What a Mess

At a distance of over a hundred meters, Tsunade realized she had used too much force with the Body Flicker Technique. Her calves were trembling.

A critically injured patient had been brought to the Medical Department. It was her younger brother, Nawaki!

She rushed into the tent, where an assistant had already prepared a sterile surgical gown.

"Lady Tsunade!

Both sides of the pelvis have multiple comminuted fractures!

Both femoral shafts have multiple comminuted fractures!

Both feet have multiple comminuted fractures, with bone destruction!

Both lower limbs have severe open comminuted fractures with bone loss!"

From the medical Jonin's report, Tsunade quickly grasped the severity of the injuries.

She immediately summoned Katsuyu and began operating on Nawaki.

It took a full sixteen hours. By the following morning, the surgery had finally come to an end.

Orochimaru had waited outside the medical tent all night.

Exhausted, Tsunade came out of the tent and removed her mask.

The mask had left several marks on her face. Maybe she hadn't noticed, or maybe even her recovery abilities couldn't make them fade just yet.

"What happened, Orochimaru?" Tsunade asked calmly.

"Ninjas inevitably suffered casualties in battle. Nawaki was a ninja, too, so it couldn't be avoided.

"But this is strange. Given Nawaki's abilities, an explosion this severe shouldn't have happened right next to him.

"The Explosive Tags detonated evenly all around his feet, as if he'd walked into an encirclement."

"You guessed right," Orochimaru said. "Nawaki stepped into a trap someone had carefully prepared.

"The killer knew the details of Nawaki's mission, was skilled in genjutsu and the Body Flicker Technique, and had discovered and countered my sensory technique. They'd devised a countermeasure specifically for it, leaving me completely unaware."

"Your sensory technique?" Tsunade asked in confusion. "We were classmates for six years and partners for ten, and I still don't know what your sensory technique is."

"Exactly. That's why I'm saying Nawaki walked into a trap someone had carefully prepared," Orochimaru said.

"I've partially modified my body and lost the ability to sweat, but right now I feel as if I'm drenched in a cold sweat.

"I haven't felt this kind of fear in years. It's like when we'd just graduated and that idiot Jiraiya nearly got himself killed through carelessness. You cried pretty hard that time.

"If not for the Uchiha in Seigetsu Senju's squad, who spotted the killer in the air ahead of time, Nawaki would already be dead."

"Are you exaggerating? With your abilities, you couldn't have let Nawaki die right in front of you."

"I haven't exaggerated at all. The squad you sent to protect Nawaki played a huge part, especially that Uchiha." Orochimaru asked, "When can Nawaki start training again? Genjutsu is his weak point. He suffered because of it this time, so we have to focus on strengthening it."

"When can he start training?"

Orochimaru went on, "Next week, or some other time? I've already drawn up a plan to improve Nawaki's genjutsu."

"Forget next week. Next year, maybe. To avoid affecting his taijutsu and chakra extraction later on, he can't get out of bed for a month, leave his wheelchair for three months, or extract chakra for six months. It'll take nine months for him to recover his strength."

Orochimaru frowned. "Even with your Medical Ninjutsu, it'll take nine months for him to recover completely?"

"That's with Nawaki's strong constitution. If another ninja had suffered injuries like his, they wouldn't be able to extract chakra for at least a year and a half."

After thinking it over, Orochimaru's voice turned distant. "At the most crucial time for growth, his progress was forcibly put on pause.

"Nawaki's been affected far too much. Those people went too far.

"I think I've been too merciful, not cold-blooded enough. The hesitation that keeps surfacing in me makes me weak like Jiraiya once or twice every year. It seems my judgment was right."

Tsunade made no comment.

Both of her teammates had mental disorders.

Jiraiya had histrionic personality disorder and was especially eager to attract other people's attention. He also had compulsive sexual behavior disorder; even on the front lines, he couldn't resist a little peeping.

Orochimaru, on the other hand, had antisocial personality disorder and sadistic personality syndrome.

Tsunade was still shaken. She didn't have the time to dwell on Orochimaru's latest descent into darkness.

According to Orochimaru, Nawaki had narrowly escaped certain death.

She saw Seigetsu Senju approaching and quickly ended her conversation with Orochimaru.

Seigetsu's performance had been a wonderful surprise. First she'd warned Tsunade that Nawaki was in danger, then she'd volunteered to protect him in secret. Nawaki had been saved entirely because Seigetsu had acted in time.

"Princess Tsunade, how is Nawaki?"

"He's all right. He's out of danger. He'll be delayed for almost a year, but he'll still be able to continue as a ninja afterward."

Seigetsu Senju sighed with relief, then said, "Princess Tsunade, Lord Orochimaru, I'm sure you both know that Kawadera Uchiha, one of my squad members, disrupted the killer's genjutsu at the most crucial moment and bought Nawaki a little time to react.

"I think we should keep Kawadera's involvement secret. His surname is Uchiha, and his identity is sensitive. We shouldn't draw too much attention to him."

Tsunade nodded repeatedly. "Of course we should keep it secret. I never expected an Uchiha to save Nawaki at a crucial moment. Second Granduncle's policies really were right for Konoha."

Seigetsu thought to herself that she had already warned Yamanaka Ken and Kureya Inuzuka, Nawaki's two teammates. Kawadera wouldn't be exposed for now.

Tsunade suddenly asked, "Seigetsu, would you like to learn Medical Ninjutsu from me?"

Seigetsu Senju looked up sharply, her eyes alight with excitement.

Princess Tsunade was four years older than her and an Elite Jonin. Tsunade's invitation meant she was willing to take Seigetsu on as a half-disciple or assistant.

Knowledge wasn't given away lightly. Even within the Senju Clan, Princess Tsunade only instructed a few medical ninjas and rarely took on disciples.

No, she wasn't a disciple yet. She'd only been given the chance to prove herself.

If she had a talent for medical techniques, if she could control her chakra precisely enough, she might become Princess Tsunade's disciple!

"I'd love to! I'd be honored, Princess Tsunade!"

"Don't call me Princess anymore. Just call me teacher."

"All right, teacher!"

Tsunade turned to Orochimaru. "Seigetsu said to keep the Uchiha's involvement secret for now."

"I know."

Tsunade took Seigetsu into the medical tent.

The medical ninja had prepared a sterile surgical gown for Seigetsu as well. It was her first time wearing one, and she found the experience novel and exciting. Even the rustle of the fabric was music to her ears.

The anesthesia wore off, and Nawaki woke up.

The first person he saw was his sister. He murmured, "I'm sorry, sis. In that genjutsu, I learned the Wood Release I'd dreamed of mastering. For a moment, I didn't even realize it was an illusion.

"That genjutsu was actually Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death."

"You don't need to apologize," Tsunade said. "Every ninja has to face death and injury. Even Second Granduncle willingly stayed behind and gave his life for Konoha, didn't he?

"Don't rush things. If you don't want your strength to suffer in the future, you'll need at least nine months to recover."

"But this is the Shinobi World War. I still want to fight for the village. Sis, even you can't get me back on my feet sooner?"

"Nawaki, if Seigetsu Squad hadn't secretly protected you, you'd already be a corpse. Remember this lesson. Once you've recovered, don't let genjutsu remain your weak point."

Nawaki Senju felt deeply ashamed. He'd thought he always charged at the front of every battle and fought with exceptional bravery. He'd never realized a squad had been secretly protecting him.

Before he'd been injured, he would've scoffed at the idea and vehemently objected. But now... he knew he still had a long way to go.

Tsunade said, "For the next month, stay in the tent and rest. I'll treat you every day. After a month, I'll take you back to the village, where you can recover and continue your treatment."

After leaving the tent, Tsunade took Seigetsu to a secluded spot and said, "Seigetsu, tell me everything about Kawadera Uchiha. Orochimaru keeps saying that Uchiha played a crucial role. Can he be trusted?"