Chapter 73: No Medical Skill, But Perfect Medical Ethics!
Three days later.
At the Uchiha clan compound—
"Sigh..."
Hearing Ryoichi suddenly let out a long sigh, Uchiha Mato frowned.
"Elder Ryoichi, why the sudden sigh?"
Ryoichi shook his head, his expression unusually complicated.
"An old man has contributed immensely to this clan..."
"...yet no one knows of his achievements."
"When the Great Elder retires..."
"...that old man probably won't even have the chance to inherit the position."
Mato chuckled.
Looking curiously at Ryoichi's strange expression, he asked,
"And what great contributions have you made to the clan?"
Ryoichi glanced at him and began counting on his fingers.
"Mato..."
"You were born around the time Konoha was founded."
"So there are many things you don't know."
"Before Konoha existed..."
"...the clan held a grand banquet."
"Madara sat in the seat of honor."
"Izuna sat beside him."
"Hikaku's grandfather, Uchiha Tsuru, and my elder brother, Uchiha Ryota, occupied the highest-ranking seats."
"Later..."
"My brother followed Madara into battle against the Senju."
"The merits he earned for the clan..."
"...were enough for this old man to live comfortably for the rest of his life."
As he spoke, he remembered what he himself was currently doing and sighed again.
"And what this old man is doing now..."
"...will be enough for his descendants to enjoy peaceful lives as well."
At that moment, Mato remembered why he had come.
Lowering his voice, he asked,
"Who exactly is the person staying in your house?"
"The Great Elder asked me to investigate."
"Hiss..."
Ryoichi inhaled sharply before patting Mato's shoulder.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Tell him to come himself."
"This old man will only explain it to him personally."
"Tell him..."
"...it's good news."
"Good news?"
Mato frowned.
Something about Ryoichi's expression made him deeply uneasy.
Still...
He was only a messenger.
If Ryoichi insisted on speaking only to the Great Elder himself...
Then he would simply report those exact words.
Thinking that, Mato gestured toward Konoha Hospital.
"Elder Ryoichi."
"I'll be leaving now."
"My grandson caught a cold."
"I'm taking him to the Medical Department."
Ryoichi waved him away.
"Take good care of him."
"And remember..."
"If the Great Elder wants answers..."
"...he must come himself."
---
Leaving the clan compound, Mato brought his grandson to Konoha Hospital.
Looking at the crowded lobby, he patted the boy's shoulder.
"Naoki."
"Wait here for Grandpa."
"I'll stand in line."
After saying that, he joined the queue.
When his turn finally arrived, he looked at the receptionist.
"My grandson has a cold."
"Which medical ninja is available today?"
The receptionist glanced at the Uchiha crest on Mato's clothes.
An Uchiha...
And judging from his bearing... probably someone important.
Troublesome...
He lowered his head and searched through a list of medical ninja.
His gaze eventually stopped on one name.
Perfect.
She happened to have connections with the Uchiha.
If anything went wrong...
It would be easier to smooth things over.
Tearing off a referral slip, he stamped it and handed it over.
"Uzuki Yugao."
"She's available today."
"...Uzuki Yugao?"
Mato silently repeated the name several times.
It sounded strangely familiar.
He was certain he had heard it before...
But couldn't remember where.
In his experience...
Anyone whose name sounded familiar usually possessed genuine ability.
Smiling politely, he accepted the slip and headed deeper into the hospital.
Following the room number written on it, Mato led his grandson to a door labeled—
002
"Tsk..."
His anxiety eased slightly.
Anyone who had their own office inside Konoha's Medical Department had to be among its elite.
Still...
Why did that name sound so familiar?
---
Inside Medical Office No. 002—
Yugao lay across her desk in utter boredom.
Beside her sat another young kunoichi.
She wore mesh armor beneath her clothes.
Her slightly messy hair and sharp features gave her a wild, untamed charm.
It was none other than Anko.
Yugao sighed softly.
"I've been sitting here all morning..."
"And not a single patient has come."
Anko patted her shoulder.
Looking at the dejected Yugao, she laughed boldly.
"Just wait a little longer."
"It's almost lunchtime."
"If nobody comes..."
"I'll treat you to dango."
"Really?"
The moment food was mentioned, Yugao instantly perked up.
She poked Anko's stomach and teased,
"Going on missions with Lord Orochimaru must be really safe, right?"
"...Well..."
Anko smacked her lips awkwardly.
If she hadn't accidentally lost Orochimaru's weapon during that mission...
She really would have considered it perfectly safe.
Unfortunately...
The missing weapon still hadn't resurfaced anywhere in the shinobi world.
Even Lord Orochimaru himself hadn't found the thief.
Thinking about it...
Maybe it wasn't that safe after all.
If she ever got lost...
Would Lord Orochimaru fail to find her too?
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The sudden knock instantly energized both girls.
Yugao hurriedly straightened her clothes before deliberately lowering her voice.
"Please come in."
Creak—
The door opened.
An elderly man entered while holding his grandson's hand.
Putting on her most professional expression, Yugao said solemnly,
"Honored Elder."
"Please have a seat."
Mato looked between the two girls.
His gaze stopped on Anko.
"...Orochimaru-sama's disciple?"
Anko nodded.
"Yes."
His attention then shifted toward the purple-haired girl.
A bad feeling suddenly surfaced.
She couldn't be older than eleven.
"...And you are?"
"I'm Uzuki Yugao."
She tied back her long purple hair before smiling politely.
"Who's here to see the doctor?"
"You..."
"Or the child?"
Mato instinctively inhaled the familiar scent of disinfectant.
Looking around the room...
His gaze suddenly landed on a large calligraphy scroll hanging on the wall.
«Thirty years east of the river.
Thirty years west of the river.
Never bully the poor while they're young.»
Pointing toward it, he asked,
"...Why is something like that hanging in a medical office?"
"Oh."
Yugao glanced at it.
"My teacher put it there."
"He wanted to remind me that I'm still young."
"No matter what difficulties I encounter..."
"I should stay calm and never panic."
The corner of Mato's mouth twitched.
Stay calm?
That banner looked less like encouragement...
And more like preparation for disaster.
Wasn't that exactly the sort of thing new doctors needed?
His confidence began wavering.
Looking into Yugao's expectant eyes, he awkwardly said,
"Young lady..."
"This old man is feeling a little..."
"Elder Mato!"
"...?"
Hearing his own name, Mato froze.
"You know me?"
Yugao nodded.
"My teacher is Uchiha Asu—"
Before she could finish—
The word "Uchiha" alone was enough.
Everything clicked into place.
No wonder the name sounded familiar.
She's Asuka's apprentice.
Mato still trusted Asuka's medical skill.
His bedside manner...
Was admittedly another matter.
Thinking of that, he sat down with his grandson.
His expression finally relaxed.
"Having your own office at such a young age..."
"That's impressive."
"My grandson seems to have caught a cold."
"Could you examine him and prescribe some medicine?"
The moment she heard that...
Yugao secretly flashed Anko a victorious hand sign beneath the table.
First patient!
No matter what happens...
I have to handle this perfectly.
---
Time slowly passed.
Sweat gradually formed on Yugao's forehead.
Watching the increasingly pale girl...
Cold sweat also began forming on Mato's forehead.
...Is it really just a cold?
Bang!
Without caring that the patient was sitting directly across from her...
Yugao slammed a massive medical textbook onto the desk and frantically began flipping through it.
Flip! Flip! Flip!
The pages flew by at astonishing speed.
Mato licked his dry lips.
His voice turned hoarse.
"...Is the situation serious?"
Without looking up, Yugao simply shook her head and continued reading.
Another thirty minutes passed.
By now...
Mato's palms were soaked with sweat.
Seeing Yugao finish one textbook without saying a single word...
He asked gravely,
"...Is it really that serious?"
"Sigh..."
Yugao let out a long breath.
Mato's heart immediately skipped a beat.
Could it be...
An incurable disease?
Yugao stood.
Walking over to the child, she poked here...
Pressed there...
Then examined him again.
Finally—
She nervously wiped the sweat from her face.
"Elder Mato..."
"I..."
"I..."
"Just tell me."
"This old man can handle it."
"...I don't know."
"...?"
Mato stared blankly.
You don't know?
Then why did your face go from pale...
...to deathly white over the past hour?
I almost thought my grandson wouldn't survive the day!
"But don't worry!"
"I'll call for reinforcements!"
Without another word, Yugao bit her thumb and immediately summoned the orange cat.
Right in front of Elder Mato...
She grabbed the chubby feline and tearfully began complaining.
Watching the scene unfold...
Mato quietly sighed to himself.
The moment she admitted she couldn't handle the case...
And immediately called for help...
He genuinely believed this girl wanted to cure his grandson.
Perhaps...
She simply hadn't encountered this illness before.
Remembering Asuka's old roadside clinic...
Where he would personally compensate patients whenever something went wrong...
Mato sighed once again.
This girl...
Was exactly like Asuka in his younger days.
She might lack medical skill...
But her medical ethics...
Were absolutely impeccable.
If she said she'd call for help...
She truly would.
If she said she'd compensate someone...
She truly meant it.