Naruto : Konoha Light

"It's not good, absolutely not good!"

"But if she moves recklessly during surgery, it could affect the procedure and cause irreversible consequences!"

"That… that would be terrible!"

"In this situation, we have no choice."

In the hospital corridor, a middle-aged woman and several nurses were engaged in an intense argument.

"Can someone tell me what's going on here?"

A cold voice interrupted them from the side. Several young nurses turned around, their expressions lighting up with excitement as they let out cheerful exclamations.

"Tsunade-sama!"

Hearing the nurses call out that name, the middle-aged woman's imposing stance faltered for a moment. However, she quickly steeled herself and threw caution to the Tsunade.

"Tsunade-sama, I beg you, please save my daughter!"

"Please, try to stay calm," Tsunade reassured her, then turned to the young nurses. "What happened here?"

"Well, this elder sister's daughter needs to undergo surgery, but she's too young. If we don't administer 'anesthesia,' she might move during the procedure, which could be dangerous," one of the young nurses explained, half helpless and half concerned, as she looked toward the little girl in the hospital ward.

Tsunade followed her gaze and saw a tearful little girl, no older than two or three, sitting on a chair. By her side, a slightly older boy was looking after her, comforting her gently.

Tsunade's expression grew serious. "If we can't find a way to keep her body still, performing the surgery recklessly would indeed be very dangerous!"

The young nurse nodded. "That's what worries us. That's why we wanted to administer anesthesia."

The middle-aged woman grew furious. "Your anesthesia? That's just as good as killing her!"

The young nurse looked embarrassed. "Actually, we do have a milder—"

But when she met the woman's sharp, furious gaze, she trailed off.

"I could temporarily sever her pain receptors using a Chakra Scalpel," Tsunade suggested after a moment of hesitation. "However, she's so young… it's difficult to say whether this could have long-term consequences."

As she spoke, she recalled a previous proposal from Shimizu.

"Have you tried using illusion techniques?" she asked.

"We have, but the young miss wakes up too quickly," the nurse replied helplessly. "Besides, the skilled illusionists in the village are all away on missions."

Tsunade shook her head slightly. She knew that when this nurse referred to "skilled illusionists," she wasn't including that clan.

After all, the arrogance of that particular clan was infamous. Their work with the police force also kept most villagers at a distance.

"…A Yūhi clan technique?" Tsunade hesitated for a moment. She didn't have much interaction with that clan, but as a 'princess' of her own lineage, her status might trigger an adverse reaction from them.

At that moment, a small figure who had been waiting by the entrance for a long time finally broke the silence.

"Actually, little Mochi is ready for surgery now."

"Shimizu, what do you mean?" Morikawa's eyes lit up immediately. She was more familiar than anyone with Shimizu's training and experiments over the past two months.

"Is he Shimizu?" Tsunade finally realized. So the young man inside the hospital ward wasn't the little girl's older brother?

Shimizu nodded slightly. "I used an illusion technique on little Mochi. She should be able to undergo the surgery now."

Before anyone could question him, Morikawa stepped into the hospital ward ahead of them. She carefully observed the little girl, who was now sound asleep, then lightly placed her hand on her forehead.

A moment later, Morikawa emerged from the room with a smile. "Tsunade-sama, come and see."

Seeing this, the young nurses were filled with disbelief. Could he have actually succeeded? Even seasoned illusionists couldn't manage that!

The middle-aged woman looked at Tsunade with hope in her eyes. "Tsunade-sama…?"

Tsunade stepped into the hospital ward. She observed the peacefully sleeping little girl, and her eyes revealed a hint of surprise.

"It really worked… but we need to test it further."

Saying this, she clenched her right hand into a fist.

Bang!

The air itself seemed to tremble at the force of her grip, producing a sharp shockwave that instinctively made everyone shrink back.

Yet the little girl remained undisturbed. She simply licked her lips in her sleep, her breathing steady and unchanged.

"This level of immersion… Did you create an entire, self-contained world?" Tsunade murmured in astonishment. Then, her expression grew complex as she looked at Shimizu. "Perhaps… you're more suited to being an illusionist than a medical ninja."

"Whether it's medical techniques or illusion techniques, as long as they help others, I'll do my best to master them!" Shimizu declared firmly, clenching his fist with determination.

Then, as if remembering something, he added, "But… how realistic does an illusion actually need to be?"

"What do you mean?" Tsunade asked, intrigued.

"Because we're dealing with children," Shimizu replied naturally. "Do children even care if the world around them is real?"

Tsunade's expression faltered slightly. Perhaps… he has a point. To a child, an incredible, unrestricted world might actually feel more natural than reality itself.

Shimizu continued, "Besides, I spent a long time talking with little Mochi. I learned what she truly longs for."

"Is it family? Friends?" Tsunade asked in a gentle voice.

Shimizu shook his head. "Actually, little Mochi's dream is quite simple—she just wants to eat Mochi forever."

"Because sweets can be a source of comfort, I gave her that name," Mochi's mother admitted, placing a hand on her slightly out-of-shape waist with an awkward smile. "But after the war… the price of sugar became too high…"

"So, I designed an entire illusionary world where she could eat Mochi to her heart's content," Shimizu said, spreading his arms as if painting the scene in the air.

"Haha! That's quite an illusion you've crafted," Tsunade chuckled. Then, with a sigh, she added, "And yet… no one else thought of something so simple."

She looked at Shimizu with newfound appreciation. "You're a remarkable young man."

Shimizu scratched his head sheepishly. "I just… listened more than most people do."

"Listened?" Tsunade echoed, intrigued.

Shimizu nodded firmly. "Yes! I realized that a doctor doesn't just treat the body—emotional pain and confusion also need guidance and comfort. Only by truly listening and understanding our patients' feelings can we find the best possible treatment for them."

Tsunade tapped her fingers together thoughtfully. For the first time, she looked at Shimizu not just as a talented medical ninja, but as an equal.

"More than just talent and hard work, what truly sets you apart is your attitude and sense of responsibility as a doctor," she said with a smile.