Arrival

Konoha's front line in the Land of Rivers.

Jin stood atop a high tree branch, his forehead protector already on.

He looked ahead at the scattered boulders, overgrown weeds, wandering squirrels, and countless insects.

It looked exactly like an untouched stretch of wilderness.

He opened the scroll in his hand. The location marked on it was indeed here.

"Another genjutsu barrier?"

If the location was correct, then that was the only explanation.

Just as he was considering whether to walk straight in or use 'Genjutsu! Release!', his body suddenly stiffened.

The next moment.

A three-man ninja squad surrounded him.

Seeing their green flak jackets and familiar faces,

Jin let out a sigh of relief and looked down at the shadow beneath his feet, which was connected to the shadow beneath one of them.

Shadow Imitation Jutsu, a secret technique of the Nara Clan.

"I say, Shikaku, no matter what, I'm your senior. Is it really okay for you to attack me like this?"

The three boys before him.

One was broad and fat, one had long blond hair, and one looked utterly unkempt.

Their traits were unmistakable.

The next generation of Ino–Shika–Cho: Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, and Inoichi Yamanaka.

The Ino–Shika–Cho currently rampaging across the battlefield were their fathers.

They were still in their growth phase.

"Senior? We graduated before you did, Jin." Shikaku Nara wore a lazy expression. "That makes us your seniors now, doesn't it?"

Though he spoke casually, the shadow beneath his feet showed no intention of letting go.

He clearly looked like he was picking a fight.

Choza Akimichi and Inoichi Yamanaka silently turned their heads away.

Those two had a longstanding grudge.

It would not be strange at all if they started fighting.

Otherwise, Shikaku Nara would not have used Shadow Imitation Jutsu right away.

They had recognized Jin the moment they saw him.

"Heh." Jin sneered. "The guy who graduated before me is the same guy I used to beat so badly?"

Shikaku Nara's expression changed slightly as he snarled in embarrassment and anger, "Things are different now! I'm much stronger than before!"

More than two years of training had greatly increased his strength.

"Is that so?" Jin dismissed it. "Even so, do you think that woman Meimei would accept an immature little pervert like you?"

"You have absolutely no right to say that!!" ×2.

Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi roared inwardly.

The grudge between those two had started entirely because of their Ninja Academy teacher, Meimei Suzuyama!

As a Class A student, Shikaku Nara ran to Class B every day, while this bastard Jin had directly asked Meimei Suzuyama out!

Because Meimei Suzuyama had been both of their life goals at the time, they had fought quite often!

Though Shikaku Nara had always been the one getting beaten up.

In any case, neither of them was any good.

"At least address her as Teacher! Today, I'm definitely going to teach you a proper lesson!"

Shikaku Nara roared after his delusion had been exposed.

At least deny it!!

This was way too embarrassing for the name of Ino–Shika–Cho!!

Shikaku!!

Though Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi said nothing, their inner voices never stopped.

"Is that so?"

A voice sounded beside Shikaku Nara's ear, changing all three of their expressions.

With a bang, the Jin they had surrounded turned into smoke.

Shadow Clone Jutsu.

A blade gleaming with cold light rested against Shikaku Nara's neck.

"Still the same as ever, Shikaku." Jin stood behind Shikaku Nara and gave his calm assessment.

Shikaku Nara cast a pleading look at his two companions, only for both of them to turn their heads away at once and refuse to look at him.

If they helped Shikaku,

The name of Ino–Shika–Cho would be stained!!

Left with no other choice, Shikaku Nara raised both hands in surrender.

"I was wrong. Please spare me, Senior Jin."

Only then did Jin move the blade away.

Wouldn't it have been better to say that from the start?

Only then did Inoichi Yamanaka speak to Jin. "Lord Sakumo and Lady Tsunade want to see you."

"Lead the way."

Jin sheathed his sword.

Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi carried Shikaku Nara as they leaped down from the tree and headed toward the camp. Shikaku Nara, held between them, did not resist.

He was afraid that even a slight struggle would be taken by Jin as a provocation.

He had not been able to beat Jin before, and now he would be even more doomed. A faint sense of sorrow welled up inside him.

Jin followed behind the three of them into the camp. As they passed through a thin membrane, the scenery changed.

The weeds and rocks all vanished, replaced by rows of neatly arranged tents. Even more conspicuous were the people groaning continuously on stretchers.

There stood a female ninja with pale blond hair, short pale blond eyebrows, fair skin, and a voluptuous figure, dressed in gray armor.

The female ninja frowned tightly, green light glowing from her hands as she examined a severely wounded patient.

She looked just like an angel.

In every sense of the word.

At least, that was what Jin thought.

He also recognized the female ninja before him, one of the future Legendary Sannin.

Tsunade.

She could now be called Konoha's most famous ninja, a Konoha Ninja whom even enemy villages were unwilling to kill.

Tsunade's combat strength might not have been particularly great, but even in the future, no one would be able to match her medical abilities.

Choza Akimichi pointed at the man beside her, who was staring fixedly at Tsunade as she treated the patient.

A man in a green flak jacket with silver-white hair.

Sakumo Hatake.

The four of them remained silent, all watching Tsunade treat the patient.

Before long, the poison inside the patient's body was extracted. Tsunade wiped the sweat from her forehead and walked over to Sakumo Hatake.

"Chiyo's poison is troublesome. They were poisoned too deeply, and too much time has passed. In all of Konoha, only I have the ability to treat them, but the number of people I can save each day is limited."

"Some of them may not make it."

Tsunade felt deeply pained. As a Medical Ninja, being unable to save everyone because of time constraints left her with a sense of helplessness.

If the village had agreed to her proposal and trained more Medical Ninjas, they would not be in such a passive position.

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi had listened to Tsunade's suggestion and established Konoha Hospital,

It was of no use at all to the people here on the battlefield.

Sakumo Hatake's expression was equally grave.

This meant they had to abandon some people, a result he found difficult to accept.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a brat staring intently at a certain conspicuous part of Tsunade.

Tsunade also looked at Jin with an unfriendly expression. In a sense, his gaze

Was truly far too rude.

"Uchiha Jin?"

"Ah." Jin finally snapped out of it. It was just that the place was so white.

"My lords, I am Uchiha Jin."

Ignoring Tsunade's displeased expression, Sakumo Hatake asked with the last shred of hope he had.

"Uchiha Jin, can you develop a technique to cure poison?"

Neither Tsunade nor Sakumo Hatake held much hope.

But what if?

"I don't have a technique to cure poison." Jin shook his head, then added before the two could be disappointed, "But I do have a way to save them."

"However, what can I get in return?"

Jin looked at them with a brilliant smile.

Tsunade and Sakumo Hatake looked at Uchiha Jin with profound gazes.

The atmosphere grew tense.

Thanks to Xianzhan for the monthly vote.

Thanks to Feilong Qilian for the monthly vote.