably take Nawaki to peep on women bathing or something.
Jiraiya's incorrigible tendencies were unlikely to change.
What annoyed Tsunade the most was that Jiraiya not only failed to change himself, but was also influencing Nawaki.
Thinking about her brother's once naive and innocent eyes and comparing them to now… she just hoped Nawaki wouldn't grow up to be as perverted as Jiraiya.
"Really?"
Nawaki was so excited he dropped his chopsticks on the table.
Tsunade's face darkened. "Yes, but if you follow him to do anything stupid, you're dead meat!"
"I promise to be on my best behavior! Absolutely no mischief."
Nawaki made all sorts of promises.
His promises only made Tsunade even more worried. Nawaki was mischievous by nature, but if he obediently followed Jiraiya, who knows what kind of trouble they'd get into?
These two were troublemakers, and nothing good ever came from putting them together.
Yet, because of Nawaki's special status, no one but the Daimyo could touch him at the Daimyo's residence.
This would only fuel Nawaki's arrogance.