Chapter 45: What Title Should Be Given to the Heroine?
Rin's injuries recovered at an astonishing speed under the natural resilience granted by the Senju clan's physique. In just one short week, she was able to move about freely, and at last, she was discharged from the hospital as she had long wished.
When Rin pushed open the door to her home, the afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the wooden floor of the entryway, casting a warm light that seemed to welcome her back. The air was filled with the familiar fragrance of simmering miso soup.
"I'm home—" she called out, deliberately stretching the tone of her voice.
From the kitchen came the sound of a sudden clang, immediately followed by hurried footsteps. Kenichi emerged wearing an apron, the empty right sleeve of his clothing swaying loosely with his movements. He looked his daughter up and down, and then, without warning, reached out to pinch her cheek and pull it to one side.
"You little brat! You come back to the village without even telling your old man!" Kenichi's voice trembled slightly. "If the Hokage-sama hadn't sent someone to inform me, I would have thought you were still on the front lines!"
Rin's words came out garbled from having her cheek pulled: "Mm… my fault, my fault…"
Kenichi released her, but then his eyes sharpened when he noticed her pale complexion. "You're injured?"
"Just a small wound, already healed." Rin spun in place on the spot. "See? Alive and full of energy!"
gave a quiet hmph, turned his back, and walked toward the kitchen. "Wash your hands for dinner. I made braised eggplant for you."
At the dining table, Rin devoured her rice with an almost feral hunger. It had been far too long since she had enjoyed a proper meal—battlefield rations were crude enough, and even upon returning to the village, the hospital's plain, tasteless meals had been her only option. For these past days, her mouth had almost forgotten the taste of flavor.
Kenichi sat across from her, skillfully picking up dishes for her with his left hand.
"Eat slowly, no one's going to steal it from you." His eyes fell on the calluses that had formed on her small hands, and in that gaze was a tangled mix of emotions—both the ache of a father seeing his eight-year-old daughter forced to grip a blade, and the quiet pride in her growing skill.
After the meal, Kenichi, with a mysterious air, led her into the workshop in the back yard. When he pushed open the door, the workbench was piled high with parts of ninja tools, and designs covered the walls.
"Look at this!" Kenichi exclaimed with excitement, holding up a gleaming metal arm guard. "I made this using a small quantity of chakra metal. It can store chakra, and it can even launch kunai!"
Rin accepted it with curiosity, discovering that the inner surface was engraved with intricate Fūinjutsu patterns.
"When did you learn fūinjutsu, old man?"
"I got permission from the Hokage-sama to study it." Kenichi shook his head with a smug grin. "Even if I can't use ninjutsu anymore, my brain still works just fine."
Then, lowering his voice, he added, "Actually… I'm researching a full chakra-metal prosthetic arm. If I succeed, retired shinobi like me could once again…"
Rin looked at the light shining in her father's eyes. So this was it—her father had already found a new purpose for his life. Her nose stung, and her heart was filled with emotion.
That night, Rin lay on the bed she had not slept in for so long, listening to the clang-clang of her father tinkering with ninja tools in the next room. The corners of her lips lifted unconsciously.
At that moment, the clouds of war seemed a distant thing.
That same day, Sarutobi Hiruzen himself presided over Rin's Chūnin promotion ceremony.
"Hanabuchi Rin, in recognition of your outstanding performance on the battlefield and the contributions you have made to Konoha, I hereby officially promote you to Chūnin." Hiruzen smiled as he handed her the flak vest that symbolized the rank.
Rin accepted the jacket. Though she found the garment somewhat heavy and cumbersome, she was nonetheless pleased to be promoted. Everyone knew that she already possessed strength far beyond that of an ordinary Chūnin, but the official recognition still gave her a sense of being acknowledged. Without realizing it, her heart had begun to develop a faint sense of belonging to Konoha.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama." She dipped her head slightly, and then added, "Sensei."
Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction, but then his expression turned serious. "Your new mission is to lead a medical team to the Suna battlefield and assist Orochimaru and Tsunade. Remember—your foremost duty is to heal the wounded, not to charge into battle."
Rin raised an eyebrow. "I thought you would send me to fight on the front lines."
Hiruzen gave a short, dismissive grunt. "Do you think I don't know what's on your mind? You were injured this time, and nearly scared Kenichi to death. I'd rather not have him come after me with complaints again."
Rin gave a sheepish smile and did not argue further.
When Rin and her three medical-nin arrived, the camp was steeped in a tense atmosphere. Suna's offensive was far fiercer than anticipated—especially Chiyo's poisons, which were causing Konoha's casualties to rise relentlessly.
"Well, if it isn't our 'genius shinobi.'" A voice with a hint of mockery rang out.
Rin turned to see Orochimaru leaning against the side of a tent, his golden, slit-pupil eyes studying her with evident interest.
"Orochimaru-sama." Rin inclined her head slightly.
"I heard you nearly died in the Land of Rain," Orochimaru said as he approached, his voice low and silken. "A pity… had you perished, I would have lost a most intriguing test subject."
Rin's face betrayed no amusement.
Orochimaru chuckled softly, then his tone shifted to business. "Since you're here, go see Tsunade. She's been run ragged lately—you might actually be of some use to her."
Inside the medical tent, Tsunade was bent over her work, meticulously blending antidotes. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead. Without lifting her head, she barked, "Don't bother me! Can't you see I'm busy?!"
"Tsunade-sama, it's me," Rin said calmly.
Tsunade's head snapped up, a flash of surprise in her eyes, quickly replaced by fatigue. "Rin? You recovered rather quickly."
"Hokage-sama sent me to lead a team to support." Rin glanced around at the rows of wounded lying inside the tent, her brows furrowing. "The situation is worse than I expected."
"That old hag Chiyo—poisonous in her toxins, and even more poisonous in her heart!" Tsunade ground out between clenched teeth. "I've managed to neutralize most of them, but there are too many victims… some won't survive long enough to be treated…"
Rin said nothing more. She simply rolled up her sleeves. "I'll help."
In the days that followed, Rin and Tsunade worked nearly without sleep to produce antidotes. Drawing on her precise chakra control and the natural sensitivity to plants that came from her Kekki Genkai , Rin offered numerous insights to improve the antidotes, and even managed to shorten the time needed to neutralize certain toxins.
"You've got some skill, brat," Tsunade said at last, a rare note of approval in her voice.
Rin merely smiled without speaking. She knew Tsunade had been suppressing her deep-seated hemophobia—but with war raging, Tsunade had no choice but to force herself to face it.
Rin's medical team was dispatched to a temporary forward medical point to treat the gravely wounded. However, Suna's assaults grew ever more aggressive, and they even began targeting medi-nin for assassination.
"Watch out! Puppets incoming!" a Konoha shinobi shouted.
Rin looked up to see three puppets charging through the swirling sand, heading straight for the medical tent.
"All personnel, fall back!" she commanded sharply, her hands already forming seals.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall"
A massive wall of water surged up from the ground, blocking the first wave of the puppets' attack. But the puppeteer was relentless, maneuvering the puppets around the wall to attack from the side.
"Tch. Troublesome." Rin's eyes narrowed, her stance shifting instantly into combat readiness.
She slammed one hand to the ground, chakra flooding outward—
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld"
The earth beneath the puppets instantly softened into a sucking mire, dragging them down and slowing their movements. Seizing the chance, Rin drew the short blade at her waist, her figure flickering forward like lightning, severing the chakra threads in an instant.
From the sandstorm came the puppeteer's voice, laced with fear. "It's her!"
Rin gave a cold laugh. In the next moment, she vanished, only to reappear behind the puppeteer with a kunai pressed to his throat.
"You…" The man's pupils contracted sharply.
"Relax, I won't kill you," Rin murmured. "After all, a living prisoner has far more value."
With a swift chop to the neck, she knocked him unconscious, then tossed him toward the Konoha shinobi rushing up. "Tie him up. Turn him over to the Interrogation Division."
Without pause, Rin launched herself toward the other incoming enemies.
Assassinations depended on speed, so the Suna attackers were few in number, each a skilled killer—but against someone with Rin's incredible swiftness, their advantage was nullified, and they could only fall in bitter defeat.
When Orochimaru learned that Rin had captured a Suna shinobi alive, his interest was immediately piqued.
---