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Chapter 58: Visiting the Sick
After leaving the Hokage's office, Uchiha Kei made his way straight to the flower shop. He hadn't left the Uchiha compound much lately, having buried himself in study and training. But today, he noticed something unusual—there were significantly more ninja roaming the streets.
Most of them bore visible injuries, some light, some more severe. Yet their spirits remained high, and many greeted Uchiha Kei with warm familiarity.
It didn't take long for Kei to realize—they had just returned from the battlefield, likely the same one he had fought on in the Land of Grass.
He returned their greetings and quietly listened in on their conversations. With a sigh, he realized most of them were either boasting about their exploits or lamenting their bad luck—being injured before even getting a chance to fight. Kei couldn't help but shake his head at the contrast.
Despite their injuries, many still carried the excitement of having survived, and a spark in their eyes that hinted they would readily return to the battlefield if asked. Kei had no doubt that if the higher-ups of Konoha summoned them again "for the future of the village," they would charge forward without hesitation.
The cohesion Konoha had instilled in its ordinary ninja was terrifyingly strong. History had shown that, under the leadership's command, these shinobi were willing to throw away their lives for vague ideals.
It was thanks to them that Konoha stood tall today. Yet ironically, they were the ones who received the least. The spoils of war had long since been divided among the higher-ups and the major clans.
Watching the festive crowd celebrating in the streets, Kei stood to the side—calm, quiet, and a little out of place.
There was a trace of sarcasm in his heart. Perhaps ignorance really was bliss.
Still, he kept these thoughts to himself, offering polite smiles in return. Deep down, though, he had a feeling this war might truly be nearing its end.
Hands in his pockets, Kei continued on his way. It didn't take long before he arrived at a local flower shop in Konoha.
"Kei-kun?"
To his surprise, he ran into Yamanaka Masato.
"Masato-san?" Kei looked at him, slightly puzzled. "What are you doing here? Wait—is this flower shop run by the Yamanaka Clan?"
"Sort of," Masato laughed. "Let's just say our young clan head opened it to give his wife something to do so she wouldn't get too bored."
"He went to the battlefield too—you know how it is. As for me, I was injured, so I can't train or return to the front lines for now. I'm just here lending a hand."
Kei nodded. It seemed every generation of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio ended up on the battlefield. A show of loyalty to the Third Hokage, perhaps?
Still, due to their status, they wouldn't be sent to the most dangerous areas. Their survival rate was much higher. And since the husbands were off to war, it made sense their wives would need something to occupy their time.
Yamanaka Inoichi seemed like a romantic type—thoughtful of his family. Setting up a flower shop for his wife was a sweet gesture. Besides, businesses like these helped bridge the gap between clan shinobi and civilian ninja, aligning well with the philosophies passed down from the Second and Third Hokage—at least on the surface.
"Are you here to buy flowers?" Masato asked, suddenly remembering something. "Visiting family? Friends? Oh—your teammates, right?"
"Yeah," Kei nodded. "Kakashi. And… Hyūga Ayaka."
"You must be close. But I have to admit—I don't know much about flower meanings, so I'm not the best person to ask for recommendations." Masato thought for a moment, then pointed to a pot of orchids. "Still, most people who come here tend to pick these. You might want to consider them."
"Orchids, huh…" Kei looked at the flowers and, after a moment's hesitation, nodded.
He wasn't familiar with flower language. Aside from carnations, he probably wouldn't recognize the meaning behind any bloom. But since Masato suggested them, he was willing to trust his judgment.
Besides, it was a good chance to strengthen his relationship with Masato.
Though they had fought on the same battlefield and Kei had even saved him, the truth was that they came from different 'camps.'
In the past, Kei wouldn't have bothered with such thoughts—especially given the strained relationship between the Uchiha clan and the Third Hokage.
But he now understood that the key to pushing the Third into retirement lay in both the war's conclusion and the looming issue of Orochimaru. And that moment was drawing closer.
Even if the Third continued to pull strings behind the scenes, a shift was coming. The major clans would likely begin exploring new alliances. After all, both the Third and Danzo had long since worn out their welcome.
With orchids in hand, Kei finally made his way toward the hospital.
Konoha Hospital was bustling.
The recent war, combined with the havoc Kei himself had stirred up, had sent many shinobi back to the village. Naturally, that meant the hospital was overflowing with the wounded—and the halls were packed with visitors.
There were also families grieving quietly for loved ones who hadn't survived their injuries. They kept their cries low, not wanting to disturb others or spread their grief, so their sorrowful sobs blended into the bustling sounds of the hospital corridors.
Kei didn't like that sound, but he had learned to face it with calm. He had seen far worse on the battlefield.
Moving with a numb expression, he made his way to Kakashi's ward.
He found it quickly.
"Kei-kun?"
As he opened the door, he saw several wounded Konoha shinobi in the room. Kakashi was among them.
Rin Nohara spotted him first and waved excitedly. But her voice brought an instant hush over the room.
Kei's name carried weight now—his reputation had spread far.
As he stepped in, the patients stared at him. Then, as if a dam had broken, families and friends of the wounded began to gather around.
"You're Uchiha Kei, right?"
"Thank you so much for everything you've done!"
"If not for you, Ryosuke might not have made it back alive…"
"Thank you, thank you!"
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