In the center of Konohagakure Hospital's rooftop stood over a dozen simple clotheslines, haphazardly hung with faded clothes, towels, and bedsheets that had been washed white.
A breeze blew, gently swaying the entire curtain of fabric, filling the air with the clean scent of disinfectant mixed with sunlight.
On the front bench, Shinji and Nohara Rin sat close together, enjoying the rare leisurely midday moment.
Shinji glanced at the large rice ball in his hand—it had only a faint salty taste, simply wrapped in a sheet of seaweed.
He had barely managed to buy it from the hospital cafeteria; aside from being filling, it had no other merits.
He couldn't help but lower his head, stealing a glance at the exquisite bento box on Rin's lap. Inside, neatly arranged egg rolls, small sausages, and stir-fried vegetables looked so appetizing just at a glance, stirring a wave of envy in his heart.
Nohara Rin let out a soft chuckle, tilting her head with a teasing tone:
"Shinji, do you want some?"
Shinji didn't hesitate in the slightest, nodding straightforwardly:
"If Rin feeds me, I'll eat it."
Rin's eyes widened in surprise, not expecting him to be so direct. Her heartbeat skipped a beat.
Gazing into Shinji's earnest eyes, she gently bit her lower lip before picking up an egg roll with her chopsticks and slowly bringing it to his mouth.
"You're impossible."
She smiled gently.
Shinji leaned down and took a bite.
The egg roll melted in his mouth with a crispy, savory warmth spreading from his tongue.
"It's delicious, Rin. Your cooking is amazing."
Praised so directly, Rin's cheeks gradually flushed pink. She picked up a sausage:
"Try this too?"
"Mm!"
After he patted his stomach contentedly, he couldn't help but sigh: "I wonder when I'll get to eat such a delicious lunch again."
Nohara Rin gently closed the bento box and placed it beside her, lowering her head shyly:
"You're exaggerating!"
"As long as you want to eat it, I'll make it for you again."
Her voice grew softer as she spoke, her head almost burying itself in her chest.
Shinji chuckled softly, reaching out to gently hook his fingers with hers.
Rin's body stiffened slightly, but she didn't pull away.
This wasn't the first time they had held hands like this. Deep down, she enjoyed this steady, warm touch.
Shinji always felt comfortable whenever he was with Rin.
Her gentleness, tolerance, and quietness made him feel especially at ease.
He was an active man who didn't refuse such happiness—something Obito probably couldn't even imagine.
With just one more opportunity, they could enter the second stage.
But the thought of Rin's originally destined fate weighed heavily on Shinji's heart.
All his efforts now were to sever the hidden danger of her inevitable death.
He had come to see Rin today precisely for this reason.
As they chatted about recent events, the topic naturally turned to last night's disturbance.
"I heard about it at the hospital today. Everyone's talking about it."
Rin gently tightened her grip on his hand, her eyes full of concern. "Shinji, you didn't run into any trouble, did you?"
"Don't worry, I'm fine." Shinji shook his head lightly. "It's just that the clan lost something."
He paused, looking at her. "Speaking of which, I wanted to ask for your help."
Shinji released her hand, took Chiyo's Medical Notes from his chest, and handed it over.
"I want you to teach me the practical aspects, the Medical Ninjutsu related to organ transplantation."
"This medical notebook is a gift for you."
Thanks to his "Medical Affinity" talent, he had frantically memorized a vast amount of medical knowledge during this time, and Chiyo's notes were already committed to memory.
Chiyo was proficient in puppet modification, even capable of replacing her own limbs with puppets. She not only had profound expertise in human transplantation and Chakra Pathway Connection but also possessed unique insights.
And this notebook happened to contain a wealth of related techniques.
What he lacked now was only a teacher with hands-on experience.
And Rin, coincidentally, had experience transplanting the Sharingan to Kakashi.
"No problem, I already promised you before that I would teach you Medical Ninjutsu."
Nohara Rin smiled and agreed, reaching out to take the notebook, her cheeks warming slightly from the gift.
She looked up at Shinji, her eyes sparkling:
"Can I open it and take a look now?"
Shinji nodded.
Rin then gently opened the notebook.
At first, it was just a casual glance, but once her eyes fell on the pages, she couldn't look away.
After a while, she suddenly looked up at Shinji, then down at the notebook again, her expression one of shock.
"Shinji. Where... where did you get this?"
"Such a precious notebook... are you really giving it to me?"
As a formally trained Medical Ninja, she understood the weight of this notebook better than anyone.
Just by skimming a few pages, the unprecedented ideas and techniques opened her mind.
This was enough to elevate her medical skills to an entirely new level.
Seeing her delighted yet disbelieving expression, Shinji smiled and said:
"As long as you like it."
Rin's cheeks flushed completely red in an instant, and she couldn't even bring herself to meet his gaze.
Holding the notebook close to her chest, she whispered, "I'll treasure this notebook."
Shinji reached out and gently tapped the tip of Rin's nose.
"Then you better teach me Medical Ninjutsu properly."
He leaned in slightly, deliberately drawing out his words as he teased with a smile:
"Teacher Nohara Rin."
"Don't call me teacher."
Flustered by the title, Rin's cheeks instantly tinged with a light blush.
"I have a feeling you're up to no good."
She let out a soft huff, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help curling upward as she reached out and took his hand.
"How could I be up to no good?" Shinji chuckled. "So, can we start today?"
He needed to master the medical techniques for organ transplantation as quickly as possible—not a moment to waste.
No one could predict when Madara Uchiha would make a move against Rin.
"In such a hurry?"
Rin looked up at him, somewhat puzzled.
Shinji nodded gently. "Yeah, a little. Recently, there are some things I have to deal with."
"Sorry to trouble you, Rin. Right now, I really need you."
He scratched his head, a bit embarrassed.
Rin's face warmed, and she gave him a reproachful look:
"I knew it—you suddenly coming to find me couldn't be that simple."
But she wasn't angry at all.
Just seeing Shinji already made her happy, and being able to help him was something she was more than willing to do.
Nohara Rin lowered her head in thought for a moment, then softly suggested:
"Then how about I come to your place tonight?"
"To my place?"
Shinji's eyes widened in surprise.
A man and a woman alone, late at night, one-on-one teaching—all sorts of messy thoughts uncontrollably flooded his mind.
Could it be an exceptionally gentle night?
His gaze turned somewhat strange, leaving Rin utterly confused.
"What's wrong?" Rin looked down at herself and asked in puzzlement.
"N-nothing." Shinji quickly coughed twice to cover his awkwardness. "Then come to my place tonight."
He silently cursed himself in his heart.
The important matter at hand was that this meant Rin trusted him, and he couldn't betray her feelings.
The two chatted side by side for nearly another hour, with Rin's smile hardly ever fading.
"I should go, Shinji." Rin looked at him reluctantly. "I have to be on duty at the hospital this afternoon and need to go change shifts."
"Aren't we meeting again tonight?"
Shinji noticed her reluctance and reached out to gently smooth her hair.
"I'll be waiting for you at home."
Rin's heartbeat suddenly quickened, thumping loudly in her chest.
She hugged the food container and notebook in her arms tightly and said softly:
"Then I'll go now. See you tonight."