In the end, Wuwei made no unusual moves.
Everything proceeded exactly according to the original plan.
Now… was not the time to act.
They needed to wait.
Wait until the toxins inside Hirakawa Qingshui's body fully took effect.
That was the true purpose behind this entire incident.
The mass poisoning.
The suffering patients.
Even the apparent chaos within Hōzuki Castle—
—all of it had been carefully orchestrated.
At its core, this was a trap.
And the target… was Hirakawa Qingshui.
The poison used in this scheme had been personally developed and supplied by Orochimaru.
According to him, the medical ninjas of Hōzuki Castle would have no way to cure it.
Even identifying the poison would take time—let alone creating an antidote.
However…
There was one variable.
Qingshui.
A prodigy who had inherited Tsunade's medical ninjutsu.
For him, this "unsolvable" poison was not impossible to treat.
It would simply take time.
Several days, at most.
At least—that had been Orochimaru's original estimate.
Inside the Barrier
But reality unfolded differently.
Much faster than expected.
Not long after entering the isolation barrier, Qingshui had already begun analyzing the toxin.
And before long—
He found a solution.
When he stepped out of the barrier, Wuwei immediately approached him, his expression filled with concern.
"Lord Hirakawa, how is the situation? Is there hope?"
Qingshui nodded calmly, his tone steady and confident.
"There's no need to worry. The treatment is manageable."
"However, I'll need time to prepare the antidote."
Wuwei let out a breath of relief.
"That's excellent news."
Without hesitation, he led Qingshui and his team to the medicinal storage room of Hōzuki Castle.
"All the medicinal herbs we have are stored here," Wuwei said. "Please use whatever you need."
After speaking, he excused himself under the pretense of handling official duties and left the room.
Preparing the Antidote
Qingshui turned to his companions.
"Hong, Rin, and Shizune—gather the necessary herbs."
"Nono, assist me in preparing the antidote."
Everyone moved immediately.
Their coordination was flawless.
Within a short period of time, the first batch of antidote was successfully created.
Nono quickly tested it against the toxin samples.
Moments later, her face lit up with excitement.
"It works! Brother Qingshui, the antidote is effective!"
Qingshui nodded, unsurprised.
"As expected."
"But this is only the beginning. We need to produce more—quickly."
The number of poisoned individuals was enormous.
The demand for antidotes was equally overwhelming.
Even with all five of them working at full capacity, it took nearly an entire day to produce enough doses.
Saving Lives
Once the antidote was ready, they donned protective gear and entered the barrier again.
One by one, they began administering the treatment.
The results were immediate.
Although the wounds did not heal instantly, the patients' complexions visibly improved.
Their breathing stabilized.
Their strength gradually returned.
What remained was merely weakness from prolonged illness and lack of nutrition.
"We're saved…"
Tears filled the eyes of many patients.
Hope, which had nearly been extinguished, reignited.
Qingshui spoke calmly.
"Please remain patient. The poison has been neutralized, but full recovery will require further treatment."
His voice was steady, reassuring.
And everyone listened.
Because now—
They had a reason to believe.
System Rewards
As the treatment progressed, familiar notifications echoed in Qingshui's mind.
[Healing completed: Yamamoto Ryo]
[Reward: Blue Magic Orb ×1]
[Chakra +100]
…
[Healing completed: Tokugawa Tsukurou]
[Reward: Blue Magic Orb ×1]
[Chakra +100]
…
Once the poison was neutralized, the difficulty of further treatment decreased significantly.
With coordinated effort, the majority of patients were soon cured and able to leave the barrier.
"Thank you!"
"Thank you so much!"
Gratitude filled the air as the survivors expressed their thanks.
But not everyone was pleased.
The Failed Plan
Hidden in the shadows, members of the Kusanagi faction watched everything unfold.
Their expressions were grim.
"Orochimaru," one of the elders said coldly, "didn't you say this poison would take days to cure?"
Their plan had been meticulous.
The visible toxin was only a distraction.
The real weapon—
Was a colorless, odorless neurotoxin.
Undetectable.
Harmless on its own.
But when triggered—
It would paralyze the victim completely, leaving them conscious but unable to move.
A living corpse.
If successful, even someone as powerful as Qingshui would be rendered helpless.
But now—
The plan had failed.
Qingshui had cured the poison too quickly.
The neurotoxin had not accumulated to the required level.
Orochimaru remained calm.
"I underestimated Qingshui-kun."
His tone carried no frustration—only quiet acknowledgment.
"What now?" the elder demanded.
"No need to panic," Orochimaru replied. "Plans rarely unfold perfectly."
"Let Wuwei take action."
The Trap Is Set
Wuwei, who had been standing silently nearby, nodded.
"I understand."
Without another word, he turned and left.
Moments later, he returned to the treatment area.
His face was filled with gratitude.
"Thank goodness everyone has been saved," he said earnestly. "Lord Hirakawa, I truly cannot thank you enough."
He stepped forward to assist.
Of course—
Not in treatment.
He lacked medical knowledge.
Instead, he began helping move the patients who had received the antidote, bringing them to Qingshui for further care.
This accelerated the entire process.
Qingshui smiled lightly.
"Thank you for your help, Lord Wuwei."
Wuwei shook his head.
"No… I should be the one thanking you."
"If this incident had not been resolved, I would have been held responsible."
His words were not false.
If the situation had spiraled out of control, Kusagakure would have sacrificed him to appease public outrage.
"In that sense… you are my savior."
His sincerity was flawless.
No one could have guessed his true intention.
To kill Qingshui.
A Perfect Performance
Qingshui accepted another patient from Wuwei and began treatment.
His guard—
Lowered.
Everything appeared normal.
This eased Wuwei's tension.
Even as a Jonin, facing someone like Qingshui was not easy.
Reputation alone carried weight.
But as a seasoned ninja, Wuwei showed no outward sign of nervousness.
His acting was impeccable.
The system notifications continued.
[Healing completed: Kawakami Yuuki]
[Reward: Blue Magic Orb ×1]
[Chakra +100]
Everything seemed unchanged.
Until—
It happened.
The Moment of Betrayal
Without warning—
A cursed seal erupted from Kawakami Yuuki's body.
It spread instantly.
Locking onto Qingshui.
For a brief moment—
His movements were sealed.
Only a fraction of a second.
But for a ninja—
That was more than enough.
Wuwei's eyes flashed.
He struck immediately.
"Fire Release: Heavenly Prison!"
A binding technique unique to the lords of Hōzuki Castle.
Chains of chakra erupted, wrapping around Qingshui and sealing his chakra flow.
Everything happened in an instant.
Too fast for anyone else to react.
Qingshui's body stiffened.
His chakra…
Was no longer responding properly.
Calm in Crisis
Yet—
He did not panic.
Instead, he slowly raised his gaze.
His eyes met Wuwei's.
Calm.
Steady.
As if he had already expected this outcome.
And that—
Was the most unsettling thing of all.
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