Two days later, it was November 11 of Konoha Year 47.
Shimizu vaguely remembered that, on this same day four years ago, he had set out for the Third Great Ninja War.
Back then, the war had only just begun, and his strength had just reached the starting point of a jōnin.
And now, in the blink of an eye, four years had passed. He had finally stepped into…
"Shimizu Uzuki, it's time to change your medicine."
The young nurse's voice was very sweet.
…stepped into the embrace of the Anbu underground hospital.
If this were Konoha Hospital, he would probably be on that familiar third floor again, with Miss Sara Imadegawa there as well.
Now, however, for the sake of secrecy and safety, he could only stay underground beneath the Anbu Headquarters, in a place that never saw the light of day.
This underground hospital had been specially established for injured Anbu who required a certain degree of confidentiality.
"…All right."
"Take off your clothes and turn over."
"…Mm."
At present, he could only passively allow the young nurse to handle him, spreading ointment evenly over his entire body.
If he wanted to recover his strength as quickly as possible, then honestly cooperating with the medical personnel was the duty of every patient.
Because the young nurse before him had given him a very serious warning: if his recovery did not go well, even continuing as a shinobi in the future might become a problem.
After all, injuries to the chakra pathways could be minor or severe. If they were serious enough, they really could affect a shinobi's career for the rest of their life.
"Turn over again."
It was only two months. He just had to endure it, and it would pass.
Knock, knock, knock.
There was a knock at the door.
"May I come in?"
That voice was…
"Please come in," the young nurse replied.
The one who opened the door and entered was the red-haired Uzumaki Kushina.
"Whoa, Shimizu, you finally woke up!"
And then…
A gust of wind struck.
This was bad.
Fortunately, the hand that had originally been about to slap Shimizu's shoulder finally stopped at the last instant.
"Sorry, sorry! I was too excited and forgot for a moment that you're still a patient, Shimizu."
Fine beads of cold sweat immediately appeared on Shimizu's forehead. If that palm had landed, his recovery period might have turned into three months.
No, with Kushina's strength, maybe four months.
"That scared me to death. If that hit had landed just now, the patient might have had to lie down for half a year," the young nurse said, still shaken.
Sorry, Kushina.
It turned out he had underestimated your strength all this time.
"I'm sorry, really sorry." Kushina stuck out her tongue. "How about I make you a bowl of ramen as an apology, Shimizu?"
The moment he heard the word "ramen," it felt as though his mouth had been filled with a packet of salt.
His memory returned to that night.
That bowl of unbelievably salty ramen.
"Look, I wasn't actually hurt." Shimizu slowly but firmly shook his head. "So let's not."
"No, no, I have to. It was my fault. I almost caused a disaster."
Kushina counted on her fingers.
"For you, Shimizu, you definitely still like narutomaki, right? I remember you used to go to Ichiraku Ramen a lot."
"Tonkotsu?"
"Crab sticks?"
"Green onions?"
"Tomato?"
Shimizu: "…"
"The medicine has been changed. You two can talk."
"Thank you."
Shimizu thanked her sincerely.
"Young nurse, you're beautiful and kind-hearted. Thank you so much~"
Very soon, the young nurse left the ward.
"Shimizu, aren't you going to consider it?"
"Consider what?"
"You're still pretending with me?!"
"???"
"Oh, you're pretty convincing."
Kushina suddenly sighed.
"With acting skills that good, who knows how many little girls have suffered because of you."
I…
Shimizu said helplessly, "I thought you were talking about something else… She's just a nurse. Right now, she's only applying medicine for me because it's part of her work."
"Oh~ That's true. After all, you already have someone outside."
"…"
"Ah, poor girl from the Hyūga clan. She's been searching the whole world for you, but…"
Kushina sighed heavily again.
"Ah, how could things turn out like this? She nearly tried to die for love…"
That's enough. Know when to stop.
With Hyūga Satomi's calm personality, how could she possibly do something like that?
Did she really think Shimizu did not understand that girl at all?
"Because the village is keeping your condition absolutely confidential, only a handful of people know the truth about you."
"Your little disciple, your little sister, your little girlfriend… in short, there are still a few people who care about you."
"But it's been more than a year. A living person disappeared for more than a full year, and on top of that, Lord Hokage and the others stayed silent. All sorts of rumors and guesses have been flying everywhere for a long time. Do you think the people who truly care about you wouldn't start imagining the worst?"
Everything Kushina said made sense.
Precisely because he had considered those things after waking up, Shimizu had tried to contact the outside world over the past two days. However, the Third Hokage had blocked every attempt.
"Shimizu Uzuki's complete recovery" had to be treated as the top priority.
It was a new S-rank mission.
"You think she's very rational, do you?"
"…"
"You think a girl can endure that kind of loneliness, huh?"
"…"
"If I went more than a year without seeing Minato, and didn't even know whether he was dead or alive…"
Kushina imagined that scene for a moment.
"Mm… I think I'd explode on the spot."
After a brief silence, Shimizu slowly asked, "Are they… doing all right?"
"Whose situation do you want to know first?"
Kushina revealed a meaningful smile.
"My teacher."
"Tch. What a boring man."
Kushina was greatly disappointed.
"Kosuke-senpai knows about this matter. He doesn't count. Again."
"…Shisui."
"That brat Shisui is sharp as a fox. He already noticed something strange from Kakashi long ago and figured out the truth that you're still alive."
Kushina waved her hand, signaling him to continue.
"Next."
"…"
"Forget it, forget it. Look at you, all constipated."
Kushina spoke generously.
"I'll just tell you directly. That little girl from the Hyūga clan thought you were dead, and over at Kikyo Pass, she really fought with her life on the line…"
"Although she didn't die in the end, her current condition is even worse than yours."
At this point, Kushina gave a soft sigh.
"Maybe she wanted to avenge you…"
However, only a few seconds later—
"Wahahahaha~"
Kushina suddenly burst into laughter, holding her stomach.
"???"
"You believed it, didn't you? You definitely believed it!"
Damn you!!!
Watching the series of changes in Shimizu's expression, Kushina laughed so hard her stomach hurt.
"Ah… my stomach."
"It hurts, it hurts…"
Shimizu hesitated, then asked uncertainly, "Are you pregnant?"
The air froze.
Then the cup of hot water in his hand began cooling at a shocking speed.
A chill instantly spread through his entire body.
"You really are pregnant?"
Shimizu asked carefully.
Even he himself did not know what kind of future he would face if that assumption came true.
Because this matter involved far too much.