Konoha hadn't changed much, and after a couple of laps around the streets, Naruto had confirmed the location of Konoha Hospital. Glancing up at the sky, he figured it wasn't time yet, so he found a spot to take a nap.
When he woke up again, the afternoon sunlight had dimmed slightly. He estimated he had dozed off for two hours, and there was still time before Konoha Hospital's shift ended. Naruto wasn't sure if their work schedule was as intense as a 996. (T/N: 996 means working from 9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week.)
Anyway, Naruto guessed that with Nao's personality, she would definitely stay in the hospital after changing her job. Sakura was like this at the beginning, saying that she would feel uneasy if she didn't train properly.
Naruto stashed the wrist guards in his sealing space and casually walked down Konoha's Main StreetOn the way, he spotted the Uchiha Police Force, with arrogant and impatient faces.
"You over there, you're stealing, right? Move again and I'll knock your teeth out!"
"Those orphans causing trouble again. We really can't catch a break."
The commotion was happening half a street away from Naruto, and seeing this, he quickly ducked out of sight. He didn't want to get dragged into unnecessary trouble, so he took a detour.
The Uchiha Clan didn't have a good reputation, but working as part of the Military Police Force was never a highly regarded job anyway. Moreover, the Uchiha was always arrogant and proud. In their eyes, without the Uchiha, there would be no Konoha.
Yet here they were, one of Konoha's two founding clans, doing what they saw as menial work. Naturally, their dissatisfaction showed in their attitude.
It was all part of the higher-ups' scheme. The downfall of the Uchiha Clan had long been set in motion, and whether they rebelled or not, their fate was sealed. Their script had already been written, and they were destined to be exterminated.
Although Sasuke was his brother and dear friend, Naruto could only regret the situation. Respecting others' fates, he walked away quietly.
The Uchiha were a clan of madmen, and only another madman would try to reason with them.
When Naruto arrived at the Konoha Hospital, he didn't go inside. Instead, he casually sat nearby and waited. Time ticked by, and soon his stomach began to growl.
Naruto didn't grow impatient. As the saying goes, 'A good wind helps the boat set sail'. Good things take time, especially when it comes to the art of flirting. He had come too early the first time, but it was all part of learning. And waiting wasn't a big deal.
He ended up waiting until the moon rose high in the sky and started to regret his decision to show off by coming so early.
Looking at the guards at the entrance, Naruto wondered whether he should establish a good relationship with the them before leaving. That way, when he finally got the chance to talk to Nao, the guards might casually mention how long he had been waiting there for her.
Naruto's goal is to gain trust and strengthen their relationship. Naturally, he went there with a utilitarian mindset and did not do meaningless things. As the saying goes, 'A thief never leaves empty-handed, and a bird leaves traces as it flies'. Naruto intended to leave his mark.
Just as he was about to stand up, someone appeared from the dimly lit, worn-down area of the Konoha Hospital. It was none other than Nohara Nao.
Her steps were unsteady, and it wasn't until she got closer that she noticed Naruto. From her perspective, this was her teammate from earlier in the day, the ordinary-looking Kitahiko.
Though his appearance wasn't outstanding, he was at least easy on the eyes. He was quite tall with a slightly prominent nose, and Nao recalled a secret her senior female colleagues in the Medical Department had shared about men's noses.
That small detail had made her glance at Naruto more than once during their earlier encounter. While her face remained neutral, something stirred inside her.
Before leaving, she had politely declined her two teammates' offer to escort her back to Konoha Hospital, finding it unnecessary and bothersome. Her impression of Naruto had faded quickly, becoming a vague blur.
To her, teammates didn't matter much. In her previous team, she had been the only one to return alive from a mission. After two days of calm reflection, she used her clan's connections to transfer into the Medical Department.
Her youthful passion had long since cooled, and now, all she felt was the bitter chill of the cruel Shinobi World. There were people outside who maliciously targeted the Konoha's Shinobi. While skilled Jonin might not fear them, they were just a group of Genin, who is temporarily promoted to Chunin. The youthful zeal of her team had cooled once their comrades fell. After barely surviving, Nao didn't hesitate much.
It so happened that the village was heavily promoting medical courses at the Academy, almost forcing every student to learn the basics of self-care and first aid. The Medical Department had also opened up, allowing a select few Shinobi with precise Chakra Control but no medical background to transfer in and train as Medical-nin.
Of course, there is no salary for this, and it is completely voluntary. But given that the casualty rate among Medical-nin was far lower than that of regular cannon fodder, many saw it as a more favorable path.
Nao's had long grown numb. She followed her clan's arrangement and entered the medical corps to begin her training. In the short span of two weeks, she had to master the most basic Medical Ninjutsu, otherwise, even if Hashirama came, he would not be able to save her.
The immense pressure from intense competition, along with the trauma of witnessing war, had shattered her once-idealistic worldview. She buried her true self deep inside, while presenting a calm and gentle demeanor to the outside world.
But beneath that exterior, she was numb, anguished, and twisted. The suffocating pressure weighed on her chest, making it hard to breathe, and she inexplicably felt disgusted with all the hypocritical things around her.
A strong desire to let loose frequently gnawed at her nerves, but each time, she forcibly suppressed it. If she collapsed at this time, all her efforts would be in vain.
When she saw Naruto, she was just a little surprised. But she soon felt a little disgusted, thinking, 'Why the hell are you all trying to hit on me?'
The situation on the front line was tense, and the more tense the front line is, the more likely it was that the Shinobi would go to the battlefield at any time. During this period of uncertainty, everyone was under great pressure.
If the war broke out again, there would at least be some resolution, but the prolonged tension made it unbearable. Who knew how long the next battle would last or who would be spared and who would be sent to the front?
After a long period of this oppressive atmosphere, the demands of the Shinobi in the village naturally dropped. They abandoned their higher aspirations and only thought about eating, drinking and other base desires.
Everyone was under immense pressure. Both men and women were tempted to let loose, but most held back, keeping their composure in check.
"I remember you are Kitahiko, right?" Nao smiled warmly, though the more irritated she felt inside, the calmer she appeared on the outside. "Were you waiting for me? Is there something you needed?"
Her tone was gentle, but it carried a different undercurrent. Naruto could clearly see there was no warmth in Nao's eyes.
"Well, I noticed your wrist guards were torn this afternoon." Naruto said as he approached her, stopping in front of her and holding out a new pair of wrist guards, "Here, these are for you."