Konoha Hospital was overcrowded with injured patients.
Even Tsunade, who was only responsible for handing out gauze, was beginning to show signs of exhaustion.
It was well past midnight, yet Shigen's surgeries were far from over. Tsunade yawned widely, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Tsunade, go rest in the next room," Shigen instructed gently. Then he turned to his assistant. "Move this patient to the recovery ward. Bring in the next one."
"I'm not tired!" Tsunade quickly waved her hands, trying to look alert.
"Hatake kid, lend us a hand!"
The assistant's voice echoed through the hospital corridors.
A white-haired boy stepped into the room, dressed in a snug combat uniform with a Konoha forehead protector tied across his brow. Despite his calm demeanor, he didn't look much older than Tsunade.
The shortage of personnel caused by the war was severe.
So severe that even young genin were being assigned tasks like guarding Konoha Hospital.
These freshly graduated genin, some not even teenagers, had been mobilized to take on missions within the village.
"Lord Shigen."
The white-haired boy bowed respectfully toward Shigen.
Despite his youth, his exceptional grades in the academy had earned him early graduation, along with assignments like guarding Konoha Hospital and patrolling the village.
"Go ahead," Shigen said with a nod, motioning for the boy to assist the assistant in moving the patient.
As they pushed the next patient into the operating room, Tsunade tilted her head in curiosity, watching the boy leave.
"Hatake?" she muttered, her interest piqued. "Isn't he the genius from the previous graduating class, Sakumo Hatake? I heard he was famous at school, one of the best!"
"Is that so?" Shigen responded without looking up, his tone neutral. After a pause, he asked, seemingly absentmindedly, "Your name is Sakumo Hatake?"
"Yes, Lord Shigen!"
Sakumo had just finished assisting the assistant and replied promptly. "If there's anything you need me to do, please let me know."
"Then do me a favor," Shigen said as he continued his meticulous work on a patient, not even glancing up. "In my office, there's a box of glucose…"
"I only need one bottle!" Tsunade interjected quickly, raising her hand and showing off her small teeth. She was confident that Shigen's instructions were meant for her since he didn't require food or water.
"Give one bottle to Tsunade," Shigen instructed, waving his hand dismissively. "Distribute the rest among the genin on duty tonight. They'll need the energy."
"Yes, sir!" Sakumo responded earnestly, his respect evident in his tone.
In Sakumo's mind, Shigen was an extraordinary medical ninja with a cold, aloof demeanor.
Though Shigen rarely showed emotion, his unparalleled medical skills and ability to save even the gravest of injuries spoke volumes about his character.
Beneath his icy exterior, Sakumo believed Shigen possessed a warm, compassionate heart. Surely, his mysterious demeanor was a necessity imposed by circumstances beyond his control.
How could it be otherwise?
A man who had saved hundreds of lives in Konoha, someone revered as a miracle worker, must have an inherently kind spirit.
As a low-ranking genin, Sakumo wasn't privy to the full truth about Shigen's identity. All he knew were the basics: Shigen was an enigmatic medical ninja whose very presence seemed shrouded in a deathly stillness.
The older generation treated Shigen with immense reverence, and Konoha's leadership rarely spoke of him openly. Yet his reputation couldn't be concealed.
After all, Shigen never lied.
Many within Konoha Hospital knew the truth of his origins. Despite his efforts to "hide" his identity, Shigen's rudimentary attempts at secrecy were laughably inadequate. For instance, he occasionally left his real name on medical scrolls when signing documents, much to the amazement of those who worked with him.
By the time dawn approached, Shigen had performed surgeries on 17 critically injured patients.
Even Sakumo, tasked with guarding the hospital, was beginning to feel fatigued.
The white-haired boy glanced at Shigen, marveling at how the man seemed utterly immune to exhaustion. Despite working tirelessly through the night, Shigen was now seated in the hospital corridor, calmly documenting the day's medical cases.
Meanwhile, Tsunade dozed off on a nearby bench, her small frame wrapped in a white medical coat draped over her like a blanket. Occasionally, Shigen would pause to adjust the coat, ensuring she stayed warm.
The sight of Shigen—stoic, unyielding, and endlessly diligent—left Sakumo feeling a pang of sorrow.
"…"
Shigen noticed Sakumo's gaze and spoke without looking up. "You've worked hard. Go and rest."
"Not as hard as you, Lord Shigen," Sakumo replied, shaking his head to push past his fatigue.
"I'm a body summoned through Edo Tensei. This body doesn't feel anything," Shigen said matter-of-factly, his calm tone betraying no emotion. "Without sensation, there's no exhaustion. You don't need to worry about me."
After a pause, Shigen added, almost as an afterthought, "This isn't much of a secret around Konoha Hospital. You'll hear about it soon enough if you stay on guard duty here. Most of the staff know I was summoned back to this world by Tobirama using a summoning technique. Just don't spread it outside the hospital."
"…"
Sakumo's expression shifted slightly.
Of course, he wouldn't reveal such sensitive information!
Sakumo had long suspected something unusual about Shigen's state—his detached, almost lifeless demeanor resembled that of someone no longer alive.
In some ways, it felt like Shigen was little more than a tool for healing, devoid of personal needs or desires.
"Don't you ever get tired of this?" Sakumo couldn't help but ask.
"Not when you're doing what you love," Shigen replied, his voice steady and serene, as though gazing into the depths of the human soul. "If I don't save them, their families will endure the unbearable pain of losing a loved one. That pain can silence the laughter of innocent children, darken the hearts of bright young souls, and break the spirits of the strongest individuals."
"It's to prevent such suffering that I chose to study medicine," he continued. "The world needs people who can alleviate the burden of pain."
It was this resolve that had birthed the medical-ninja profession.
Listening to Shigen's words, Sakumo was overwhelmed with awe. He realized he was in the presence of someone truly extraordinary, whose compassion and dedication far surpassed his own.
"I feel… unworthy," Sakumo admitted, lowering his head in shame.
"There's no need to feel that way," Shigen reassured him, his tone as gentle as a breeze. "In my time, when chakra first emerged, I despised its use in war. I feared it would eventually lead to endless conflict…"
"…"
Sakumo's guilt deepened.
"But now," Shigen continued, his gaze softening, "after wandering this era for ten years, I've come to understand. While some use chakra for selfish gain, others train to protect their friends, their comrades, and their loved ones."
"…"
Sakumo's eyes lit up with newfound determination.
From that moment on, Sakumo grew closer to Shigen. The young genin eagerly took on more shifts guarding the hospital, finding himself increasingly drawn to Shigen's wisdom.
On occasion, Sakumo even assisted in surgeries.
Thanks to his skill with kenjutsu, he was adept at making precise incisions for Shigen, allowing the medical master to focus on life-saving procedures.
One day, while helping with a critical case, Sakumo had to use lightning chakra to restore a patient's failing heart. Shigen guided him through the process, showing him how to harness electricity for resuscitation.
"Lightning chakra… can save lives?" Sakumo asked, astonished.
"Yes," Shigen replied earnestly. "In fact, lightning can do much more. By blending lightning and water chakra, you can create currents that stimulate a patient's nervous system, potentially waking those in a vegetative state."
"…"
As Sakumo listened, he realized just how extraordinary this knowledge was. He had gained not just a teacher but a profound sense of purpose.
But as Shigen began teaching Sakumo to merge chakra natures, the boy couldn't shake a feeling of unease.
"Wait… combining elemental chakra… isn't that a Kekkei Genkai?"
Indeed, it was.
A Kekkei Genkai—a rare, hereditary ability—was now within his grasp.
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Powerstones?
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