Wood Release Reemerges × Disregarding Human Life √

Early the next morning, Shiraha arrived at the entrance to the Mission Hall.

Oshima Shuichi, Uchiha Chiho, and Hyuga Hideto were already waiting at the main gate.

Shiraha quickly ran over and greeted the three of them.

Oshima Shuichi nodded and entered the Mission Hall to accept a mission.

Perhaps to accommodate him as a newcomer, Oshima Shuichi accepted a C-rank escort mission.

It was within the Land of Fire, escorting the client to the East Coast. It was far from the Western Battlefield and essentially danger-free.

Since it was wartime, even the simplest D-rank missions, such as clearing trash or finding cats, had become rare.

Even when they did appear, rookie teams scrambled to take them.

A team with Shiraha's lineup probably would not accept such missions anyway.

A C-rank Mission posed no difficulty for Team 12. In less than a week, Shiraha and the others smoothly completed the mission and returned to the village.

The main reason it had taken so long was that the client was an ordinary person and could not travel at high speed for extended periods like ninja could.

During this mission, Shiraha shed blood for the first time in this life. He personally killed several bandits blocking the road and underwent his baptism of blood.

Time quickly reached July.

For more than three months, Shiraha had basically been taking on missions around C-rank with his team.

Recently, Oshima Shuichi had gone out alone on a mission and returned with minor injuries, so he directly gave Shiraha and the others half a month off.

Taking advantage of his free time, Shiraha made several trips to Konoha Hospital to see if there was anything he could help with.

After playing the role of a good person for so long, he felt that he had truly become much more warmhearted.

More importantly, after spending so much time with kind and pure people, his mood had naturally relaxed.

Shiraha's Mystical Palm Technique was still not proficient enough. Having injured people to treat also helped him gain experience.

After all, even at the level of someone who had just learned the Mystical Palm Technique, he would still be a top-tier Medical Ninja in the Medical Corps.

Not every ninja who suffered severe external injuries could receive the collective Healing Resuscitation Technique from the Medical Corps.

Most ninja were treated only until their lives were no longer in danger, then left to slowly recuperate.

They might be comrades from the same village, but they were not truly treated equally. They were divided according to their "value."

Jōnin would always receive treatment first.

After all, compared to the vast number of wounded, there simply were not enough Medical Ninja.

"Minami-sensei, is there anything else I can help with?"

After treating the severely injured patient in the ward, Shiraha returned to the office to rest and sought out the deputy leader of the Medical Corps.

Minami looked at Shiraha in surprise. "As expected of someone still growing, your energy really is boundless!

"For now, go get some rest. A large number of wounded are still on the way. In a few days, Lord Tsunade and Lord Jiraiya will personally escort them back."

"Tsunade-sensei and Lord Jiraiya are both coming back?" Shiraha asked in confusion.

"Yes. Whether it was Sunagakure's frontal assaults or the surprise attacks by the Puppeteer Squad, they were all repelled.

"The frequency of fighting on the main battlefield is steadily decreasing now. It seems the village is not far from final victory.

"The two lords will first escort the wounded back to the village, while also preparing follow-up supplies."

Minami explained, a relieved expression appearing on her face. Watching the number of wounded groaning in pain increase every day had kept her nerves taut. At last, there was hope for the war to end.

"Yeah." Shiraha could not help sighing as well. The Ninja World War had kept him from relaxing his guard.

He did not know what might happen the next moment. All he could do was continuously strengthen himself and add to his trump cards.

He was still some distance from advancing to Third-Class Apprentice. Both his Mental Power and physique were lacking.

He was still short one sample of Cells of a Powerful Radioactive Creature, so he needed to prepare early.

Although his target was Orochimaru, Jiraiya was returning first. If he had a chance to obtain Jiraiya's cells, Shiraha would not pass up such a good opportunity.

"Actually, Jiraiya was originally the only one escorting the wounded back. Lord Tsunade is hurrying back because of a major decision the village has recently made."

Minami suddenly lowered her voice and leaned close to Shiraha's ear.

"A major decision?!" Shiraha's expression shifted slightly.

Minami continued, "In principle, you are allowed to know. After all, your Medical Ninjutsu is already better than that of most chūnin in the Medical Corps.

"Once Lord Tsunade returns, she will definitely make a scene. This matter will no longer be possible to hide soon.

"I'll tell you, but promise me you won't spread it around."

"Mm, I know what's appropriate," Shiraha quickly agreed.

"The village has recently been conducting a secret experiment involving First Hokage Cells transplantation.

"Because the war has dragged on too long, the higher-ups want to end it, so they want to recreate the First Hokage's Wood Style Secret Technique.

"Quite a few ninja who had been maimed due to injuries volunteered for the experiment.

"Some physically intact ninja also participated, with the Former Senju Clan accounting for the largest number."

Minami continued.

Shiraha revealed a shocked expression, then quickly reacted. "Did all the experiments fail?!"

Minami nodded gravely.

"Not only that, every volunteer who participated in the experiment was devoured by the First Hokage Cells.

"Not one survived!

"We have already conducted experimental analysis, and the success rate of transplantation is extremely low.

"But neither the higher-ups nor the volunteers are willing to stop the experiment.

"The death toll is already close to a hundred!

"And new volunteers arrive at the hospital every day."

"..." Shiraha felt a chill run through his heart and could not speak.

How could they dare?

With the current level of Medical Ninjutsu, the possibility of successfully transplanting First Hokage Cells was far too low.

Even cells from the same person could differ in vitality.

The First Hokage's cells were so active that the gap between them and Tsunade's or Nawaki's cells was enormous. They could practically be considered two different species, let alone the cells of other Senju Clan members.

How could they directly conduct human experiments like this?!

They were treating human lives as grass!

Did they want the former Senju Clan to die out completely?

"What about Nawaki?! He isn't planning to join the experiment, is he?" Shiraha suddenly asked.

Tsunade and Nawaki were the closest blood relatives of the First Hokage.

Nawaki in particular had lost both legs. Though he had barely recovered from his injuries, his mobility was still limited. He must have been desperate for Limb Regeneration.

"No! Although it's obvious that Nawaki wants to restore his limbs, he has remained rational.

"He has also urged the other Senju Clan members not to act rashly.

"He said they should wait until Lord Tsunade and you perfected the Cell Transplantation technique before undergoing transplantation.

"That child has become much steadier than before."

Minami spoke with some heartache. It was good that Nawaki had become more mature, but the price of that growth was far too great.

"That's good." Shiraha let out a sigh of relief. The higher-ups probably did not dare let Nawaki take the risk either.

Otherwise, if something went wrong, Tsunade would probably turn Konoha upside down.

PS: Thanks to I'm Not Wei, Eighteen Years of Snowfall, Mo Zhouxu, Three Stars, Saber, Shiva's Dance, Ancient Eleven Moon, Tang Xiaomu, and No Past Joy, No Worry for the donations. Thank you for your support.