Omen

Hayate hung from a tree branch, his limbs bound tightly with Hainawa, like a fish hung out to dry. He swung in midair a few times, and when he found he couldn't break free, he stopped trying and looked down at Baiye beneath the tree.

"Big brother, what kind of jutsu is this?"

"The bind-an-idiot jutsu."

"Hmph!"

Baiye sat beneath the tree with his tachi across his knees. Even without practicing Jinzen, he could still communicate with it faintly, though only through vague impressions. Clearly, he wasn't a genius like Hitsugaya or Gin, something he had known for a long time.

"Big brother."

"Hmm?"

"Why did you become a medical-nin?"

Baiye's fingers paused on the scabbard.

"Because I needed to learn Medical Ninjutsu, so I wouldn't lose the people I cherish again."

"But..." Hayate's voice grew quieter. "Some people at school say the ones who go to the hospital do it because they're afraid to go to the battlefield. They say you're... cowards."

"Pay them no mind."

"But I don't want to hear them say things like that! I don't want them talking badly about you!"

Baiye didn't answer immediately. He looked up at his younger brother hanging from the branch. Eight-year-old Hayate still had baby fat on his face, but his eyes already held a young boy's seriousness.

It was a terrible world, one that didn't allow children to remain innocent and carefree for long.

He was only eight years old.

Yet he was already a man.

"Do you know Lady Tsunade?" Baiye asked.

"Lady Tsunade, one of the Sannin? Of course."

"She's been pushing for something: a medical-nin on every four-person squad. If she succeeds, more people will come back alive from the battlefield."

"So?" Hayate blinked.

"So the ninja currently studying Medical Ninjutsu at the hospital will eventually go to the front lines."

The Bakudō's time ran out. Hayate flipped in midair and landed steadily on his feet.

"But other people don't know that."

"It's all right. They'll find out when the time comes. Of course, you could also pick out the worst of them and tell me who they are. The next time they come to Konoha Hospital, I'll make sure to give them a proper welcome."

Hayate ignored Baiye's joke. He looked up, his eyes a little red. "When they called you a coward, I couldn't stand it."

Baiye looked at his younger brother and reached out to pat his head, thoroughly mussing up his headscarf and bangs.

"Did you get into a fight?"

"...Yeah, but don't tell Mom."

"Did you win?"

"...I lost once... Actually, that guy came to break up the fight, but he ended up subduing both of us."

"Oh? He subdued both of you by himself? Who's that good?"

"His name's Shisui Uchiha. He's a little different from the other Uchiha. He's usually pretty gentle and modest... I didn't expect him to be that strong."

Baiye smiled and walked back with Hayate.

Shisui Uchiha? Then it's understandable. Although Hayate had grown much stronger through his long-term training, he still lacked some crucial abilities compared to a true genius like that.

For example...

"Hayate."

"What is it?"

"You didn't use Transparent Release back then, did you?"

"Yeah, I promised you I wouldn't."

"Good... You haven't mastered Transparent Release completely yet, so you can't use it to confuse an enemy. If you use it too soon, your future enemies will be on guard against it. You have to hold back and save it for a crucial moment."

"Okay!"

His younger brother had grown up. He no longer stepped on Baiye's shadow as they walked, the way he had when he was little.

That was fine too.

Early morning, on the streets of Konoha.

Baiye was on his usual way to Konoha Hospital and wanted to buy some breakfast. As he approached the shopping street, he saw a familiar figure.

After all, they'd had a "relationship" for several years.

Baiye instinctively wanted to run, thinking he was having another "episode," but after taking a couple of steps, he realized Kakashi wasn't moving at all.

Looking more closely, he saw that although Kakashi was facing his way, his eyes were vacant, like a pool of stagnant water.

Baiye thought for a moment, then walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

"What's wrong?"

"Huh?"

Kakashi jumped away like a startled rabbit. When he saw it was Baiye, a flicker of surprise passed through his eyes, but they quickly dimmed again.

"It's nothing... I have something to do, so I'll be going."

Baiye didn't stop Kakashi from leaving, because he had never seen him so "fragile."

So fragile that he looked as though he would shatter at a touch.

Baiye entered the shopping street and understood after listening to the voices around him.

A few days later, at Konoha Hospital.

Baiye was sorting medicines in the treatment room when the door opened.

Minato Namikaze walked in, his right hand wrapped in bandages and a slightly embarrassed look on his face.

"Baiye, are you busy?"

"Minato-senpai." Baiye put down the medicine bottle in his hand. "Your hand again?"

"Yeah." Minato sat down and held out his right hand. "Sorry to trouble you again."

Baiye unwrapped the bandages and took a look. It was a Chakra burn, and the meridians in Minato's palm were somewhat disordered. He held both hands above Minato's palm, and a pale green light appeared.

This was Medical Ninjutsu. At least, that was all an outsider would see.

He had long since learned to hide the light of healing arts within Medical Ninjutsu.

"Is it still that new jutsu?"

"Yeah." Minato sounded delighted. "It's been years, but I feel like I'm close to finishing it."

Of course Baiye knew what jutsu it was.

He had even learned it himself. As one of the few Ninjutsu in the original work with detailed learning instructions, "making the ball" had posed no difficulty at all for Baiye, who had a powerful soul and particularly exceptional Chakra control.

"You've been getting hurt a little too often lately. If this keeps up, I'll have no choice but to refer you to Lady Tsunade, will I?"

"Uh... That won't be necessary, will it? Your medical skills are so good, Baiye. I'm sure it'll be fine."

Minato laughed it off.

"So you know Lady Tsunade would scold you for this?"

"It's mostly because I'm so close to succeeding... I might have gotten a little impatient. I'll be more careful from now on."

As Minato defended himself, he thought of how close the jutsu was to completion, and his thoughts naturally turned to Kushina. His expression softened.

"Tsk."

Baiye knew that Minato had developed the Rasengan to help Kushina deal with the Tailed Beast, but having their romance flaunted in his face was a bit much.

"You're almost done developing it. Have you named this jutsu yet?"

"Of course!" Minato's eyes lit up. "Halo Popsicle-Inspired Whorl Jiraiya Twin-Style Sphere!"

"What do you think? The inspiration for each part of the name came from..."

"Stop, stop, stop. You'd better have a proper discussion with other people about naming it."

"Uh..."

Teased to his face by a junior several years younger, even Minato couldn't help blushing a little.

The pale green light faded, and Minato flexed his fingers. The burn had mostly healed. He didn't hurry to leave, instead leaning back in the chair as though thinking about something.

Baiye didn't rush him and continued sorting the medicines.

After a while, Minato spoke.

"Baiye, have you heard any... rumors lately?"

Baiye's hand paused.

"What rumors?"

"About Hatake Sakumo-senpai." Minato lowered his voice a little. "People are saying he shouldn't have abandoned the mission to save his comrades."

Baiye put down the medicine bottle in his hand and turned to look at Minato.

"Of course I've heard. It's caused quite a stir."

"What do you think?"

Baiye was silent for a moment, as though weighing his words.

"Failed missions are actually quite normal. Even Hatake-senpai hasn't had a one-hundred-percent success rate on his past missions. Why has this one caused such a huge reaction? Everyone says the mission White Fang abandoned to save his comrades concerned the village's safety... Yet no one can say what the mission actually was."

"You mean someone is directing this?"

"Rumors don't spread on their own," Baiye said. "Especially not at a time like this."

"You mean the discussions about the Fourth Hokage a while back? I remember there really was a lot of support for Hatake-senpai at the time..."

Minato could hardly believe it. "Just because of that?... No, I'm not saying the position of Hokage doesn't matter... But..."

Baiye said nothing more. He knew Minato was extremely intelligent. The only reason he hadn't realized it before was that he simply hadn't thought along those lines.

Deep down, he was still that kind, optimistic young man.

"I feel ashamed. Your composure always makes people overlook your age... But if I remember correctly, you're only twelve..."

"I just have nothing to do, so I think a little too much, that's all."

"If a medical-nin like you, who even Lady Tsunade regards highly, counts as having nothing to do, then no one can be called busy."

Baiye handed Minato a packet of medicine, and Minato took it and put it in his pocket.

"No matter what..." Minato's tone was calm, but Baiye could feel the weight behind his words. "On that mission, he chose to save his comrades. I don't think he was wrong."

"Even though the person he saved also joined in condemning Hatake-senpai?"

"That happened too!?" Minato stood up.

Baiye looked into Minato's eyes. In those clear eyes was something he had seen before: determination.

"We have to do something."

Baiye said nothing, simply smiling at Minato until Minato began to feel uncomfortable under his gaze.

"Is something wrong?"

"You actually started acting a while ago, didn't you? Did you come to me to get me involved too?"

His purpose exposed, Minato scratched his head. But this time, he didn't look away. He kept his head raised and looked straight at the young but reliable junior before him.

What a straightforward person.

"All right, I promise. I'll help too... in my own way."

"Really? That's wonderful!"

Minato didn't notice the unusual note in Baiye's voice. Having learned there might be a hidden side to the matter, he had to get back and discuss a plan with his friends as soon as possible.

Late at night, in Baiye's room.

Shikaku Nara must be among the people Minato went to, right? After all, they've been friends for a long time. And with how perceptive he is, there's no way he hasn't noticed someone is fanning the flames behind the scenes.

But he didn't tell Minato, probably because he didn't want Minato to come into conflict with Konoha High Command... Of course, he might also want to take this opportunity to eliminate a competitor.

I see. They've actually already reached a certain consensus among themselves.

Make Minato Namikaze the next Hokage!

Minato Namikaze himself is probably the only one who doesn't know.

In that case, wouldn't my warning Minato put them in a difficult position? They won't hold it against me, will they?

Baiye sat on his bed with his tachi across his knees. He closed his eyes, and his Reiatsu spread in all directions like ripples on water.

Reiatsu Detection.

It was an advanced technique Aizen had taught him at Shin'ō Academy—not simply "sensing whether someone is there," but "distinguishing the characteristics of each person's Reiatsu, like telling different voices apart."

"The essence of Reiatsu Detection isn't 'searching.' It's 'distinguishing.'" Aizen's voice rang out in his memory. "The range you can sense depends on the strength of your Reiatsu, but how much information you can gain from it depends on your understanding of Reiatsu."

"What do you mean?" Baiye had asked.

"I mean that if all you know is that 'someone is there,' then that's all you'll know. But if you can distinguish whether that person's Reiatsu is heavy or light, fast or slow, steady or chaotic..." Aizen pushed up his glasses. "You can even know what he's thinking."

Baiye opened his eyes.

The Hatake Clan's home wasn't far from theirs. He could sense two presences there. Hatake Sakumo's Reiatsu was steady and weighty, while Kakashi's was sharp and keen.

But at this moment, both presences were slightly scattered.

Baiye expanded his detection range and sensed several more presences.

Though each was a little different, they shared common characteristics.

Cold and numb.

That feeling didn't belong to the Anbu.

That left only one possibility: Root.

Baiye withdrew his Reiatsu and opened his eyes. He didn't alert them, only cursing inwardly, What disgusting shit-stirrers.

He knew Root wouldn't act directly against Hatake Sakumo. This was only a means of applying pressure.

Wait.

Just as he had promised Minato, he would deal with this matter in his own way.