There are things in life that never fade—memories that refuse to vanish no matter how much time passes. They linger quietly in the heart, transforming into something heavier, something deeper.
Hayashi understood that now.
Nine years had passed—long enough to forget much of his previous life. Yet, in a fleeting moment, those forgotten fragments came rushing back, bringing with them both pain and warmth.
When Hayashi opened his eyes again, all he saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.
Where am I? Did I survive?
Such thoughts flickered through his mind.
> [Congratulations, Host. You have successfully transferred into the Naruto World.]
[The Host's current identity: a distant relative of the Uchiha clan. Please don't expect any inheritance.]
Hayashi's lips twitched.
Seriously? The system still had this annoying sense of humor.
Just like that, he had transmigrated again? Once in a lifetime was already ridiculous—but twice? That was pure chaos.
"Unbelievable," he muttered.
As he sat up, the sterile scent of medicine filled his nose. The surroundings were familiar—the pale walls, the soft beep of machines, the sunlight peeking through the curtains.
Konoha Hospital…?
So the system was lying again. Typical.
Through the gap in the curtains, he could even see the stone statue of the Third Hokage. The absurdity almost made him laugh.
He turned his head and noticed a needle still in his arm, a slow drip of fluid connected to the IV stand.
And next to him—Mikoto sat asleep, her hand gently holding his.
A faint smile appeared on Hayashi's lips. Relief flooded his chest. She was safe.
So, the memory of her death had been an illusion—nothing more than a hallucination caused by that poison. The toxin had been powerful enough to make its victims face the deepest fears in their hearts. In a way, it was nearly on par with a high-level genjutsu.
Carefully, Hayashi tried to move his arm.
"Hiss—" Pain shot through his body, sharp and immediate.
Mikoto stirred at the sound. Her dark eyes fluttered open, and when she saw him awake, tears spilled down her cheeks.
"Hayashi! You're… you're okay! Thank goodness!" she cried, struggling to wipe away the tears streaming down her face.
"Hey, hey, I'm fine. See?" Hayashi smiled weakly.
But as he tried to shift position, a jolt of pain made him wince again.
"What's wrong? Should I call the doctor?" Mikoto asked, panic rising in her voice.
"It's alright, Mikoto. Just some muscle strain and dislocation. Nothing serious."
"Then stay still! I'll tell Kushina and the others you've woken up!" she said quickly, rushing out before he could respond.
When the door closed behind her, silence filled the room again. Hayashi sighed, staring at the ceiling.
But before long, footsteps echoed from the corridor.
"She's back already?" he murmured.
The door opened—but it wasn't Mikoto.
It was Tsunade.
Her blonde hair was tied neatly in a ponytail, a white coat draped casually over her shoulders. She looked every bit the confident, no-nonsense doctor that she was. Her hands were buried in her coat pockets as she walked in.
Hayashi greeted her with a grin, though her expression was anything but friendly.
"What's wrong, Tsunade-sensei?" he asked cautiously.
"Nothing," she said, her tone dangerously calm. "Just thought I'd congratulate you."
"Huh?"
"Before even becoming a Genin, you've already completed two A-rank missions and taken down two Jōnin. Congratulations!" Her voice grew sharper with each word. "What's next? Punching the Raikage? Kicking the Sage of Six Paths?"
Hayashi flinched, shrinking back under her glare. He didn't dare say a word.
Tsunade sighed heavily. Her anger wasn't misplaced—an A-rank mission was no small feat, and for a pre-Genin, it was reckless beyond measure. She had only intended that first mission as a learning experience, a chance for her students to see blood and gain composure.
Instead, Hayashi had gone toe-to-toe with Jōnin and nearly died for it.
"You're lucky to still be alive," she muttered, crossing her arms. "Your bones were dislocated, muscles strained, but they're healing. You just need to rest now."
Hayashi hesitated. "What about the poison? I thought it had no antidote."
The moment he said it, he regretted it. Tsunade's eyes narrowed.
"You're really lucky," she said flatly. "That poison was one of Chiyo's new experiments—a half-finished concoction. If I hadn't been nearby, you'd be long dead."
Hayashi quickly shut his mouth, sinking deeper under the blanket. He knew better than to test Tsunade's patience twice.
For a while, silence filled the room again. Tsunade stayed seated beside the bed, her sharp eyes softening slightly.
Then, with a sigh, she stood up. "Rest, Hayashi. Don't make me fix you again."
She left, the door closing gently behind her.
Moments later, another knock echoed.
Hayashi groaned. "Do people not let patients rest anymore?"
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