"Thank you for coming on short notice, Doctor," the Hokage said as the medical nin walked into his office.
"Of course, Lord Hokage. May I ask what this is about?" She asked with a short bow.
He cleared his throat.
"You examined a boy who collapsed on graduation day. He goes by the name Sabuko Kanto."
She blinked, then nodded. "Yes, I remember him. Is he alright? Has something happened?"
"That's what I want clarified. When you saw him, was there anything unusual about his chakra behavior?"
She folded her hands behind her back.
"Not during my exam, no. His mother said he was drenched in cold sweat, convulsing, and pausing between breaths on the way, which was textbook severe chakra‑depletion syndrome.'
She looked to the upper right, stretching her lips.
"I was braced for chakra coil damage and microtears in the pathways... But when he arrived, he was unconscious yet stable. Flow was shallow but clean: no turbulence, no strain signatures."
"You think she might have exaggerated?" Hiruzen leaned closer.
"Not intentionally." She shook her head, "It's common... parents think a tremor is a seizure. A gasp becomes 'he stopped breathing.' I don't discard it, but I treat what I can verify. And what I saw was mild chakra-depletion compounded by exhaustion. I kept him for observation, and a bit later, he woke briefly... then slept immediately after. I discharged him with rest orders."
"You didn't try infusing your chakra for a deeper read?"
"Protocol at a clinic level is conservative. If there's stable vitals, no distress... Then we don't do invasive treatment. There's more risk than reward forcing chakra in. If he'd crashed in front of me, it would be a different story."
Hiruzen grunted, thoughtful. "You logged the discrepancy?"
"Yes. Full note in his chart: 'Reported severe episode, objective findings mild.' Flagged for follow-up if he presents again."
"Good. In case he comes to you again, you contact me first. You're dismissed. Thank you, Doctor."
"Understood. If you'll excuse me, Lord Hokage." She bowed, then leaving the room; leaving Hiruzen to his thoughts.
'Hrm…' He tapped his fingers on the desk, deep in thought.
'It's early to say anything... but if he was truthful about working his way up to ten clones after just fifteen days, then it's safe to assume his mother didn't exaggerate his condition before he was checked in. He was suffering from acute chakra depletion syndrome.'
Hiruzen leaned back against his chair.
'...The only conclusion is that his body must've recovered during transit!'
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes.
'Just enough for the doctor to read it as mild. Enduring fifteen days of daily depletion without permanent damage… And starting at one shadow clone, which would also mean his initial chakra reserves were low...'
A slow tap.
'...A structural mutation? Or a rare Kekkei Genkai...' He blinked. 'Tsk. Even with all this data, it could mean any number of things.'
Then, he gave a long sigh.
'I'm curious... but I'll leave it at that, for now.' He rubbed a hand over his face, his mind drifting to Tsunade. 'If only she were here… Or even him.'