Seimei didn't dare say anything more in the end and simply followed Yuzuru back to Konoha.
After arranging for him to work under Minato Namikaze, Yuzuru stopped paying him any further attention.
With Minato keeping an eye on him, Seimei shouldn't be able to stir up any trouble.
After handling a series of matters, Yuzuru planned to head home for a short rest. However, just as he reached the outskirts of the Uchiha clan district, he saw a pale man in casual clothes standing at the street corner.
"Orochimaru?"
Yuzuru spoke with slight surprise. "It's rare to see you not locked up in your lab."
Orochimaru smiled faintly and took a deep breath. "Sometimes, one must step out and relax… Yuzuru-kun, don't you feel that the wind today is rather restless?"
Yuzuru's lips twitched. "Just get to the point. I don't believe you'd stand around here for no reason."
Hearing this, Orochimaru stuck out his long tongue and slowly licked across his face before smiling. "As expected, nothing can be hidden from you, Yuzuru-kun. I do have something to tell you."
"Go on."
"Yuzuru-kun, I discovered that a man named Shinno arrived in Konoha not long ago. He possesses exceptional medical skills and has been exchanging knowledge with the doctors at Konoha Hospital these past few days."
"I've gathered that this Shinno has been researching techniques related to physical regeneration. So, I'm planning to make a move on him."
Orochimaru gave a brief explanation before asking, "Yuzuru-kun, you don't have any objections, do you?"
He could simply go and capture Shinno directly. However, the man was a well-known physician in the shinobi world and was currently visiting Konoha.
Before doing something like that, it was better to get Yuzuru's approval.
What Orochimaru didn't expect, however, was that Yuzuru—who had always supported him in such matters—rarely refused this time.
"Orochimaru, Shinno's background isn't as simple as your investigation suggests. So for now, you can't touch him."
"Oh?" Orochimaru's interest was piqued. "Yuzuru, care to share?"
Yuzuru nodded and spoke slowly. "According to my investigation, Shinno is very likely connected to the Land of Sky."
Orochimaru froze for a moment. "That country that was destroyed by Konoha during the Second Great Ninja War?"
"That's right," Yuzuru continued. "He's not only the leader of the remnants of the Sky Ninja, but he also controls a flying fortress known as the Ancor Vantian."
"Aside from that, there's also a creature called the Zero-Tails sealed within the fortress."
"We can't act against him yet. We still need to determine the location of these things."
After hearing the explanation, Orochimaru couldn't help but sigh in admiration. "As expected of you, Yuzuru-kun. To gather such secret intelligence…"
Yuzuru snorted lightly. "Naturally. As long as I want to know something, there's nothing I can't uncover."
Although everything he knew about Shinno came from memories of his previous life, it didn't stop him from using it now to make himself seem more mysterious.
After offering a compliment, Orochimaru said calmly, "Then I'll leave this matter to you. Once you achieve your objective, please send me the information I need."
Watching Orochimaru's departing figure, Yuzuru turned and headed toward Konoha Hospital.
No matter what, he would first make contact with Shinno.
————
Konoha Hospital.
An unconscious patient was rushed into a ward. His face was bluish, his eyes tightly shut, and he appeared to be suffering from severe oxygen deprivation.
Upon receiving the news, Shinno—who had been discussing medical techniques with Shizune and Rin Nohara—immediately followed them to the ward.
The moment he saw the patient, Shinno stepped forward, pressed a few times on the man's chest, and said in a low voice, "Pneumothorax."
He took out a medical kit, retrieved a transparent glass tube, and inserted it directly into the patient's lung.
The next moment, a stream of air escaped through the tube, and the patient's complexion improved noticeably.
After that, Shinno skillfully treated the patient using various tools from his kit.
Once he was done, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and said apologetically, "I'm sorry. Whenever I see a critically injured patient, I can't help but intervene. I hope I didn't cause any trouble."
Shizune immediately shook her head. "Not at all. Your method was perfect. Aside from Lady Tsunade, I've never seen a more skilled physician."
"And we've been relying heavily on advanced equipment to treat patients. Your ability to handle injuries using only the simplest tools is exactly what we lack."
Hearing this, Shinno smiled faintly. "That's good…"
Creak—
The ward door was pushed open, and Shizune and Rin quickly ran over.
"Yuzuru, what brings you to the hospital today?"
"I missed you two, so I came to take a look."
Yuzuru's words caused Rin and Shizune to blush as they whispered, "Stop joking… there are other people here!"
Only then did Yuzuru turn his attention to Shinno. "And this is?"
"Lord Yuzuru, my name is Shinno. I am a physician traveling the shinobi world."
"I happened to pass through Konoha recently, so I came to the hospital to exchange knowledge with some outstanding doctors."
Yuzuru nodded. "I see…"
Shinno carefully observed Yuzuru for a moment before speaking with admiration. "Lord Yuzuru, your vitality is truly remarkable. Your body must be exceptionally strong."
Yuzuru chuckled. "Of course. I have a Tailed Beast sealed within me. If my body weren't strong, that would be a problem."
At this, Shinno's eyes lit up as he stroked his chin, seemingly deep in thought.
Meanwhile, Rin and Shizune felt slightly puzzled.
For some reason, Yuzuru seemed a little different from usual today.
They continued chatting until the afternoon. With Shinno deliberately drawing closer, Yuzuru was in a great mood and invited him out for barbecue.
On the way, Shinno looked at the bustling streets of Konoha and said slowly, "Konoha is truly prosperous. No wonder it's known as the center of the shinobi world."
"Living here must be wonderful, right?"
Yuzuru waved his hand. "It's alright. In the future, everyone in the shinobi world will be able to live like this."
After hearing his reply, Shinno lowered his head slightly, and a trace of hatred flashed through his eyes.