A Little Slow

The wound was healing, but... a little slowly...

Green flames flickered in Chiba's eyes as he carefully watched the spot beneath his hovering hands. Under the stimulation of Medical Chakra, new skin was rapidly growing over Hirohiko's forearm, while the charred dead skin peeled away in flakes wherever the new skin emerged.

"Hmph!"

At that moment, Hirohiko let out a pained groan.

"Just a little more, Hirohiko."

Hearing Hirohiko's groan, Chiba hurriedly spoke, and the Medical Chakra in his hands seemed to grow denser.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. What about that Kumogakure ninja? Is it over?"

Hirohiko glanced at the arm that had been treated up to the end of his forearm and shook his head. He had great faith in Chiba's Medical Ninjutsu and was not worried about his injury. But waves of agonizing pain kept surging from the burn on his arm, each worse than the last, until he could no longer hold back a groan.

"He's as good as dead."

Without even looking at the old Kumogakure ninja several meters to their left, impaled by the Rock Spear, Chiba answered.

"We should still confirm it."

Hirohiko looked over there as he spoke.

"Yukina's watching him."

Chiba seemed wholly focused on the treatment, with no intention of looking up or shifting his gaze.

"Chiba! Hirohiko!"

Just as he finished speaking, Yukina suddenly cried out in alarm.

"What is it?"

Chiba immediately jerked his head up and looked toward Yukina, his voice urgent.

Nothing better have happened. I don't have enough Chakra left to pull off a battle like that again. And with how troublesome that old Kumogakure ninja was, the same tactic probably wouldn't work a second time.

Damn it! What is with that old Kumogakure ninja? Was dying twice not enough?

The instant he spoke, Chiba's heart