Medical Department

"The Stone? That short little runt? Hmph."

The Third Raikage A rubbed his chin. He wasn't one for deep thinking, but that didn't mean he was stupid.

Dodai's proposal had no flaws. It was just that he really did want to knock Konoha down a peg and take away its title as the strongest shinobi village.

As if he could tell what the Third Raikage A was thinking, Dodai continued.

"When Iwagakure enters the war, we can attack from here straight into this area—their rear. One strike should yield quite a lot.

"At the same time, once we've succeeded, we can skirmish with Iwagakure around these locations while waiting for the war to unfold. Amegakure may be weak, but with Hanzo there, it can still inflict some damage on Konoha, which is already being harried by Sunagakure.

By then, we can decide whether to join the fighting based on how the battle is going. But all of this depends on our attack on Iwagakure going smoothly."

Dodai pointed out each location on the map as he explained his plan to the Third Raikage A, marking his chosen targets with a pen as he went.

As the Raikage's right-hand man and an expert at reading his leader's temperament, Dodai understood A's thoughts perfectly. That was why, even before the war began, he had already considered more than ten possible strategies for dealing with it.

"Ha ha ha! Good! I knew I could count on you, Dodai. We'll do it your way. But even if I'm not getting involved in the war between Sunagakure and Konoha for now...

"Dodai, arrange for two squads to infiltrate the battlefields of Sunagakure and Konoha. See if they can steal back shinobi with Kekkei Genkai like they did before.

"Also, see if they can get their hands on some secret techniques for those bloodlines. That kid Toroi, for example—his Magnet Release is useless without a secret technique to go with it."

The Third Raikage A burst into laughter once Dodai had finished. He was very pleased with the plan, but after laughing, he went on to give Dodai further instructions.

He treasured Kekkei Genkai shinobi. Over the years, he had secretly abducted countless shinobi with bloodline abilities from other villages. Most never awakened their Kekkei Genkai, while others did but proved unremarkable without the right techniques. That didn't dampen his enthusiasm for acquiring them.

After all, bloodlines could be passed down far more reliably than techniques. Given enough time, Kumogakure could gain several more bloodline clans, and its strength would grow all the more formidable.

"Understood. I'll make the arrangements."

Dodai nodded at once. He was fully in favor of plundering Kekkei Genkai shinobi from the other villages.

As a strategist, he was especially interested in Konoha's Byakugan and Sharingan. The Sharingan needed no explanation; it was synonymous with strength. As for the Byakugan, every single one had enormous strategic value.

They had captured Hyuga shinobi before, but the Caged Bird had prevented them from obtaining even one Byakugan.

"Now that we've settled on a plan, gather the troops and keep them ready. Iwagakure, huh? Hmph. Those damn little runts... This time, I'll have a proper go at your Dust Release."

The Third Raikage A stood and looked out the window, his eyes full of fighting spirit.

"I'm not doing it."

"Yes, you are."

"I'm not interested."

"Yes, you are."

"..."

At the Fire-Wind Front, Uchiha Gen stared at Tsunade, who stood before him, at a loss for words.

Tsunade had just come to ask him to join the Medical Department. Her reason was that they were short-handed, and Uchiha Gen's Medical Ninjutsu was already half as good as hers. There was no reason for him to stay with the shinobi forces.

"At your current level, you could handle even major operations on your own with the help of your Sharingan. The Medical Department is absolutely the best place for you.

"I know that, as an Uchiha, you're probably more drawn to the battlefield. But the Medical Department is part of the battlefield too. Gen, trust me. You're really suited to this."

Tsunade pleaded with him earnestly. She had taught Uchiha Gen herself and knew his abilities inside and out. It was no exaggeration to say that, for certain operations, his Sharingan made him even better than she was.

"I only learned Medical Ninjutsu to become stronger. That's all. Besides, I have my own team."

Seeing how serious she was, Uchiha Gen could only shake his head. He had no idea how to deal with Tsunade. If anyone else had been this persistent, he would have drawn his sword by now.

But he couldn't bring himself to do that to Tsunade. He wasn't ungrateful.

"Those two? Don't worry about them. Jiraiya asked me to assign Minato Namikaze to the morgue, where he'll carry bodies. He wants Minato to get used to some of the battlefield's harsher realities first.

"I think it's a good idea, so I've decided to send Nawaki to the morgue for now too. That gives both of them somewhere to go, and frees you up to come with me to the Medical Department."

As she spoke, Tsunade glanced at Nawaki and Minato Namikaze, who were carrying supplies in the distance, then turned back with a smile.

"..."

Faced with Tsunade's look that seemed to say, "What excuse do you have now?" Uchiha Gen fell silent.

"Are you worried the battlefield will affect me?"

After a pause, Uchiha Gen suddenly spoke.

The moment he said that, Tsunade looked flustered, but she quickly composed herself and laughed it off.

"Ha ha, of course not! The Medical Department really is short-handed. You know Chiyo, right? She's an old woman from Sunagakure. According to our intelligence, she went to Amegakure.

"But the poisons she developed are being used very effectively by her younger brother, so the Medical Department really is short-handed. I need someone to help me develop antidotes.

"With your Sharingan, I'll be able to make much faster progress. Yes, that's it. Worried you'll be affected? How could I be?"

"Tsunade, when some members of the Uchiha change and become extreme, it isn't because of war or anything like that. The real reason is simply that they've lost something.

"But I, Uchiha Gen, am destined to lose nothing. Whatever I want to keep, no one can take from me. So don't worry about me being affected. The Sharingan is the power of my Uchiha bloodline. This power isn't a curse. It's the protection granted to us."

Uchiha Gen gently raised one hand and covered his right eye, speaking calmly. The longer he spent with the Uchiha Clan, the more he understood why Tobirama Senju had said that the Uchiha were the clan that understood "love" best.