During the war, they had earned some extra money through such methods.
"Yes, Director."
"No other choice, I suppose."
The plump nun and the old man responded respectively.
Yakushi Nonō nodded.
These two were people she trusted deeply, and she felt at ease leaving things in their hands.
The next day, the orphanage began taking in injured patients, both civilians and ninja.
A simple tent was set up to shield them from the blazing sun and the wind and rain.
Dozens of bed sheets were laid out on the muddy ground, serving as makeshift beds for the patients.
Yakushi Kabuto's figure darted busily within the tent, never pausing.
"Phew…"
A faint green glow emanated from Kabuto's hands as he tirelessly treated the patients' wounds.
After a few minutes, he wiped the sweat from his brow, having finished healing one patient.
"Time for lunch. I should let the Director rest."
Kabuto glanced at the sky outside, judging it to be noon.
He rolled down his sleeves and quickly stepped outside.
But the scene that greeted him made him freeze in place.
Yakushi Nonō was speaking with a man with long, flowing black hair.
A strange emblem, resembling a woven mat, was emblazoned on the back of his clothes.
"…Shimizu?"
Nonō's eyes were filled with disbelief.
"It's me, Nonō-nee."
Shimizu Uchiha smiled.
His appearance had changed significantly since the past—he was much taller and more robust.
[Raiton: Saisei Renta] (Lightning Release: Regenerative Refinement) continuously circulated within Shimizu's body, steadily increasing his physical strength until it reached the limits his chakra pathways could endure.
"No, I no longer use that name."
Nonō shook her head.
She had started a new life, severing ties with her past.
"It's just a name, isn't it? To me, Nonō-nee will always be Nonō-nee."
At his words, a serene, almost saintly smile spread across Nonō's face.
Her gaze then shifted to Guren, who stood beside Shimizu, and she asked, "Are you bringing this child to stay at the orphanage? I'm the director now; I have the authority to take her in."
Nonō's tone was gentle.
Though the orphanage was facing severe financial difficulties, her kind heart couldn't bear to see any child left homeless.
Guren's blue hair stood in stark contrast to the Uchiha Clan's signature black locks, and Nonō immediately knew this girl wasn't from the Uchiha Clan.
So, Shimizu must have come here seeking the orphanage and happened to run into her.
"Lord Shimizu, please don't leave me!"
Guren grew anxious, clutching Shimizu's sleeve, fearing he intended to leave her behind.
"I'm taking this child back to Konohagakure," Shimizu said, patting Guren's head.
Guren's background was clean and could withstand scrutiny; registering her in Konoha would only take a few days.
"By the way, what's going on here?" Shimizu asked, glancing at the tent behind them.
A faint embarrassment crossed Nonō's face.
The orphanage was short on funds, so everyone was pitching in with odd jobs, doing whatever they could manage.
This technically counted as child labor, which was prohibited in the Land of Fire, even for ninja. Students weren't allowed to work until they graduated from the Ninja Academy.
Nonō sighed and explained the situation to Shimizu.
"Then let me help."
With that, Shimizu told Guren to find a place to rest, rolled up his sleeves, and entered the tent to treat the patients.
Shimizu didn't immediately offer Nonō money.
When sending charcoal in snowy weather, emphasizing the giver's hardship makes the act more meaningful.
He could easily hand over a few hundred thousand ryō, solve the orphanage's financial crisis, and earn Nonō's gratitude, and that would be the end of it.
But Shimizu's ambitions went far beyond that.
He wanted to elevate the bond of mentorship between them just a little further.
That way, it would be easier to enlist Nonō's help in the future.
Such a talent, stuck running an orphanage, was a waste of potential.
Shimizu's medical ninjutsu was masterful, visibly closing and healing wounds with astonishing speed.
"You… you're that Shimizu Uchiha!"
A ninja who had seen the battlefield widened his eyes, staring at Shimizu in shock.
Shimizu had gained fame in the Third Great Ninja War for his elusive [Shunshin no Jutsu] (Body Flicker Technique) and his miraculous medical ninjutsu.
"Look at the crest on his back! It's the Uchiha Clan's emblem. I've never seen another Uchiha learn medical ninjutsu!"
"You remember me, don't you, Doctor Shimizu? You saved me once on the battlefield near Iwagakure!"
Shimizu's arrival caused a stir.
Many ninja gazed at him with fervent admiration.
Not a single one harbored hatred toward him.
After all, Shimizu was a healer, not a fighter. Those who weren't prejudiced against the Uchiha Clan had no reason to dislike him—only gratitude.
"Everyone, please stay calm. I'll treat you methodically. You've seen how fast I work; the pain will be gone soon."
Shimizu urged the crowd to settle down and then quickened his pace, healing patients even faster.
"Haha, I'd say the Yellow Flash is the fastest in the ninja world, but Doctor Shimizu? He's second only to Lady Tsunade in the medical field!"
The oppressive atmosphere in the tent began to lift as people started chatting.
They had full confidence in Shimizu's skills, knowing they'd soon be treated with minimal risk of lingering injuries.
With a healer like Shimizu in their ranks, as long as they didn't lose their lives or limbs on the battlefield, they'd be fine.
"Is he someone the Director knew from before?" Kabuto wondered from a corner of the tent, watching Shimizu's terrifyingly proficient medical ninjutsu and the way his arrival sparked cheers among the ninja.
Were medical ninja always this popular?
"Shimizu, you've really grown."
Nonō sighed with emotion as she joined in treating the patients.
She didn't know about Shimizu's exploits in the Great Ninja War, but she could tell he had earned widespread respect for his medical skills.
Looking at the boy who had once sought her out to learn healing techniques for his ninja beasts, Nonō's eyes momentarily blurred, as if transported back to those days.
Back then, she had grown weary of the darkness of Root and the hidden filth within the village.
Thankfully, a boy with a pure heart had burst into her life.
"Be careful with these wounds in the future," Nonō said, her hands glowing with faint green light as she healed a patient.
She held back, cautious not to reveal her full strength and attract unwanted attention.
"Shimizu, take a break if you're tired."
"You too, Nonō-nee."
Shimizu and Nonō exchanged a knowing smile and continued treating the patients.
Watching this, Kabuto felt an inexplicable heaviness in his chest.
The Director was the mother he revered most.
Yet now, he felt as though she was being taken away.
He could sense instinctively that Nonō and Shimizu Uchiha shared a deep bond.
But the way that man looked at Nonō wasn't entirely pure—it carried a desire Kabuto couldn't fully decipher.
"Hey, Kabuto, don't slack off!" Urushi called, snapping Kabuto out of his daze and pulling him to treat another patient.
"Oh, right."
Kabuto averted his gaze, burying his emotions deep within.
He began treating patients, though his eyes occasionally drifted toward Shimizu Uchiha.
As everyone worked, the sun gradually set, giving way to night.
"Here's the payment for today."
The leader handed over a sum of money, adding an extra ten percent out of respect for Shimizu.
Even so, the amount was pitifully small.
There were no severely injured ninja here—just those needing minor treatment.
"Thank you," Nonō said gratefully.
Those who didn't manage a household wouldn't understand the value of firewood, rice, oil, and salt.
Back when she was a ninja, she wouldn't have batted an eye at such a sum; money was just a number to her then.
But life's hardships had taught her otherwise, and she could tell at a glance that this payment was more than usual.
"We'll trouble you again tomorrow," the leader said before heading off to rest.
The treatments would continue for several days, as more ninja passed through.
Nonō quietly clutched the money pouch, calculating how it could improve the orphanage's meals.
Lately, the children had been eating nothing but potatoes, teetering on the edge of malnutrition. They desperately needed better nutrition.
But soon, her brow furrowed again.
She had been out of the ninja world for too long.
She could only vaguely sense that the ninja world was embroiled in a brutal war.
But how far the war had progressed, or when it would end, she didn't know.
The orphanage might get caught in the crossfire. If she acted, her identity could be exposed. If she didn't, the children would be in danger.
"I need to find a stable source of funding. Scraping by like this isn't sustainable," Nonō thought.
After a long pause, she returned to the orphanage.
"Shimizu, you can stay in this room tonight. The other child will be in the room next door."
"Thank you."
Shimizu took a small sealing scroll from his waist, unsealing ten thousand ryō and handing it to Nonō as rent.
Nonō was stunned. She wanted to refuse, but the malnourished faces of the children flashed through her mind.
"Thank you," she said solemnly after a moment's hesitation.
She knew Shimizu had seen her struggles and was helping in his own way.
A warmth stirred in her heart.
She hadn't misjudged him all those years ago.
But Shimizu was so young—how much could he have saved?
Maintaining the expenses of a ninja and still offering ten thousand ryō was no small feat.
"It's nothing," Shimizu said, urging Guren to go to bed before entering his own room.
A faint, unnoticed smile curled his lips.
Orochimaru and Shimura Danzō would likely show up soon.
This was an opportunity.
Days passed in a blur.
The orphanage was located in the Land of Fire, not far from Konohagakure.
Shimizu even found time to return to his temporary squad, bringing them to the orphanage.
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