The moment they breached the hospital doors, a tidal wave of sound crashed over him.
Nurses shouting, gurneys rattling, the low hum of medical machinery. The noise vibrated in Aokawa's skull like a physical blow. His consciousness flickered, vision graying at the edges.
He had marched through hell on sheer willpower. Now that he was safe, the adrenaline evaporated, leaving him hollow.
He was vaguely aware of being lifted onto a bed. Figures in white coats swarmed him.
Through the haze, a woman appeared. She was tall, with delicate features and a calming presence.
She placed her hands on his abdomen. A soft green light bloomed from her palms.
Medical Ninjutsu.
The light was warm, soothing. Where it touched, the agonizing throb of his wounds turned into a gentle tingle. It was too comfortable. The exhaustion of days spent fighting, running, and bleeding finally caught up to him.
His eyelids felt like lead. He surrendered to the darkness.
"Taji, how is he?"
Yuhi Shinku looked at the medic, his voice heavy.
Taji frowned, her expression professional and grim.
"Three broken ribs. Two deep lacerations on his back—one missed his heart by a centimeter. Both arms show hairline fractures."
She paused, her brow furrowing deeper.
"But... the scabbing indicates the back wounds are seven or eight days old. Someone stitched them up previously."
She looked at the fresh blood soaking the sheets.
"Then, they were torn open again. He engaged in high-intensity combat after being half-dead."
Shinku's red eyes widened slightly.
"He fought a battle in that state? And still walked back to the village?"
He looked down at the unconscious boy with newfound respect.
"For a kid his age... that level of willpower is terrifying."
Taji withdrew her hands, wiping sweat from her forehead.
"I've stabilized him, but the wounds are infected. He needs surgery immediately."
"Do it. Notify me the moment he wakes up."
"Yes, Shinku-sama."
It was three days before Aokawa opened his eyes.
The deep, restorative sleep combined with Konoha's advanced medical jutsu left him feeling surprisingly light. The constant, grinding pain was gone, replaced by a dull stiffness.
He stretched instinctively, his joints popping satisfyingly.
Then, movement in his peripheral vision caught his eye.
An old woman was sitting by the bed. Her head was bowed, gnarled hands twisting the hem of her robe nervously. Her silver hair caught the sunlight streaming through the window, highlighting the deep lines of worry etched into her face.
She hadn't noticed he was awake.
"Grandma."
The word slipped out before he could think. It wasn't him acting; it was the body's memory.
The old woman jolted. Her head snapped up. When she saw his clear, open eyes, her face crumpled into pure, overwhelming relief.
"Little Aokawa..."
She lunged forward, her withered hands grasping his, tears spilling over instantly.
"Yokota... Little Aokawa... thank Amaterasu you're safe..." She choked on her sobs. "If anything happened to you..."
"I'm okay, Grandma. I'm fine."
Aokawa squeezed her hand, forcing a reassuring smile.
She wiped her eyes roughly, the fear in her expression melting into a beaming, toothy smile that deepened every wrinkle on her face.
"Are you thirsty? Grandma will pour you some water. Or an apple? Let me peel an apple for you."
She started to bustle about, her movements shaky but eager. "Are you hungry? I'll run home and make your favorites. I'll bring them right back."
"Grandma, stop! Please!"
Aokawa laughed, jumping out of bed to gently restrain her.
"I'm not hungry. The hospital food is... edible. I'm recovering well."
Looking at her fuss over him, a pang of genuine emotion hit him. He smiled, but his eyes were sad.
She reminded him of his grandmother from his previous life.
That grandmother had been the same—always sitting by his bed when he was sick, always trying to feed him.
Later, when gaming restrictions locked him out, he had used her ID to bypass the age verification. Every time the facial recognition popped up, she would rush over, smiling brightly at the camera, thinking her grandson wanted a photo with her.
He never took a real photo with her.
When she died, he had scrolled through his phone for hours, crying until his eyes burned, realizing he had nothing but memories of that smile.
I won't have regrets this time.
The door slid open.
Yuhi Shinku walked in, followed by the medic, Taji.
"How are you feeling? Any lingering pain?" Shinku asked.
"I'm fine now. Thank you... Uncle."
Aokawa corrected himself. In his predecessor's memory, he didn't know Shinku. "Shinku-sama" would be too formal for a confused kid, but "Uncle" worked for a savior.
"I am Yuhi Shinku. This is Medic Taji. She performed your surgery," Shinku introduced briefly.
Taji?
Aokawa's mind clicked.
Taji. The midwife who would later deliver Naruto alongside Biwako Sarutobi (the Third Hokage's wife) and be killed by Obito during the Nine-Tails attack.
So it's her. Skilled and loyal enough to be trusted with the Jinchuriki's birth.
Taji tilted her head, smiling warmly. "Just call me Big Sister Taji."
"Thank you for saving me, Shinku-sama. Thank you for taking care of me, Big Sister Taji." Aokawa bowed politely.
"Hehe, what a polite and handsome little brother."
Taji giggled, reaching out to pinch his cheek. She lingered a bit too long, enjoying the texture.
Aokawa tried to dodge, but the "tofu eating" (flirting/touching) was unavoidable.
Shinku coughed dryly, interrupting the moment.
"Aokawa, come outside with me for a moment."
In the hallway, Shinku's demeanor turned serious.
"Tell me everything. How did you get those injuries?"
Aokawa had already prepared his script.
He recounted the mission—the ambush, the death of his team, the flight. But he altered the ending.
"The two bounty hunters... they started arguing over the reward split. They fought each other. They were already injured when I found them. I just... finished them off while they were distracted."
He kept his face neutral.
He couldn't reveal the Quincy powers yet.
If Danzo caught wind of a "Chakra Bow" bloodline, Aokawa would wake up in a Root cell with a Cursed Tongue Seal on his mouth.
If Orochimaru heard about it, Aokawa would end up in a jar.
He wasn't planning to hide forever. But disclosure had to be strategic. He needed to show his value directly to Hiruzen Sarutobi—the Professor. The Hokage appreciated talent and was less likely to dissect him than the other two.
Until he could secure the Hokage's protection, he was just a lucky survivor.
Shinku listened intently, nodding as he took mental notes.
"This involves the loss of a squad. I have to report this directly to the Hokage. You don't need to file a separate report."
"Intelligence division might question you later. Cooperate with them."
"Yes. Thank you, Shinku-sama."
Shinku patted his shoulder and walked away.
Aokawa turned back to the room to help his grandmother pack.
As he passed Taji, she slyly slipped a folded piece of paper into his chest pocket. She winked, her cheeks slightly flushed, and walked away with a sway in her hips.
Aokawa froze. He fingered the note, still warm from her body heat.
No way.
Did I just get picked up?