Indeed, Yūki didn't have the luxury of waiting here for the paralysis toxin to dissipate. He had to return to Konoha within a week, or he'd miss the Ninja Academy graduation exam.
You see, this year was Konoha's 60th year, and Hyūga Yūki was exactly twelve years old. His Ninja Academy graduation exam was scheduled for October 10th—just a week away.
For Yūki, this graduation exam was unmissable. If he failed, not only would he miss this wave of rookie graduations, but he'd also definitely be punished by his father to kneel in the ancestral hall until his knees cramped.
Speaking of which, Yūki hadn't spent much time in the village over the past two years. He almost only returned for school exams or his parents' and younger sister's birthdays—he'd probably grown accustomed to life outside.
Of course, he hadn't come alone from the Land of Fire to the Land of Grass just for fun—it was for training.
To hone oneself stronger, simply hitting wooden posts, practicing the Gentle Fist, or even training chakra wasn't very effective. The most efficient method was continuous improvement through real combat.
So, over the past two years, Yūki had focused on the Land of Fire, seeking out bandits, ruffians, hooligans, and even rogue ninjas as live targets. He'd grown who-knows-how-many times stronger through these battles.
But now, he was in trouble. What should he do?
After both parties introduced themselves, Kujō Renna took her younger brother and left to gather herbs, telling Yūki to rest well here. But the latter sat dejectedly at the door, staring at the sky, racking his brains for a way back to Konoha.
Due to the "Paralysis Mushroom," Yūki definitely couldn't walk back on his own. Although this was the border of the Land of Grass, only a day or two from Konoha, Yūki's current mobility was practically zero.
After being affected by the "Paralysis Mushroom," Yūki found his nerves in a very strange state, often experiencing sudden muscle stiffness—meaning certain body parts would suddenly become uncontrollable.
In this convulsive state, a twelve-year-old child attempting to cross the border between the Land of Grass and the Land of Fire alone and walk back to Konoha—with potential dangers like wild beasts, bandits, and rogue ninjas along the way—was no joking matter.
What should I do? Maybe I could have "Princess Kaguya" carry me back? But that would be too conspicuous. I'd probably be famous worldwide within days.
Imagining himself being carried by "Princess Kaguya," floating through the sky like a ghost all the way from the Land of Grass back to Konoha Village, Yūki couldn't help but shake his head.
After all, he was the respectable eldest son of the Hyūga clan. He didn't want to see headlines like "Shocking Appearance of a Living Deity on Konoha's Borders" in tomorrow's newspapers with his face plastered across them.
Sigh, forget it. I'll have to think of another way—maybe ask Renna to detoxify me faster.
After thinking for a long time, Yūki still hadn't come up with any effective solutions, so he dragged his "crippled" body around the wooden house.
"Kujō Village" wasn't very large, and Renna's wooden house was near the center, so Yūki could see most of the village just by standing nearby.
It really is a peaceful little village. But what's with all these plants growing everywhere?
Although the Land of Grass was known for being suitable for plant growth, this was Yūki's first time seeing a village like "Kujō Village" where every household grew all sorts of strange-smelling plants.
"Wow, this is ugly. Why does this flower smell like rotten eggs?"
"You've never seen this before? It's an insect-repellent plant. As long as you plant it here, there won't be any pests."
Just as Yūki began studying the plants beside the wooden house, a silvery voice he'd heard not long ago suddenly sounded behind him.
Yūki didn't even need to turn around to know that the girl who'd saved him—Kujō Renna—must have appeared.
"These plants don't seem common outside. Are they all herbs?"
Renna still held a bunch of herbs in her hands. She smiled at Yūki and said, "Yes, it might seem strange to outsiders, but almost every household in 'Kujō Village' grows many herbs for emergencies."
"I see. Is that why you're so proficient with herbal medicine?"
"Hehe, it's nothing. My late grandmother was truly amazing—her understanding of detoxification was a hundred times better than mine."
"There are such skilled people?"
"Of course. Decades ago, during the Great War, a medical ninja from next door in the Land of Rain was poisoned by a salamander fish. Luckily, he held on until he reached here, and Grandma cured the poison quickly."
Since Yūki and Renna were close in age, and Renna rarely encountered boys like him in the village, the two sat in front of the wooden house and chatted harmoniously.
However, at the same time, on a hill not far from "Kujō Village," four figures wearing bamboo hats had appeared at some point.
Just by their appearance, it wasn't hard to tell they were likely ninjas. One man with a bamboo hat on his back wore a sinister ghost mask; another in monk robes had the words "guilt, sin, crime" written on his hat; and there was a gloomy, pale-faced man with long hair who looked utterly uncomfortable.
And in front of these three relatively young ninjas—all wearing "Kusagakure forehead protectors"—stood a man with a green cloth strip tied around his head.
This man was clearly much older than the other three, appearing more mature and experienced. Various scars were visible on the exposed parts of his agile attire, practically engraving "battle-hardened" on his face.
"Well?" The man looked down at "Kujō Village" below and spoke in a serious tone.
"Teacher Hannya, according to our investigation, the village is basically composed of civilians with no combat ability," the long-haired, soft-spoken Kusanagi quickly replied.
"Really? Insetsu, Monk, and Ghost Face—we'll head straight into the village shortly. Anyway, we can just seize the legendary 'Secret Medicine: Platinum Pill.'"
Gazing at the still-sunny sky, this jōnin from Kusagakure, Hannya, looked at his three students, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes.
Kusagakure wasn't a powerful ninja village. But even worse than their modest strength was the Land of Grass' geographical location—sandwiched between the Land of Earth, Land of Fire, Land of Rain, and Land of Waterfalls. It was tightly encircled.
Especially during wars between Konohagakure and Iwagakure, the Land of Grass was the only route both sides had to pass through. It's said an extremely brutal battle once broke out in the Kannabi Bridge area—a memory still fresh for "some."
Though the grass ninjas surviving in such a harsh environment weren't strong, they excelled at studying other villages' ninjutsu and using every possible means to protect themselves—just like Hannya leading his team into these deep mountains today.
Because Hannya's team was scheduled to participate in the upcoming Chūnin Exams jointly held with Konoha next year, to ensure his team's passing rate, Hannya would stop at nothing to strengthen them—including seizing the secret medicine rumored to have been passed down for generations in "Kujō Village."
Though few remembered now, there had indeed been an old woman in this hidden village with immensely powerful pharmaceutical skills. Hannya's goal was to find that old woman and force her to hand over the secret medicine said to cure all major diseases and most poisons while instantly restoring physical strength—the "Platinum Pill."
With this secret medicine, the three would be assured of success in the Chūnin Exams. Once they all became chūnin, he, their teacher, could return to his hometown and marry in peace.
Looking at the three fine disciples he'd trained with his own hands, the Kusagakure jōnin showed a satisfied smile.