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In the crudely built medical clinic of the infant Konoha Village, the identity of Haruno Sakura remained a captivating mystery. To the public, she was known only as a medical prodigy under the dual patronage of the powerful Senju and Uchiha clans, despite the fact that she stood alone, without kin or noble lineage. As for her relationship with Uchiha Hikaku, the two kept it strictly hush-hush. In the eyes of other shinobi, Hikaku was just a special patient who frequently dropped by to treat his various war wounds.
That day, Sakura’s waiting room was packed to the brim. Amidst the noisy chatter, Hikaku stepped in, his battle armor still dusted with the grime of the road. Instead of pulling rank to skip the line, he sat down quietly, face composed, though his deep eyes never strayed from the pink-haired figure busy working inside.
When Hikaku’s turn finally came, he strolled into the examination room.
“Next patient, please.” Sakura looked up from her paperwork, and as soon as her eyes met his, her emerald gaze softened and crinkled with warmth, A radiant smile lit up her face. It was an expression reserved exclusively for him, one that no other patient ever had the privilege to see.
"Back for your routine check-up again, Hikaku-san?"
Hikaku sat down and pulled off his gloves, his voice deep and laced with a hint of exhaustion yet undeniably proud. "Mm. I just returned from an S-rank mission at the Land of Lightning border. I might have pushed it a bit too hard, I’d like you to check my chakra flow."
‘An S-rank mission?’ Sakura’s pen faltered. She knew those were the deadliest assignments, where the line between life and death was as thin as a silk thread. Seeing her man return in one piece, a surge of admiration mixed with a twinge of heartache washed over her.
Forgetting that the curtain separating them from the waiting room wasn't exactly soundproof, Sakura leaned in and planted a soft, lingering kiss on Hikaku’s cheek.
"You did so well, Hikaku-san. Thank you for coming back safely." Her voice was as sweet and sincere as honey.
Hikaku’s perpetually stern face froze before a light blush crept across his cheekbones. He cleared his throat, took her hand in his, and flashed a look of silent, smug satisfaction.
Suddenly, the entire clinic fell into a bone-chilling silence. The shinobi waiting outside from the Senju to every other minor clan were shell-shocked. What on earth did they just witness? Did the Goddess of Healing just kiss that damn Uchiha on the cheek? And did she just praise him in that tone of voice?
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.
BAM!
A massive shinobi from the Sarutobi clan bolted upright, thumping his chest like a gorilla to grab attention. "Ahem! Now that I think about it, I also just finished an S-rank mission sweeping out bandits at the Land of Fire border! My arm... it feels quite painful, Haruno-san!"
Before he could finish, another guy from the Akimichi clan wailed. "What’s so special about S-rank?! I just escorted the Daimyo through a war zone, that's an S-plus rank mission! My back is so sore, I think I need a kiss... I mean, a check-up from Haruno-san!"
"I just finished an A-rank mission killing a giant tiger single-handedly!"
"I'm S-rank for guarding the grain storehouse!"
The waiting room gradually devolved into a Grand Achievement Exhibition. Everyone was suddenly limping, clutching their hearts, or shouting their accomplishments at the top of their lungs, all hoping for a word of encouragement and a similar kiss on the cheek from Sakura.
The faint smirk on Hikaku’s lips died instantly. His face darkened with every boastful shout from the men outside.
Ignoring Sakura’s flustered expression, the Uchiha’s master strategist stood up in silence. He didn't say a word, he simply gripped his hilt and slid his blade just an inch out of its scabbard. The cold, sharp clink of metal echoed through the room, cutting through the noise like a razor.
He turned his head back, his Sharingan glowing crimson as the three tomoe spun wildly, releasing a terrifying pressure that made the room temperature feel like it had dropped to sub-zero.
"Oh? So many S-rank heroes in one room?" Hikaku narrowed his eyes and smiled, but it was the kind of smile that made their skin crawl. "Since everyone here is so healthy and talented, there’s no need to trouble Sakura-san. Why don't I - the man who actually just finished an S-rank mission help you all review your combat skills right here?"
In a flash, the waiting room was empty, not a soul remained. Those S-rank and A-rank braggarts had body-flickered out of existence, leaving behind nothing but a row of wobbling, empty chairs.
Hikaku turned back to Sakura, deactivated his Sharingan, and instantly reverted to his innocent patient persona. "How bothersome. You see? They’re all perfectly healthy. No need to examine them."
Sakura couldn't help but burst out laughing. She stepped forward, tucked her arm into his, and leaned her head against his sturdy shoulder. "Yes, yes. In this entire village, you’re the only S-rank casualty I’ll treat, alright?"
That day, Hikaku left the hospital with his head held high and a heart full of victory. However, the price of his triumph was a new nickname whispered throughout the village -The Stone Guardian Lion of Haruno-san’s Clinic-