A few more days passed.
Nagato decided to share the good news with Nonō only after confirming that all the patients' postoperative conditions were stable.
At Anbu No. 3 training ground, Nonō was sparring vigorously with her teammate. The two exchanged blows, their movements swift and precise.
From a distance, Nagato approached at a run. Seeing the sparring session, he didn't interrupt and waited quietly on the sidelines.
"That's enough for now," Nonō's teammate said, sidestepping to avoid her attack and retreating swiftly.
"I've only just warmed up," Nonō said, stopping in confusion. She couldn't understand why her teammate suddenly pulled back.
"Look over there," her teammate said, pointing behind her.
Nonō turned and saw Nagato standing not far away. With her back turned earlier, she hadn't noticed him.
"Pain, were you looking for me?" Nonō asked, trotting toward him with a tone of joy that anyone could notice.
"Well, I want to tell you something," Nagato said calmly, showing no particular reaction.
"Come, let's go over there and talk," Nonō said, reaching out to grab Nagato's hand. Together, they walked toward an unoccupied corner.
"It's good news. Want to guess first?" Nagato asked, letting Nonō hold his hand, his tone teasing.
"Hm, let me think. Is there a present for me?" Nonō asked, tightening her grip on his hand.
If Nagato takes this opportunity to confess his love, should I say yes? she thought.
She had heard that the easier something was obtained, the less it was treasured. Should I hold back a little?
Oh dear, boys really are so impatient!
Unbeknownst to Nagato, Nonō had already imagined an elaborate scene in her mind, a blush creeping across her face. Meanwhile, Nagato was still carefully considering how to phrase his news in the most natural way possible.
"Sort of," Nagato said after a moment of thought. He didn't refute Nonō's assumption—calling it a gift wasn't wrong, and it was indeed a significant one that had taken great effort.
"Hurry up and take it out. Let me see it," Nonō said eagerly, letting go of Nagato, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"I can't take this gift out," Nagato said with a laugh. It was clear that Nonō hadn't connected it to myopia yet.
"Huh? Is the gift too big to carry with you?" Nonō asked, puzzled. "If it's that big, how will I bring it back without a storage scroll?"
"Haha, you're wrong," Nagato replied, still smiling. "I've solved the problem of myopia. If you want, I can give you back a pair of eyes with normal vision."
Nagato decided not to beat around the bush any longer and told Nonō the news directly. Then, he waited for her reaction.
"Really? Is it an idea from Lady Tsunade?" Nonō's first reaction was disbelief.
Then she considered the possibility that Tsunade had given Nagato some guidance, which made sense. It seemed too incredible to imagine that Nagato had independently discovered a way to cure myopia in such a short time.
Thinking this, a surprised smile appeared on her face. But since Nonō was wearing a mask, Nagato couldn't see it—he could only infer from her tone.
"Really, It wasn't Sensei's wife. It was Sensei who pointed me in the right direction," Nagato replied honestly.
Nonō was surprised again. "I didn't realize that Lord Kawakaze also knew Medical Ninjutsu," she said. She had always heard that Kawakaze was strong, but she hadn't known he had any knowledge of Medical Ninjutsu.
"No, Sensei doesn't know any Medical Ninjutsu," Nagato clarified. He started to explain but then stopped.
He really didn't know how to accurately describe Kawakaze. To say he was strong was fine—everyone in the ninja world knew that. But to claim he knew Medical Ninjutsu? That would be far too generous.
"Forget it, I can't explain it to you in a short time," Nagato said. "Treating myopia requires a small operation. I've already cured more than ten patients. When do you have time to go with me?"
Skipping over any explanation about Kawakaze, Nagato directly set about making an appointment with Nonō. He was ready whenever she had time.
"So, will you personally perform the surgery on me?" Nonō asked, looking up and staring into Nagato's eyes through her mask.
"Of course," Nagato replied without hesitation.
"Okay, then tomorrow," Nonō said, her eyes behind the mask smiling so widely they formed a thin slit.
She didn't ask any questions about the procedure or potential risks—she trusted Nagato completely.
"Then tomorrow morning, meet me in front of the main entrance of Konoha Hospital," Nagato said, finalizing the time and place.
"Okay, see you then."
After waving goodbye, Nonō watched Nagato's figure fade into the distance before covering her mouth and giggling softly. It felt so nice to be cared for like this.
"Let's continue," Nonō said, returning to her original spot to look for teammates to spar with.
"That kid confessed to you? You're smiling so happily," her teammate teased as soon as she approached.
Nonō froze for a moment, stunned by the comment—because that's exactly what she'd thought at first.
"No, don't be ridiculous. We're just friends," she said, though her tone was slightly unnatural.
"Really?" her teammate asked with a teasing, skeptical tone, clearly not convinced.
"Believe it or not, take this!" Nonō, clearly a bit embarrassed, lashed out with a kick.
"Sneak attack! You're not following the rules!" her teammate shouted indignantly, and the two of them quickly broke into another scuffle.
...
The next day, Nagato arrived at the hospital early in the morning. This time, it was his turn to wait for Nonō.
He had already arranged an operating room and a hospital room so that the procedure could begin as soon as Nonō arrived, with no delays.
After waiting for about twenty minutes, Nagato noticed a familiar figure walking toward the hospital entrance.
"This way," Nagato called out, waving to greet Nonō.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Nonō replied, adjusting his glasses as he was still a bit far away. After getting a better look, he started running toward Nagato.
"How long have you been here?" Nonō asked as he approached.
"Not long. Let's go in," Nagato said, turning to lead the way into the hospital.
"This is the hospital that Lady Hokage opened, right?" Nonō asked, though he already knew the answer. A picture of Tsunade was still displayed on the hospital bulletin board.
"Yes, I heard that Sensei paid for it initially," Nagato replied. It wasn't a secret—most villagers in Konohagakure knew about it.
"So, does that mean I don't have to pay for the surgery?" Nonō asked casually, not intending to take advantage but simply making conversation.
"Don't worry, I've already taken care of everything," Nagato assured her. "Not only will you not have to pay, but I guarantee you'll have bright, beautiful eyes again." He patted his chest confidently.
"Haha, thank you very much."
"Well, I have nothing else to offer in return—how about I pledge myself to you?"
Nonō's teasing joke left Nagato completely at a loss for how to respond.