Haseo spent just a brief moment with Sansho before taking his leave, not wanting to disturb her rest.
More often than not, people don't need to be physically close. Simply being near each other and letting the other know "I'm here" is often enough to convey countless unspoken emotions.
Being too close meant little—it simply wasn't where Haseo was meant to be.
As he walked away from Sansho's residence, he unexpectedly ran into Kōga Kai approaching head-on.
"Haseo, mind if we talk for a bit?" The other smiled upon seeing him, then spoke first.
"Mm, I also have something I want to ask you, Doctor Kōga." Haseo agreed.
"Then wait just a moment."
With that, Kōga lifted the paper bag he held in front of his chest—it was completely full—and then walked past Haseo into the small courtyard.
Haseo stood still and waited briefly before Kōga finally reappeared.
"Let's go."
He took the lead walking forward, and Haseo followed right behind.
Though they both said they had things to discuss, neither spoke a word during their walk, proceeding silently one after the other.
Kōga, who walked ahead, seemed almost aimless, merely wandering through the village. Following closely behind, Haseo gradually realized without noticing when—they had already climbed to the top of Konoha's most iconic landmark: the Hokage Cliffs.
From up here, they could overlook the entire village.
Compared to how this cliff face would later be filled with carved faces, at this point it only bore the images of the First and Second Hokages. Right now, during wartime, there simply weren't sufficient resources or manpower available for projects like carving a new Third Hokage's image into the stone.
Therefore, the cliff face remained vast and smooth apart from those two original figures. This layout was like a deliberate blank space in a painting, creating a sense of solemn grace between the two dignified faces.
Adding the Third Hokage's figure later wouldn't ruin the atmosphere either—but beyond that point, this rock would eventually turn into what looked like a crowded mess of faces carved everywhere.
"You know," Kōga suddenly spoke, having gazed down upon the village below for quite some time in silence, "because of Sansho, I became a Medical Ninja ever since I was little. From a technical standpoint alone, I can now be considered extremely skilled.
However, it wasn't until later that I realized a very simple truth—no matter how much you learn after birth or master through practice, it often feels powerless when faced with something innate."
Standing atop the Hokage Cliffs, Kōga looked down at the village beneath, speaking only after another long period of silence.
The two were now standing on the path behind the carved cliff face. Considering the prestige and influence still carried by the deceased Hokages, and the genuine admiration and respect held for them by the villagers, neither Haseo nor Kōga could possibly step forward carelessly onto the heads of the statues as kids might do in future generations—even though stepping forward just a few paces would offer a clearer view.
Haseo glanced at Kōga and thought—was he actually part of the Senju clan? Looking-wise, he didn't seem like it; he lacked the signature black hair characteristic of the Senju.
Of course, it could also be a mutation. After all, the Second was born with white hair as well.
Haseo understood the other's sense of helplessness — after all, top-tier medical resources were always scarce, reserved only for the most powerful individuals. Yet even the best medical resources were sometimes powerless, and such situations were far too common… because the human body was so incredibly intricate and complex — so much so that its profound mysteries would never be fully comprehended for hundreds or even thousands of years.
"Given Sansho's current physical condition, will there be any problems with her giving birth in a few months?" Haseo asked.
From what little he remembered from his past life, it was already quite dangerous for an ordinary person to give birth at her age. And considering Sansho's already frail health, which had never been strong to begin with, the risks would surely be even greater. Regular people might be different, but Sansho wasn't even exactly a ninja.
Kōga turned his head slightly, casting a deep glance toward Haseo before turning back again, concealing his expression. Only then did he continue speaking, "You don't really think Sansho has always been as calm and composed as she appears, do you? The strongest Senju clan was hidden from the world by her own decision. Can you even imagine the kind of psychological pressure she carried?
Each day brought more pain, each moment of suffering flowing seamlessly into the next.
To tell the truth… her physical condition has been deteriorating all along."
Haseo found himself momentarily speechless. He was neither a member of the Senju clan nor Sansho herself, so he truly hadn't considered the things Kōga had just mentioned.
Such obvious matters had completely escaped him.
No matter the reason, what Sansho had done constituted an unforgivable 'sin'... The brighter the glory of the previous generation shone, the more unbearable these thoughts buried deep within her heart must have become. Even though Sansho never outwardly showed anything, that didn't mean the pain wasn't there — it only meant she endured it silently on her own.
She truly was worthy of being called a teacher, and truly the daughter of The First Hokage... Despite her weak constitution and inability to perform jutsu, when it came to sheer inner strength and mental fortitude, Sansho was no weaker than her predecessors.
"She's really… a true ninja."
To bear what others cannot bear — that is the way of the ninja.
Like Sansho and generations before her, they had all lived through war. Put bluntly, who among them didn't lose their entire family? And yet this was where the resilience of life revealed itself: most refused to break down; instead, they chose to resist fate, reject numbness, and stand firm with a positive attitude.
Those who saw no hope often took Nagare's path, walking straight into oblivion, carrying away despair while leaving hope behind for others — a choice not worth encouraging, perhaps, but one deserving of respect.
That's why most people respect the old ways and honor the memories of their ancestors. Even among shinobi, each generation seemed to fall short of the last. Later generations, after enduring so much pain, produced one fool after another who dared to destroy the world — and still had the nerve to call themselves gods.
If you can't even handle human affairs, who are you to call yourself a god? A god of morons?
"So, Rope was a divine blessing for Sansho. Now that I've said this, do you understand?" Kōga asked, looking at Haseo.
"Yes, I completely understand."
"Then there was silence again.
Haseo naturally understood Sansho's feelings after hearing her words. Although physically, Sansho was clearly unsuited for childbirth, a new life could draw her attention away from the burdens she had silently endured. Emotional comfort would naturally bring vitality back to her spirit.
"As long as you understand, then it's good. If she feels it's a positive thing, then it is positive. As for the other problems that come along with it, those are our problems to handle," Kōga said.
"That's true, Doctor," Haseo followed with a smile.
However, eloquent reassurances meant nothing. Despite all the explanations Kōga had offered, one fundamental question remained difficult to explain... Before the final offensive began in the Land of Rain, why did the Third Hokage order Tsunade, who was at the Front Line, to return to the village immediately?
Didn't that action speak for itself?
Haseo's gaze drifted into the distance, from Konoha outward into the deep forest, until the landscape blurred before him... Sometimes, seeing too clearly into everything wasn't such a blessing after all.
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