"Medical Team selection?"
"Yeah, didn't they send out application forms last week? The selection started yesterday."
"How come I didn't get the news?" Hyuga Aokawa asked.
"You didn't receive it?" Chiba Yuzu was very surprised.
"I was wondering why you didn't participate."
Then she seemed to remember something and added:
"I remember now, the Medical Team selection requires Licensed Doctors to participate."
She looked at Hyuga Aokawa with admiration:
"Aokawa, you're so amazing. I almost forgot you're just an intern."
"Licensed Doctors only?" Hyuga Aokawa then hurriedly asked:
"Where is the Medical Team selection taking place?"
Now that he knew there was a selection, he had to go check it out no matter what.
If they really insisted on Licensed Doctors, he would show off his skills.
He knew the skill level of the Hospital's doctors.
With the Stone Gate, his current medical level was such that not many in the Hospital were better than him.
Besides, this wasn't an assessment of strength rankings.
The Medical Team definitely needed a lot of people; there was no reason for the requirements to be that high.
Chiba Yuzu put her finger to her chin and recalled, "It seems to be in the Administrative Office Area of the Hospital, in that building by the river."
"Are you going over? It might be over by now..."
Hyuga Aokawa didn't even finish listening to Chiba Yuzu.
He stood up abruptly and said "Sorry" to the doctor presiding over the meeting.
Amidst the doctor's dumbfounded and bewildered expression, he jumped straight out of the nearby window.
Hyuga Aokawa was very anxious.
He didn't expect the Medical Team training to have been going on right under his nose for so long.
Although compared to the Hospital, the Medical Team needed to go to dangerous places on the Front Lines.
But that actually suited him better.
The Favor the Stone Gate obtained during battles on the Front Lines was significantly higher than in the rear.
This was the contradiction where he wanted stability due to his weakness, yet couldn't blindly seek it.
As soon as he got downstairs, he ran straight toward the office area.
The Konoha Hospital's storefront didn't look big, but the interior area was quite vast.
He finally reached the cluster of buildings by the river.
But he saw the Group Leader Hattori Kako and deputy leader Ishida Yuki walking over, chatting and laughing.
They were very puzzled to see Hyuga Aokawa running over anxiously.
"Aokawa, what's wrong?" Hattori Kako asked with concern.
"Where is the Medical Team selection taking place?"
"Medical Team selection?"
Hattori Kako froze for a moment, then realized Hyuga Aokawa was there for the Medical Team selection.
She immediately scolded, "Why are you so late? The selection is over; we two were the last ones."
Ishida Yuki, who was beside her, also spoke up:
"We were wondering why we didn't see you. We thought you were young and didn't want to go to the Front Lines."
"I only found out about this morning!" Hyuga Aokawa said with a dark face.
"Impossible!" Hattori Kako exclaimed.
"Last week, Lady Biwako already called me to fill out the form."
"Yeah, a few days ago I also..."
Halfway through, Ishida Yuki suddenly remembered something and nudged Hattori Kako:
"Leader, the Medical Team requires Licensed Doctors to participate. Aokawa is still just an intern."
"Oh right, I forgot about that."
Hattori Kako slapped her forehead, then smiled teasingly:
"It's all because you're so capable, Aokawa. What intern is this versatile?"
"Your medical knowledge is even more solid than mine, the Group Leader. I subconsciously treat you as an experienced doctor."
"Aokawa is exceptionally gifted," Ishida Yuki also laughed.
"Like me, I spent a whole year as an intern and then followed a Senior for five years after becoming official."
"By the time I gradually became independent, ten years had passed."
Ishida Yuki said with a sigh of emotion.
"What took me ten years to achieve, Aokawa finished in two months, and he's more well-rounded than me. It's really frustrating to think about."
Hattori Kako was also reminded of her past by Ishida Yuki: "Then you're much better than me. Back then, I..."
Seeing that Hattori Kako was also about to talk about her bitter journey, Hyuga Aokawa quickly interrupted:
"Where is Lady Biwako's office?"
Hattori Kako wasn't angry at being interrupted; she pointed in a direction with a smile:
"On the top floor of the innermost building."
"Understood, thanks!"
After Hyuga Aokawa finished speaking, he rushed straight toward the building Hattori Kako pointed out.
Hattori Kako looked at the departing figure and shook her head.
"Actually, he could totally wait until next year..."
"Yeah, at this age and with this talent, I don't know what urgent matter he's rushing for."
Ishida Yuki also sighed.
"Maybe he has other considerations. If only my son were as outstanding as him."
"Hahaha, jealous, aren't you? I'm jealous too... but he might not necessarily pass."
Hattori Kako nodded: "His medical skills are certainly fine; in some aspects, even we can't compare to him."
"But this selection assesses more than just medical skills..."
...Dean's office.
Files were piled like mountains on the desk.
Sarutobi Biwako was bent over her desk amidst the wall of documents.
The pen in her hand moved quickly, approving documents one by one.
Suddenly.
She stopped her pen, a smile appearing on her face, and said:
"How do you have time to come to my place today?"
The curtains moved without any wind.
"It's a rare break, so I came to see you."
Sarutobi Biwako sat up straight, leaning against the back of her chair, looking around the obstructing files.
Sure enough!
Hiruzen Sarutobi was already sitting openly on the sofa, holding a pipe in one hand, looking at her with a smile.
"No smoking in the Hospital!" Sarutobi Biwako raised her eyebrows.
Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly put it away and defended himself: "It's not lit, I'm just used to holding it."
"As if I don't know your smoking habit."
Sarutobi Biwako got up, went to the side of the table, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Since it's a rare break, you should go out and relax. Why come to my place?"
"I just came to see you."
Sarutobi Biwako poured herself a cup of tea and took a sip: "Cut that out. Tell me, what's the matter?"
"Look at what you're saying. Can't I come to check on my own wife even if there's nothing?"
"You're not going to say it? Fine, then I'll get back to work."
As she spoke, she pointed to the mountain of files piled at the foot of the desk:
"Look, there are still so many things to do. I don't have time to entertain you."
Hiruzen Sarutobi followed her finger and saw that besides the desk, there were stacks of files on the floor.
He said in a soft tone, "Wife, you've worked hard!".
"Hmph! If you really cared, you'd get Tsunade to come back quickly."
Sarutobi Biwako's expression was very dissatisfied:
"The young people run off to drink and gamble, leaving an old woman like me here to work like a horse. It's too much."
Seeing Sarutobi Biwako full of resentment, Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly got up and helped her sit down by her shoulders.
He smiled and said, "Where are you old? In my eyes, you're always so young."
"Just now, seeing your back as you were hunched over working, I thought some new young girl had been transferred to be the Dean."