The Battlefield

Looking at Uchiha Gen, Hatake Sakumo wore an unreadable expression. As a swordsman, he was highly attuned to swordsmanship. Just from the Chakra Scalpel Uchiha Gen had wielded, he could tell the boy had mastered an exceptionally refined sword technique.

"This kid..."

"You were poisoned with what Tsunade calls Chiyo Poison No. 5. It's mainly applied to blades. Judging by your wound, you immediately used chakra to forcibly 'burn' it when you were hit.

"It was a crude way to handle it, but it worked. Even if I hadn't detoxified you, you could have held out for a long time. Still, I don't recommend doing this repeatedly unless absolutely necessary. Your constitution isn't especially strong, and neither is your ability to recover."

Uchiha Gen stopped and turned to look at Hatake Sakumo as he spoke.

He was right. Even if he hadn't detoxified Hatake Sakumo right away, Sakumo could have held out for quite some time. Sakumo had plenty of experience dealing with poison, and Chiyo's toxin hadn't spread through his body.

However, using chakra to instantly "burn" cells until they died and thereby stop the poison from seeping in wasn't suitable for ordinary ninja. Hatake Sakumo was powerful, but in the Shinobi World, where bloodlines reigned supreme, he still fell within the category of ordinary people.

"Huh? Thanks for the warning. I'll be careful."

Hatake Sakumo was taken aback, then immediately thanked him.

"Get some rest. Try not to mold chakra for the next couple of days. Give your body time to recover."

With that, Uchiha Gen turned and left.

"What an exceptional and distinctive young man. I wonder if my child will be this talented."

Watching Uchiha Gen walk away, Hatake Sakumo's eyes held a look of anticipation and amusement. He was ready to have a child.

After returning to his tent, Uchiha Gen had just opened the flap when he saw Tsunade reclining on his bed.

"Get down."

Without any courtesy, Uchiha Gen addressed the woman before him, who had two dark circles under her eyes.

"Yaaawn... Don't be so stingy. Let me lie here for a while. These past few days have worn me out. That old Chiyo really knows her poisons, but against me, Tsunade, they're nothing."

Tsunade merely lifted a hand, waved it lazily, and yawned before settling back down.

"You figured them all out?"

Uchiha Gen raised an eyebrow.

"Haha! After working for days and nights, I managed to deduce the ingredients in all of that old Chiyo's poisons. I've listed the components and their dosages.

"With that, the other medical ninja in the Medical Department can prepare the right antidotes for each poison. And as long as we have enough antidotes, Sunagakure's poisons won't be a problem anymore."

Tsunade sat up on the bed and spoke excitedly.

"So what does that have to do with you lying on my bed? Where's your own tent?"

Uchiha Gen looked at the excited Tsunade without expression. She didn't look like a beauty at all right now. With dark circles under her eyes and her hair a mess, she looked downright frightening.

"Tch, stingy. I came because I have something to tell you. Just now, Senior Lulin came to see me. According to him, Senior Sakumo killed two important people this time.

"These two were closely connected to Sunagakure's commander, Ebizo, and they held considerable power in Sunagakure. So Senior Lulin thinks Ebizo will definitely organize a head-on battle to restore the morale Sunagakure lost after their deaths.

"In other words, the chance to go to the battlefield that you've been waiting for is finally here. I'll definitely be going to this battle."

Tsunade looked conflicted. Uchiha Gen had explained everything to her in detail, but she was still worried about how brutal war could be...

Uchiha Gen was still just a child, not even ten years old. And those eyes...

"Finally. I've been waiting long enough."

Uchiha Gen's lips curled slightly.

"On the battlefield, I'll have to focus on using Katsuyu: Great Healing Technique, so I may not be able to keep an eye on you. Be careful. The battlefield is dangerous."

Tsunade looked at Uchiha Gen with a hint of worry.

"Actually, I'm pretty dangerous too."

Uchiha Gen smiled faintly as he spoke.

The next day, in the temporary command room at the front line.

The room was packed with people, and Uchiha Gen entered with Tsunade.

But the moment they stepped inside, a cold voice rang out.

"Since when have mere Genin been allowed in the command room? No sense of discipline at all. No wonder he's an Uchiha."

Uchiha Gen turned toward the speaker and saw a middle-aged man with Byakugan glaring at him in disgust.

"Old—"

Boom!

Uchiha Gen was about to fire back at the Hyuga ninja, but before he could speak, Tsunade swept past him in a gust of wind and punched the man.

"Do you think I'd let you bully someone I brought here? Senior Lulin, who is this guy? What's with the attitude? Doesn't he know Gen is under my protection—and my grandmother's?"

After punching the Hyuga ninja away, Tsunade looked back at Nara Lulin, who was seated at the head of the room, and spoke in an annoyed voice.

"..."

Nara Lulin had been about to mediate, but after hearing Tsunade invoke Mito Uzumaki, his mouth twitched. How was he supposed to say anything now?

"Good grief, what are you trying to do?"

"I could've handled it myself."

Standing beside Tsunade, Uchiha Gen spoke helplessly.

This was the perfect chance to show off, but Tsunade had snatched it away before he could even start. It left him itching all over, unable to get his moment.

"Don't worry. As long as I'm here, no one will bully you."

Tsunade clapped her hands and spoke proudly.

"Ahem. You're all comrades, so mind your conduct. Hyuga Yue, this is Uchiha Gen. As a representative of both the Medical Department and the Uchiha Clan, his rank has been exceptionally promoted to Jonin. He naturally has the right to attend this meeting. If you object, take it up with the Hokage."

Nara Lulin sighed silently, then cleared his throat and spoke in a low voice.

"Understood. My apologies, Uchiha Gen."

The Hyuga ninja known as Hyuga Yue got to his feet, clutching his chest, and spoke in a grave voice.

"Interesting. That hostility was fake. So you're a little bird being directed by someone else."

Uchiha Gen watched Hyuga Yue get up, studied him for a moment, then curled his lips into a smile.