"Young man, I heard you've been feeling down lately?"
Jinghang smiled warmly as he twisted open a can of yellow peach preserves, stuck a fork into it, and handed it to Takashi Chiike, whose head was wrapped in bandages like a mummy.
However, Takashi didn't take it. He just kept his head down, silent. Jinghang, feeling a bit awkward, placed the can on the bedside table.
"Sir, please allow me to leave the Secretariat."
Takashi raised his head slowly, his single visible eye filled with despair.
"Don't talk nonsense."
"It's true. I know you promoted me to the Secretariat because of my eyes, but now…"
"Don't cry. Hey, no crying—it'll get infected and ooze pus…"
Jinghang tried to comfort him, feeling a wave of emotion. It was rare these days to find someone so pure.
"Don't underestimate yourself. You did an excellent job in this mission. If it weren't for your surprise attack from above, I might not have made it out alive. You're a capable ninja."
"No, what I mean is… I've lost half my abilities now. I don't think I can serve you well anymore. This position should be given to someone more competent!"
Takashi looked Jinghang straight in the eye, his gaze unwavering.
What a fine young man! His heart was as pure as the waters of Lake Tsukino. Yes, he's worth nurturing!
Although Jinghang was curious about the combination of the Byakugan and Sharingan, he knew that Hyuga Muyue was an outsider, uninterested in being a ninja anymore. Besides, his surgery was personally overseen by Tsunade, and involving the Sharingan might cause unnecessary trouble. It would be better to keep it within their own ranks. Plus, the Sharingan paired with red eyes seemed like a good match.
"That's not an option. You still have a heavy burden on your shoulders."
Jinghang deliberately adopted a stern tone.
"Hmm?"
This left Takashi puzzled.
"Do you know what's beneath this hospital?"
Jinghang pointed at the floor.
"I know—it's the first floor."
Damn, Jinghang almost stumbled.
"I mean beneath the first floor."
"Uh, I don't know. Is it the morgue?"
Jinghang rubbed his forehead and patiently explained.
"Beneath this hospital lies a secret facility of our Sunagakure—the Medical Research Institute, overseen by Tsunade herself."
"Oh?"
Takashi seemed intrigued.
"In fact, cases like yours are no big deal in Sunagakure. Organ transplant surgeries are fully developed here, including eye transplants."
Jinghang spoke with an air of mystery.
"Does that mean my eye can…?"
Takashi suddenly became animated, sitting up straight.
"Restoring your vision is absolutely possible. And I have something even better. Right, I forgot to ask—what's your blood type?"
"O."
"Perfect. That makes it even easier."
Jinghang looked pleased.
"Have you heard of the Sharingan?"
"Of course…"
The Sharingan's fame was known throughout the ninja world. The Uchiha Clan owed much of their legendary status to this mysterious eye.
"Well, what a coincidence. I happen to have one—a Sharingan that the Second Kazekage, Samo, gouged out from an Uchiha ninja. How about I have it implanted for you?"
"Sir!"
Takashi was so moved he couldn't find the words. This wasn't just adding a burden to his shoulders—it was upgrading his entire system!
"Don't get too excited. There are some side effects to having it implanted, so let me make that clear first."
Jinghang offered the can of peaches to Takashi again. This time, Takashi didn't refuse. He grabbed it and started eating.
"Of course, there are many benefits. As far as I know, Sharingan users possess extraordinary perception, can see chakra, cast and dispel genjutsu, and copy non-kekkei genkai ninjutsu. You'll experience these yourself once it's implanted. Let me focus on the downsides."
Jinghang raised a finger.
"First, it consumes chakra—a lot of it. The moment this eye is open, it'll drain your chakra rapidly. Without a strong chakra reserve, this eye is practically useless. You'd collapse after just a few uses."
Even Kakashi Hatake, the famous Copy Ninja, was a prime example of this.
"Second, it might evolve. Yes, you heard me right—evolve. Your eye could potentially transform into the more advanced Mangekyō Sharingan, which grants even more powerful ocular jutsu. However, this also increases its chakra consumption and carries a higher risk of blindness. That's the situation. The path forward is yours to choose."
Jinghang spread his hands, looking as if he was leaving the decision entirely up to Takashi.
Without hesitation, Takashi declared, "I choose the Sharingan."
"Good."
Jinghang clasped his hands into fists.
"I'll arrange for Director Bai Fei at the Research Institute to perform the transplant. But after the surgery, you must promise me two things."
"What are they?"
"First, after the transplant, you're not to use the Sharingan. You'll leave the Secretariat and join the regular army. Only when your chakra reserves can sustain a three-day forced march will you be allowed to return."
"No problem."
Takashi nodded firmly. It made sense—what's the point of installing a fuel-hungry engine if the tank is shallow?
"Second, if one day your eye evolves, you must inform me immediately."
"Also no problem."
Takashi nodded again, his resolve unwavering.
"Alright then, that's settled. Wait for your surgery. I have a meeting to attend."
Jinghang patted Takashi's shoulder, flipped his cloak, and strode away.
Takashi looked excitedly at the empty can in his hand. The peaches were gone, leaving only the syrup. Tilting his head back, he drank it all in one gulp.
"Honorable members of the council, I'm sure you're all aware that seven days ago, a hundred-strong elite unit from Iwagakure secretly infiltrated our nation. They attacked a construction team working deep in the desert, abducted our Jinchūriki, Master Bunpuku, and brutally murdered twenty-four construction workers.
Before we even had time to grieve, Iwagakure's envoy brought us this message: the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, claims this unit were Iwagakure defectors, and the village will not be held accountable for the consequences of their actions!?"
Jinghang paused. The council chamber was already buzzing with outrage. He raised his voice.
"Isn't this absurd? Isn't this laughable? Does calling them defectors erase the blood debts Iwagakure owes us? Does it excuse their banditry?"
"No! No!"
The council members rose to their feet, shouting in unison.
Jinghang waited for the uproar to subside, then continued in a lower tone.
"Twenty-four lives. Behind each of them is a family. Twenty-four mothers lost their sons. Twenty-four wives lost their husbands. Some have told me, 'Lord Kazekage, don't act rashly. We can't jeopardize our current prosperity over a few lives.'
To that, I ask: if we compromise now, will this tragedy not happen again? Will the next victim not be your son? Your brother? I'll tell you—it will happen again. That's why I choose to never compromise!"
Jinghang slammed his hand on the table, his voice resolute. The chamber erupted in applause.
"Therefore, I hereby declare, as Kazekage, that I am invoking my authority to wage war. Sunagakure formally declares war on Iwagakure!"
Jinghang raised his right hand high, and the applause grew even louder. The council unanimously approved the war resolution.
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