"You're fine, Kiyoshi. There's nothing wrong with you."
Yakushi Nono gave her conclusion as the faint green chakra in her hand slowly faded away.
Hearing this, Kiyoshi said,
"But I heard that most people awaken the Sharingan in both eyes at the same time."
"There are always special cases," Nono replied calmly.
"I see…"
Kiyoshi lowered his head.
He already knew this answer.
In the original story, something similar had happened to Sasuke.
During his battle with Haku, one of Sasuke's Sharingan evolved into a two-tomoe Sharingan while the other remained a single tomoe, resulting in mismatched eyes.
Such examples were simply very rare.
Yakushi Nono carefully sealed the examination instruments into a sealing scroll. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Kiyoshi's thin figure. His dark eyes were quietly watching her.
Kiyoshi felt unfamiliar with the image she presented now. The version he was more familiar with was another one.
Wearing a white hood and a black nun-like outfit.
Even the simplest movements outlined her mature figure.
She carried the image of a gentle and mature saint.
At the same time, Kiyoshi was also organizing the information he knew about Yakushi Nono.
Captain of the medical team.
A highly skilled spy belonging to Root's intelligence department.
Her espionage abilities were so exceptional that even after she retired, Shimura Danzo personally came to find her and forced her to continue working for Root.
Because of this, Kiyoshi had never thought about showing off in front of her.
Whatever she asked, he simply answered.
As for whether Kiyoshi himself was a spy…
That was only Kumogakure trying to recruit Yotsuki Kiyoshi on their own initiative.
Uchiha Kiyoshi had never responded.
He hadn't done anything resembling espionage.
As for the future…
That was something to think about later.
"By the way, Lady Nono,"
Kiyoshi suddenly raised his head, curiosity in his voice.
"The green chakra that appeared in your hand just now… is it the same as what Lady Tsunade uses?"
"That's right," Nono nodded.
"That's medical chakra. When medical ninjas of Konoha use their chakra, it usually appears light green."
As she spoke, a strand of her blonde hair slipped down.
When medical ninjas perform medical ninjutsu, their chakra generally turns light green, with the Mystical Palm Technique being the most typical example.
Seeing that Kiyoshi kept staring at the sealing scroll she had just stored the instruments in, Yakushi Nono asked,
"Are you interested in these?"
She already knew Tsunade had previously examined Kiyoshi's Sharingan.
She guessed Tsunade must have used medical ninjutsu during the examination, leaving a strong impression on him.
Kiyoshi looked at the sealing scroll thoughtfully and asked,
"Those medical ninjutsu… can I learn them?"
Yakushi Nono was slightly surprised by the sudden request.
She paused for a moment.
Her eyes carefully examined Kiyoshi. Although the boy looked thin, she could see that his skeletal frame was quite large.
With proper training, he could become a good taijutsu ninja.
"Kiyoshi, learning taijutsu might suit you better."
"Taijutsu ninja?"
Mikoto glanced at Kiyoshi.
She had heard that he possessed certain traits of the Yotsuki clan.
She didn't know exactly where those traits appeared.
Perhaps talent… or some hidden potential beyond ordinary people.
"Still… maybe there will be other clan members with the same condition as me in the future," Kiyoshi said quietly.
"If that happens, I could help diagnose them just like Lady Nono and Lady Tsunade."
He didn't hide the disappointment in his eyes.
Scratching his head awkwardly, he spoke in a low voice, as if trying to conceal his feelings.
"So… I guess it's still impossible."
For a moment, the corners of his mouth drooped slightly.
Of course he was disappointed.
If even Nono refused to accept him, Kiyoshi would have to make new plans.
The ability "Art of Speech (White)" added a touch of sincerity to his tone.
Yakushi Nono's heart trembled slightly.
She had always liked children.
Especially children who had lost their support.
"Don't rush."
She spoke gently, trying to comfort the somewhat pitiful-looking boy before her.
"After you graduate from the Ninja Academy, if your aptitude passes the medical-ninja candidate test, come find me."
Yakushi Nono said more than she normally would.
If an adult had asked her, she would have simply told them to take the test themselves according to the normal procedures.
She wouldn't involve herself personally.
But according to the information she had received from Root, Kiyoshi had become an orphan at the age of two.
For years, she had held a certain idea in her heart.
After retiring from Root, she wanted to open an orphanage.
Kiyoshi's appearance only strengthened that thought.
"Really?"
Kiyoshi's eyes suddenly lit up.
A bright smile appeared on his face, and the faint sadness from before seemed to fade.
Yakushi Nono nodded, a gentle smile on her lips.
"Why would I lie to you?"
Beside them, Mikoto couldn't help glancing at Kiyoshi again.
Compared to other members of the Uchiha clan, this child seemed somewhat different.
Last time Tsunade had come to examine him, her attitude had been cold, showing no intention of taking him as a disciple.
Yet Yakushi Nono seemed to have developed such a thought.
And according to her words, Kiyoshi also possessed talent in taijutsu.
In the current Uchiha clan, there were neither medical ninjas nor specialists in taijutsu.
After graduating from the Ninja Academy, Uchiha ninjas usually entered the Konoha Police Force, maintaining order in the village while occasionally carrying out missions.
She herself was no exception.
"Well then, little Kiyoshi. I still have things to do, so we'll stop here for today."
Yakushi Nono stood up and casually arranged the sealing scroll.
Before leaving, her eyes briefly swept over several books placed on the chair.
A studious child.
That was her evaluation.
"Thank you very much, Lady Nono."
Kiyoshi stood up politely and offered to see her off.
Together with Mikoto, he escorted Yakushi Nono to the boundary between the Uchiha district and the streets of Konoha.
There stood a simple gate frame marking the territory of the Uchiha clan.
"Go back and train well."
After leaving those words behind, Mikoto hurried away.
Kiyoshi walked home alone.
The night sky was clear, the moon shining among sparse stars.
He let out a quiet breath.
Things had gone more smoothly than he had expected.
Thinking about it, it made sense.
Yakushi Nono even taught medical ninjutsu to orphans who weren't citizens of Konoha.
How could she possibly refuse him?
Besides, she had already begun thinking about retirement, so she probably had fewer concerns now.
At present, she had no real weakness.
Only after she became the director of an orphanage in the future would Danzo use those children as hostages to threaten her into returning to espionage work in enemy nations.
"For now… I need to quickly improve my chakra control and reach the required standard."
The Next Day — Ninja Academy Training Field
"Today's class is a small test! You'll need to run fifty laps!"
Instructor Umino blew his whistle, signaling the students to start running.
"Ah… running again?"
"How many laps did he say?"
"Fifty?!"
(End of Chapter)