Ninja Ice House

Chapter 586 Treatment

Those who suffered superficial injuries and were unconscious due to overexertion are actually doing alright. With Tsunade, the number one medical ninja in the ninja world, as long as they still have a breath left, there is no chance of them having any major problems. In addition, Karin, a member of the Uzumaki clan with outstanding comprehensive abilities and a special physique, is a safety net. Unless they die on the spot, the chances of them being saved are extremely high.

The one who was most seriously injured was still Naruto Uzumaki. It has to be said that while the Nine-Tails' chakra is powerful, the burden it places on the body is also astonishing.

If Kurama does not cooperate, the Nine-Tails' chakra, carrying an aura of calamity, is the most corrosive to the mortal body among the nine tailed beasts.

The reason why there are still options for the Jinchuriki of other Tailed Beasts, even though the selection process is more complicated, is because the physical requirements are not as strict. However, it is different for Kurama (the Nine-Tails). It basically revolves around the Uzumaki clan, which has Sage Mode, or perhaps the Senju clan, which has exceptional talent.

Ultimately, the entry requirements are different.

Even Sora, the pseudo-Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, was already struggling to cope after only a tiny bit of his original chakra was extracted and sealed into his body.

The pressure Naruto Uzumaki endured was at least tens of thousands of times greater than that of an empty shell.

To be honest, is the air quality really that bad?

Is their qualification really that bad?

A fair evaluation also depends on who you compare it to.

While they may not be as impressive as legendary figures like Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, and figures like Neji Hyuga, Kakashi Hatake, and Gaara far surpass them, if we remove the influence of the "plot," training methods, and growth environment, they might not necessarily be inferior to the new generation of Team 8 and Team 10.

At least Choji Akimichi, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and others didn't even have the qualifications to "troll" the Nine-Tails' chakra.

Most of the renowned up-and-coming ninjas in the ninja world, upon close inspection of the Nine-Tails' leaked chakra, could render those with weaker constitutions and minds immobile due to the pervasive malice and killing intent emanating from it.

Naruto and Kurama, who have reached a preliminary reconciliation, are still able to communicate and cooperate, albeit with some difficulty, despite their less-than-harmonious relationship.

The condition was most serious when I was admitted to the hospital; I even fainted, but my vital signs were very stable and I recovered very quickly.

However, there's a slight problem with Kaguya Kimimaro's side!

Haku was hit by a Sage Art: Rasengan at close range, losing two limbs, five ribs, and one severely dislocated, requiring emergency surgery; Hyuga Neji was burned by Sage Art: Goemon, suffering a moderate spinal contusion, requiring bone setting to prevent damage to the nervous system; Kaguya Kimimaro suffered the worst, enduring five Sage Art: Rasengans, relying on the special ability of her bloodline limit, Shikotsumyaku, to become immune to bone and flesh injuries, but her internal organs were severely damaged, with a large portion of her liver being directly shredded and signs of bleeding in her pulmonary artery.

As for the other less serious ones, let's leave them aside. The most troublesome thing is that the "Wedge" that was suppressed in his body was passively activated due to the overuse of his bloodline limit. It is similar to the bloodline net power of "All-Killing Ash Bones". When it could not find a way to release it, it began to devour itself.

Karin had to drain several vials of her own blood, mix it with a specially prepared potion, and then use sealing techniques to barely suppress it.

"This is it... and you still say you want to completely liberate yourself and fight Jiraiya to the death?"

After a busy day, Karin, who had finally averted the crisis, sighed with a mix of laughter and tears.

“If you do that, Jiraiya will most likely live, but you're definitely doomed. Even your father's intervention only provides temporary relief; a complete cure is far too difficult. You're racing against death. You must become stronger as soon as possible to allow your body to adapt to the drastic internal changes, otherwise, you won't have many years left to live…”

"I've had that sense of urgency that death is chasing me for years. Don't worry, Ms. Karin. As long as I'm alive, I will strive to improve and outrun fate's swift attack..."

"Your father's treatment, while allowing you to survive the last outbreak of your bloodline disease, has also accelerated the awakening process. For an ordinary ninja, this would be a desperate, palliative measure, a last resort. But for you, there's still a good chance you can hold on until the day things finally look up..."

Thank you for your kind words!

With a slight smile, Karin removed her sterile medical gloves, instructed her assistant to tidy up the instruments, and then turned back to say:

"The Kimimaro who was completely clueless about social etiquette back then can now say some polite things! Although my father and I have similar views on you, there are still some differences. To me, you are not only a bodyguard and servant, but also a big brother next door who grew up with me. We are not very close, but we are familiar with each other and you make me feel at ease. For a family like mine, social interactions... seem to be free, but in fact, many times we are not in control of our own lives. Having someone like you... is not easy."

They say you can do whatever you want, but it's not that convenient at all!

The social class difference is too great, and they can't even find common ground. At least Kaguya Kimimaro is an acquaintance who works in the same circle. Who knows what kind of people are trying to get close to others?

There are so many excellent female ninjas in Konoha Village, and they all treat Karin quite well. However, most of them are young and beautiful women who want to get close to Furusugi Bokusui and become Karin's stepmother. Some of them are secretive and have some shame, while others don't even pretend, for fear that Karin or the young head of the Furusugi family won't understand.

There were also some younger ones, all kinds of pretty boys, and I couldn't be bothered to tell which faction sent them to carry out a "handsome man scheme" to seduce Karin.

There are many people who don't understand the situation, but it's hard to guarantee that some people won't harbor illusions.

"Maybe he or she likes my type? You never know what the tastes and preferences of the wealthy and powerful are! It's not shameful to fail; if I succeed, I'll have hit the jackpot!"

I used to have some friends I could talk to, but gradually those friendships changed because of differences in ability and interests, or because I realized the huge class gap.

For Xun Ge'er, Runtu and the badger in the field were people and prey when he was young, but as he grew up, the difference wasn't that big.

The distance between people is not necessarily smaller than the distance between a person and a badger.

The terms racial segregation and class, though seemingly simple, actually represent a heavy social reality.

"I'm sorry, Karin-san, I'm not very smart, and I don't have many skills besides fighting..."

"It's alright. Treat yourself and others as human beings. Always think about these two questions. Especially in the ninja world, where supernatural powers are rampant and humans are no longer the only highly intelligent life form..."

"I'll try my best to figure it out! However, I still suggest you ask Bai about this kind of problem; he's much smarter."

"I've already asked! He... seems normal, but his 'illness' is no less severe than yours!"

With a faint smile, Karin closed the door from the outside and leisurely left, leaving only Kaguya Kimimaro alone. The latter touched his body, which was mostly bound by bandages and had difficulty moving, and muttered to himself:

"Living a simpler life and leaving the thinking to those who are good at it is fine too! As long as someone is 'useful' and someone is willing to 'use' them, that's enough for them to have value..."

Kimimaro, after all, is a member of the Kaguya clan whose brain is all muscle. His extraordinary bloodline limit talent and physical strength are inseparable from his rigid brain, which is almost unable to move and has no subjective initiative without external force.

Despite possessing extremely antisocial qualities and personality traits, they are forced to seek meaning in life from the outside world. The Kaguya clan is a twisted family that survived natural selection and human selection. Kaguya Kimimaro is actually more ill and more insane than his fellow clansmen. The reason he appears more normal is because he knows he is not normal, so he alienates himself into a tool that is needed by others, handing over his self-control to other normal people.

Being sick is not scary; what's most important is knowing that you're sick.

But since it is an illness, there are naturally ways and means of treatment. Time, experience, and wisdom are excellent ways to heal.

This mission to rescue Jiraiya had a significant impact on Kaguya Kimimaro, as it was the first time in his life that he had a semi-autonomous decision-making power amidst vague instructions.

Beyond the fighting and killing, Kaguya Kimimaro experienced the complexities of interpersonal relationships for the first time.

Besides battles, life should have other things to embellish it.

Thinking of this, Kaguya Kimimaro suddenly frowned, then quickly looked at the exposed skin of her arm. The dark "wedge" pattern that was originally hidden under the flesh began to flicker and spread again.

"Miss Karin, you see me as a friendly older brother next door. So, what are the young master's expectations of me? Perhaps, only this body with its considerable potential..."

The host of the "Wedge" has an extremely long growth period, and as long as they don't do anything reckless, their lifespan will also increase significantly. These two advantages are the most valuable assets for Kaguya Kimimaro, who has unlimited potential.

Whether it becomes a vessel for descent or is promoted to a guardian, it would be a good outcome.

A rigid mind can't handle so many problems. For Kaguya Kimimaro, becoming stronger, eliminating all of the young head of the clan's enemies, and completing more missions are the ways to be "useful".

As for how to meet Ms. Karin's expectations...

"I'll try my best, even if it's not what I'm good at!"

This sharp sword can be used for more than just fighting; it can also be used to peel fruit or do other things. You can't refuse your master's orders just because you're not good at it.

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On the other side, Karin visited several of her injured companions one by one, including the exhausted Kurama Yakumo and Usami who was resting with her eyes closed, before finally arriving at the door of Haku's ward.

"Hey, Sister Yuhuo, what's going on...?"

"Miss Karin, I'm sorry, Kagami and Tsukasa heard that Shiro-nii was injured and insisted on coming to see him. They made a fuss for a while and have already left to go out and play with their classmates..."

"The little ones are so energetic. They used to always pester their older sister to play, but now they have their own little circle of friends."

"I wonder if things are going well on your end?"

"Thank goodness! Is Bai still awake?"

"Yes, I estimate you'll arrive soon, I'm waiting."

"How did your last treatment in the Hui community go?"

"It's the same as always. I need to adjust my body regularly, and any uncontrollable mutations still need to be surgically removed."

"You've worked hard these past two days, you can relax a bit now."

They secretly contacted Mitsuki, the Mermaid Legion, and the "remnants" of the Uchiha clan; they couldn't possibly show themselves openly.

There's a command center in Shinjuku, which is convenient for close coordination. Jiki and Mikoto Uchiha are staying there with Kiro, so they can help handle some of the public matters.

As for covert cooperation, Shui Mu and the "Root" organization he controls should provide as much assistance as possible.

Fortunately, it's all over, and nothing has gone wrong since.

Without these unseen assistance, relying solely on the limited support from Konoha Village, it's highly unlikely that the mission could have been completed so smoothly.

Although Yakumo Kurama's bloodline limit is powerful, her strength is limited and she cannot handle such a large-scale event.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Karin still felt a strong connection to the older sister who had taken care of her since childhood. However, as her younger siblings grew up, she devoted much of her energy to caring for them, and Karin also had her own things to do, so they were no longer as close as before.

Of course, their relationship is still very good.

After they parted, Karin knocked on the door and entered the ward, where she saw Haku sitting up, peeling an apple for himself.

"Looks like there's nothing wrong, but you look a little pale. Why don't you lie down?"

"I can't sleep! Kimimaro is more seriously injured than me, and what about Naruto? How are they?"

"Kimimaro's bloodline limit is extremely resistant to this kind of injury, so it's not a big problem. It's his bloodline disease that needs more attention. As for Naruto, the village is more anxious about him and will handle it properly."

"That's true!"

With Naruto's physique and the medical ninjutsu prowess of Konoha Village, there's basically no need to worry. Despite his severe injuries, he's very likely to be the first to be discharged from the hospital.

Karin took the fruit knife and replaced Shiro, sitting on the edge of the bed and talking for a while.

"To be honest, we haven't had many opportunities to communicate properly. It's only when we're injured and in the hospital that we have some free time."

Upon hearing this, Bai smiled knowingly and said:

"We've all grown up, and we're all very busy!"

"My father is quite supportive of you and me getting together, and my younger siblings also like you very much. As for my mother... as long as I'm happy, she doesn't have any opinions."

"What about you? Aren't you going to share your opinion?"

"What's wrong with that! I used to quite like handsome guys, like the warm-hearted smiling Minato Namikaze or the cool handsome guy like Sasuke Uchiha, they were both great, but..."

She chuckled a few times, seemingly remembering something happy, and handed over the peeled apple, continuing:

"After going further and further down the path of the ninja, I still appreciate those good-looking appearances, but I'm not as obsessed with them as before."

Medical ninjas, or doctors, are among the very few special professions closest to human suffering. With so much energy, they become less sensitive to the beauty in the surface.

For example, when you see a handsome man's face, the first thing that comes to mind is how many muscles are under his skin, how they work, and how they coordinate to make movements.

My mind is filled with red, white, purple, and black flesh and bones; I have no sense of fun or romance left.

In the end, what remains, what stays in our hearts, are the most precious and worth cherishing.