Chapter 3
Banchina could feel her illness growing worse with each passing day. She knew, deep down, that she was dying, though the cause remained unknown. The thought of leaving her son, Usopp, filled her with an unbearable sorrow.
Her heart ached as she watched him—her brave, energetic boy—so full of life and dreams.
The worry gnawed at her constantly. She couldn't bear the thought of leaving him alone in the world, especially with his wild imagination and tendency to exaggerate. She feared he might not have the strength to face the world without her by his side.
Her mind raced with concerns about what would happen to him when she was gone.
Who would care for him? Who would protect him from the harsh realities of the world? Would he find the strength to become the person he wanted to be, the person she always believed he could be?
As her illness took its toll, Banchina held onto one desperate hope—that someone would come into Usopp’s life to guide him, someone who could help him grow into the brave, honorable man she knew he was capable of becoming.
She was losing hope on ever seeing her husband again.
One morning, as she was on her way to buy groceries, Banchina spotted something unusual.
Walking through the village was a man and a boy who seemed to be around three years older than her son. The boy looked lost, his small face marked by confusion, while the man—probably in his early twenties—followed him with a stoic expression
Banchina could tell immediately that the two were not from the village. If they had been, she would have recognized them by now. The boy's appearance, with his wild hair and the air of uncertainty around him, was a stark contrast to the familiar faces she saw every day. The man, with his stoic expression and silent presence, was equally out of place.
As she watched them walk aimlessly through the village, a sense of sympathy tugged at her heart. They looked lost, confused—almost as if they were searching for something but didn’t know where to look. Her kind nature couldn’t let them wander like that.
Without thinking too much, Banchina walked up to them. Her footsteps were soft as she approached, not wanting to startle them. She gave a gentle smile, hoping to offer some comfort to the pair who seemed to need it.
"Excuse me," she called out, her voice warm and inviting. "You both look like you're new here. Is there anything I can help you with? The village isn't very big, but if you're looking for something, I can show you around."
Her tone was calm and friendly, the kind of voice that had made her well-liked in the village. She wasn’t sure why, but something about these two strangers made her want to reach out. Maybe it was the boy’s eyes—he looked so much like her own son, Usopp, when he was younger, filled with curiosity and hope.
The man didn’t respond right away, his gaze shifting toward her with a cool, measured look. He didn’t seem hostile, but under his gaze she felt like she was standing in front of a stern doctor.
“How strange, why are your body cells dying?” The man asked her curiously without any ill intention.
She hesitated for a moment, unsure of what he meant. “Excuse me?” she asked, her voice faltering slightly.
Without missing a beat, the man spoke again, his voice calm and almost detached. “Why are your body cells dying?” He asked this with such curiosity, as though it were a simple question he expected an answer to, rather than a disturbing comment.
Banchina froze, a wave of confusion and fear washing over her. She glanced at the boy, who was looking at the man with surprise.
"What do you mean, sensei?" the boy asked, his voice full of confusion, his small brows furrowed in concern.
The man seemed unfazed by the boy's question.
He glanced at Banchina, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly as if analyzing her further. “Your body’s condition is not typical. I’ve sensed it ever since I arrived here.”
His voice was almost clinical, detached in its assessment. “You’re suffering from a deteriorating condition. The cells in your body are degrading faster than they should, but I don’t sense any external cause for it. It’s... strange.”
Banchina’s heart skipped a beat, her thoughts racing. She placed her hand over her chest, feeling the tightness that had been slowly creeping up on her for some time.
She had known something was wrong, but to have someone speak of it so directly, so matter-of-factly, made it feel all too real.
The man nodded, though his expression remained unchanged. Banchina couldn’t tell if he was faking confidence or if he truly believed something could be done, as his face betrayed nothing.
“Sensei, don’t ignore me!” The boy suddenly poked the man’s arm with a pout, clearly frustrated.
“Ace, if you had read the book I gave you, then you would have known what was happening.” The man, Sasuke, sighed, clearly exasperated.
Ace, the boy, crossed his arms and shot a glare at Sasuke. “I can’t read 2000 pages of a book in a day!”
“Alright, let’s talk while we walk.” Sasuke glanced at Ace, unamused, but then shrugged. He then looked at the woman, his expression serious. “Please show us the way to your home, and on the way, I can explain to you what your illness is about.”
Banchina, still surprised by the suddenness of the man's words, nodded slowly. Despite the discomfort she felt, she stood up and motioned toward the path leading out of the village.
“This way, please,” she said, her voice weak but grateful.
As they walked, Sasuke kept a steady pace, his attention divided between Ace, who was walking beside him, and Banchina, who seemed to be struggling more than she let on. Ace, walking alongside Sasuke, glanced back at Banchina with a concerned look before turning his attention to Sasuke.
“So, what exactly is going on with her?” Ace asked, his usual playful tone replaced with curiosity.
Banchina perked up, she also didn’t know what was happening to her but that she was getting weaker as the day passed.
“She has necroptosis.” Sasuke flatly said.
Banchina's heart skipped a beat. "Necroptosis?" she repeated, her voice trembling with fear. "What... what is that?"
Sasuke took a breath, his voice calm and controlled. "Necroptosis is a form of programmed cell death. Unlike regular apoptosis, where cells die in a controlled manner, necroptosis causes cells to break down in an uncontrolled fashion, releasing toxins into the body. It leads to widespread tissue damage and, if left untreated, can be fatal."
Banchina's hands clenched into fists at her sides. "So... my cells are just dying for no reason? Is there a way to stop it?"
Sasuke’s expression remained impassive. "It's not random. There is a cause, but finding it is the key. Whether it’s an infection, a toxin, or something else, it needs to be identified and treated before the condition progresses further."
Ace looked between them, his face furrowed in confusion. "But can you help her, sensei?"
Sasuke nodded slightly, his expression calm. “It’s not that hard. I just need to use chakra to heal her cells, but first, we need to find the cause of it.”
"So, you're saying you can heal me, but only if we know what caused this?" Banchina asked, her voice filled with hope as she looked at the young man.
Sasuke nodded. “That is right, I will check your pulse once we are inside.”
It didn’t take long for them to arrive at Banchina’s house, Sasuke and Ace took off their shoes before entering the house.
“Please sit on the sofa,” Sasuke politely told Banchina before turning to his student. “Ace, come here and watch closely.”
Banchina hesitated for a moment, then sat down as instructed, her face pale with worry. Ace, ever eager to learn, moved closer to Sasuke, his eyes curious and attentive.
Sasuke placed two fingers gently on Banchina’s pulse, his expression focused as he sent chakra into her body. The flow of chakra was smooth, but as he concentrated, he soon pinpointed the cause of her deteriorating condition. His face grew serious as he pulled his fingers back and looked at her.
"Did you take any medicine after you gave birth?" Sasuke asked, his tone even but edged with concern.
Banchina blinked in surprise, her brow furrowing slightly. “Yes, I did. After Usopp was born, the village doctor gave me medicine to help with recovery and to… improve my health.”
Sasuke’s eyes narrowed, and he folded his arms as he stood in front of her. "That medicine. It’s the cause of your condition. It seems to have interfered with your body’s natural healing process, causing your cells to deteriorate. The ingredients in it are toxic to your chakra network, which is why your body is unable to regenerate."
Ace frowned, glancing at Banchina. "So that’s what’s been making her sick?”
Sasuke nodded grimly. "Exactly. The medicine was supposed to help, but it has instead caused a slow, fatal reaction in her body."
Banchina’s eyes widened in shock and fear. "But I didn’t know! I thought it was just for recovery, I didn’t think it would do this!"
Sasuke’s gaze softened, but only slightly. "It’s not your fault. You didn’t know the side effects, but now we need to fix this. I can help you, but first, we need to purge the toxins from your body."
Banchina nodded shakily, grateful but still overwhelmed by the situation. "Please, do whatever you can."
Ace, still processing the information, stepped closer. "So, how do we fix it, sensei?"
Sasuke looked at him for a moment before turning his attention back to Banchina. "I’ll use my chakra to flush out the toxins. It will take time, and you’ll need to rest. The process might be painful, but it’s the only way to reverse the damage."
Banchina nodded once more, her voice steady despite the fear she felt. "I trust you."
Sasuke gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. "I’ll begin immediately. Stay calm and focus on your breathing."
Sasuke's hand, a green glow began to form as he focused his chakra with that, Sasuke placed his hands over Banchina’s abdomen, channeling chakra into her body to begin the process of clearing out the toxic substance.
He glanced at Ace, who watched intently, knowing this was a lesson in both medical ninjutsu and the consequences of improper treatment.
The energy radiated from his palms, soft at first, but it soon intensified, surrounding his hands with a vibrant, healing light. This was his chakra being used to purify the toxins from Banchina's body, carefully and methodically.The green chakra flowed gently into her, but as it entered, Sasuke’s brow furrowed slightly. The toxins were stubborn, resisting the healing energy. He focused more, intensifying the chakra as it worked to break down the harmful substance.
Banchina winced as the energy entered her body, her muscles tense and her breath shallow. “It’s... painful,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
Sasuke’s voice remained calm and steady as he spoke. “Breathe deeply and focus on staying still.”
Ace watched closely, his silver eyes wide with awe.
The green light glowed brighter, and the toxins within Banchina’s body slowly began to break down, absorbed by the chakra.
“Just a little longer,” Sasuke muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. “It will take time, but you’ll feel better soon.”
Banchina’s breathing became more erratic for a moment, but she held on, trusting Sasuke’s words. She could feel the toxins loosening their grip on her, and with every passing second, she felt herself getting lighter.
Finally, after a long, quiet moment, Sasuke pulled his hands away. The green glow dissipated, leaving only a faint warmth in the air. Sasuke surveyed her with a critical eye, making sure the toxins had been fully cleared.
“It's done for now,” Sasuke said, his voice quiet but satisfied. “The majority of the toxins are gone. You should feel better soon, but you’ll need rest to fully recover.”
Banchina let out a relieved breath, her body relaxing as the pain slowly faded. She looked up at Sasuke, her eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you... I don’t know how to repay you.”
Sasuke gave a small, indifferent shrug. “You don’t need to pay because although I cured you it was also a lesson for my student.”
Banchina blinked, still trying to process everything. "A lesson?" she asked, glancing between Sasuke and the young boy standing nearby, who was watching intently.
Sasuke nodded, his tone steady. "Yes. I showed him how to use chakra for healing, and how to identify the source of a disease. It’s not just about the technique; it’s about understanding the body and knowing how to use your skills to help others."
Ace nodded in understanding, though his expression was more thoughtful than usual. "So, I’ve got a lot to learn about this medical stuff... but I get it now." He looked back at Banchina, offering her a small, sincere smile. "I'm glad you're okay."
Banchina’s heart warmed as she looked at the boy. She turned back to Sasuke. "You’re teaching him well," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you, both of you."
Sasuke’s gaze softened for a moment, just enough to show he appreciated her words, but he quickly returned to his usual, calm demeanor. "I’m only doing my job as a teacher."
Ace, who was still processing everything, suddenly poked Sasuke’s side. "Sensei, when do I get to practice healing like that?"
Sasuke sighed, giving his student an exasperated look. "When you stop complaining about the book I gave you." He turned to Banchina, his expression still serious. "But first, let her rest. I will write down what medicine you should take."
Banchina gave a grateful nod as she held the paper given by Sasuke after he finished writing the medicine name and instructions on how to take them. "Thank you, mr. Doctor. I’ll be sure to follow your instructions."
Sasuke gave her a curt nod before turning to Ace. "Let’s go."
As they headed toward the door, Ace glanced back at Banchina. "You’ll be okay, right?" he asked with genuine concern.
Banchina smiled warmly. "Yes, I’ll be fine now, thanks to you both."
Sasuke gave a small, almost imperceptible smile before walking out the door, Ace trailing behind. Once outside, Ace turned to him, his usual mischievous grin back in place.
"Alright, sensei, no more books!" he said, a bit too eagerly.
Sasuke shot him a side-eye. "You’ll need to read if you want to be good at this. Don’t think you can skip that."
Ace groaned but didn’t argue. "Fine, fine. I’ll read the book, but only because you made me."
Sasuke sighed again, resisting the urge to rub his temples. "You’ll thank me when you’re able to help others like we just did."
"Yeah, yeah," Ace muttered, but there was a hint of sincerity in his voice. "I get it, sensei."
Sasuke, content with the progress, teleported away to their house.
What they didn’t realize, however, was that their actions in the village had caused quite a stir.
Banchina, overwhelmed with gratitude for being healed, had told everyone about the mysterious young man and the boy who had cured her. Word of the miraculous recovery spread quickly throughout Syrup Village.
Soon enough, whispers of the "doctor from nowhere" and his strange, powerful abilities began to circulate.
People who had heard the story from Banchina were eager to learn more, and even those who had been skeptical began to believe in the healing powers of the man and his apprentice. While Sasuke had only intended to help her, his actions had inadvertently made him and Ace well-known figures in the village.
Not that he knew because they were already far away to the Dawn island.