[V2] - Chapter 92. Success?
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In the end.
Senju Tobirama walked out of the house, grumbling and muttering, deeply hurt inside. He hadn't expected that his brother still didn't trust him in the end.
Damn it!
It's all that evil Uchiha Madara's fault!
At this moment—
Tsunade arrived too. Seeing her usually aloof second grandpa muttering angrily today, she curiously asked, "Second Grandpa, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing. Just a minor doctor-patient dispute. You don't need to worry about it." Tobirama took a deep breath and then looked at Tsunade in front of him. As if remembering something, he narrowed his eyes, stroked his chin, and smiled kindly. "Tsunade~, how does your Second Grandpa usually treat you?"
"G-Good…" Tsunade nodded, but her eyes were full of caution as she looked at him. She had a bad feeling. "Second Grandpa, just say what you want."
Hearing this—
Tobirama nodded in satisfaction, eyes flashing, and with a faint smile on his lips, leaned in and whispered something into her ear.
A moment later.
Tsunade looked at her second grandpa with black lines on her face, hesitating. "This… isn't right, is it? After all, I'm a medical ninja!"
"Don't worry! It's not like I'm asking you to do anything extreme. That guy is evil, yes," Tobirama patted Tsunade's shoulder, "but I'm not asking you to kill him!" He looked at her with relief. "As a medical ninja, as long as someone is a patient, you'll do your best to save them. It looks like you really remember that!" Then his gaze sharpened. "It's just to scare him a little!"
"But…"
Before Tsunade could finish—
"You're right!" Tobirama suddenly nodded and sighed. "Forget it. Let's leave it. It goes against your ninja way."
As he spoke—
He lowered his head in disappointment, as if all his relatives had betrayed him, and turned to leave this place of heartbreak.
"…Fine!"
Helpless.
Tsunade had no choice but to agree.
Just then—
"Tsunade's here?" Hashirama's anxious voice came from inside. "Hurry, hurry! Tsunade, come perform the surgery!"
"Coming!"
Tsunade could only walk inside with a strange expression.
Seeing her come in, the impatient Hashirama immediately approached, looking serious. "I'm counting on you, Tsunade!"
"Don't worry." Remembering her second grandpa's words, Tsunade took a deep breath. "I'll do my best!" As she spoke, she took out her medical tools. "Let me examine this guy first."
"I don't—"
"Yes! Yes!" Hashirama didn't let Madara speak, grabbing his hand tightly and looking at him deeply. "Madara! This is for safety. Even if it's a little troublesome, don't make me worry!"
That did the trick.
Madara sometimes did listen to Hashirama's pleading. With a cold snort, he didn't stop Tsunade from checking him.
And Tsunade… following her second grandpa's plan, began examining Madara with a very serious expression, occasionally sighing and sometimes shaking her head.
Suddenly—
The atmosphere in the room grew tense. Hashirama looked at Tsunade anxiously. Even Madara went quiet, occasionally peeking at her from his closed eyelids.
What's going on?
A moment later.
Tsunade finally finished the checkup, put away her tools, and under the expectant gaze of the two, let out a long sigh. "Sigh~"
"?!" ×2
What's that supposed to mean?
What does that sigh mean?!
Hashirama's face paled. He quickly looked at Tsunade and asked anxiously, "W-What is it? Is Madara's condition serious?"
"No~" Tsunade smiled and shook her head. "Very healthy."
"Then why the sigh?!"
"I was just tired and felt like yawning!"
"…" ×2
But—
Tsunade ignored them. She pulled out a stack of A4 papers, glanced around, and said, "Um… where's the patient's family? Please sign this."
"Patient's family?" Hashirama asked, confused. "Madara's relatives are all mostly gone, only some clansmen remain. What needs signing? Can I do it?"
"That… works too!"
With that, she handed the paper to her grandpa.
Hashirama took it and curiously looked at it, then fell silent again.
This made the blind Madara curious. He quickly asked, "Hashirama, what is it? What do I need to sign?"
"Liability waiver…"
"???"
Before Madara could ask what that meant—
"This liability waiver…" Hashirama wiped cold sweat from his forehead and looked at Tsunade. "Tell me honestly… is Madara really fine?"
"He's fine!"
"Really?"
"Really." Tsunade smiled. "It's just a formality. The medical department requires this for every procedure. As a medical ninja of Konoha, we can't skip it."
"R-Right~" Hearing his granddaughter's words, Hashirama breathed a sigh of relief. "You scared me! Alright, I'll sign it!"
He quickly signed it and handed it back to Tsunade, looking at her with anticipation.
"Can we proceed now?"
"Well…" Tsunade looked around seriously, then looked at Madara. "Do you have any unfulfilled wishes? You can tell me now."
"???" ×2
Their hearts skipped a beat.
Hashirama's lips trembled. "Madara… he really doesn't have anything serious?" He closed his eyes. "I guess that makes sense. A sudden resurrection surely comes with hidden conditions. Just say it, Tsunade! Madara and I can handle it! How long does he have?"
"He's really fine!" Tsunade smiled and shook her head. "It's just part of the procedure!"
"Really?"
"Really!"
"What kind of procedure is this?!" Hashirama's face darkened. "You nearly scared me to death! Can't we skip it?"
"No!" Tsunade smiled, then pointed at the door. "Now we need to start the surgery. Grandpa, please wait outside."
"I can't stay here?"
"Eye transplants aren't simple. We must ensure a sterile environment. Since you're considered the patient's family, please wait outside."
"I… fine!" Seeing Tsunade's serious face, Hashirama could only nod, turned to Madara, and said seriously, "Madara! Don't worry! I'll be waiting outside for you. I believe the surgery will succeed!"
"Get lost!"
Madara scowled at him. For some reason…
It felt like something that should have been a simple procedure was now… a matter of life and death?
"I'm going now!" Hashirama walked to the door, then hesitated and looked back. "Really… he'll be okay?"
"Relax! He'll be fine!" Tsunade smiled and nodded. "Trust me!"
With that—
After sending Hashirama out, she shut the door and turned back to look at Madara, letting out a soft sigh. "Sigh~"
"???"
You're sighing again?!
This time Madara was completely confused!
"You…" Tsunade hesitated. "You really don't have any last wishes?"
"…How about I do it myself?"
"You? You think this is a simple procedure? You think you just scoop the eye out and it's done?"
"Isn't it?"
"Who's the doctor here—me or you?" Tsunade snorted. "Since you've got no more wishes, lie down. Time for anesthesia!"
"Anesthesia? I don't need that!"
"Doctor? You? Or me? Do you want to make my grandpa cry?"
"…Fine! Let's just do it!"
Madara sighed. With Hashirama around, he didn't think he'd just die so stupidly on an operating table.
It's just…
He hadn't cared earlier, but now for some reason… Hashirama's granddaughter had made him feel kind of nervous too!
"Relax!" Tsunade smiled at the cooperative patient. "I'll do my very best to cure you!"
With that—
Madara's mouth twitched slightly. After a pause, he asked hesitantly, "Tell me honestly… am I really going to be okay?"
"You'll be fine! You'll be fine! Just a minor surgery! Really! Don't worry!"
…
"Brother, don't worry! It's just a minor surgery!" Senju Tobirama said with a smile, watching Hashirama pacing at the doorway. "Trust Tsunade, she'll do fine!"
"I…" Hashirama stopped in his tracks, but his face still looked extremely anxious and conflicted. "I wasn't nervous at first, but I don't know why… after Tsunade did all that, my heart started panicking!" He looked at the waiver in his hand, hesitated, then looked back at Tobirama. "It's really fine?"
"It's really fine!" Tobirama nodded seriously. "Just a minor procedure!"
However—
"Really really fine?"
Hashirama still paced back and forth worriedly, muttering to himself. But the more he walked, the more anxious he felt. Especially when he recalled Tsunade's sighs and her question about whether Madara had any final wishes—his heart grew even more flustered.
He wanted to rush in, but was afraid of disturbing Tsunade.
Time ticked by slowly, but Hashirama's anxiety only grew.
He feared that the moment he went in… Tsunade would sigh and directly say, [I'm sorry to tell you...]
One hour… two hours… three hours…
The sun began to set, and the worry on Hashirama's face gradually turned to faint despair.
Wasn't it supposed to be a small surgery?
Why is it taking so long?
Meanwhile, Tobirama secretly snickered to himself on the side, [Scared to death!! Serves you right for ignoring me, brother!]
But when he looked at the tightly closed door—
It had been quite a while. Why wasn't it done yet?
Could it be that… something really did go wrong? If so, brother would go insane!
Now wasn't the time for that guy to die!
However—
Just as that worry surfaced—
At that moment—
The door opened.
"The surgery was very successful!" Tsunade walked out with a smile, looking a bit exhausted. "The family can come in now!"
As soon as she said that—
Without any hesitation—
Hashirama rushed inside. "Madara, you—"
Before he could finish speaking—
He saw Madara lying on the bed, a white cloth wrapped over his eyes, completely still. Hashirama froze on the spot, his lips trembling. "Madara… why… why isn't he moving?"
"Oh~ the anesthesia hasn't worn off yet," Tsunade glanced over and replied calmly. "Judging by the time, it should be soon!"
Just as she said that—
Madara moved and sat upright.
"Madara! You're okay!" Hashirama rushed forward, grabbing Madara's hand. "That's great! Tsunade said the surgery was a complete success! Now you'll be able to see again!"
"Hmph! I already told you I could handle it myself! Only a fool like you would be worried!" Madara scoffed coldly. He still seemed a bit dizzy, pulled back his hand, and was just about to remove the white cloth from his eyes.
"Wait a moment!" Tsunade stopped him immediately. "You can't take that off yet!"
"Why? I already feel fine!" Madara frowned. "My chakra is already flowing smoothly!"
"It's not about what you think! What you think! Who's the doctor here, you or me?" Tsunade said earnestly. "You have to wait another week before removing it! And during that time, no chakra use either! You must let it rest!"
"I…"
"Madara, listen to Tsunade! She's the doctor!" Hashirama held Madara's hand tightly and said seriously, "Just one more week! During this week… I'll still be your eyes!"
"Hmph! Fine!" Madara gave Hashirama a deep look—though his eyes were still covered. He didn't argue about removing the cloth anymore. Through the fabric, he stared forward, as if he could already see the light beyond it. The corners of his mouth curled slightly upward. "Since the transplant is complete—"
Black Zetsu…
Are you all ready?
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