In life, there are always things that time can neither fade nor erase.
They settle deep in the heart, changing into something heavier, something that leaves a mark.
Uchiha Tatsumi now truly understood this.
Nine years in this world had already made him forget much of his previous life.
But in a daze, it was as if he relived everything he had once forgotten—both pain and joy flashing before his eyes.
When Uchiha Tatsumi opened his eyes again, an unfamiliar ceiling greeted him.
Where am I?
Am I... still alive?
The thought echoed in his head.
"Congratulations to the host for successfully infiltrating the world of One Piece!"
"Your current identity is the long-lost neighbor of an admiral's distant cousin. 嘤嘤嘤~"
How annoying. Even in moments like this, the system's voice grated on his nerves.
Uchiha Tatsumi: "..."
Another world again?
This is absurd. A guy gets isekai'd once, people call it fate. But twice?
His life really was a chaotic mess of broken logic and adventurist nonsense.
Tatsumi sat up, groaning and glancing around.
Wait... this place looked familiar.
Wasn't this... Konoha Hospital?
Though the window was mostly covered by curtains, he could see through a gap—the pervy-looking Third Hokage monument out there gave it away.
This cheating system even knew how to lie now?
What happened to honesty between people—and systems? Couldn't there be less deceit and more sincerity?
Uchiha Tatsumi looked down. There was an IV in one arm.
His other hand was held tightly.
It was Mikoto—fast asleep, still holding his hand.
He sighed in relief. So Mikoto hadn't died. That terrifying vision… just a hallucination.
Sakamoto, holding that short blade—he had mistaken him for Mikoto while poisoned.
That poison... it was no joke. It could trigger terrifying hallucinations, forcing you to see your worst fears.
In some ways, it was almost as potent as a high-level genjutsu.
Tatsumi shifted in bed. The movement stirred Mikoto from her sleep.
She blinked blearily, then saw him.
Tears welled up instantly.
"Chen—you're awake! You're… you're okay! Thank goodness!"
Mikoto's voice cracked, her tears flowing uncontrollably as she wiped at them with trembling hands.
"Alright, alright. Mikoto, can't you tell just by looking at me how healthy I am?" Tatsumi grinned.
Then he tried moving his arm out of habit.
Hissss— The pain hit instantly.
His face twisted.
The muscle strain and bone dislocation—brutal. He nearly cried.
"Do you want me to call a doctor?" Mikoto asked urgently.
"It's fine. As long as I don't move, I'll survive." Tatsumi gestured for her to calm down.
"Okay, lie back. I'll go get Kushina! We agreed we'd take turns watching you and notify each other the moment you woke up!"
Mikoto said quickly and darted out.
The room grew quiet once more.
But only for a few seconds—then came the sound of footsteps outside.
That fast? Tatsumi frowned. Mikoto's back already?
The door opened.
It wasn't Mikoto.
It was Tsunade.
Today she was dressed in her medic uniform—white coat over her usual clothes, golden ponytail tied neatly, hands tucked into her pockets as she entered.
Tatsumi gave her a cautious smile.
In contrast, Tsunade's face was thundercloud dark.
Rude.
But he wasn't about to say that out loud.
Who knew if she might "accidentally" leave a scalpel in his stomach?
"What's the matter, Tsunade-sensei?" Tatsumi asked, cautiously polite.
"Nothing much," Tsunade replied with a very unamused smile. "Just came to congratulate you."
"Oh?" Tatsumi blinked.
"You've completed two A-rank missions before even becoming a genin. You've killed two jōnin. Congratulations."
Her smile twisted. "At this rate, once you become a genin, I guess you'll be punching Raikage, kicking Kazekage, and maybe sending the Sage of Six Paths into early retirement."
Her voice rose steadily until Tatsumi's ears hurt.
He instinctively pulled the blanket up, retreating like a turtle.
No wonder she was mad.
A-rank missions weren't something just any shinobi touched. Some went their entire careers without one.
Tsunade wasn't proud—she was furious.
Uchiha Tatsumi was her first student. That mission was only meant to rough him up a little, give him a taste of blood, prepare him for war.
He, on the other hand, had faced elite jōnin. From Sunagakure, no less. And nearly died.
This wasn't how a genin's life should go!
Genin were supposed to pick weeds, chase cats, shovel manure, and clean village streets.
And he thought this was normal?!
Tatsumi could only offer a sheepish smile in response.
After Tsunade vented her anger, her expression softened slightly.
"You're mostly stable now. Some dislocated bones and muscle damage, but everything's been reset. You just need rest."
"There's no antidote?" Tatsumi asked, almost immediately regretting it.
What a dumb question.
Sure enough, Tsunade's eyes narrowed again.
"You're lucky. That poison was a prototype developed by Chiyo of Sunagakure."
"If it hadn't been a half-finished version, and if I hadn't been there, you'd be long dead."
Tatsumi quickly zipped his mouth shut and buried himself deeper in bed.
Tsunade sat quietly for a while. The room was filled with silence.
Then she gave him one last glare and turned to leave.
As Konoha's top medical-nin, she had work to do.
But not long after, there was another knock on the door.
Tch… does a guy not get a break? Don't patients have rights under the Basic Shinobi Law?
Tatsumi let out a sigh of helpless resignation.
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