A Rabble

Shiraha followed Shizuko to Konoha Hospital. The two went up to the third floor and entered the operating room waiting area, checking the situation inside through the glass.

In the open space in the middle of the operating room, the barrier for the Healing Resuscitation Technique has been activated.

The eight Medical Ninja sat in pairs on the four sides of the barrier.

"It's him?!"

The injured man lying in the very center of the barrier was someone Shiraha recognized: Sakamoto Kouta, Elite Jonin from the village. He had previously been the Jōnin instructor of Team 17. A few years ago, he had been on a border patrol mission with Team 1, led by White Fang, and Team 12, to which Shiraha belonged, when they encountered Akayu and Hakusa.

Sakamoto Kouta suffered multiple injuries all over his body, and it appears that he lost consciousness due to excessive blood loss.

Just as the first round of Chakra output was about to end, Minami, the vice-leader of the Medical Corps, rushed in from outside the operating room.

"Shiraha, you've come at the right time. Come with me to pick them up."

"Mm," Shiraha replied.

The Healing Resuscitation Technique requires extremely high control over Chakra, second only to the Mystical Palm Technique.

In the Medical Corps, there aren't many ninjas whose Medical Ninjutsu can reach the level of controlling barriers.

Shiraha is currently considered the fourth most important person in the Medical Corps, after Tsunade, the Medical Corps Captain, and the vice-leader Minami.

Of course, his actual Medical Ninjutsu level should be a bit better Minami's, but he didn't compete with Minami in the same arena, so he can only 'guess' it.

After all, Shiraha focused most of his energy on various research projects.

Shiraha Minami each replaced a Medical Ninja had consumed too much Chakra.

He replenished his Chakra to maintain the barrier.

Two hours later, Sakamoto Kouta's obvious external injuries had largely healed, but the internal damage and excessive blood loss would require gradual recovery.

Fortunately, no physical disabilities were caused, and recovery will take some time.

In recent years, Shiraha's research progress in Limb Regeneration has slowed down.

The main problem is that the technological breakthroughs are too difficult.

The most critical issue is the shortage of test subjects. Each time an experiment is conducted, Orochimaru has to bring death row inmates from Root.

However, Nawaki was quite optimistic and advised Shiraha and Orochimaru not to rush. He had already mastered the Puppet Technique to a certain level, and not only was movement no problem for him, but even ordinary Chunin were no match for him.

"Let's all take a break."

After the medical staff carried Sakamoto Kouta away, Minami stood up, stretched her arms, and seeing Shiraha preparing to leave, she suddenly sighed, "Sigh~"

"What's wrong, Minami-sensei?" Shiraha, who was deep in thought, snapped out of her reverie.

Minami rubbed her sore shoulders. "Shiraha, you've changed. You used to really enjoy giving me massages. Men really do change their minds easily!"

Shiraha glanced at Minami's magnificent breasts and said, "It's perfectly normal for your shoulders to ache easily!"

"Looks like you've grown up, Shiraha!" Minami teased.

"Minami-sensei, this is not the time for jokes," Shiraha said helplessly. The Kunoichi in the Medical Corps still treated him like a child and always liked to tease him.

"Sigh, I hope there won't be any more major conflicts. After all, it's White Fang's team that encountered this situation." Minami's smile faded, and her expression turned somber. Her husband died at the end of Second Shinobi World War, on the way back to the village.

The fact that White Fang is the captain of a Jōnin squad this time means they are definitely on a very important mission.

Minami was actually very nervous, but she was just joking with Shiraha to distract herself, because she was afraid it was some kind of great power conflict.

After all, Second Shinobi World War had only ended five years ago.

"The squad led by Sakumo-sama?!"

Shiraha raised an eyebrow. A typical Jōnin squad consists of five people. If Hatake Sakumo is leading the squad, they must all be elites. Sakamoto Kouta is no weakling; he's definitely an elite Elite Jonin. Yet he's so badly injured.

What mission did they go on?

"The other four are not seriously injured and are in the next room," Minami reminded them.

"I'll go take a look." Shiraha left the operating room.

Shiraha went to the next room, where medical staff were bandaging the injured person's wounds.

Apart from Sakumo's minor injury to his left arm, the others were all injured.

Among them was Chiho's older brother, Uchiha Soujin.

"Sakumo-sama." Shiraha stepped forward and said to the medical staff beside him, "Let me do it."

After saying that, Shiraha picked up the gauze and bandaged Sakumo's wound.

Sakumo seemed to be in good spirits, his expression calm. "Shiraha."

"How could this happen?" Shiraha couldn't help but ask.

Hatake Sakumo slightly. "This mission is top secret, and I cannot reveal its contents. However, the mission failed, and I abandoned it voluntarily."

"Give up voluntarily?!" Shiraha was taken aback.

However, looking at the three lightly injured Jōnin beside him, and the seriously injured Sakamoto Kouta, he understood.

It seems that the teammates dragged us down.

With Shiraha's current strength, even though his Breathing Technique hasn't broken through yet, he feels he can still First Shinobi World War against Kage Level ninja.

However, speed- and explosive ninjas like White Fang are still a type he is not good at dealing with.

He needs to at least break through the Great Knight to have a chance against White Fang.

Of course, a sneak attack is a different story.

It seems they were facing multiple Jōnin, or even two or more Kage Level powerhouses. Sakumo abandoned the mission for his teammates.

This person is always so reliable. Shiraha thought to himself, "Sakumo is the best teammate."

Given his personality, if the mission fails, he will definitely take the blame upon himself.

"I understand. Don't worry, I won't say anything out of line," Shiraha said.

Such a top-secret mission cannot be revealed even if it fails. Sakumo telling him this shows his trust in him.

Sakumo: "Thank you."

Three days later.

evening.

After dinner, Shiraha and Kushina took a walk in the street.

Sakumo and his son walked towards us.

Sakumo and Kakashi walked side by side on the road. Kakashi was only seven years old at the time, but he looked like a little adult.

Looking back, Shiraha was just starting school when she was 6 years old.

Kakashi, that brat, entered school at age 4, graduated at age 5, and became Chunin at age 6. That's really a bit outrageous.

"Sakumo-sama, Kakashi!" Shiraha and Kushina stepped forward to greet them.

Sakumo smiled slightly, "Shiraha, Kushina."

Kakashi glanced at Shiraha and Kushina, but didn't react.

Shiraha wondered to himself, "This kid usually treats me quite well, what's wrong with him today?"

Pedestrians gathered in small groups around them.

When Sakumo and his son appeared, some discordant voices were heard, as if they were whispering about something.

"Hey, did you hear?"

"What did you hear?"

"You didn't know that? White Fang Fang's team failed their mission? He gave up on it voluntarily."

"How is that possible? White Fang would abandon the mission?"

"That can't be right. I heard he was forced to abandon the mission because his team members were injured, right?"

"What do you know? As a ninja, completing the mission is the top priority."

"Exactly! There are no excuses for mission failure!"

"If it were you, would you also be prepared to abandon the mission and the honor of a ninja?!"

"This"

Those who were being questioned fell silent.

"Dad, doesn't the Will of Fire teach us to value our comrades? Is the mission more important than our comrades?"

The children who had not yet started school raised questions.

"Shut up! Children shouldn't interrupt when adults are talking!"

The child who had been scolded had tears in his eyes and felt very wronged, but he didn't dare to say anything more.

"What's going on?" Shiraha looked at Sakumo in confusion.

Sakumo shook his head and said nothing.

As the four traveled, they heard discussions about White Fang's failed mission everywhere they went.

There were many voices of condemnation, and some rational ones, but they were quickly drowned out.

Most of them were ninjas who were not from clans or ordinary people.

These are precisely the people who formed the foundation for White Fang's rise to become the Fourth Hokage.

At this moment, Shiraha suddenly remembered a sentence: "The blind following of the crowd will overwhelm the rationality of the individual. Once an individual categorizes himself into the group, his original independent rationality will be overwhelmed by the ignorance and madness of the group."

The words used to slander Sakumo became increasingly offensive, and Kakashi, his face contorted with anger, was about to confront him.

"Kakashi," Sakumo called out to him.

Kakashi clenched his fists tightly and stormed off.

"Excuse me, Shiraha." Sakumo smiled and then left first.

Shiraha gazed at Sakumo's desolate figure, feeling somewhat disheartened.

It was a top-secret mission, but everyone knew about it.

A medical genius, thirty million taels.

Both have a similar effect.

Is this the level of secrecy Konoha?

Hearing the constant chatter around him, Shiraha's face gradually darkened. "Foolish!"

"Shiraha." Kushina asked in confusion, "What's wrong with this person? Why does it seem like Sakumo-sama? Isn't mission failure inevitable? What's wrong with prioritizing saving your comrades?"

Before Shiraha could respond, one of the ninjas who were discussing the matter jumped out and accused Kushina.

Boom--!

Kushina wasn't going to put up with them. She unleashed her Chakra and stomped the ground, creating a large crater.

The crowd, who had been discussing the matter, were terrified and scattered like birds and beasts.

Shiraha shook his head and sighed:

"Mob!"