Konoha Hospital
Sitting on the hospital bed with his shirt off, Hyuga Shin waited while a middle-aged doctor in front of him flipped through a medical file. The man then reached out and gently pressed the ugly scar running across Shin's chest and abdomen.
The scar had been left when his body was run through by a blade—the fatal injury that had killed this body before Shin's soul took it over.
Back then, Nohara Rin had given him emergency treatment. Now the wound had closed, and when the doctor pressed it there was only a faint itch and a trace of tingling.
"The body's healing well—just come in for regular check-ups," the doctor instructed."Another week and you should be fully recovered. Until then, no strenuous activity or ninja training. And when you bathe, avoid rubbing the wound too hard."
"Understood," Shin replied with a nod.
The doctor picked up another file.
"All your test indicators are normal, but your eyesight has dropped slightly… nothing serious for you."
He knew this patient was from the Hyuga Clan. Naturally, the eyesight granted by the Byakugan could not be compared to what Shin had now.
"You can go. If you feel unwell, come back immediately."
"Thank you, doctor," Shin said, taking the report before leaving the consultation room.
The hospital was anything but quiet—it was chaotic.
Because of the war, most of the medical-nin had been sent to the front lines, leaving the village hospital short-staffed. A steady flow of wounded kept arriving from the battlefield.
In the corridors, bandaged and splinted shinobi limped past, while harried medical staff rushed by.
The sight made Shin uneasy. He was about to leave when, turning a corner, he collided head-on with a hurried figure.
"Oof!"
Papers went flying everywhere.
"Hey! Don't you have eyes?!"
Before Shin even saw her face, a sharp, girlish voice rang out.
A short-haired, purple-haired girl was crouched on the floor, clearly younger than Shin. She glared up at him.
"You jerk! Do you even know who I am? I'm delivering this to Lord Orochimaru! Can you afford to make me late?"
That name told Shin exactly who she was.
She ducked her head to gather the scattered papers, ready to scold him further—until she noticed Shin leaning against the wall with one hand, the other clutching his chest, his face twisted in pain.
Startled, she stepped back.
"W-what's wrong with you?"
"My chest… hurts so much. You hit me… hiss—" Shin winced.
"Don't fake it! How could you be hurt just from that bump?" she shot back, suspicious.
Shin shakily handed her the medical report. She scanned it, saw the record of his serious injury and incomplete recovery, and instantly panicked.
"I—uh—are you okay? Does it hurt a lot?"
"Doctor! Doctor!"
Her shout brought over a female medical-nin.
"What happened?"
The girl—Mitarashi Anko (Hongdou)—shoved the report at her.
"I just… bumped into him! I didn't know he was injured—I swear I didn't mean it!"
The medic glanced at the report, then at the two of them.
"It's better now," Shin said quickly. "Not hurting as much anymore."
Expression flat, the medic handed back the file.
"We're short-staffed. Don't let this happen again."
"Sorry to trouble you," Shin said politely.
Anko misunderstood, thinking the rebuke was aimed at her. She bowed repeatedly.
When the medic left, Anko asked cautiously:
"You… sure you're okay?"
"I'll live," Shin said with a faint smile.
She fidgeted, clutching her stack of papers.
"Then… what are you going to do? I—I don't have any money!"
Shin almost laughed.
"Can you at least buy me a meal?"
"Huh?"
"Take me to dinner. Call it making amends."
She hesitated. Maybe this guy was a glutton trying to bankrupt her. After a pause, she nodded.
"Fine… but I have to deliver these to Lord Orochimaru first. Don't worry—I won't skip out! You could even come with me—"
"No need. I trust you. I'll wait at Barbecue Q on West Street."
Her face fell slightly at the mention of barbecue—this could get expensive.
"…Alright. Wait half an hour."
They split up at the hospital entrance. Watching her jog away, Shin was mildly surprised Orochimaru was in Konoha; he'd assumed the man would be on the front lines. His inherited memories contained little about Orochimaru—mostly rumors.
He strolled to the restaurant and took a seat.
Half an hour later, a small figure peeked around the doorway.
Anko, after delivering her package, had worried she didn't have enough spending money and asked Orochimaru for more. Unfortunately, the man's wallet was almost empty—just a few bills. She couldn't bring herself to take much.
This jerk was going to make her foot the bill, even with Orochimaru's money! Disgusting.
Seeing Shin watching her, she suppressed her irritation and walked over, sitting opposite him.
"What's your name? I saw it on your report earlier, but didn't really read it."
"Hyuga Shin."
"Oh, Hyuga… I'm Mitarashi—Wait, Hyuga? You're from the Hyuga Clan?"
"What's your full name?" Shin asked in turn.
"Mitarashi Anko," she said, still staring at him.
Shin called for the menu and ordered without consulting her.
After a moment's thought, Anko's eyes lit up in recognition.
"I remember now! You're the one Rin saved!"
"You know Rin?"
"Yeah—Rin and Kurenai are close friends, so I met her a few times."
She was two years younger than Rin, not in the same class.
Dessert and drinks came first. Anko immediately dug in—if she was paying, she might as well eat her fill.
When the barbecue arrived, Shin placed the meat neatly on the grill. Anko tried to help but slapped it down carelessly, ignoring it afterward.
Shin tapped her chopsticks with his own.
"Stop messing around. Just wait and eat."
She pouted but didn't argue—just chewed another pastry. Once she tasted the first piece of grilled meat Shin passed her, her mood brightened.
"Not bad," she admitted, grabbing more.
Shin didn't particularly want to chat with a little girl, but now it was inevitable.
After a few bites, Anko asked,
"I heard your eyes came from a dead teammate?"
"Yes," Shin said evenly.
"I have a friend like that—but only one eye."
"Hatake Kakashi?"
"You know him?"
"Genius jōnin. Everyone in the village knows him."
Anko nodded—Kakashi's name was indeed well-known.
"So, is there a difference between your Byakugan and your eyes now?"
Shin set down his chopsticks.
"Of course. With the Byakugan, I could see several kilometers away, see through walls, track chakra flow, and pinpoint tenketsu. Now… these are just normal eyes."
"That's pitiful," Anko blurted.
"It's only temporary. I'll have my Byakugan back soon."
"Huh?"
"The Hyuga Clan keeps the preserved eyes of past members. The clan leader has already arranged for me to receive a transplant. Soon, I'll see like before—maybe better."
"That's even possible?" Anko was fascinated.
"If I can go from Byakugan to normal eyes, I can go back again. Some of those stored eyes belonged to powerful ancestors."
"Whose eyes will you get?"
"I don't know. The storage is a restricted area. Only our highest-ranking shinobi hold the key, and no one enters without the clan head's order."
She leaned in.
"Then you—"
Shin rapped her head lightly with the back of his chopsticks.
"Enough questions. Eat your barbecue."
Pouting, Anko obeyed. She ate a little more before pushing the plate away.
"I'm full."
"You're paying. Eat more."
"…Fine. A little more."