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  Everyone could tribute to the world's progress! They'd simply—chosen the wrong path.

  He, Gojo Kaigetsu, representing the purest will of the Shinobi world, would guide the Akatsuki back to the light.

  .....

  Hitomi felt his body go numb, a tingliion spreading through his limbs.

  He saw, in his peripheral vision, bck tendrils, their tips crag with blue energy. Lightning Release!

  Doctor Kakuzu was using a numbing jutsu.

  After about ten minutes, Kakuzu retracted the tendrils. They disappeared into the stitches on his body, a slightly—disturbing sight.

  But to Hitomi, he was a savior.

  His shattered limbs, his mangled flesh, they were—reected, the crude stitches holding them together.

  Though ly—aesthetically pleasing, Hitomi flexed his arm and leg, surprised to find they were—funal. He eve—stronger.

  "Th-thank you, Doctor Kakuzu."

  "Just—pay up." Kakuzu, his eyes fixed on the—prospect of profit, wasn't ied in gratitude.

  To Konoha Shinobi, it oetry, a profound moment. To Kakuzu, it was—a transa.

  "My money's at home. In a ste scroll. I'll have someorieve it."

  "And thank you, Advisojo! Without you, I'd be—crippled." He almost wao kneel.

  "Don't mention it. Just—send a thank-you bao the hospital. Make sure it mentions Doctor Uzumaki Kakuzu."

  "A banner? Yes, sir!"

  "Now, both of you, out! patient!" The tendrils reappeared, ushering them out of the operating room and then, as the nurses screamed, dragging the —patient inside.

  "What—was that monster?" a nurse whispered, her voice trembling.

  Hitomi's face hardened. "Don't call him a monster! He's a great mediin!"

  "But—how? He healed you so quickly."

  The nurse was bewildered. Sujuries usually took hours to treat, even for a skilled mediin. And it had only been ten minutes.

  "That's why he's—a prodigy! I'll be back with the money. And a banner!"

  The ched as another—mangled patient was wheeled out, his body covered in stitches, his legs—spread.

  But he was alive.

  She looked back at the operating room, at the moving tendrils, her earlier fear repced by—awe.

  This Uzumaki Kakuzu—he'd soon be Konoha Hospital's most sought-after surgeon.

  "!"

  "Wait."

  Gojo Kaigetsu stopped Kakuzu. He pushed two young Uzumaki towards him.

  "What?"

  "These two are aspiring mediin. While you're—operating, perhaps they could—observe?"

  Kakuzu frowned. But he needed a good reputation, especially among the—wealthy tele he inteet for his "enha" procedures.

  "I won't—teach them. They —watch. If they're—capable."

  Reina and Asami nodded eagerly, their gazes fixed on Kakuzu's—unique surgical teiques.

  This was a valuable learning experience.

  While the hospital bustled with activity, outside, public opinion shifted.

  To boost the Uzumaki 's standing, Gojo Kaigetsu had—goo great lengths.

  The more ied the Uzumaki became, the less likely they were to—leave. And their positive image would ence other survivors to return. It would prove that Konoha's offer was genuine.

  The test issue of 'Three Years at the Shinobi Academy' was released.

  Kushina Uzumaki and Uchiha Mikoto, their pregnancies—advanced, were enjoying a rare outing. They'd used [Transformation Jutsu] to alter their appearances.

  Mikoto, as the Uchiha Head's wife, was retively free. But Kushina, the ails Jinchuriki and the Hokage's wife, was supposed to be under stant prote in a secure location.

  But Minato doted on her. And Konoha's security, thanks to the Uchiha and Hyuga, had improved signifitly.

  The Hokage Guard, decimated by ret events, was no longer a factor.

  So, Kushina, apanied by disguised Anbu, was free to—enjoy herself, spending her and Minato's money os in the new ercial district.

  Kushina, sav a chocote écir, said, "This is—heaven. I haven't had these in ages. Aren't you eating, Mikoto?"

  "I'll—read for a bit."

  Mikoto, holding the test issue of Three Years at the Shinobi Academy, had developed a reading habit sihat—parent-teacher meeting.

  She read every issue, to—improve her appreciation for literature, to deepen her uanding of Gojo Kaigetsu's—educational philosophy.

  "Hmm?" She opehe magazine. "'Turning Out the Lights for the Uzumaki ,' 'Konoha's Right to Sunlight'—Two articles about the Uzumaki?" Mikoto's tone was—ced with a hint of suspi.

  Advisojo had only written one "Soldier Pill" article to improve the Uchiha's image.

  And now—two for the Uzumaki?

  Did this mean—he favored the Uzumaki more than the Uchiha? Or—Kushina more than her?

  Mikoto felt a pang of jealousy.

  "Uzumaki? What? Let me see!" Kushina, swallowing her écir, leaned in, her face practically pressed against Mikoto's.

  She'd only met the other Uzumaki survivors briefly, hadn't had time to—ect.

  And pared to—distaives, her best friend was more important.

  She stared at the headlines.

  "These.. seem—made up."

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