Yakushi Nonō

Konoha's front-line medical camp was already overcrowded.

Hanzō's frenzied counterattack had been a last-ditch effort, but it had still caused enormous casualties for Konoha.

Stretchers were carried in and out nonstop. Groans of pain mingled with the stench of blood, forming a hellish scene.

A week had passed since the surprise attack.

Nishikawa Tetsu's injuries had healed quickly, thanks to Tsunade's personal treatment and his own reasonably sturdy constitution.

He still couldn't fight at full strength, but he was able to walk around.

He hadn't chosen to lie in his tent and rot.

"This is Hemostatic Agent. Apply pressure for three minutes. And that one with the broken leg—give him half a dose of anesthetic. Don't let him die of pain."

Wearing a slightly oversized Medical Robe, Nishikawa Tetsu moved among the wounded.

He wasn't a trained Medical Ninja, but with his medical knowledge from his previous life and what he'd learned recently, he was more than capable of treating minor injuries and administering first aid.

"Thank you... Thank you." A Chunin whose arm had been blown off looked at him gratefully.

Nishikawa Tetsu deftly tied off the bandage and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Just as he turned to head to the next bed, a petite figure caught his eye.

She was a girl of about ten, with long, pale golden hair and a pair of round glasses.

She was struggling to carry a box of bandages.

"Careful."

Nishikawa Tetsu reached out and steadied the box before it could slip from her grasp.

The girl looked up. Through her thick lenses, he saw a pair of gentle yet resolute eyes.

"Ah... thank you." Her voice was soft, with a reassuring warmth. "I'm here to help. My name is Yakushi Nonō."

Nishikawa Tetsu froze for a moment.

Yakushi Nonō?

The woman known as the Wandering Miko, the future head of the orphanage, and Kabuto Yakushi's adoptive mother?

He hadn't expected to meet her here.

"My name is Nishikawa Tetsu." Tetsu took the box from her. "This is too heavy. I'll carry it."

She was too frail, and he was afraid she wouldn't be able to hold it.

"It's all right. Everyone here is doing their best." Nonō smiled. Her face was still smudged with dust, but her smile was like a daisy blooming on a rainy day. "I want to do whatever I can, even if all I do is hand someone a roll of bandages."

"They're all heroes of Konoha. We can't let heroes go without the treatment they deserve."

Her voice was quiet amid all the noise, but the determination in her eyes struck Nishikawa Tetsu to the core.

Among the wounded were plenty of children his own age. The world was a goddamn mess, sending children that young to the battlefield.

Over the next few days, Nishikawa Tetsu and Nonō became temporary partners.

With medical supplies desperately scarce on the front lines, Nonō showed astonishing medical talent and meticulous care.

She didn't know advanced Medical Ninjutsu, but she was remarkably skilled at identifying Herbs and treating wounds.

Meanwhile, drawing on memories from his previous life, Nishikawa Tetsu improved the way they secured makeshift splints and mixed a more effective Hemostatic Powder.

"Nishikawa-kun, these ideas of yours are amazing."

During a break, Nonō looked at the draft Tetsu was drawing, her eyes full of admiration. "If we could put them into practice, we could save so many people, right?"

"Maybe."

Tetsu stopped writing and gazed at the unbroken curtain of rain outside the tent. "But no matter how good the medical treatment is, it can't save everyone. As long as the war continues, the wounded will keep coming."

Nonō fell silent. She lowered her head and gently stroked the medical kit in her hands. "That's why... we have to do our best to survive, until the day peace comes."

"Peace..."

In this brutal Shinobi World, peace never came from waiting. It had to be fought for.

Besides helping treat the wounded, Nishikawa Tetsu also had to look after two seriously ill patients.

Namikaze Minato's recovery was astonishing. He was already able to get out of bed and do some simple rehabilitation exercises.

His right shoulder was still wrapped in thick bandages, but he remained optimistic. He even helped the nurses bring meals to the other wounded.

He moved among the people, sharing his bright, cheerful spirit with everyone he met. The nickname Little Sun had already spread among the wounded.

Uchiha Fugaku was the one who caused trouble.

Ever since that night, Fugaku had grown taciturn. He hadn't been very talkative to begin with, but now he was practically a recluse.

His eyes were still covered with bandages. To keep him from using his Dojutsu, Tsunade had placed a Fuinjutsu on him.

"How are you feeling today?" Nishikawa Tetsu asked as he entered Fugaku's tent with a bowl of medicinal porridge.

"It's noisy."

Fugaku leaned against the head of the bed. Though he couldn't see, he still turned accurately toward Tetsu's voice. "All I can hear outside is screaming. Has Hanzō still not withdrawn his troops?"

"Soon."

Tetsu set the porridge on the bedside table. "Yesterday's report said Sunagakure had already withdrawn. Hanzō's alone now. He won't last more than a few days."

Fugaku nodded and reached out for the spoon, but his hand knocked over the cup of water.

"Crash."

The cup fell to the floor and shattered.

Fugaku's hand froze in midair. His expression instantly turned grim.

The frustration of losing his strength—and even being unable to manage everyday tasks on his own—made the proud Uchiha clench his fists.

"Don't rush, senior."

Nishikawa Tetsu calmly picked up the broken pieces. "Lady Tsunade said the damage to your optic nerves is reversible. If you rest for a month, you'll be able to see again."

"That's not what I'm worried about."

Fugaku took a deep breath, his voice low. "You know what I'm worried about. These eyes... Once I return to the village, those old men won't leave me alone."

"Then let them try."

Nishikawa Tetsu cut him off, his tone carrying an undeniable confidence. "Senior, I told you before. Fear comes from the unknown. Once you turn these eyes into a deterrent Konoha can't do without, they won't dare touch you. They'll even have to pamper you."

"A deterrent?"

"Exactly." Nishikawa Tetsu leaned closer and lowered his voice. "I already have a plan for how to use these eyes to secure the greatest political leverage for you and the Uchiha."

Fugaku was silent for a long time.

"Drink your porridge before it gets cold."

Nishikawa Tetsu put the spoon in Fugaku's hand.

"Senior Fugaku, I'm here to change your bandages." Namikaze Minato walked in with a tray, his voice light and cheerful.

"...Get someone else." Fugaku's voice was muffled beneath the bandages. "Have a nurse do it, or let Tetsu do it. Your grip's too strong. Last time, you nearly tied my bandages into a knot."

"Aw, that was an accident." Minato didn't take offense. He sat beside the bed and expertly undid the bandages on Fugaku's arm. "Besides, I sent the nurses away. You're a Konoha secret right now. We can't let too many people see you."

Fugaku fell silent and let Minato tend to his wound.

After a while, he suddenly called out, "Minato."

"Hmm?"

"What's the weather like outside?"

Minato paused and glanced at the long-missed sunlight outside the tent. His lips curved into a smile.

"The rain's stopped, senior. It still smells a little like mud, but the sun's out. It feels nice and warm."

"Is that so..." Fugaku tilted his head slightly, as if imagining the scene. "Too bad I can't see it."

"Don't say that." Nishikawa Tetsu, who was adjusting a medicine, chimed in. "Once your eyes are better, the three of us can watch it together. We can look as long as we want."

"Ah... and we can have barbecue!" Minato added. "Don't forget the barbecue!"

This mission had been completed perfectly, with a very high rating.

"Fine, fine." Fugaku waved a hand impatiently, but beneath the bandages, the frown on his face had eased a little. "You two are so... noisy."

As he left the tent, Nishikawa Tetsu glanced back.

Yakushi Nonō was bandaging a crying child nearby, Namikaze Minato was helping carry supplies, and Uchiha Fugaku was quietly drinking his porridge in the tent.

This brief calm was like a moment's respite before the storm.

Nishikawa Tetsu tightened his grip on the Chakra Scalpel in his hand.

His time providing medical support hadn't been without gains. He had not only learned the basics of the Mystical Palm Technique, but, more importantly, had gained a deeper understanding of the body's meridian system and the flow of Chakra.

This would be an important foundation for his future work in "Biotechnology" and "Human Modification."

"Soon."

Nishikawa Tetsu looked toward the sky as it gradually cleared in the distance.

"The day we return to the village is almost here."