Interlude 1. Part 2.
October 30. 16:00. Territory of Konoha's central hospital.
Along the path trampled by thousands of feet, now moving with the flow of visitors and patients, walked a fourteen-year-old black-haired boy who looked aristocratically handsome. On his back—where a light breeze ruffled his black tank top—was the symbol of Konoha's co-founding clan: the red-and-white Uchiha fan. Likewise, on his right thigh was fastened a metal plate—hittai-ate—and beneath it, a small bandage with the inscription "中忍, 'Middle ninja'," meaning this youth had already reached the rank of Chunin.
Mamoru Uchiha—and it was indeed the aforementioned youth—was now heading on a secret mission from his patriarch to meet a rival and temporary ally of the Uchiha: the iryonin Ichiro, representative—undoubtedly in Mamoru's eyes—of the second strongest dojutsu-wielding clan: the sneaky Hyuga.
As cover, according to the legend, Mamoru needed to give blood, undergo other tests, and the mandatory two-year medical exam—Iryo Han—for all shinobi, to verify elemental chakra. And as the final point, as a standard gesture of trust to Konoha Hospital, to be examined by the chief iryonin Hiroshi Akihiro for the stability of his Sharingan development. And the very last point, according to Patriarch Fugaku Uchiha... was the main and hidden goal of this mission.
The whole point was that Mamoru's Sharingan—much to his regret and unhealthy curiosity—had a rare developmental deviation in the Uchiha dojutsu. Specifically! The right eye had two awakened tomoe pupils, while the left, sadly, still had only one! Though the Sharingan itself had awakened at ten years old—one tomoe in both eyes. Mamoru felt that his right eye had grown tremendously in power. Tremendously.
To the young Chunin, sometimes it seemed that just a little more, and the Right Sharingan would fully mature to three tomoe, while the left would remain as is. Precisely for this reason, Mamoru had agreed under pressure from the patriarch to become a voluntary... "test subject," to trust the slippery Hyuga Ichiro. And undergo exclusively visual examination of his dojutsu. Because, again, in the words of his clansmen and the patriarch himself, this white-eyed guy—Ichiro—was the top eye expert among all iryonin in Konoha. And he would finally tell Mamoru how to heal his Sharingan! While Hiroshi Akihiro-dono's presence would be a safety guarantee against the pale-eyed Hyuga.
"Who knooows," Mamoru mused after submitting blood in yet another office, "the Hyuga are all head cases anyway, emotionless like Reandzi Stone Gardens (decorative outdoor meditation spaces). And as everyone knows, you never know what to expect from such people, that's why they're dangerous."
Finally finishing all the tests and receiving the long-awaited referral to an A-rank medical specialist, Mamoru approached the door of the chief iryonin's office with the nameplate "Hiroshi Akihiro." And, politely knocking even with his hand, entered the office.
"Ah, Mamoru-kun," Hiroshi greeted warmly, gesturing to sit at the desk with three fish aquariums, "...Come in and meet him. This is Ichiro Hyuga, my good friend—a fellow iryonin colleague. I'm conducting the consultation; he'll just observe us now. You don't mind, do you, Mamoru-kun?"
"Hello, Ichiro-san." The Chunin nodded ever so slightly on the edge of respect to his dojutsu rival and, turning away, replied to the chief iryonin. "I don't mind, Hiroshi-dono." Already much more politely, the youth bowed again.
"Perfect! And now," the chief iryonin suddenly revved up hyperactively, "that we've handled the formalities, let's get to business. See the three fish in the aquariums No. 1, No. 2, and the far left one, No. 3?"
"Yes, Hiroshi-dono."
"These little ones will be the start of your Sharingan test. Cool, huh?" Hiroshi smiled at something only he understood, continuing his verbal assault. "Specifically, Mamoru, you need to take each fish under control one by one, using exclusively genjutsu! Clear so far, Mamoru-kun?"
"Crystal."
"Then, first point: put the 'cichlid fish' in the right aquarium to sleep using D-rank genjutsu 'Demonic Illusion: Hell Vision Technique,' naturally enhanced by Sharingan, and use exclusively your left eye for it! A minute later, wake it, make it burrow into the sand, and put it back to sleep. Ready, Mamoru-kun? Begin."
While the young Chunin performed the test conditions, Ichiro Hyuga activated his Byakugan and began meticulously measuring the level and signature of the dojutsu red-eyed patient's chakra channels, young Uchiha spawn: chakra volume of the eye's lens and tomoe pupil activity, as well as the formation and influence of the Sharingan's Yin chakra pattern on his victim—the first fish.
Then, when the actions were repeated but with the right two-tomoe Sharingan, the chief iryonin asked Mamoru to move to the "elephant fish" from the middle aquarium and apply—now—necessarily Sharingan Genjutsu C-rank: "Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique."
And the last test subject (symbolically, a red koi) experienced Sharingan Genjutsu B-rank: "Devouring Crow Mirage." From which the poor fish began frantically circling, then tracing figure-eights. Until it passed out. Floating belly-up.
With that, the aquatic test subjects—of the experimenter and vile iryonin—were done. But! He was clearly an optimist, so he didn't despair, and with a maniacal researcher's satisfied smile, pulled a covered cage from the top of the wall cabinet. Then, like a magician, dramatically and with peculiar humor—for show, amusing his guests—yanked off the cover. And to the surprised eyes of those around appeared—a gibbon monkey! Which, after blinking, immediately began eyeing everyone with a sly gaze tinged with greed. It licked its lips in anticipation. Then outright banged its fist on the cage demanding something like a politician, with sounds: Ua-au, give-aa. And other noises: U-u, teach a-as. Finally, cackling slyly and rubbing its sweaty shiny paws together.
Such a fat hint and attitude toward the former power elite from Hiroshi Akihiro wouldn't be missed even by a sick person, i.e.... an idiot.
The expressions of those around—even the cold-blooded Hyuga—twitched with involuntary smiles. And Mamoru—like all Uchiha who utterly "disliked" Hiruzen—nearly experienced moral ecstasy.
"Definitely," Mamoru smirked smugly to himself, "this moment made my day. Who am I kidding, the month! No matter what bullshit these crazy iryonin make me do next. It was worth it! Their experiments are harmless and funny. And with such savage jokes, the third tomoe might even emerge. In the left eye, even."
"And so," Hiroshi pointed his index finger like a judge at the accused gibbon, "Mamoru-kun, the test with Hiru-hiru," and the chief iryonin slyly jabbed his finger at the white-haired primate with a big bald spot on its head again, "we'll conduct in the following complex order."
"Enter the monkey's mind using A-rank genjutsu: 'Glamour's Flattery' and enhance it with Sharingan. Then, while in the subconscious of my old friend Hiru-hiru, make him gather ryō coins into his palm—the ones with holes in the middle—and toss them in the air. There they are," Hiroshi pointed, "hidden at the bottom of the cage under the cloth with the ANBU mask image."
"Yeeah," Mamoru thought, "today's overflowing with, ahem... new data. Especially! Now I'm absolutely sure everyone goes crazy in their own way! And iryonin are headless and a whole other market! Already scared to imagine what this old geezer will do to me if Kami forbid I end up in Konoha's Central Hospital."
"Hiroshi Akihiro-dono," the youth addressed the chief iryonin very politely, almost obsequiously, with a hint of apprehension in his voice, "I can only perform this genjutsu with my right Sharingan. And," hesitating a bit, the Chunin continued, "I need time to prepare. You understand, Hiroshi-dono. It's A-rank after all!"
"No problem," Hiroshi encouraged the youth with the kind gaze of a harmless old man but the voice of a well-fed experimenter, squinting at the gibbon, "Start, and Ichiro-kun and I will handle the rest. We need just a tiny bit, a measly five minutes! But!" Emphasizing the moment's importance, the old man raised his sausage finger again. "Deep, mutual-mirror immersion in genjutsu. Can you do it, Mamoru-kun?"
"Hm. Alright, I think I can," the Uchiha grimaced at the impending nasty mental show, briefly lost in thought, "beginning, Hiroshi-dono." And in a couple seconds, Mamoru flew into the monkey world.
For a while, silence reigned in the office, but... after three minutes, when the chief iryonin confirmed the young Uchiha was still floating in gibbon nirvana, he turned to Ichiro.
"So, young colleague," Hiroshi said with a sly glint in his eyes, "what's all this Kabuki cover for?!"
"Three goals." Ichiro counted on his fingers under the table and pulled out (Hyuga secrecy-cleared) "Chakra Essences: For Konoha's public databases." "First goal: Report on new discoveries of special visual agents, ophthalmology (specifically), and expansion of brain chakra channels for short-term but low-consequence acceleration of brain neuron response and shinobi body reaction." At such a rare and generous statement-gift—and nothing else it could be toward the central hospital—from the young colleague, the old iryonin was seriously surprised, then nostalgically gazed at his former student, smiled, and nodded approvingly (after all, the hospital library had been fed crumbs of anything worthwhile lately) at fate's latest gift. Meanwhile, the young Hyuga continued...
"Second goal: Submitting these data," Ichiro tapped the "Chakra Essences" and squinted in anticipation, "...including, in aggregate, and only just-conducted observations / Sharingan Genjutsu on higher primates. And as a result, their continuation—an 'Open dissertation' for A-rank iryonin defense. Naturally." He buttered up the old man again, the quarteron Uzumaki. "Under your supervision, sensei."
"And third goal." At this point, Ichiro, due to his dislike of the topic, exhaled with an apologetic look.
"Politics: Confirm previously stated positions and align them with Iryo Han and... Central Hospital, specifically through you, Hiroshi Akihiro-dono, for the near future." Then Ichiro glanced at the Uchiha's "mon-tank" and mouthed silently. "They're with us."
"Well, and," after another minute of silence, the young Hyuga sighed heavily again, gathered courage with air, and confessed, "also, per old tradition, through you, sensei, I'd like help—really need to grease the Hokage's apparatus. For my A-rank exam. I remember you have connections, teacher."
"Heh-heh! You cheeky young hustler." The old chief iryonin tsked his teeth and nodded slyly with a wicked grin. "I see you haven't lost your merchant skills, eh?"
"Fiiine," after nearly a minute of introspection, Hiroshi nodded slowly, "Ichiro-kun. I'll help the cheeky but at least my own youth. Last time! However," he raised his sausage index finger again, "besides money, you'll owe a 'Medium severity' favor. Get it? Agree... including to work it off with us?" The old man squinted hard with a questioning gaze.
"Thank you, Hiroshi-sensei." Ichiro exhaled, thinking he'd settle with the cunning old manipulator somehow, in time. "Huge thanks."
"Hope that's all?" The hospital head glanced pointedly at the wall clock. "Returning Mamoru-kun from the land of good gibbons?"
"Yes, sensei. He's no longer needed. (After all, I've seen and memorized plenty," the young Hyuga noted smugly to himself).
"Wake up, kid," Hiroshi snapped his chakra-infused fingers right by the Chunin's ear, "Here's a gift from Ichiro-kun. Follow all instructions here. And happiness will be yours!"
Mamoru scanned the recommendation scroll with his pupils and, unable to believe his eyes, bowed respectfully to both iryonin.
"Hiroshi-dono! Ichiro-san! No mistake here? True that WITH THIS the second tomoe will awaken? Seriously?"
"Ninety percent probability." Hyuga drawled coldly and measuredly. "Strictly follow the instructions. Hm..." Ichiro, intensifying his Byakugan and grimacing slightly, added. "And ejaculate less, patient—all calories go to semen. Little left for brain and eyes. Definitely. Celibacy. At least half a year!"
"Listen to him, kid." Hiroshi confirmed with a serious face too, though inwardly stunned. "The white-eyed demon Ichiro is a specialist in 'THOSE' matters too. Seriously."
"G-good, H-Hiroshi-dono, I-Ichiro-san." Blushing with shame and cheeks aflame, Mamoru jumped up and supersonic-screwed out of the office. "I'll go." His distant voice echoed from the corridor end, that of a pubescent avid masturbator.
"Eh! Youth!" Hiroshi sighed dejectedly and, with a vengeful expression toward his impotence and "actively squandered" years, slammed the door.
***
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