Capítulo 39: Chapter 38
Chapter 38
It has been a couple of days since that night with what Utakata suspected to be Danzo's men.
They continued traveling until they found quite a big town to stay in. Utakata didn't tell Tsunade nor Shizune about those shinobi. What mattered was that they weren't following them anymore. But they will return. They always do. Of that much, Utakata was sure.
As vast as the Land of Fire was, it didn't seem big enough for him to be left in peace. It had already been more than a year since he came to this country, close to two now. He had almost traveled all around the Land of the Fire and reached the place where he entered this country. Many things have changed over that time, but some have stayed the same.
He still didn't have a place he could call home, but he wasn't alone. He and Shizune became quite good friends over time. Both learned together, and Shizune helped greatly in teaching him about medicine and healing. Utakata would always cherish those moments even if he wouldn't be able to see them soon.
Utakata had to leave.
Utakata didn't want to cause any trouble for Tsunade. And with each day he stayed with them, the closer the Mist and the Cloud were to tracking Utakata down. Once that is done, Utakata will only bring bloodshed, if not war, into this country. That was the last thing he wanted. So, he decided to leave before it got to that point.
Utakata had already planned that once they left this town, he would go in a different direction than Tsunade and disappear before she realized it. Utakata was sure Shizune would have at least a few words with him if she found out about it, but she wouldn't find out about it. It was better this way for him and them.
"There is nothing for me to teach you," Tsunade told Utakata as she finished her drink. "You were already talented and had great chakra control. And you learned all the medical ninjutsu I have taught you quickly and without any trouble. At this point, it is up to you how much you want to pursue this path and learn by yourself."
"Thank you," Utakata replied with a lowered head. "You were a brilliant teacher."
"Tch, you damn genius idiots," Tsunade then began to mumble under her breath, too quiet for Utakata to hear. "Anyway, don't be overconfident. You still lack experience and practice. You are still ten years too early to call yourself a full-fledged medical-nin."
Utakata smiled as he knew Tsunade was drunk. Her moods would change with each drink she had, but Utakata didn't mind it. He found it adorable and even endearing. At least she acted true to herself—something that Utakata didn't dare to do all this time. When Tsunade was too drunk even to lift a bottle, it was time to get her to her room.
"Sorry for the hassle again," Shizune said as she opened the doors to Tsunade's room and helped Utakata put her on the bed.
"And again, it isn't any trouble," Utakata replied as he straightened his light blue kimono. "You worry too much sometimes. But I guess that is in your nature."
"Can you show the jutsu you worked on?" Shizune asked before Utakata left. "It is still quite early, and Tsunade will probably sleep until noon."
"Sure, how about we meet on the rooftop?"
Shizune seemed to take a liking to Utakata's soap bubble ninjutsu of the late. And rather than studying herself, she would watch him perform his ninjutsu when they were alone. Utakata didn't mind, as he found Shizune's expression amusing whenever she saw his new creation. And he liked to impress her, making him more motivated.
Utakata was the first to come to the rooftop of the inn they stayed in. He lay down on it and looked at the bright moon and stars. He had to brush his hair that covered the left side of his face and eye. Looking at his bangs, he thought that maybe it was time for a haircut. But as he felt his brown hair, Shizune came up and lay next to Utakata.
"It is so bright," Shizune commented as the moon shone through the clear sky.
"It can be better," Utakata replied as he pushed his pipe into a bamboo jug filled with a soap solution by his belt. "Water Release: Revealing Bubbles Technique."
Utakata blew a few massive bubbles that covered their vision. They zoomed in on the image before them, making the moon and stars look even clearer and closer. As light reflected from the bubble, it felt like the bubble itself was a moon. It was mostly useless, but it was a pretty trick that Utakata learned just to show it off to Shizune.
"It has already been a year since you started traveling with us," Shizune said as she put her head on Utakata's shoulder, making him blush a bit. "Yet, I barely know anything about you. I don't even know when your birthday is."
"My birthday?" Utakata couldn't remember it either, it was in the summer or maybe in the late spring. When was the last time he celebrated it? Was there anything to celebrate? "It doesn't matter. If there is a day I want to celebrate, it is the day you extended your hand to help me."
Shizune was suspiciously silent, but Utakata was too embarrassed to look at her. He only realized how quirky he must have sounded now. So, he instead opted to look at the bubbles that filled their vision, enjoy the view of the bright moon and stars, and feel the slight warmth coming from Shizune. Utakata wondered if he would ever feel so at ease again once he left.
…
As expected, Tsunade had a horrible hangover the next day. Too bad the inn was full of people and loud noises. The sun also was bright and hot, making it even more difficult for Tsunade. Utakata and Shizune watched her, trying not to display too much amusement as Tsunade struggled in her seat, waiting for lunch to arrive.
"We will be staying in this town for a while," Tsunade said as he nursed her head. "I heard that there is a need for a doctor in the local hospital. We shall check it later. See if you two can be of any help."
"You don't have any money, do you?" Utakata asked, knowing well that Tsunade only kept a close ear to matters around her when she wanted something. "I am not borrowing you anymore."
"It is tuition fee, you brat," Tsunade tried to hit Utakata, but the sudden movement made her headache even worse.
"I already am paying for the lodging, food, and your drinking; I will not fund your gambling addiction," Utakata said, staring seriously into Tsunade's eyes. "At least you could is to win sometimes. There is no wonder that you are called the Legendary Sucker."
"I am going to kill you, you brat," Utakata wasn't worried, as Tsunade was in too much pain to do anything right now, and she would probably calm down by the time she got better. "Ah, shit. If you are going to talk nonsense, you can go to the hospital and see what you can find."
Utakata nodded in agreement and left Shizune to deal with Tsunade. Utakata was still a bit embarrassed to be around Shizune since the last night. He had realized that he might have a crush on Shizune. Utakata didn't remember when was the last time he felt these kinds of emotions; in this life, it was the first time, and it felt weird.
But in the end, it didn't matter. He would be gone in a week, and he probably won't see Shizune ever again. So, it was better to bury his feelings and continue with his life. He didn't need any distraction or doubt now. Utakata had already received too much from them, and he didn't want to inconvenience them anymore.
"Hello, how can I help you?" A nurse greeted Utakata as he entered the hospital.
"I heard that you were looking for doctors," Utakata replied as he looked around. It was quieter than he expected, and the staff didn't seem lacking. I came to see if I could be of any use."
"And what a kid like you would know?" A middle-aged man said from behind Utakata, a strong smell of alcohol coming from him. "The hospital doesn't need any help. Especially from kids like you."
"How narrowminded," Utakata commented with a disappointed sigh. "I am trained medical-nin. I might not be able to take complicated operations, but I know what to do about anything else. Next time, at least ask before making your assumptions."
"Bah, medical-nin," The man scoffed at Utakata. "All of you shinobi are just hired killers. This is no place for murderers. Leave before I call the town guard."
It didn't look like the hospital lacked doctors anyway, and if he couldn't be trusted with patients, there was nothing he could do. There was no point in arguing with the man anyway. He wasn't completely wrong anyway. So, Utakata left the town's hospital and started walking around aimlessly. He knew if he returned now, Tsunade would come to the hospital and give them a piece of her mind.
Utakata didn't know how long he had been walking around. His head was filled with the idea of leaving and how disappointed Shizune would be, so he lost track of time and place. He only regained his focus when he felt hungry, and the sun was setting down. It was about time to return to the Inn anyway.
"I am sorry, miss, but the doctor is not feeling good today. Can't it wait another day," Utakata stopped in his tracks as he heard a conversation coming from an alleyway near him.
"But grandpa's chest is hurting," A teenage girl said as she pointed to an old man next to her. "Something is bad with his heart. Just a quick check would be enough, please."
"I am not qualified to do the checkup, and as I said, the doctor isn't feeling good and can't do it either," A woman in her early twenties replied calmly, but Utakata could tell that she felt distressed. "If it is an emergency, please go to the town's hospital."
"Do you think I would plead with you if we could do that," The girl seemed to be about to cry. "A simple checkup would bring our family to ruin. These lousy doctors in the hospital are nothing but thugs."
"I am fine," the old man tried to calm down his granddaughter, but his cough said enough. "It is nothing serious. We can return tomorrow and see if the doctor is feeling better."
"No, you can't," Utakata said as he put his hand on the old man's back and used his chakra to check on his condition. "Your blood vessels around your heart are clogging up; you might not survive tomorrow. You need medical attention right now."
"Who?" Both the teenage girl and the woman asked.
"I am a doctor," Utakata replied. He pushed the old man inside the rundown hospital, carefully making sure he didn't hurt him. "Prepare a bed for him. I will see what I can do."
The woman was about to protest, but the old man started coughing even more roughly than before. Seeing this, the woman decided to believe Utakata and led them to a small room. The granddaughter looked nervous and scared. Utakata quickly managed to finish the checkup. Using his chakra, as Tsunade had taught him, Utakata managed to heal his symptoms.
But it was clear that some kind of disease or just old age would make the problem persist. Still, Utakata knew how to make medicine to help. He should be fine for a while, as there wasn't anything much more Utakata could do for him. Still, seeing how happy and relieved the girl was to see her grandfather fine made Utakata feel good.
…
"My hands aren't what they used to be," The doctor of this rundown hospital explained to Utakata. "It is the nerve damage. They have gone numb, I can't even feel my fingers anymore, and it will only get worse. Don't look at me like that; there is nothing that can be done. But it is a fitting end to someone like me."
"What do you mean to someone like you?" Utakata asked as he felt a familiarity with the doctor.
"I am a foreigner to this country," The doctor replied with a sad smile. "I came from the Land of the Hot Water. A few years back, my village dissolved. It was already a small village, and after the war, we lost too many to sustain it. I was already lucky to have some medical skills, so I was able to go by somehow. But I always knew that sooner or later, my injured hands would give up on me. A deserving end for someone who used these hands to kill."
Land of Hot Water. Utakata remembered it well. It was the first place he was deployed to. And even though it was a war, Utakata did feel sad about what the Mist had done to that country. He didn't face any shinobi from their hidden village, but he still felt responsible for their village's dissolvement. Utakata didn't know what he should say.
"Well, not many people like shinobi, retired or not," the doctor continued. "The town's hospital was the same. For all their fancy technology, they are quite stuck in their ideology that shinobi are only good for killing. It was them who spurred me to settle down here and prove them wrong. And I can only hope that I have accomplished it in the last few years."
It was already late. Night had fallen, and Tsunade would soon probably start to worry about where Utakata was. But still, Utakata was reluctant to leave just yet. He might not be as brilliant as Tsunade, but the doctor here was still admirable. So, it saddened Utakata that such a man would receive such a fate. The world was truly cruel, but Utakata thought that not everything might be lost. Maybe Tsunade could heal his hands, and he could continue this life.
"I will return tomorrow," Utakata said as he stood up from his seat, "Even if I don't stay long in this town, I hope I can help people around there."
"You are the same, aren't you?" The doctor asked, making Utakata stop. "I can tell by your eyes. I had the same eyes, too. And if no one had told you. I will say it. You can still make a difference. No matter how small it is, it still counts. It has to, right?"
Utakata could only nod. He had no way of answering him. He hoped the doctor's actions counted for something. But Utakata didn't hold the same hope for himself. After all he had done, he could only be grateful to meet Tsunade and Shizune, who gave him a second chance. Now, all he could do was repay them by doing his best and helping others.
…
Tsunade was angry, but at least she wasn't drunk angry. She didn't believe Utakata when he told her what happened in the hospital. So, she decided to give them a visit. That is why it was good that she wasn't drunk; otherwise, she would have trashed the place. But Utakata and Shizune managed to drag her away and not cause any trouble.
"I swear the bigger the town, the bigger the idiots run it," Tsunade complained all the way to the run-down hospital where Utakata led them.
"Doctor, open up!" They stopped before the hospital as they saw the woman working with the doctor banging on the doors. "Common, are you still sleeping?"
"Let me," Utakata checked the door and was surprised to find it to be locked from inside, yet he couldn't feel the doctor's chakra from inside.
Worried, Utakata kicked the door open, breaking the lock. Maybe it was his imagination, and if it were, he would repair the door. But he had a bad feeling as he entered the hospital. It was small but clean, with few private rooms for patients and one operating room as well as a doctor's office. He slowly walked through the hall towards the office as the feeling got worse and worse.
And his feeling was confirmed when he opened the office doors and found the hanging body of the doctor. The woman screamed as she collapsed to her knees with tears running down her cheeks. Tsunade sighed and turned away while Shizune helped the woman. Utakata was left to take the body down.
…
For the last week, Utakata stayed in the run-down hospital. The woman who worked under the doctor left the town after the funeral. Utakata didn't even know her name or her relationship with the doctor. But to keep his word to the doctor, he helped everyone who came in looking for help. It was mostly older people who couldn't afford to go to the town's official hospital.
As Shizune and Tsunade prepared to leave, so did Utakata. For a final moment, he looked after the hospital that would be abandoned now. He cleaned it up, even knowing that nobody would be using it. Maybe some thugs will break in and steal the equipment. Or perhaps it will be left to gather dust. For the last time, Utakata locked the door and threw the key away. He knew he wouldn't return.
With a bag on his back, Utakata walked through the town. It was quiet so late at night. Barely anyone was out on the streets. But before leaving the town, Utakata visited the doctor's grave one last time. He didn't know the man and only had one conversation, but somehow Utakata felt close to him. Utakata understood him probably better than anyone else.
"There is really nothing I can hide from you two," Utakata laughed as Tsunade and Shizune waited for him at the town's entrance. "I am not good with goodbyes, so please forgive me this once."
"I don't care; I am only here because Shizune dragged me out. Otherwise, I would still be drinking," Tsunade replied. "But since I am here, take this. Since Shizune doesn't want it would go to waste anyway."
"Thanks," Utakata caught a scroll Tsunade threw him before she left.
"Where will you go?" Shizune asked.
"To the place I started on this wrong path," Utakata replied, knowing well he couldn't reveal anything to Shizune as she might have to be forced to report to Konoha, even if she didn't want to. Utakata didn't want to put her in a difficult position over him. "I guess this is goodbye. Take care of yourself."
"Is something I should say," Shizune replied. "Don't be too hard on yourself, and make sure you eat healthy."
Utakata didn't know how to respond to that, so he turned away from her and walked out of the town. He didn't need to turn his head to know that Shizune didn't leave and watched him as he walked further and further away. Trying not to keep her on his mind, Utakata checked the scroll that Tsunade gave him. He was shocked to see it was a summoning contract.
A.N. As always, If you want more, up to seven advanced chapters, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852. And if you have any requests for stories, I will only take them on my pa treon.
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