"As medical-nin, you must follow three cardinal rules!"
"First, medical-nin must never give up on treatment until their teammates are dead!"
"Second, medical-nin must never stand on the front lines of battle!"
"Third, medical-nin must never die before any other member of their squad!"
"You must keep all three of these rules firmly in mind!"
Tsunade spoke loudly and sternly. She seemed to slip into her role in an instant, becoming an instructor for medical-nin, while Araki and Nawaki before her became her students.
Nawaki knew these three rules, but he had never considered becoming a medical-nin before. He merely knew them and had never thought about them deeply.
Araki, meanwhile, was inwardly delighted.
He vaguely remembered something like this, but he could not recall where he had seen it, and he had forgotten the exact wording of the rules.
During his time at the Ninja Academy, he had gone through all sorts of textbooks, but he had found no corresponding records.
Now he had finally heard the official version!
These three cardinal rules for medical-nin were simply too good!
Especially the part about not standing on the front lines...
Combined with being the last one to die...
If there really came a time when he was the only one left...
He could just run away and be done with it!
They perfectly suited Araki's needs. Even after graduating from the Ninja Academy, he could stand behind everyone else on missions with complete justification.
If anyone asked, he had the three cardinal rules for medical-nin!
As for the fourth rule...
He did not need it!
Araki had absolutely no desire to break these wonderfully appealing rules for medical-nin!
Chapter 53: Might Duy!
"What is the fourth rule?"
Nawaki drew a sharp breath, anticipation already rising within him. To him, the three rules just mentioned were nothing but restrictions.
Under such restrictions, he would have no way to express his own personality.
They did not suit his fighting style!
Nawaki felt that he was clearly someone strong enough to charge into battle, yet he had to do something as boring as standing behind others and healing them...
If he truly had any other choice, he would not have backed down like this.
"The fourth rule!"
With a grave expression, Tsunade raised a fourth finger right in front of Nawaki, her entire demeanor more serious than ever.
In an instant, Nawaki's curiosity reached its peak.
"Only medical-nin who have mastered Ninja Art: Creation Rebirth-Strength of a Hundred Technique are permitted to break all the rules above!"
Tsunade spoke in a firm, ringing voice.
"Hiss..."
Hearing this, Nawaki sucked in a breath on the spot. He had never imagined that the final rule would actually allow him to break the previous three.
That was just too cool!
A powerful yearning immediately welled up in Nawaki's heart.
It felt as fresh as discovering a new continent, something he had never considered before. He had always been so close to medical-nin, but he had never seriously thought about anything concerning them.
After this brief exposure, he suddenly realized that there was much about medical-nin that he had overlooked before.
It could not help but stir his desire to explore.
"Sis, what was that technique you mentioned? How come I've never heard of it..." Nawaki immediately asked.
"It's perfectly normal that you haven't heard of it. Even I haven't mastered it yet!"
Tsunade shook her head as she spoke. Only then did Araki notice that her forehead was currently smooth and bare, without a diamond-shaped mark.
During the interview, Tsunade had worn Konoha's ninja forehead protector, covering her forehead, so he had not noticed.
Now it seemed...
Tsunade was probably in the process of accumulating chakra!
That was right!
That had to be it!
The Konoha Sannin's battle against Hanzo of the Salamander had taken place not long ago.
Even if Tsunade had possessed the Yin Seal then, she had probably used it up and needed to build up her reserves again.
"..."
Nawaki fell silent on the spot. So it was something even his sister had not mastered. This was nothing but an empty promise, and one that would never come true at that.
"However..."
Tsunade suddenly changed her tone. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, and a meaningful smile appeared on her face as she stared at Nawaki and said, "As long as you train strictly according to my instructions, you can master it. I firmly believe that!"
"Uh... o-okay..."
The corners of Nawaki's mouth twitched hard. He was willing to believe his sister, since she would not lie to him, but he still felt that this sounded somewhat unreliable. Out of consideration for her pride, however, he kept those words to himself.
The next moment.
An idea stirred in Nawaki's mind.
He abruptly turned to look at Araki beside him.
"Araki, you should learn it with me!" Nawaki invited him enthusiastically. He was still a child who liked doing things with others, without much guile and unable to keep much to himself. Whenever he thought of something interesting or difficult, he wanted to share it with his friends.
By now, Araki had become a close friend of Nawaki's.
Although they had not known each other long, Nawaki simply felt that they were incredibly compatible and shared a rare understanding.
And that was not all.
They had a shared secret.
Especially when it came to studying Medical Ninjutsu, there was practically no one besides Araki who could study alongside Nawaki.
"I'm not learning it!"
Araki shook his head with almost no hesitation, rejecting Nawaki immediately before adding, "I think these three cardinal rules are pretty good."
"..."
Nawaki felt helpless on the spot. This was not the outcome he had expected, but he did not say anything more.
Ever since he had declared that his dream was to become Hokage...
He had understood that many of his choices differed from those of others!
He accepted Araki as his friend and respected his right to make his own decisions. He would not force Araki just to have company.
"Araki, are you really not planning to learn it?"
Tsunade turned toward him and asked in puzzlement. The reason she had brought it up in front of Araki was precisely because she intended to train him that way.
Yet Araki's reaction surprised her too.
Didn't every medical-nin have a heart that yearned for close combat?
"My parents both died on the battlefield. To tell you the truth, even if you laugh at me, I'm very afraid of going to war," Araki admitted his cowardice.
"I understand."
Tsunade nodded. After the interview ended, she had carefully reviewed Araki's résumé again and learned a few things about him.
She had to admit...
Being a medical-nin suited Araki quite well!
For one thing, he would not have to go to war.
For another, he could still make his own contribution.
It really was a good dream!
Tsunade pondered this silently. She suddenly realized that Araki had been quite precise in choosing his future path and had a very clear understanding of his own role.
The three chatted about other matters for a while longer. Before they knew it, it had grown late, and night had fallen over Konoha.
Araki said goodbye to Tsunade and Nawaki and left Tsunade's home alone. Tsunade had kept Nawaki there. After foreseeing that future, she was terribly afraid that something would happen to him.
"Phew..."
After stepping out of Tsunade's house, Araki could not help breathing a sigh of relief. By now, the dust had settled on this huge gamble. He had won, and won big.
It was time for his daily training again!
Araki was a little tired tonight. He had not gotten enough rest during the day. In the morning, he had been questioned by the Uchiha Clan's Konoha Military Police Force, and in the afternoon, he had gone through a battle of wits with Tsunade and Nawaki. Only now did he suddenly feel a powerful wave of exhaustion sweep through his whole body.
"How about skipping training today and going home for a good night's sleep?"
Araki rubbed his slightly groggy forehead. After training at night for so long, sleep had very little effect on him anymore.
Simply put, he had adapted to this rhythm.
People in the ninja world all had chakra within their bodies, which could improve their resistance to fatigue to a certain extent.
It was common for many ninja to go several days without a wink of sleep while carrying out missions.
With that thought.
Araki started walking toward home.
However...