Chapter 50: Medicated Sasuke and the Rescue
Ten hours later.
Drip, drip, drip...
Blood dripped from the operating table as Su Xiao removed his disposable rubber gloves and casually tossed them to Karin.
Karin, standing behind Su Xiao, swallowed hard. She had doubted many times—was this really treatment? Even an autopsy didn’t need to be this brutal.
“Basically, there shouldn’t be any major issues.”
Su Xiao walked out of the operating room. He needed rest; before performing surgery on Sasuke, he had already fought several high-intensity battles.
On the operating table, Sasuke was wrapped head to toe in bandages. His consciousness was hazy due to the anesthesia. For now, Sasuke couldn’t feel much, but he’d suffer plenty later.
When Su Xiao stepped out of the operating room, the ‘patient’s family member,’ Obito, was waiting at the door.
“No problems?”
“If his consciousness doesn’t collapse, it should be fine for the most part.”
“For the most part...”
Obito immediately sensed something was wrong.
“Do you think Sasuke can fully recover? Being eroded by original Hashirama cells isn’t easy to resolve. Even if the surgery saves his life, he’ll need medication to suppress it afterward.”
Su Xiao wasn’t a professional doctor. He could treat Sasuke mainly because of his understanding of original Hashirama cells. Saving Sasuke’s life was already a good outcome.
“Can the medication supply be guaranteed?”
“Probably.”
Su Xiao’s answer made Obito even more dissatisfied.
“If Zetsu can find that person, I’ll provide you with the formula directly.”
Su Xiao was proficient in alchemical pharmacology and understood original Hashirama cells, so formulating a drug to suppress them wasn’t too difficult.
Admittedly, Su Xiao was very lucky this time. If it were another type of medicine, he might not be able to concoct it, but he excelled in recovery-related or Hashirama cell-related areas.
“Until Zetsu finds that person, this is all there is.”
Su Xiao tossed Obito a glass bottle containing about thirty red pills.
“One pill daily, three before combat. No obvious side effects.”
Obito examined the quantity—thirty pills. That meant, if Sasuke didn’t fight, it would last a month, which was the time limit for finding that person in the deal.
Did he think he could escape unscathed after severe erosion by original Hashirama cells? Don’t be ridiculous. If Sasuke had stopped fighting within two hours, the side effects would have been limited to vision damage. Now, he could only rely on medication to suppress the Hashirama cells in his body. That was the price of recklessness—a bloody price.
Sasuke had been reckless many times before. When fighting the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, he was skewered like a hedgehog, saved by Karin. Later, his organs were blown out, saved by Jugo. Both times nearly killed him, yet Sasuke paid no heavy price.
But this time, Karin was no longer his subordinate, Jugo’s whereabouts were unknown, and Sasuke had to pay for his recklessness. His brother Itachi was dead, killed by his own hand, with no one to clean up his mess.
“This time, Sasuke should stop acting recklessly.”
Obito pocketed the bottle, a leverage to control Sasuke. However, Obito underestimated Sasuke. If he wasn’t reckless, would he still be the Second Pillar? If it were Uchiha Sasuke from over a decade later, he would indeed be a powerful, composed ninja. Back then, Naruto was Konoha’s light, and Sasuke was its shadow—one light, one shadow guarding the Land of Fire.
But now, Sasuke was too green. He might have forgotten where he was. Around him were old schemers, villains, and ruthless killers. He survived only because he was an Uchiha, and his Sharingan was valuable.
Itachi navigated the Akatsuki with ease, even using special means to protect Konoha. It was only after Itachi’s death that Nagato attacked Konoha, showing Itachi’s strategic prowess.
Sasuke, on the other hand, was still being used in the Akatsuki. Of course, if he successfully obtained the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, he’d soar. After all, this guy would become one of the strongest in the ninja world, reckless but not easily killed.
Su Xiao found a random room. Amu guarded the door while Su Xiao and Bubu Wang crashed into sleep. As an alchemical creature, Amu needed very little rest.
After an unknown amount of time, Su Xiao groggily opened his eyes and pushed a dog leg off his chest.
A moment later, he felt more alert.
“Bubu.”
“Mm~”
Bubu Wang mumbled sleepily, twitching a front paw.
“Stop sleeping. We’re going to rescue Deidara soon.”
“Mm~”
Bubu Wang’s furry front paw twitched again, signaling it understood, but its eyes remained shut. About three seconds later, snoring came from its mouth.
“Amu.”
Su Xiao signaled Amu to wake Bubu Wang. Amu hesitated but couldn’t disobey Su Xiao’s order.
After a moment’s hesitation, Amu chose a relatively ‘gentle’ method to wake Bubu Wang.
Amu grabbed Bubu Wang’s hind legs and gently lifted it. Even so, Bubu Wang remained fast asleep.
Seeing this, Su Xiao forcibly controlled Amu.
Amu’s body stiffened, and its hands began shaking up and down violently, making Bubu Wang’s big ears flap wildly. Its slightly open mouth even had its tongue flapping out.
Bubu Wang woke in terror and, in panic, bit its own tongue. The expression on its dog face could only be described as ‘Holy crap!’
“Get ready to go rescue Deidara.”
Su Xiao yawned and walked out of the room, releasing his control over Amu. Amu’s hands instinctively let go, and Bubu Wang tried to signal it not to, but it was too late.
Thud. Bubu Wang landed headfirst on the bedboard, then lay limply on the bed.
After yawning, Bubu Wang sat up and glared at Amu, its eyes clearly saying, “Just you wait, kid.”
Amu was caught in the crossfire. Amu felt innocent. Amu wanted to say it was desperate too.
When Su Xiao found Obito in the base, Obito was still sitting at the operating room door, drawn by the screams. Inside, agonized howls echoed.
“Is this... really okay? He’s been screaming for three hours.”
“No problem. Compared to Nagato’s surgery, this one’s risk isn’t high. The Hashirama cells in Sasuke aren’t just eroding his body; they’re also giving him strong vitality.”
“Is that so.”
Obito was pondering a question: after Sasuke obtained the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, could he evolve the Rinnegan? After all, Sasuke’s situation was too similar to Madara’s back then.
If Su Xiao knew Obito’s thoughts, he’d tell him he was overthinking. Eternal Mangekyo + Hashirama cells didn’t equal the Rinnegan. Other factors were needed to evolve it.
One of the most important factors was bloodline. Evolving the Rinnegan required being Indra’s reincarnation.
Reincarnation in the Naruto world was a strange thing—not a transfer of will or energy, but something akin to fate.
Uchiha Madara was Indra’s reincarnation. After obtaining original Hashirama cells, he spent decades and awakened the Rinnegan on the brink of death.
Sasuke was also Indra’s reincarnation and had obtained original Hashirama cells, but he couldn’t compare to Madara. Their strength, knowledge, and experience were on completely different levels.
What Uchiha Madara pursued his whole life, Sasuke couldn’t simply awaken. That was impossible.
“We’ve located Deidara. He’s underground in a village near Iwagakure. It’s a secret prison for important prisoners, only a few kilometers from Iwagakure, heavily guarded by many ninjas.”
Obito stood up. The rescue team had already been chosen: Su Xiao, Obito, Bubu Wang, Karin, and Amu.
Five people in total. It seemed few, but they weren’t attacking Iwagakure. Five was more convenient for movement.
Just as Su Xiao and the others gathered and prepared to leave the Akatsuki base, the base’s door opened, letting in blinding sunlight.
A figure descended from above, carrying something on its shoulder.
“Did I miss something?”
The person stood at the base entrance, the harsh light obscuring their face. From the voice, it was Kisame returning. He had successfully captured the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer Bee, slung over his shoulder.
“Senior, is this our base? Looks impressive.”
A female voice came from behind Kisame.
“Kisame, this isn’t like you, bringing an outsider to the base. Even if it’s just a temporary one.”
Obito’s words weren’t reproachful, given Kisame had just succeeded in capturing the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.
“This is the new member I want to introduce. Catching the Eight-Tails wouldn’t have been possible without her. Besides, we’re old acquaintances.”