Chapter 33: Hatake Sakumo

Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Hatake Sakumo

Because, these eyes born of bloodline all interpret that word.

Looking at the confident young man before her, Tsunade was momentarily speechless.

She had been certain that the brutality of war would turn the current Uchiha Xuan into the kind of Uchiha she was familiar with. The current Xuan, though lacking manners, showing no respect toward her, and often wearing a sour expression, was someone she understood clearly. Uchiha Xuan recognized her just as she recognized Uchiha Xuan.

She didn’t want the war to suddenly transform Uchiha Xuan into someone she no longer recognized. When she had tried to understand Uchiha Xuan, she had also read her Second Grandfather’s notes.

So, that was why she had worried...

But now, it seemed...

"Even if you say that, you still have to join the Medical Division. The Medical Division is indeed short-handed, and your Medical Ninjutsu shouldn’t go to waste. This is a perfect opportunity for practical experience.

But don’t worry, I’m not forbidding you from participating in the battlefield. Just like me—even though I’m also a ninja in the Medical Division, once the fighting starts, I’m still one of those charging at the front. So, you understand."

Tsunade took a deep breath and continued.

"...Understood."

Realizing he couldn’t avoid it, Uchiha Xuan could only accept.

...

The outbreak of war wasn’t swift. In the early stages, the various ninja villages focused mainly on probing and gathering intelligence.

Even so, the number of wounded in the Medical Division continued to grow steadily. The reason was simple:

Poison. The poison of Sunagakure’s Chiyo.

Although Tsunade’s Medical Ninjutsu was formidable, she still needed time to slowly decipher and develop corresponding antidotes for the poisons crafted by Chiyo.

Thus, as the wounded in the Medical Division increased, Tsunade began devoting all her efforts to cracking Chiyo’s poisons. As for Uchiha Xuan, he fully took over Tsunade’s Medical Division.

"Young Master Xuan, a new wounded has arrived in Tent Three and requires immediate surgery for detoxification!"

"Understood."

Casually tossing aside the leaf he had split in two, Uchiha Xuan stood up and walked out of his resting tent toward Tent Three. Behind him, Uchiha Ganghuo, who had taken on the role of Uchiha Xuan’s "assistant," followed respectfully.

As Uchiha Xuan walked out of the tent, Konohagakure ninjas along the way looked at him with respect or gratitude. During this period, Uchiha Xuan had completed 137 surgeries, each perfectly executed, and had treated nearly a thousand people.

Since then, Uchiha Xuan’s reputation had grown rapidly. The title of "young, promising genius medical ninja" spread widely within the Konohagakure camp.

After this period, everyone had come to understand Uchiha Xuan’s future achievements.

Such a young, talented medical ninja—who wouldn’t want to get close to him? As for the fact that Uchiha Xuan bore the Uchiha surname? What mattered more—life or prejudice?

Uchiha Xuan’s current identity was that of a doctor, and a battlefield doctor at that!

Following behind Uchiha Xuan, Uchiha Ganghuo walked with his head held high, facing the respectful gazes directed their way. Though this respect wasn’t meant for him, what did it matter? Young Master Xuan was a genius of their Uchiha clan!

Arriving at the third tent ahead, Uchiha Ganghuo, ever perceptive, lifted the tent flap for Uchiha Xuan.

Stepping inside, Uchiha Xuan paused slightly at the sight of the ninja lying on the sickbed. That white hair and that sharp, formidable aura... Could it be?

"Young Master Xuan, this is Hatake Sakumo, an Elite Jonin of Konohagakure. During a mission, he encountered the Red Sand couple from Sunagakure and the puppet master squad they brought with them. He engaged them in combat and ultimately eliminated all targets.

However, the Red Sand couple were quite powerful. Moreover, as they were Chiyo’s son and daughter-in-law, they also possessed Chiyo’s poisons. During the fight, Hatake Sakumo was unfortunately poisoned."

Acting as the ’assistant,’ Uchiha Ganghuo provided the introduction for Uchiha Xuan.

’So casually?’ Uchiha Xuan was somewhat surprised upon hearing this. He knew about Hatake Sakumo killing Sasori’s parents, but he hadn’t expected to learn of it in such an offhand manner.

"I understand. The poison he’s been affected by is Chiyo’s Poison No. 5. Tsunade hasn’t developed an antidote yet, so surgery is required."

Uchiha Xuan nodded, walked over to Hatake Sakumo’s side, and looked at Kakashi’s father lying on the bed with purple lips. Raising a hand, several golden threads tinged with faint green light instantly pierced into Hatake Sakumo’s body.

An Anbu ninja who had been attending to Hatake Sakumo immediately moved to intervene, but the next moment, a pair of crimson eyes fixed tightly on him, while two hands simultaneously rested on his shoulders.

"Don’t move. Can’t you see my lord is performing surgery?"

Icy words sounded from behind. The Anbu ninja turned his head to see two pairs of Three-Tomoe Sharingan staring intently at him.

"Uchiha... Uchiha ninja?! Surgery?!"

Hearing this, the Anbu ninja immediately turned back to look at Uchiha Xuan. Upon seeing the Uchiha clan emblem on his clothing, he instantly felt he might be under a Genjutsu.

Having been stationed at the front lines and not in the village, he had heard nothing about Uchiha Xuan’s exploits.

Now he was being told that a child from the Uchiha clan was detoxifying his captain. No matter how he thought about it, it seemed absurd.

...

Time passed bit by bit. Uchiha Xuan raised his hand, Chakra coalescing, and a Chakra Scalpel instantly took form. With a casual flick of his wrist, a small incision appeared on Hatake Sakumo’s chest.

Hooking a finger, the golden threads within Hatake Sakumo’s body were drawn out through the incision, the ends of the threads pulling along a small mass of black-purple fluid.

As the poison was extracted, Uchiha Xuan calmly raised his hand and pressed it against Hatake Sakumo’s chest. A green glow shone forth, and when he removed his palm, not a trace of the wound remained on Hatake Sakumo’s chest.

"It’s done. All the poison in his body has been removed. He just needs to rest for half a day."

Having completed the task, Uchiha Xuan glanced at the Anbu ninja beside him, who seemed to be questioning his own reality, then spoke softly and prepared to turn and leave the tent.

Just then, Hatake Sakumo’s cough sounded at the perfect moment.

"Thank you. I really almost died there."

Hatake Sakumo sat up from the hospital bed, gently touching his chest with his hand. As he looked at the spot where not even a trace of a scar remained, his eyes filled with astonishment.

He had heard of Uchiha Xuan, knowing he was a young Uchiha learning under Tsunade, but he never expected...

"This level of Medical Ninjutsu is probably on par with Tsunade, isn’t it? No, judging by that Chakra Scalpel technique just now, he might even wield it better than her... This child also knows swordsmanship, and quite masterful swordsmanship at that."