"It's not that I don't want to help, but my medical ninjutsu is only at an intermediate level. If even the best doctors at Konoha Hospital can't do anything, expecting me to perform some miracle... I'm afraid I can't help," said Sōgen.
It's not that Sōgen didn't want to assist.
If this opportunity could open up the closed circles that various clans in the village have maintained against the Uchiha, it would certainly be a good thing.
However, the problem was that Kurama Sōgyun's request was genuinely difficult to fulfill.
This wasn't an issue that could be solved with brute force!
Healing and saving people wasn't his specialty—he was an expert in killing and burning things!
"I understand your concerns, Sōgen, but I still hope you can go and take a look. Regardless of the final result, the Kurama clan is willing to establish friendly relations with your clan moving forward," said Kurama Sōgyun, refusing to give up and even going so far as to leverage the clan as a bargaining chip. Thɪs chapter is updated by novelFirｅ.net
This wasn't just his personal decision as the clan leader.
It was a collective decision made by the Kurama clan's leaders.
At this point, refusing would be somewhat disrespectful. Though the Kurama clan once claimed to rival the Uchiha in genjutsu, in reality, there were no deep conflicts or grudges between the two clans.
The Uchiha were infamous for being unloved by anyone—without needing the Kurama to kick them when they were down, they were already struggling.
The Kurama clan also had their own hidden struggles. Their kekkei genkai inheritance was highly unstable, with a genius capable of inheriting it only appearing once in several generations. This generation's prodigy, unfortunately, was weak and sickly from childhood, bringing about a mess of troubles that left the clan too preoccupied to worry about the Uchiha.
"I'll take a look, but I can't guarantee anything. I'll just do my best," Sōgen finally agreed with a nod.
"That's more than enough! If nothing can be done... well, then that's just how it is."
"So, tell me a time, and I'll visit."
"No need to trouble yourself. You can come right now!"
"...At the hospital?"
Sōgen paused, then understood.
Even a clan as strong as the Uchiha had to acknowledge that the medical ninja system was an exceptional innovation, a remarkable transformation. Medical facilities like Konoha Hospital were things that ninja clans in the past could never have established. Compared to the unevenly trained medical ninja within clans, Konoha Hospital's medical force was much more reliable.
"That's right, today is Yakumo's regular check-up day, which happens once every two weeks. Right now, my wife is with her for the exam," Kurama Sōgyun stood up. "Sōgen, please wait here a moment while I bring Yakumo."
"No need for all that! I'll come with you to check on her. After being stuck in the hospital room for days, I could use a walk."
Kurama Sōgyun hesitated briefly but did not refuse.
After all, he was already carrying a fruit basket into Sōgen's hospital room. Even if they were seen walking together, so what? With the suspicious minds of the Third Hokage's group, there wouldn't be much difference. From the moment he stepped into this room, the Kurama clan was likely added to some list.
But given the Kurama clan's current declining state, their ranking probably wouldn't be high. There was no immediate concern of being targeted or suppressed.
Sōgen got out of bed,
still wearing the standard hospital gown of Konoha Hospital, not bothering to change, and slipped into his hospital slippers before heading out the door with Kurama Sōgyun.
"Arashiyama, it's nothing major. I'm just accompanying Sōgyun-senpai to check on a patient," Sōgen waved to signal Uchiha Arashiyama to return to the police force. "I'll be staying in the hospital for another two or three days. The police force will need your attention in the meantime. If anything comes up, you can come to me."
Uchiha Arashiyama nodded, then advised, "But Sōgen, I think it would be best not to delay too long. If the clan's enthusiasm fades..."
"No worries. If anyone dares to cause trouble right in front of me, I won't hesitate to make an example of a few people."
Sōgen put extra emphasis on the word "eye."
Uchiha Arashiyama caught the hint—Mangekyō Sharingan... He knew this secret. Or rather, as long as one wasn't from a direct line of elders who had passed away, or descended from a long line of lower or non-ninjas, it wasn't hard to obtain some information about the Mangekyō Sharingan.
It's just that the elders strictly forbade the spread of information regarding the Mangekyō Sharingan, just like the secret meetings at Naka Shrine. Only jōnin had the right to know; chūnin and below were not privy to these secrets.
Seeing that Sōgen had his own plans, Uchiha Arashiyama said no more and disappeared with a Body Flicker Technique.
"Alright, Sōgyun-senpai, please lead the way!"
Kurama Sōgyun moved with efficiency, despite his scholarly appearance. Beneath that demeanor, his ninja habits shone through—direct and effective, as was typical among ninja. There was rarely any dragging of feet.
They passed through the second-floor corridor and went straight up the stairs to the fourth floor, arriving at the chief doctor's office.
Though the Kurama clan was declining, being invited to a meeting four days ago showed they weren't entirely forgotten. The old saying goes, "even a broken ship has three thousand nails," and Kurama still had enough influence to hire a chief doctor as a family physician.
A man who appeared even older than Kurama Sōgyun stood at the door. When he saw them approach, he immediately stood straight and greeted them.
"Unkai, how's the check-up going?" Kurama Sōgyun asked.
This older-looking man was Kurama Unkai, Kurama Sōgyun's younger brother. For some reason, Kurama Unkai had aged rapidly, making him look older than his elder brother, despite being two years younger.
"They're still inside. Uh... Big Sister is with them, so it's not convenient to go in right now," Kurama Unkai said hesitantly.
Kurama Sōgyun understood. His wife had a very traditional mindset, and even though Yakumo was only five years old, every time she had to undress for an exam, she would insist on sending the men out.
"Unkai, allow me to introduce Uchiha Sōgen, the head of the Uchiha clan and the head of the police force."
"Uchiha clan leader!"
Kurama Unkai bowed respectfully.
"Sōgen, this is my younger brother, Unkai," Kurama Sōgyun introduced in return.
Sōgen nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
At that moment, the nearby door silently opened.