NOVEL WEB Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Hidden Hot Spring Village
"Sakumo-senpai, please don't worry about my condition. I'm fine now."
Minato stood up from the bed. His complexion really didn't look like someone who had lost a lot of blood. It wasn't rosy by any means, but there was no sign of lingering illness either.
Sakumo still hesitated slightly. Minato added, "Didn't Watanabe-senpai examine me earlier? My chakra has already started healing my injuries automatically."
He wasn't just pretending to be fine—aside from the pain in his left arm, he didn't feel the usual dizziness or weakness that came after losing a lot of blood.
"Is he really okay?" Sakumo turned to Junko Watanabe and asked.
"From my sensory perception, aside from the wounds, there's nothing unusual. His chakra truly has recovered already."
Junko said. Chakra represented a ninja's vital energy and spirit; therefore, sensing one's chakra could serve as a basic standard for determining a ninja's strength and physical condition.
Yet, the expression in her eyes revealed deep concern for Minato.
"In that case, you shouldn't factor me into your considerations. Besides, judging by the mission, you wouldn't leave me behind here alone while heading to the Hidden Hot Spring Village, right?" Minato smiled. Since Tachiyama Shinsaburo had attacked the Hidden Hot Spring Village, Sakumo and others naturally needed to reach there at the fastest speed. He was merely a Genin-in-Training from Konoha, and judging by Sakumo's personality, he wouldn't abandon him here either.
"There should be a hospital in the Hidden Hot Spring Village, right? Rather than leaving this guy alone here, why not send him to the hospital for treatment?" At this moment, Yan Uchiha actually suggested this, glancing toward Minato. Minato responded with a smile when he heard it.
Yan Uchiha simply gave an indifferent glance away.
"How about this—I'll carry you on my back during our trip to the Hidden Hot Spring Village." Sakumo offered. Naturally, he wouldn't abandon his comrade, and given the current situation, the village probably couldn't spare any ninjas to pick him up anyway. Moreover, the journey back would not be safe.
Minato was slightly taken aback and waved his hands quickly, saying, "That won't be necessary. I can walk on my own."
To prove he was fine, he walked a few steps and even did a light jump. However, the movement pulled his arm wound. Although Minato could endure the pain, his expression did turn awkward briefly.
"That's an order—you need to follow it." Sakumo smiled gently.
After hearing this, Minato had no choice but to comply.
"No time to waste then. Let's move out." Sakumo said, and the three Hidden Hot Spring Village ninja nodded.
Then he approached Minato, crouched down, and Minato looked somewhat embarrassed but still followed orders and got onto Sakumo's back.
Soon after, the seven of them jumped directly out from the balcony.
Not long afterward, the innkeeper came in looking puzzled and noticed only the open balcony at that moment.
...
Actually, the distance between Izumi Town and the Hidden Hot Spring Village wasn't far. Previously, to avoid detection by the Hidden Hot Spring Village ninjas, Sakumo and others had taken a detour, though obviously there was no need to do so this time.
Therefore, a few hours later, they arrived at the entrance of the Hidden Hot Spring Village.
During the journey, Sakumo and the others learned the names of the three new companions.
The lovely kunoichi was named Kato Miyone, while the other female ninja was Oshima Reina. As for the boy, his name was Akimoto Yama.
Though the main gate of Hidden Hot Spring Village wasn't as magnificent as Konoha's, it had its own unique charm—exquisitely crafted and engraved with the same insignia found on the Forehead Protectors of the village's ninjas.
No matter how small a ninja village was, it always had its own unique style and symbol.
Of course, when Minato and others attempted to enter, they were stopped by the on-duty shinobi of Hidden Hot Spring Village. Although they were escorted by the three local ninjas beforehand, they still came from another village, especially Konoha Ninja Village.
After finishing the checkup, Sakumo and the others finally entered the Hidden Hot Spring Village.
"Welcome to Hidden Hot Spring Village," Kato Miyone smiled warmly, welcoming them. Behind her stood a lively street bustling with people and filled with all sorts of cheerful sounds.
It must be admitted that this place indeed appeared very peaceful; even the common civilians walking along the streets exuded an air of happiness.
A happiness like this could only be protected at the expense of the ninjas' lives.
"I'll take Lord Sakumo to meet our leader. Kato Miyone and Akimoto Yama can go with Minato and the others to the hospital," Reina Oshima instructed.
"Yes," Kato Miyone responded obediently.
Junko Watanabe glanced at Sakumo, who just gave a light smile. "You all can go with them first. I'll come find you after I finish my business."
She nodded lightly before the group split into two separate parties.
...
About ten or so minutes later, Kato Miyone led Minato and the others to a building that looked like their hospital, though compared to Konoha's medical facility, this one seemed far smaller.
In fact, it looked more like an oversized clinic than an actual hospital.
Noticing the awkward looks on Minato's team's faces, Kato Miyone smiled and said with an apology in her voice, "Because both the Hidden Hot Spring Village and the Land of Hot Springs value peace highly, we rarely see casualties needing treatment unless there is war. Even most missions our shinobi take are simple guarding tasks."
They now understood clearly, and Minato envied this kind of atmosphere deeply—it was exactly what he longed for. Yet for present-day Konoha, such a goal still seemed too distant to achieve.
Kato Miyone led Minato and his team inside the clinic and approached a middle-aged male doctor. When he saw Minato, the man frowned slightly.
Before Minato's group could figure out what had happened, a woman in her forties wearing nurse's clothing walked in. Upon seeing Minato and Yan Uchiha wearing Konoha headbands, her expression immediately turned strange. She exclaimed loudly, "Good grief! This is outrageous! Letting kids this young go out on missions?"
Both boys felt awkward, unsure of how to respond.
Actually, in Hidden Hot Spring Village, you had to be at least eighteen before you could officially become a ninja. Age itself didn't matter so much; being a ninja was an inherently dangerous profession. Given the philosophy of this country, naturally, they would never allow underage kids to take up such risks.
Akimoto Yama becoming a ninja was therefore a special exception, the only case in the entire Hidden Hot Spring Village.
"Alright, let's first remove the black cloth wrapped around his left arm. I need to examine the wound," said the doctor.
Minato had planned to take it off himself, but he couldn't say no to the aunt's enthusiastic offer to help.
She gently and meticulously unwrapped the black cloth from his left arm.
When the cloth was completely removed, it revealed Minato's torn left sleeve. The doctor took a pair of scissors and cut along the torn part of the sleeve, finally revealing the wound beneath.
However, the sight before him startled him greatly.
He lifted his gaze toward Minato and the others, asking with obvious doubt, "Are you sure this injury was only sustained last night?"
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