The Method of Resurrection

The night was deep, and Konoha's frontline camp lay shrouded in an oppressive silence.

Only the faint footsteps of patrolling ninja and the distant whine of windblown sand could be heard.

Tianyi curled up alone in the corner of the crude tent assigned to the Medical Corps personnel.

His arms wrapped tightly around himself, his face pale and his eyes still deathly vacant.

Every minute and every second that passed felt incomparably long.

At last, the phantom hands overlapped at exactly 22:00.

Without the slightest hesitation, Tianyi focused all his thoughts on the Book of Ten Thousand Worlds.

"Comrade Fang Tianyi, can you hear me?"

"Hello, Comrade Tianyi. Please respond if you can hear me."

It was Commander Tian's voice.

Tianyi took a deep breath, as though it took all the strength in his body just to force sound from his dry throat.

"Yes, Commander Tian... If someone dies, can they be brought back to life?"

Commander Tian's voice paused noticeably on the other end.

He knew this young transmigrator far too well. Such a direct question meant something had certainly gone wrong.

"Comrade Tianyi, did something happen?" Commander Tian's voice grew steadier as he tried to understand the situation.

As though he had found an outlet for his emotions, Tianyi spoke haltingly.

He began recounting everything about Mitarai Aoi.

From her seriousness when they had first met at the border of the Land of Rain, to the tacit understanding and trust they had developed during their medical rescue missions as partners.

The concern she occasionally showed, her dedication to her profession... and finally, that deadly forest of gold dust.

How she had carried him on her back without hesitation, and how she had finally fallen into a pool of blood.

Commander Tian listened in silence without interrupting. He understood.