Naruto: As a genin, I just want to live a normal life.

Page 31

His smile held the things he once possessed.

— Innocence and kindness.

“Listen to Rope Tree. Your sister doesn’t want you to step onto that dangerous battlefield so early.”

"in addition."

Stroking the boy's head, Orochimaru's gaze shifted from Nawaki's face to Shirahoshi and Might Guy:

"Your teammates are not strong enough overall."

"Once on the battlefield, they could easily become a burden to you."

Upon hearing this, the brown-haired boy immediately pressed his hand to his forehead, striking a cool pose:

"Hey~ that's because you're too outstanding, I get it."

Shirahoshi and Might Guy: "..."

I really want to recklessly reveal my full strength/open the Eight Gates and beat him up!

......

Chapter 40 The meaning of life is to live freely

Orochimaru came over simply to explain his situation—after all, once you're on the battlefield, no one can say for sure when or how you'll return.

At the same time, Orochimaru told Shirahoshi that he, as an experienced genin, could occasionally lead Nawaki on C-rank missions.

Orochimaru took out a scroll from his robes, inside which was a C-rank Lightning Release ninjutsu: In addition to meeting the required number of missions, purchasing a C-rank ninjutsu at the mission office also requires spending more than 80,000 ryo, the starting price for a B-rank mission.

Lightning Release is a relatively rare ninjutsu in Konoha Village, and this scroll is worth at least 100,000 ryo.

The scroll will explain in detail the flow of Lightning Release chakra within the body, along with the corresponding body areas that should appear when performing hand seals, making it easy for viewers to understand.

Scrolls are generally one-time sealed scrolls. Once opened, they only give the viewer time to read them once before the text disappears, reducing the chances of the viewer copying and selling them or leaking ninjutsu.

"With your talent for the five elements of chakra, you have mastered wind, fire, earth, and water... and have partially mastered a C-rank ninjutsu."

Orochimaru coughed, remembering how this kid always messed up whenever he checked on him using ninjutsu.

The test included Fire Release and Wind Release. The Wind Release was successful, but the Fire Release caused him to choke – referencing Obito Uchiha.

A spot check of Earth Release and Water Release techniques revealed that the Water Release technique was fine, but the Earth Release technique collapsed before any testing was even started.

Orochimaru almost dismissed this disciple on the spot.

That's so damn shameful!

"We're still missing one technique: Lightning Release."

"I hope that when the teacher returns, your psychological problems will be completely resolved."

The teacher was at a loss.

Orochimaru had been observing the three ever since they arrived and noticed a startling change in Shirahoshi's appearance 'because she had overheard about the assembly the night before': she was clearly worried about the mission failing and was recalling the members of Team 6, so she hadn't slept well.

Unaware of the situation, Bai Xing was deeply moved, but on the surface, she maintained a calm and composed demeanor, saying, "Thank you, teacher."

"I will try my best... I will try my best to master it."

"Hmm." Orochimaru didn't hold out much hope, only hoping that Shirahoshi could be more responsible and help Nawaki have the ability to protect himself on the battlefield. As his teacher, he simply didn't have the time to provide comprehensive instruction.

......

The snowy season in the Land of Fire came to a hasty end at the end of January.

The white clouds in the sky regained their former gentleness of springtime, and the ambient temperature melted all the snow into clear streams, irrigating the forests and rivers in the mountains.

Rooftop of the inpatient department at Konoha Hospital.

"You're going to the battlefield?!"

"Mikoto, are you serious?!"

Nonou, a pharmacist who was being promoted from nursing intern to full-fledged nurse, was shocked to learn of the news from Uchiha Mikoto.

As a pharmacist who witnessed the number of wounded and the horrors of the battlefield, Nono was very reluctant for her companions to go to the fierce front line at this critical moment.

"But only in this way."

"Only then can I escape the pursuit of the clan's Jonin, Fugaku. I've made up my mind."

"Today, I've come to say goodbye to you."

A gentle breeze from outside the railing brushed against the face of the lovely and gentle girl. Looking at Uchiha Mikoto's forced smile, Yakushi Nonou knew that this was Mikoto's own decision.

"Did you talk to Ms. Shirahoshi?"

Mikoto shook her head: "So, you're the only one I found."

"Just say I've taken on a C-level mission that requires me to leave the village, and I won't be able to come back for a while."

"The teacher will definitely not agree to you doing this."

"You're just a low-ranking ninja right now."

Yakushi Nonou still tried to persuade her:

"Why don't you think about it again? Maybe there's another way?"

Mikoto shook her head again: "I'm sorry, Nonou, this is the last resort."

"In the past six months, I have hardly left the clan's territory, and have been receiving instruction and training from the clan's Jonin."

Now, it's time to achieve my goal.

Mikoto looked at Nonou, whose eyes were also brimming with tears: "Thank you so much for all the happy memories you've given me these past few days, along with Shirahoshi-sensei, Uncle Dai, Ms. Korin... and Nawaki-kun..."

Before she knew it, tears streamed down the face of the girl with long, straight black hair, and she wiped them away with her hands.

"thank you all!"

At this moment, Nono also shed tears of impending separation and said no more, "Take care, Mikoto."

"You must protect yourself."

"Yeah! Take care of yourself too, Nono!"

-

night.

Shirahoshi, perfectly embracing the night shift and impersonating 'Kitada Mana', returns to work at Konoha Hospital.

I have basically mastered the practical application of hemostasis techniques.

He was even called upon to perform two surgeries—one as an observer and the other as the surgeon himself.

The scene that was being watched was Tsunade's domain. She perfectly used her chakra scalpel and even chakra threads to extract the toxin and necrotic flesh from the body of a ninja who had come down from the Amegakure battlefield and was poisoned by the salamander.

Shirahoshi was still shocked by that surgery.

Because both the Ope Ope no Mi (Op-Op Fruit) and the basic treatments of medical ninjutsu are only preliminary methods of application.

I'm only at the stage of knowing how to use the chakra scalpel.

Surgery is out of the question.

That surgery was performed on a ninja who had broken his leg during a mission. The bone was set, the bleeding was stopped using a hemostatic technique, and a metal plate was used to fix it...

In short, apart from having two nurses assisting her, she basically did all the work by herself.

After it was over, Shirahoshi couldn't show that she still had energy left.

Nighttime ward rounds are conducted jointly by nurses and on-duty doctors.

At this moment, Shirahoshi walked out of Tsunade's office on the fifth floor of the inpatient ward, intending to go to the fourth floor to check on Ms. Korin's condition to see if it was stable. However, she saw the bright moonlight shining through the window and reflecting on the cold corridor floor.

A blonde girl in a nurse's uniform stood in front of room 404. On the wall beside the door hung name cards for 'Mighty Rin' and 'Kitada Hama'.

"Miss Nonou. You're standing at the door of room 404. Did something happen?"

Pharmacist Nono was stunned for a moment, then turned her head. Shirahoshi immediately saw Nono's tear-streaked face and thought to herself, "Could it be that Kitada Hama has offended me? I should have accidentally thrown a pair of scissors into his vagina during the surgery."

If it weren't for her sister's sake, this 'professional doctor' wouldn't have made the rare (underlined → gritted his teeth) attempt to help.

......

With the arrival of spring, temperatures have risen considerably, but they still remain in the single digits.

Bed sheets and blankets hung on the rooftop, seemingly without end. Each time a ninja was discharged, they had to be washed and dried as soon as possible for the next ninja whose injuries required hospitalization.

The air was humid. At this moment, Baiyue, who was leaning against the railing, listened to Nonou's inner struggles, and both of them remained silent.

Shirahoshi admired the starry sky for a while before looking at the moon, which was the ancestor of the Otsutsuki clan.

"Miss Nono."

What do you think is the meaning of life?

Nonou leaned on the railing, looking at the lights still flickering in the various buildings in the village: "That, that must be to protect family and friends."

Bai Xing shook her head: "No. That's your purpose. Please be more specific."

"Is that about becoming a powerful ninja and becoming Hokage?"

Bai Xing shook her head again: "It's still not complete enough."

"That?!"

Seeing the girl's excited expression, Bai Xing smiled gently and patted her head: "The meaning of life is, first and foremost, to live."

"Use your limited or unlimited life and time to do what you want to do and see scenery and beauty you've never seen before."

"This is the meaning of life!"

"Am I right, Jiraiya, the Jonin of Konoha Village?"

Bai Xing didn't turn her head, but she could clearly see the figure emerging from the center of the rooftop wall.

A man with medium-length white hair, wearing no headband and only specially made combat plate armor, but his young and handsome face, as well as his unique paint makeup, were enough to prove his identity.

"I cannot refute what you said."

Jiraiya's face was serious, his gaze firm: "But please tell me your identity."