They've Arrived! (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

The future is infinitely variable; Shita Genichi needs to accumulate enough capital in the present to lay the foundation for what is to come.

Konoha Hospital allowing students like Shizune to study there is, in reality, the implementation of a concept proposed by Tsunade during the Second Shinobi World War.

That is, to equip every squad with a medical ninja.

However, at the time, even the other Sannin, Jiraiya and Orochimaru, did not support this idea.

Because during wartime, there were simply no resources available to carry out such a task.

But after the Second Shinobi World War ended, Sarutobi Hiruzen began to take steps to attempt it.

Allowing students who are still in the Ninja Academy and aspire to become medical ninjas to study at Konoha Hospital simultaneously is one such measure.

Of course, wanting to equip every squad with a medical ninja is extremely difficult to achieve, even for Konoha.

But these things have nothing to do with Shita Genichi; he just needs to enjoy the convenience of the policy.

As for policies and the like, one should not concern oneself with matters outside of one's own position.

It is a pity that there are no resources to establish an experimental base.

In fact, Shita Genichi's current knowledge base cannot support an experimental base either.

Or rather, it cannot support the human experimentation or cell transplantation he is eager to conduct.

Cannot rush. Take it slow, accumulate slowly, and overdraw a few more times...

Shita Genichi performs a full-body examination on the cadaver, suppressing his restless heart.

This cadaver is a ninja, and it has been stitched up many times already.

But Shita Genichi remains very careful, dissecting it layer by layer, then stitching it back up layer by layer.

This is out of respect for the cadaver, even if this cadaver was once an enemy.

After spending half the day in the dissection room, Shita Genichi feels he can no longer smell anything else upon coming out.

Looking at the sun that has yet to set, Shita Genichi takes Shizune's hand: "Let's go, let's go soak in the hot springs."

"Huh?"

Shizune is startled: "Go soak in the hot springs now?"

Shita Genichi smiles: "After a tiring day, of course we need to relax."

Without giving her a chance to argue, he pulls Shizune along and runs.

Arriving at the hot spring house, the two separate.

What, mixed bathing?

That is, of course, impossible.

It is not that mixed bathing doesn't exist, but the Great River Crab God does not allow it.

After soaking for half an hour, Shita Genichi's sense of smell returns to normal.

And the Shizune who just came out has a face white with a rosy tint, making one unable to resist the urge to pinch it.

Looking at the darkening sky, Shita Genichi smiles: "Shizune, shall I treat you to some dango?"

"No need, it's too late today."

"I have to go back!"

Saying this, Shizune has already run off.

Shita Genichi sighs helplessly: "Why run so fast? I'm not going to eat you."

With no other choice, he can only walk home alone with his hands in his pockets.

On the other side.

Shizune has packed dinner, but instead of going home, she arrives at Tsunade's house.

As expected, Tsunade is drinking alone, thump, thump, thump, and there are already several empty bottles on the floor.

Sighing slightly, Shizune puts down the dinner and cleans up the bottles before saying: "Tsunade-sama, let's have dinner first!"

Tsunade plops down at the table, waiting for Shizune to set out the dinner before letting go of the bottle to eat.

At this moment, Tsunade is already slightly tipsy. She glances at Shizune and asks: "I didn't seem to see you at noon?"

Shizune quickly replies: "I went to Konoha Hospital with Shita Genichi."

Tsunade takes a sip of wine: "Shita Genichi?"

"That brat you mentioned before?"

"Do you like him?"

Shizune immediately blushes: "Tsunade-sama, that's not it at all."

Tsunade says indifferently: "It's better if you don't."

"It's better not to like him, lest you be heartbroken when he dies."

Shizune immediately says: "Tsunade-sama, Shita Genichi is very strong."

Tsunade snorted and curled her lip, "Isn't he just a brat who just graduated as a genin?"

Shizune didn't know how to explain it, so she could only say, "In any case, he is extremely formidable."

"Tch!"

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

Shizune beamed, "I'm already able to use it."

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

Shizune was delighted, "Yes, Lady Tsunade!"

After finishing their meal, Tsunade picked up a bottle of sake and headed for the door, but she suddenly paused at the threshold, "I might be leaving Konoha. Are you willing to come with me?"

Shizune, who was busy cleaning up, froze at these words.

Shita Genichi naturally had no idea that Tsunade was planning to spirit Shizune away; after eating, he returned to studying the Nine Syllables Hand Seals.

Late at night, this was all he could research.

Time flew by, and winter gave way to spring.

Before he knew it, March had arrived.

Seeing that the time for another overdraft was approaching, Shita Genichi, who had just finished a mission and only rested for two days, was notified by Yamanaka En that there was an emergency mission.

It was currently dusk.

Shita Genichi greeted his parents, packed his gear, and arrived at the village gate.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Hatake Sakumo shouted, "Move out!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Shita Genichi leaped into action, using the Body Flicker Technique to keep up with the three people in front.

It was clear that this mission was extraordinary.

The speed at which Hatake Sakumo was traveling was wrong—it was too fast.

Just like that, they traveled in silence, not stopping until they reached the border of the Land of Fire in one breath.

"Rest. Replenish your stamina!"

Hatake Sakumo gave the order.

Shita Genichi and the others nodded silently, then sat cross-legged to consume Military Ration Pills and drink water.

The exertion had been too great.

Especially for Shita Genichi; if they hadn't stopped to rest, his stamina would have been completely drained.

After resting for half an hour, Hatake Sakumo finally spoke, "This is a top-secret mission. We cannot leave behind any information that could identify us."

Shita Genichi and the others felt a chill run down their spines.

Hatake Sakumo took out four masks and distributed them, saying, "The target is the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers."

This left everyone stunned.

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

Not long ago, they had just carried out a mission to protect the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers.

It seems something has changed! Shita Genichi secretly speculated.

Assassinating the daimyo of a country, especially one that was ostensibly an ally of the Land of Fire.

If they failed...

Shita Genichi felt that this must be the very mission that led Hatake Sakumo to commit suicide.

Facing Yamanaka En's question, Hatake Sakumo explained simply, "The Land of Rivers is indeed an ally of the Land of Fire, but the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers has betrayed the alliance; he has taken the daughter of the Daimyo of the Land of Wind as his wife."

"Furthermore, the mineral veins originally planned to be handed over to the Land of Fire have instead been given to wealthy merchants from the Land of Wind."

Uchiha Namiichi said coldly, "Does this mean the missions that originally belonged to the village have been snatched away by Sunagakure?"

Hatake Sakumo nodded and then said, "The target is the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers; leave him to me."

"En, you are responsible for the extraction!"

Yamanaka En nodded immediately.

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

"Remember, there is no need to fight them head-on."

"I will eliminate the daimyo as quickly as possible, and then we will retreat."

Shita Genichi and Uchiha Namiichi nodded in unison.

Hatake Sakumo added, "According to the latest intelligence, the daimyo's guards, in addition to the samurai, consist of three ninja squads, but there is only one jonin among them."

"That jonin will not leave the Daimyo's side, so you do not need to worry."

"However, we cannot rule out the possibility that Sunagakure has dispatched ninja squads to hide in the shadows."

"Therefore, this mission is extremely dangerous."

"Uchiha Namiichi, Shita Genichi, you must be very careful."

Shita Genichi and Uchiha Namiichi both turned solemn upon hearing this.

The possibility of Sunagakure not sending ninja squads was extremely slim.

"Captain, let me move with you!"

Uchiha Namiichi could not help but say.

Hatake Sakumo shook his head: "I am faster alone."

"Furthermore, drawing the enemy's attention is also crucial; Genichi cannot complete this task on his own."

Uchiha Namiichi fell silent.

Shita Genichi did not speak; he knew his own strength, so he did not try to be a hero.

If he had a chakra reserve like Senju Tobirama, he would have dared to suggest completing the task of drawing the enemy's attention alone.

But he did not.