Black hair. Thin frame. He almost looked malnourished.
He doesn't resemble the rumors about Kumogakure at all.
Shizune thought to herself.
From what she knew, shinobi from Kumogakure were usually extremely muscular, with arms thicker than most people's thighs.
They also tended to have those characteristic thick lips.
Will he look like that when he grows up?
Shizune studied Seiji carefully. His lips looked perfectly normal, even somewhat thin.
"Flashlight."
Tsunade spoke.
"Ah... yes!"
Shizune snapped out of her thoughts and quickly took a tool from her ninja pouch, handing it over.
When she looked up, she realized the Uchiha boy she had been staring at was smiling at her.
Her heart skipped a beat and she immediately lowered her head.
He had clearly noticed her staring. That was quite rude.
"An Uchiha who smiles this much is rare."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
Perhaps it was because he had grown up outside the village.
He was completely different from the proud and aloof Uchiha inside Konohagakure.
To be honest, if the matter hadn't caused such a stir and that old man hadn't forced her to come, she never would have shown up.
Ever since developing hemophobia, she avoided these situations whenever possible.
"That's because your eyes are beautiful, Lady Tsunade. They look like they have stars inside them."
Seiji said.
"Oh?"
Tsunade's hand clenched slightly.
If this Uchiha kid couldn't explain himself properly, she would punch him hard enough to make sure he learned not to joke around with the wrong person.
"When you were examining me just now, I could see your dedication in your eyes. Even though your status is so high, you still carefully examined someone ordinary like me."
Seiji paused before continuing.
"I've read many storybooks. Lady Tsunade must be like those famous doctors in the stories, the ones who heal people wherever they go."
"Tsunade is one of the Legendary Sannin and Konoha's greatest medical ninja. Of course she's a famous doctor."
Mikoto Uchiha, who had been waiting nearby, couldn't help but laugh softly.
Seiji really was still just a child. His words sounded so innocent.
Hearing his explanation, Tsunade relaxed her fist.
So he was praising her medical ninjutsu.
This kid sure knows how to talk.
"If I could learn medical ninjutsu like that, I could help people too. I hope someday I can become like you, Lady Tsunade."
Seiji said.
"Medical ninja require Yang-nature chakra. If you don't have it, you can't become one."
After saying that, Tsunade stood up.
She told Mikoto she would return and check some records regarding Seiji's unusual Sharingan condition.
Then she would send another outstanding medical ninja, Nonō Yakushi, to examine him.
Shizune quickly followed Tsunade outside.
"Seiji, you should rest well for now. We'll arrange your enrollment soon."
Mikoto soon left as well.
The once lively room fell silent, leaving Seiji alone.
"Well, I'm not someone blessed with destiny like Naruto Uzumaki."
Seiji shook his head.
Naruto had even managed to persuade Tsunade to return to the village and accept the role of Hokage.
Tsunade's refusal had been expected.
If she had truly been interested, she would have checked his chakra nature herself.
With her ability, discovering it would take only a moment.
But she didn't.
After all, he was still an Uchiha.
Nine out of ten things in life never go as planned.
Seiji didn't feel discouraged. Instead, he thought about Nonō Yakushi.
Tsunade had said she would come next time.
If Seiji played his cards right, he could use that opportunity to learn medical ninjutsu.
The Uchiha Clan had no high-level medical ninja.
Once Uchiha graduated from the academy, they usually joined the Konoha Military Police Force.
At the academy they only learned the most basic medical techniques.
During peace they worked as police. During war they served on the front lines.
Very few pursued further medical training.
Ironically, Madara Uchiha might have been the clan's best "medical ninja."
After all, he could perform an eye transplant anytime and anywhere.
Seiji cared about medical ninjutsu for a simple reason.
The Naruto world was full of glass cannons.
Even Sasuke Uchiha's Six-Tomoe Rinnegan had once been stabbed by a simple kunai.
If immediate medical treatment had been available, maybe it could have been saved.
In the brutal wars of the future, who could guarantee they would never lose a limb?
Prosthetics made from Hashirama Senju's cells were not something everyone could obtain.
Fortunately, Seiji had already spent most of his savings earlier to have some ninja examine his chakra nature.
The result was clear.
He possessed Yang Release.
Not everyone had it.
For example, Sasuke's official databook listed no Yang nature, while Naruto's listed no Yin nature.
Chakra nature transformations could be learned later through training.
But doing so usually took years.
Those born with Yang nature had a natural advantage in learning related techniques.
Thinking of this, Seiji stood up from the tatami.
Before he realized it, he had walked to the window.
He pushed it open casually.
Drizzling rain fell onto the trees in the courtyard, the leaves rustling softly.
A cold autumn wind rushed in.
Rainy days always made the air feel colder.
Seiji suddenly smiled.
"It's just a little wind and frost."
He had already thought of a plan to attract Nonō Yakushi.
Nonō Yakushi would one day become the director of an orphanage.
For those children, she had even rejoined the organization she had once left, Root.
In this vast world, people's desires varied wildly.
Some chased power all their lives.
Some despised power and only wanted immortality.
And Nonō Yakushi's weakness was simple.
She liked children.
...
The next day.
The Ninja Academy.
"This is our new classmate, Uchiha Seiji."
The chūnin instructor asked him to write his name on the blackboard.
Seiji picked up a piece of white chalk and wrote it down.
When he glanced at the class, he noticed several familiar faces.
Obito Uchiha,Kakashi Hatake,Rin Nohara,Genma Shiranui.
"Your handwriting is beautiful."
Rin Nohara said admiringly.
"Hey, Rin. I heard that guy came from the Land of Lightning."
Obito whispered to her.
People from the Land of Lightning were all brutes.
Rin, don't be fooled by appearances.
He thought to himself.
"Please take care of me."
Seiji smiled gently.
Following the instructor's arrangement, he sat in the back row by the window.
"Alright, everyone. Let's begin class."
The instructor cleared his throat and started the lesson.
Recently the Uchiha had a rather bad reputation in the village.
But teachers actually liked teaching Uchiha students.
The reason was simple.
They were easy to teach.
Normally, new students would take an entrance test to check basic genjutsu and ninjutsu skills.
In reality, it was just a simple test of chakra quantity and control.
If they passed the standard, they were accepted.
Seiji was an Uchiha transfer student.
Even so, he could keep up with the class.
After all, ninja clans privately taught their children additional training.
Soon it was break time.
"I heard you came from the Land of Lightning, Seiji?"
Rin walked over from nearby.
"That's right."
"Can you keep up with the lessons here? You joined the class midway, didn't you?"
Rin asked curiously.
Students who hadn't graduated from the academy couldn't leave the village.
To travel outside, ninja needed special permission.
Only certain special ninja were exempt.
"Well... I'll work hard."
Seiji closed one book and picked up another.
Then he lifted his gaze slightly and said,
"Rin Nohara, could you teach me some Konoha ninjutsu?"
(End of Chapter 3)