Ryuichi's POV

The day was sweltering, the sun relentless as it blazed down on the village, but for once, I had the day off. Tsunade and Kushina had insisted that I take a break from my training, so I was at home, relishing a rare, quiet moment with my mother. She was bustling around the kitchen, occasionally sending a fond smile my way. Finally, she brought over a bowl of freshly sliced fruit, setting it down on the table between us before taking a seat.

"So, how's the life of a genin treating you, Ryuichi?" she asked with a gentle smile, her eyes soft and curious.

I slouched back in my chair, letting out an exaggerated sigh. "To be honest, Mom, I'm only a genin in name. I haven't even gone on a single mission. Most of my days are just endless training from sunrise to sunset." I reached for a slice of fruit, munching on it to hide my growing frustration.

Mom raised a brow, her expression more serious. "You might be eager, but remember, the unpredictability of combat isn't something to take lightly," she said, her voice calm but firm. "You saw what happened when your father came back from his last mission." Her words brought to mind the image of my father, his expression strained, his clothes still smeared with blood and dirt. I nodded slowly, my frustration tempered by a hint of caution.

"I get it," I replied, though my resolve wavered only slightly. "But don't you think some real combat experience would help me improve? I mean, I'm practicing my jutsu nonstop, but how am I supposed to really understand them without testing them?"

Mom paused, considering my words before nodding slightly. "True, combat experience sharpens your skills like nothing else," she admitted. "But pushing yourself too soon is a mistake. A jutsu is only as good as your control over it. Right now, your focus should be on perfecting your techniques and building a solid foundation. Once you're in a genin team, you'll have a jonin sensei to guide and protect you when you're out on missions." She reached out to pat my hand, her eyes softening.

Her words calmed me down a little, and I let out a soft sigh. "You're probably right." I muttered, leaning back in my chair.

Mom changed the subject, her tone brightening. "I heard that Tsunade-sama has returned to work at the Konoha hospital," she said, watching me closely. Her words brought an instant smile to my face. After that conversation we'd had, she seemed to have rekindled a sense of responsibility to the village. It wasn't a full reconciliation, but it was a start, and I was happy to see her making the effort.

"Of course!" I said, grinning. "She can't just be a deadbeat forever, right? Not when she's my teacher" I puffed out my chest a little, feeling proud of my teacher.

Mom chuckled, shaking her head. "You know, she used to be the idol of every kunoichi in the village—including me. Her strength and skills were something we all aspired to," she said with a nostalgic smile, before getting up to return to the kitchen. Just as she stepped away, the doorbell rang, echoing through the quiet hallway.

Mom went to answer the door, and I could hear her warm greeting. "Sakumo! Kakashi! Come on in!" Soon, the two of them entered the dining area where I sat. I greeted them with a nod, acknowledging Kakashi with a grin.

Sakumo settled into a seat and smiled politely as my mother offered him and Kakashi some fruit. "Thank you, Mikoto," he said, accepting a slice. "Actually, we came here to speak with Ryuichi."

My curiosity piqued, I looked up at him. "Oh? What's up?"

Sakumo chuckled, waving his hand dismissively. "Nothing too serious," he assured me, though his expression turned thoughtful. "I thought maybe you and Kakashi could benefit from sparring together, now that you're both genin. I think regular duels could be beneficial for both of you." He glanced at me, clearly hoping I'd agree.

The idea intrigued me. Kakashi and I hadn't sparred in ages, and I knew he'd excelled at the academy, graduating at the top of his class. It would be a great way to see how far I'd come—and how much further I had to go. But I looked toward my mother, wanting her approval before committing.

"What do you think, Mom?" I asked, knowing it would eat into my usual training hours.

She considered it for a moment, watching the interaction between Sakumo and me. Finally, she nodded. "It's fine with me, but only if you're there to supervise, Sakumo," she said, her tone still motherly but accepting.

Sakumo smiled, nodding firmly. "Of course. I'll keep a close eye on them," he promised, glancing at both Kakashi and me. "I think this will be a great learning opportunity for you both."

Kakashi looked at me, his eyes gleaming with quiet challenge, and I felt a similar thrill. This would be a chance to push myself, and I knew Kakashi would do the same.

.

.

.

Sakumo finished his fruit, brushing off his hands as he stood up from the table with a purposeful smile. "How about starting today?" he suggested, his voice carrying a hint of excitement. "Since we're all here anyway."

Mom came out from the kitchen just then, setting another plate of fresh fruit on the table and catching the tail end of the conversation. She looked between us, a gentle smile lighting her face. "You can use the Uchiha training grounds if you'd like. There's plenty of space, and it's secure."

Sakumo nodded, clearly pleased. "That would be perfect. Thank you, Mikoto," he said, giving her a slight bow of appreciation.

-{0}-

3rd POV ( Uchiha training ground )

Kakashi and Ryuichi squared off in the heart of the Uchiha clan's private training grounds. It was a beautiful, well-maintained area with green fields and towering trees that framed the space. Nearby, a small pond glistened in the sunlight, offering a spot for training fire-style techniques safely. Mikoto and Sakumo stood off to the side, their eyes bright with pride and amusement as they watched their sons prepare.

The two young shinobi took their stances, each embodying the distinct styles of their families. Ryuichi dropped into the refined Interceptor Fist stance, his eyes laser-focused, ready to anticipate Kakashi's every move. Across from him, Kakashi assumed a practical, streamlined version of the academy's taijutsu stance, adjusted by the Hatake family's own rigorous standards.

Without warning, Kakashi charged forward, his fists flashing as he threw a flurry of punches. Ryuichi blocked each blow with smooth precision, reading Kakashi's moves almost before they were made. With a swift twist, Ryuichi delivered a counter kick, forcing Kakashi back. Seizing the opportunity, he quickly launched a set of shuriken in Kakashi's direction. But Kakashi vanished with a substitution, leaving only a log where he'd stood.

Ryuichi's eyes darted, scanning the grounds to locate his opponent. Suddenly, a large, spinning fuma shuriken charged at him from the right, its blades crackling with lightning chakra. Ryuichi dropped low, barely dodging it, and delivered a quick kick to deflect it. Despite his reflexes, the lightning-infused weapon sent a jolt through his leg, leaving a tingling sensation. He winced but quickly steadied himself, forming two swift hand seals. "Katon: Great Fireball Jutsu!" he muttered before expelling a massive fireball toward the bushes where the fuma shuriken had originated.

Kakashi leapt from his hiding spot just in time, narrowly escaping the fireball's blast. Even so, a lick of flame grazed his shin, leaving a small burn. Now in the open, Kakashi had no time to tend to the burn as he saw a hail of kunai flying toward him. Instinctively, he pulled out his own kunai, deflecting as many as he could, though a few grazed his arms and sides, leaving shallow cuts.

Just as he blocked the last of the kunai, one final kunai soared straight for his face. Confidently, Kakashi raised his own kunai to deflect it, only for the kunai to pass through his defense as if it were made of air. The kunai dissolved into smoke, blinding Kakashi, who had no time to react before he felt a solid kick connect with his face, sending him stumbling to the ground.

Dazed, Kakashi looked up to see Ryuichi standing over him, a kunai pointed at him. "Do you give up?" Ryuichi asked, his voice calm but his expression tinged with concern.

Kakashi, slightly stunned and grinning despite himself, nodded. "I give up."

With a satisfied smile, Ryuichi sheathed his kunai and offered a hand to help Kakashi up. Kakashi took it, wincing slightly as he rose, and Ryuichi immediately began channeling chakra into his palms, applying the Mystical Palm Technique to heal Kakashi's cuts and burns.

Sakumo approached, clearly impressed. "That was impressive, Ryuichi. I didn't even realize you could use the Clone Jutsu like that," he said, nodding with approval.

Kakashi's eyes widened as he looked between his father and Ryuichi, surprised. "Clone Jutsu?"

Sakumo chuckled, nodding toward Ryuichi to explain.

Ryuichi grinned as he continued his healing work. "The final kunai wasn't real. I used the Clone Jutsu and the Transformation Jutsu together to make it appear like a kunai. That way, it passed right through your defense and created a smokescreen," he explained, glancing at Kakashi.

Kakashi blinked, the realization dawning on him. "How did you know it was a clone, Dad?" he asked, sounding genuinely curious.

"Well, for one thing," Sakumo explained with a small smile, "the kunai had no shadow." He chuckled as Kakashi slapped his forehead in realization. "And secondly, if it had been a genjutsu, I wouldn't have been able to see it either."

Sakumo turned to Ryuichi, eyes filled with admiration. "You really are something else, Ryuichi."

Ryuichi chuckled a little sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Honestly, I've been hearing that a lot these days."

At this, Sakumo laughed heartily, his laughter carrying through the training grounds, drawing a warm smile from Mikoto.

-{0}-

The following day, Ryuichi made his way to the Konoha Hosptial. Tsunade had sent him a messenger hawk that morning, requesting him to meet her there. Upon arrival, he navigated the corridors toward the director's office. Hospital staff greeted him along the way; word had spread that Tsunade had taken Ryuichi as her student, and many were eager to see what kind of medical ninja he would become.

Finally, he reached the director's office and knocked on the door.

KNOCK KNOCK

"Come in," Tsunade's voice came from behind the door.

Ryuichi stepped inside. The director's room was quite similar to the Hokage's office, with three wide windows offering a sweeping view of Konoha's residential district. The walls were painted a warm tan, a contrast to the usual stark white seen throughout the hospital. Tsunade sat at the desk in front of the central window, surrounded by stacks of paperwork. She glanced up from her signing and addressed him.

"Well, you sure took your own sweet time to get here."

"Sensei, the hospital is sooo far from home. Of course, it took a while!" he replied with exaggerated exasperation.

"You brat, the hospital is barely a ten-minute walk from your house. It should have taken you two minutes at most," she retorted.

"Well, your message didn't say it was urgent, so I thought I'd take the scenic route," he replied with a mischievous grin.

Tsunade sighed, thinking, the audacity of this brat, before responding.

"No matter. Today, I have a lot of work around the hospital. More shinobi from the frontlines are due back, and I'll be handling the more serious cases."

At the mention of injured shinobi, Ryuichi's face grew serious. "Sensei, what can I do to help?"

"Despite your progress, I'm not sure you're ready for treating critical injuries. Besides, I have another task for you."

He tilted his head, curiosity piqued. "What task, Sensei?"

Tsunade sighed. "The old man decided it's time to give the academy students a tour of the hospital. It's part of a new initiative to spark interest in medical ninjutsu."

"But why now? Don't we already have enough staff?"

She shook her head. "Not nearly enough. With the new casualties, we're stretched thin. Soon, the staff will be overwhelmed."

"But what about civilian patients?" he asked, frowning.

"They're on low priority for now. Only those with life-threatening conditions are given immediate attention. We need as many shinobi fit for duty as possible; we can't count on the academy to fill our ranks fast enough."

"Why rely on the academy at all? Most of the graduates are barely ready for the frontlines."

"With our forces dwindling, there's talk of reducing the graduation age and putting new graduates into action. Graduates like you and Kakashi haven't helped in setting realistic expectations."

She handed him a list. "Here's the roster of students for the tour. Try to sell them on learning medical jutsu; that's the whole point of this."

Ryuichi glanced at the names. "Don't recognize any of them. I didn't pay much attention to my classmates."

"It wouldn't hurt to remember a few names. Who knows, you might find a future teammate."

"I highly doubt it. Anyway, see you around, Sensei." With a casual wave, he left the office, leaving Tsunade with her paperwork.

Ryuichi walked toward the hospital entrance, where he spotted a chunin standing with a group of around twenty academy students clustered behind him. Approaching the chunin, Ryuichi greeted him.

"Hello! Are you the one in charge of the academy kids?" he asked.

The chunin looked him up and down, a skeptical glint in his eye. "Yeah, that's me. But aren't you just a kid, too? Why are you asking?"

Ryuichi gave a confident smile. "Oh, I'm Ryuichi Uchiha. Tsunade-sama assigned me to be the tour guide for the academy students today."

The chunin raised an eyebrow, then gave a small nod, still looking somewhat doubtful. "Alright, then, Ryuichi. Guess I'll leave them in your care. Just make sure they don't cause any trouble."

Ryuichi turned to the group of wide-eyed academy students, and cleared his throat. "Hey, everyone! My name's Ryuichi Uchiha, and I'll be taking you on a tour of the hospital today. I know most of you probably don't think of hospitals as the most exciting places, but you'd be surprised. You'll be seeing what medical ninjas do and why they're so important to Konoha."

One of the younger students raised her hand tentatively. "Will we get to see Tsunade-sama?" she asked eagerly, her eyes lighting up.

Ryuichi chuckled lightly. "Tsunade-sama is busy treating injured shinobi, so probably not today. But maybe one day, if you're dedicated enough, you'll get the chance to train under her."

A buzz of excitement moved through the group, and Ryuichi couldn't help but feel a bit of pride. If he could get even one of these students interested in medical ninjutsu, it might ease some of the strain the hospital staff was experiencing.

They started the tour in the main medical wing, where shinobi with moderate injuries were being treated. Ryuichi explained the basics of each ward, pointing out how each area served a specific purpose, from emergency care to long-term recovery. He also emphasized the importance of chakra control for medical ninjutsu, describing the leaf exercise and how critical chakra precision was when performing even the simplest healing techniques.

"Most people think medical ninjutsu is all about healing bruises or closing cuts, but it's far more than that," Ryuichi said, hoping to instill some enthusiasm. "Medical ninjutsu is about understanding the human body at a fundamental level. A good medical ninja can make the difference between life and death on the battlefield."

One of the older students, a boy with a determined look, raised his hand. "How do you get to be a medical ninja like Tsunade-sama? Is it just… lots of training?"

Ryuichi smiled, remembering his own struggles with Tsunade's demanding lessons. "Yes, training is a big part of it. But it's also about having patience and dedication. Medical ninjutsu isn't easy—it requires focus, discipline, and a willingness to help others, even if it means taking a back seat in combat."

They eventually made their way to a quieter section of the hospital, where several staff members were preparing a room for new patients. Ryuichi took the chance to speak with the group about the wartime urgency that made their interest even more valuable.

"The reason Tsunade-sensei and the Hokage are encouraging more people to study medical ninjutsu is because of the war," he said, voice low but serious. "We're stretched thin. Medical staff have to prioritize the shinobi on the frontlines. If more people learn medical techniques, there's a better chance that everyone—both shinobi and civilians—will be taken care of."

One of the girls gave him a somber look. "Is it dangerous to be a medical ninja?"

"Yes," Ryuichi replied honestly. "But it's dangerous to be a shinobi in general. The thing is, as a medical ninja, you might not be on the frontlines, but the lives of everyone else depend on your skills. That's why medical training is so rigorous."

Soon the tour concluded and the academy students were back at the entrance.

"Well that's all for today hopefully that kindled some of your interest in medical ninjutsu. I do hope to see some of you here next time not as visitors but as colleagues. Until take care. Bye everyone."

A chorus of goodbyes sounded as the academy students left. Ryuichi was about to leave when a voice called out to him.

"Ryuichi, wait a minute!"

Ryuichi turned around to see two students lingering behind the group—a girl with brown hair and purple face paint, and a boy with spiky black hair and some goofy-looking goggles on his head. He squinted at them for a moment, tilting his head.

"Umm... do I know you two?" he asked, uncertain.

The boy groaned. "See? I told you he'd forget us! He's just like that bastard, Kakashi."

"Obito, don't be rude!" The girl nudged him before turning to Ryuichi with a patient smile. "Ryuichi, my name's Rin Orihara. We were in the same class! I used to sit behind you."

Ryuichi scratched his head, straining to recall the girl's face. "Yeahhh… sorry, I'm terrible at remembering people with unremarkable faces."

"Hey, take that back!" Obito barked. "Rin's the most beautiful person in the entire village!"

"Obito!" Rin exclaimed, her cheeks flushing. "Don't embarrass me!"

Ryuichi gave Obito a blank stare, which the boy noticed right away.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Obito asked, defensive.

"No, I remember you now! You're that kid from my clan who goes to the academy—the one who lives with his grandmother, right?" Ryuichi said.

Obito looked taken aback. "W-Wait, you know me? How did you know I live with my grandmother?"

"Grandfather mentioned it once," Ryuichi replied casually. "He was talking about his childhood and mentioned a friend who now lives with her grandson."

"Wow... the Uchiha Clan head was friends with my grandmother?" Obito's eyes widened.

"I dunno. Go ask her."

"you—you just *said* she was friends with him!" Obito stammered.

Ryuichi shrugged, a hint of a smirk on his face. "Well, sounds like a question for your grandma. Anyway, what did you want from me again?!"

"Well, I heard Tsunade-sama has taken you on as a student, so I was wondering if you could let us meet her," Rin asked, hopeful.

"You heard right—she has taken me as her student," Ryuichi replied, "but like I said before, she's very busy today, so I can't take you to meet her."

"Oh, come on, Ryuichi! I'm sure she can spare a few minutes," Obito pleaded.

"No, she really can't," Ryuichi said, shaking his head. "A lot of shinobi from the frontlines arrived today, and Tsunade-sensei is treating the ones with the most serious injuries."

Rin's shoulders slumped. "Oh, it's okay... I knew it was a long shot."

"Cheer up, Rin! We'll meet her next time for sure!" Obito chimed in.

"But, Obito... Ryuichi just said she'll be busy. Who knows when we'll get the chance?"

Ryuichi sighed, snapping them out of their disappointed bubble. "Alright, enough with those pitiful expressions! The only way you're getting close to Tsunade-sensei is if you're on the brink of death… or if you join as medical ninja trainees."

"Medical ninja in training?" Rin repeated, her eyes lighting up.

"Yes! Seriously, were you even listening during the tour?" Ryuichi replied, exasperated. "But alright, I'll spell it out. If you pass the academy's requirements for medical ninjutsu, you'll be able to come here as trainee medical ninjas. And if that happens, you might just catch a glimpse of Tsunade-sama."

Rin's eyes went wide as realization dawned. "Oh! Thanks for explaining, Ryuichi. Do you have any tips for the medical ninjutsu test?"

Ryuichi rolled his eyes. "Really? After all that, you still want more from me? What am I, your personal encyclopedia?"

"Hey! Are you going to help us or not?" Obito shouted.

"Calm down, goggles! Why are you always so loud?" Ryuichi said, mock-cleaning his ear with his pinky. "Fine, fine. Just focus on improving your chakra control. Precise chakra control is the basic skill for medical jutsu. The better you get at it, the easier medical ninjutsu will be."

"Thank you, Ryuichi! I'll work on that," Rin said gratefully.

"Y-Yeah, thanks, Ryuichi! We'll see you around," Obito added, trying to act cool but failing with his nervous stutter.

"Good luck, both of you! And if you get good enough, I might remember your faces the next time we meet. Until then, see ya." Ryuichi waved over his shoulder as he walked back into the hospital.

Inside, he spent the rest of the day treating shinobi with minor injuries and helping the hospital staff. The day flew by, and soon he handed in his report to Tsunade.

"Sensei, I'm done for the day. Can I go home now?" he asked.

Tsunade scanned his report carefully, her eyes flicking over each line before she looked up at him. "Everything seems to be in order, so yes, you can leave."

"Alright, Sensei. See you tomorrow."

"And don't be late tomorrow, brat. We have a lot to get through," she reminded him.

"I'll see what I can do, Sensei," Ryuichi said with a grin as he closed her office door behind him.

On his way home, he thought back over the day. Running into his old classmates hadn't been all that surprising, but he really hoped he wouldn't see them again anytime soon. In his words, they were *highly obnoxious, incredibly silly* and *generally annoying.*

"I hope my future teammates won't be like that" he thought with a sigh. "Ordinary people are exhausting to deal with."

=chapter end=