When leaving the hospital, Pharmacist Nono Yakushi truly lent money to Fenghuo and warmly told him that if he ever lacked money in the future, he could come find her.
Fenghuo knew that although the woman before him was a member of Root, she was kind by nature and especially fond of children. Otherwise, she wouldn't eventually leave Root to become the director of the Konoha Orphanage.
If Uchiha Fugaku had offered to lend him money, Fenghuo would have refused without hesitation. But borrowing money from Yakushi Nono? Fenghuo felt completely at ease.
"Thank you, Onee-san. By the way... I still don't know your name," Fenghuo said, blinking his large, clear eyes with an innocent, obedient expression — the very picture of a good child.
"My name is Yakushi Nono," she said softly, smiling as she gently stroked Fenghuo's black hair.
Perhaps she was the kindest person in all of Root.
Fenghuo lowered his head slightly, a complicated mix of emotions stirring within him. Such a good person... yet she would not meet a happy end in the original timeline.
Can I change her fate?
The thought tightened Fenghuo's chest.
It didn't seem too difficult to change the fate of a single person. Yet, truly attempting it felt like defying an immutable destiny.
But he quickly suppressed that idea. After all, right now he was only a six-year-old child. It was still far too early to take on such burdens.
Saying goodbye to Yakushi Nono alongside Uchiha Obito, Fenghuo returned home.
"Fenghuo, I'm going to buy meat!" Obito shouted happily, clutching the money. "You're way too skinny. You need to eat more and get stronger!"
"Alright," Fenghuo smiled wryly. "But if you see an old lady trying to cross the road, please don't hand over all the money."
"Eh? I know!" Obito scratched his head sheepishly, then ran off.
Fenghuo watched him leave, then muttered, "Ah, right. My weights..."
Before being hospitalized, he had been training with weighted gear. Now, tying them back on, he immediately felt his body grow heavier.
"It seems I haven't fully recovered yet," Fenghuo gritted his teeth and stood up straight. "But... I can endure!"
He began his rehabilitation training, walking slowly around the backyard. At the same time, he circulated chakra through his body, stimulating his cells' recovery.
"Yakushi Nono is a Root member, but she's a good person — and a medical-nin. I can definitely learn medical ninjutsu from her!"
Fenghuo's eyes lit up with excitement.
Although his body was recovering quickly, it wouldn't prevent future injuries. Even Konoha's "Blue Beast," Maito Dai, couldn't guarantee that.
"After becoming a ninja, missions will come one after another. Injuries are inevitable. I must learn medical ninjutsu, and the sooner, the better."
Especially since the Third Shinobi World War was just a few years away.
Currently, Konoha's most renowned medical-nin was Princess Tsunade of the Sannin. However, Tsunade was suffering from hemophobia during this period, and besides — Fenghuo was an Uchiha.
The relationship between the Senju and Uchiha clans wasn't exactly friendly.
Thus, Yakushi Nono became Fenghuo's best and most realistic choice.
While walking, Fenghuo gradually adapted to the weight. He even started practicing hand seals while moving.
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Bird, Dog, Boar!
Fenghuo's hand seals were very precise, though his speed was still lacking. That would have to improve with hard practice — there were no shortcuts.
The sun rose higher. Fenghuo's training continued for over an hour until he was drenched in sweat, his sharp eyes glancing occasionally toward the street.
"Why hasn't Obito come back yet?"
A sense of unease crept over him.
"Don't tell me... he saw an old lady and insisted on helping her across the road again?"
While Fenghuo was imagining the worst with a hint of exasperated malice, he suddenly heard scuffling and muffled grunts from outside.
"That... sounds like Obito!"
Fenghuo's expression changed. Without hesitation, he rushed out.
"Hahaha, you're so stupid! You think you'll awaken the Sharingan?"
"What an idiot!"
"Always hanging around that loser Fenghuo — no wonder you're both hopeless."
"Fenghuo's an embarrassment too. He got knocked out trying to spar with Kakashi. Now he faints doing taijutsu? Pathetic!"
"Yeah, he probably realized he can't awaken the Sharingan, so he's trying to make up for it with physical training. How laughable!"
"Two hopeless fools!"
A group of Uchiha children were shoving Obito around, their voices filled with cruel mockery.
"Hey, what's that you're carrying? Meat?"
"Haha, rich boy! Why don't you share some with us?"
"You bastards!" Obito growled, clutching the meat tightly, his small body shaking with anger. "Don't push it!"
"Push it? Heh! You and Fenghuo are a disgrace to the Uchiha!"
"Yeah, teach him a lesson!"
Thud! Crack!
Obito, never a top student at the Academy, couldn't hold his own against so many. He was quickly beaten down, groaning helplessly.
Several adult Uchiha walked by without stopping. To them, it was normal for children to fight.
"STOP!"
Fenghuo finally arrived, his voice cold and furious. "You brats want to die?"
Seeing Obito beaten and bloodied, Fenghuo could barely suppress the violent surge in his eyes — the precursor to the Sharingan awakening.
"Yo, if it isn't the weakling Fenghuo!"
"Haha, come to get beaten too?"
"I heard you fainted after practicing taijutsu. What a disgrace to the clan!"
Fenghuo narrowed his eyes, his rage simmering.
Before, he had ignored these taunts. But now... he couldn't tolerate it any longer.
"What, you wanna fight too?" one boy sneered. "Have you even learned the Three Basic Jutsu yet?"
"Hahaha, maybe he thinks he can use ninjutsu!"
Obito, lying bloodied on the ground, struggled to lift his head. "Fenghuo... don't. Your injury hasn't healed... you can't fight..."
Fenghuo's gaze sharpened. Blood was dripping from Obito's mouth, a tooth missing — and the metallic scent of blood filled the air.
The desire to awaken his Sharingan almost overwhelmed him.
But he gritted his teeth and forcibly calmed himself, forming hand seals at high speed.
Snake → Ram → Monkey → Boar → Horse → Tiger!
"Hahaha, what's he doing? Hand seals?"
"Idiot, who's he kidding?"
"Wait, those seals —"
"Isn't that... the Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu?"
"Nani?! Hahaha, scared me there for a second! No way he can use real Fire Style ninjutsu!"
Fenghuo narrowed his eyes and smiled coldly.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
He took a deep breath and spat out a mass of flames — a basketball-sized fireball — hurtling straight toward the group of arrogant bullies!