Rise of the Medical Ninja

The first thing that caught the eye was a pair of well-proportioned, elegant legs, neither too thick nor too slender, standing straight and graceful. The setting sun cast a warm glow on her fair skin, her skirt ending mid-thigh, enhancing the delicate flush beneath the hem.

Her slender, bare feet, tucked into soft slippers, moved lightly across the kitchen floor, filling the space with cheerful energy.

Looking up, a familiar face came into view.

"Sister Tachie, what are you doing here?" Dosuke exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh, you're back!" Tachie, hearing his voice, straightened her apron and turned to face Dosuke at the kitchen door.

"Didn't I tell you last time? I'd come over to cook for you when I had the chance," she said, lifting the pot lid with her left hand and tasting the simmering soup with a spoon in her right.

"Yeah, you did mention that. But what I want to know is *how* you got in," Dosuke asked, eyeing Tachie as she continued cooking.

"How'd I get in? Simple."

"I knocked, but no one answered. I figured you weren't home after a quick check. Since I was already here, I decided to wait inside. Using my Byakugan, I could see the lock clearly and picked it with this wire," Tachie explained, pulling a thin wire from her skirt pocket and setting the pot lid down.

Dosuke stared, dumbfounded. *Seriously?* He hadn't expected her Byakugan could be used for something like picking locks.

"Dosuke, go rest for a bit. Dinner will be ready soon," Tachie said, waving him off before returning to her cooking.

Seeing her busy at work, Dosuke stepped into the kitchen to help, but Tachie gently pushed him out. "Hey, it's almost done. Just wait."

Reluctantly, Dosuke retreated from the kitchen.

A short while later, Tachie's voice called out, "Dosuke, the food's ready! Come help set the table."

Together, they brought an array of exquisite dishes to the dining table.

"Let's eat!" they both said in unison, eyeing the lavish spread before them.

"How's the food this time?" Tachie asked.

"Mmm, it's delicious, Sister Tachie! Whoever marries you is going to be one lucky guy," Dosuke said, mouth full of rice, giving her a thumbs-up.

Tachie's cooking was undeniably excellent.

"Then I'll come back tomorrow to cook again," Tachie said, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons as she watched Dosuke eat heartily.

"Actually, tomorrow won't work, Sister Tachie. I'm heading out with Master Jiraiya," Dosuke replied, setting down his chopsticks and glancing at Tachie, who was sipping her soup.

"Oh, I see. Then I'll wait for you to come back," Tachie said, her rosy lips curling slightly, a hint of disappointment crossing her face.

Seeing her expression, Dosuke recalled their first meeting at the village entrance. Back then, Tachie had exuded a bold, heroic aura. But after sharing the intensity of a scouting mission, he'd started to find her unexpectedly adoring.

"What're you smirking at?" Tachie snapped, noticing his expression and baring her small canine teeth, feeling slightly mocked.

"Nothing, I just thought you're kinda cute, Tachie," Dosuke said, reaching out to pat her head.

*Smack!* Tachie brushed his hand away, her face flushing red. "You little brat!"

Dosuke rubbed his sore hand but said nothing more.

After dinner, they cleaned up together. As they stepped outside, Tachie turned to him. "Head back inside, no need to see me off. Get some rest and prepare for your trip."

"Alright, take care, Sister Tachie," Dosuke said, acknowledging her concern and turning back toward the house.

Tachie watched him go, her gaze lingering. *He's such a fool, but it's sweet,* she thought, shaking her head with a faint smile. Turning away, she headed home, her wooden clogs clacking heavily on the stone path.

---

The next morning, Dosuke waited at the village entrance, equipped with his ninja tools, a storage scroll, and a backpack stuffed with clothes and essentials for his training.

Time dragged on.

Initially standing tall and eager, Dosuke eventually slouched onto a stone bench, his enthusiasm fading. The morning sun rose steadily, nearing noon.

Lying on the bench with his head resting on his backpack, Dosuke shielded his eyes from the bright sunlight, occasionally glancing toward the village.

"Ugh, Master Jiraiya is so unreliable. What time is it?" he grumbled, his stomach growling.

Just as he considered grabbing food and returning later, a familiar aroma wafted over. Opening his eyes, Dosuke spotted a wooden clog in his field of vision.

Looking up, he saw Jiraiya, his white hair unmistakable, holding a bowl of ramen with "Ichiraku Ramen" written on the side.

"Dosuke, you look tired. On my way here, I ran into a lost traveler who needed help. My sense of justice wouldn't let me leave her, so I got delayed assisting her," Jiraiya said with a hearty laugh, noticing Dosuke's worn-out expression.

*Jiraiya sama's excuse is hard to believe* Dosuke thought, catching the faint scent of alcohol and perfume from him.

"Hey, kid, have some faith in your elders! Look, I even brought you lunch," Jiraiya retorted, holding up the ramen.

"Eat up!" He set the bowl in front of Dosuke.

Starving, Dosuke eyed the ramen loaded with eggs and fish slices, his mouth watering.

*Slurp, slurp.*

Jiraiya watched as Dosuke, still sprawled on the bench, devoured the noodles. "So, how's it taste?"

"Mmm, delicious. When you're starving, anything hits the spot," Dosuke said between bites.

"Good. Now, you gonna settle the bill?" Jiraiya asked, rubbing his thumb and fingers together with a sly grin.

Dosuke paused mid-bite. "Master Jiraiya, are you saying you *didn't pay* for this?"

"Haha, I said I *brought* you ramen, not that I paid for it," Jiraiya chuckled, scratching his head awkwardly.

"Go on, pay up, kid. You're not planning to eat for free, are you?" Jiraiya said, giving Dosuke a gentle nudge.