Here It Comes!

The future was full of possibilities. Shita Genichi needed to build up enough capital in the present to lay the foundation for what was to come.

Konoha Hospital allowing students like Shizune to study there was, in fact, part of an idea Tsunade had proposed during the Second Shinobi World War.

The idea was to assign a medical ninja to every squad.

But at the time, even Jiraiya and Orochimaru, her fellow Sannin, hadn't supported it.

There simply weren't enough resources to make it happen during wartime.

But after the Second Shinobi World War ended, Sarutobi Hiruzen began putting the idea to the test.

One measure was allowing students still enrolled in the Ninja Academy who aspired to become medical ninjas to study at Konoha Hospital.

Of course, assigning a medical ninja to every squad was an incredibly difficult task, even for Konoha.

But that had nothing to do with Shita Genichi. He just needed to take advantage of the policy.

As for policy, it wasn't his place to meddle.

Too bad he didn't have the resources to set up an experimental base.

In truth, Shita Genichi's knowledge wasn't enough to support an experimental base just yet.

Or rather, it wasn't enough to support the Human Body Modification or cell transplantation he was so eager to pursue.

"Don't rush. Take it slow, build things up bit by bit, and push myself past my limits a few more times..."

As Shita Genichi gave the cadaver a full-body examination, he tried to rein in his restless urges.

The cadaver had belonged to a ninja. It had already been stitched back together countless times.

Even so, Shita Genichi was extremely careful, dissecting it layer by layer before stitching each one back up.

It was a way to show respect to the cadaver, even if it had once been an enemy.

After spending half the day in the dissection room, Shita Genichi felt as if he could no longer smell anything else.

He glanced at the sun, which hadn't set yet, then took Shizune by the hand. "Come on, let's go to the hot springs."

"Huh?"

Shizune stared at him in surprise. "You want to go to the hot springs now?"

Shita Genichi smiled. "We've been working hard all day. Of course we should relax."

Without waiting for her reply, he pulled her along.

When they reached the Hot Spring House, they went their separate ways.

What, bathe together?

Of course not.

It wasn't that they hadn't bathed together. It was that the Crab God wouldn't allow it.

After half an hour in the hot spring, Shita Genichi's sense of smell returned to normal.

When Shizune came out, her face was flushed pink, making him want to give her cheeks a little pinch.

Glancing at the darkening sky, Shita Genichi smiled. "Shizune, how about I treat you to some dango?"

"No, thanks. It's too late today."

"I have to go home!"

With that, Shizune ran off.

Shita Genichi sighed. "Why are you in such a hurry? It's not like I'm going to eat you."

With no other choice, he slipped his hands into his pockets and strolled home alone.

Meanwhile,

Shizune had picked up dinner, but instead of going home, she went to Tsunade's place.

Just as expected, Tsunade was drinking by herself, glugging down one drink after another. Several bottles already littered the floor.

Shizune sighed softly, set down the food, and gathered up the bottles. Then she said, "Lady Tsunade, have some dinner first!"

Tsunade plopped down at the table and waited for Shizune to set out the food. Only then did she put down her bottle and start eating.

Tsunade was already a little tipsy. She glanced at Shizune and asked, "I didn't see you around at noon. Where were you?"

Shizune hurriedly replied, "Genichi and I went to Konoha Hospital."

Tsunade took a sip of her drink. "Genichi?"

"That kid you mentioned before?"

"Do you like him?"

Shizune immediately blushed. "Lady Tsunade, that's not true."

Tsunade said flatly, "Good."

"Best not to fall for him. You'd be heartbroken if he died."

Shizune quickly replied, "Lady Tsunade, Genichi is really strong."

Tsunade scoffed. "Isn't he just some kid who recently graduated and became a Genin?"

Shizune didn't know how to explain, so all she could say was, "Anyway, he's really strong."

"Hmph!"

Tsunade pursed her lips, then asked, "How's your Mystical Palm Technique coming along?"

Shizune smiled. "I can use it now."

Tsunade nodded. "Not bad. I'll teach you a new technique tomorrow!"

Shizune beamed. "Yes, Lady Tsunade!"

After dinner, Tsunade picked up her bottle and headed outside, but she stopped at the door. "I might be leaving Konoha. Would you come with me?"

Shizune froze as she was tidying up.

Shita Genichi had no idea Tsunade was planning to take Shizune away. After dinner, he went back to studying the Nine Syllables Hand Seals.

There wasn't much else he could do at night.

Time flew by. Winter gave way to spring.

Before he knew it, March had arrived.

With the next time he'd push himself past his limits drawing near, Shita Genichi had just finished a mission and gotten only two days of rest when Yamanaka En informed him of an urgent assignment.

It was dusk.

Shita Genichi said goodbye to his parents, gathered his things, and headed to the village entrance.

Once everyone had arrived, Hatake Sakumo called out, "Move out!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Shita Genichi leaped after the others, using the Body Flicker Technique to catch up with the three ahead.

He could tell this mission was no ordinary assignment.

Hatake Sakumo's pace was far too fast.

They traveled in silence and reached the border of the Land of Fire in one go before finally stopping.

"Rest and recover your strength!"

Hatake Sakumo gave the order.

Shita Genichi and the other two nodded silently, sat down cross-legged, and ate Military Ration Pills with some water.

They'd burned through too much energy.

Shita Genichi especially needed a break. If they kept going, he'd run out of stamina.

After half an hour, Hatake Sakumo finally spoke. "This is a top-secret mission. We must leave no trace of our identities."

Shita Genichi and the others tensed.

Hatake Sakumo took out four masks and handed them out. "Our target is the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers."

Everyone was taken aback again.

Yamanaka En asked instinctively, "Captain, isn't the Land of Rivers our ally?"

Not long ago, they'd been assigned to protect the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers.

Something must have changed.

Shita Genichi wondered silently.

They were being sent to assassinate a country's daimyo, even though it was officially an allied nation of the Land of Fire.

If they failed...

Shita Genichi had a feeling this was the mission that would drive Hatake Sakumo to kill himself.

In response to Yamanaka En's question, Hatake Sakumo briefly explained, "The Land of Rivers is indeed an ally of the Land of Fire, but its daimyo betrayed the alliance. He married the daughter of the Daimyo of the Land of Wind."

"On top of that, several mines that were originally supposed to go to the Land of Fire have instead been handed over to a major merchant from the Land of Wind."

Uchiha Namiichi said coldly, "Does that mean Sunagakure took missions that should have gone to our village?"

Hatake Sakumo nodded, then said, "The target is the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers. I'll handle him."

"En, you're in charge of coordinating our escape!"

Yamanaka En nodded at once.

Hatake Sakumo took out a stack of Explosive Tags and handed them to Yamanaka En. Then he looked at Shita Genichi and Uchiha Namiichi. "Namiichi, Genichi, you're responsible for drawing the daimyo's guards' attention."

"Remember, don't get into a direct fight."

"I'll take out the daimyo as quickly as possible, then we'll retreat."

Shita Genichi and Uchiha Namiichi nodded in unison.

Hatake Sakumo continued, "According to the latest intel, the daimyo has three ninja squads among his guards, besides the samurai. But there's only one Jonin."

"That Jonin won't leave the daimyo's side, so you don't need to worry about him."

"Still, we can't rule out the possibility that Sunagakure has sent a ninja squad to hide nearby."

"So this mission is extremely dangerous."

"Namiichi, Genichi, be very careful."

Shita Genichi and Uchiha Namiichi grew solemn.

There was very little chance Sunagakure hadn't sent a ninja squad.

"Captain, let me come with you!"

Uchiha Namiichi couldn't help saying.

Hatake Sakumo shook his head. "I'll be faster on my own."

"Besides, drawing the enemy's attention is important too. Genichi can't handle that job alone."

Uchiha Namiichi fell silent.

Shita Genichi said nothing. He knew his own strength and didn't overestimate himself.

If he had as much chakra as Senju Tobirama, he would have volunteered to draw the enemy's attention by himself.

But he didn't.