Konoha Frontline, Land of Rivers.
Kin perched on a high tree branch, his forehead protector already tied in place.
His gaze swept forward—scattered boulders, overgrown weeds, scurrying squirrels, and countless insects. It was a wilderness utterly untouched by human presence.
Unfurling the scroll in his hand, he confirmed the marked location was indeed correct.
"Another genjutsu barrier?"
If the coordinates were accurate, that was the only explanation.
Just as he debated whether to step inside directly or use "Genjutsu Release," his body suddenly stiffened.
The next moment, a three-man ninja team surrounded him.
Recognizing their green flak jackets and familiar faces, Kin sighed in relief. He glanced down at the shadow connecting his feet to one of the figures.
Shadow Imitation Technique, the Nara clan's secret art.
"Really, Shikaku? I'm your senior, you know. Is this any way to treat me?"
The three boys before him were unmistakable: one broad and stout, another with long blond hair, and the last disheveled from head to toe.
The next generation of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio—Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Chōza, and Yamanaka Inoichi.
Currently, their fathers were the ones wreaking havoc on the battlefield. These three were still in their growth phase.
"Senior? We graduated before you, Kin," Nara Shikaku drawled lazily, though his shadow showed no sign of loosening. His tone was downright provocative.
Akimichi Chōza and Yamanaka Inoichi silently turned their heads away.
These two had a long-standing feud. A fight wouldn't be surprising.
Otherwise, Shikaku wouldn't have immediately resorted to the Shadow Imitation Technique.
The moment they saw Kin, they'd recognized him.
"Heh." Kin smirked. "If you graduated before me, how come you lost so badly back then?"
Shikaku's expression darkened, his voice laced with irritation. "Things are different now. I've grown stronger."
Two years of training had honed his skills significantly.
"Oh?" Kin remained unimpressed. "Even so, do you really think Meimei would ever accept an immature pervert like you?"
"You're the last person who should say that!!" ×2.
Inoichi and Chōza screamed internally.
Their feud stemmed from their academy teacher, Suzumei Meimei.
Shikaku, a Class A student, had constantly sneaked into Class B to see her, while Kin had outright asked her out!
Back then, both had set their sights on Meimei, leading to frequent clashes—though Shikaku usually ended up on the losing side.
Neither of them was exactly a model student.
"At least call her sensei! Today, I'll teach you some respect!"
Shikaku roared, his secret fantasies laid bare.
Why not just deny it?!
This is so embarrassing for the Ino-Shika-Cho name!!
Shikaku!!
Inoichi and Chōza stayed silent, but their inner voices were deafening.
"Oh?"
The voice came from right beside Shikaku's ear, startling all three of them.
Poof! The Kin they'd surrounded dissolved into smoke.
Shadow Clone Technique.
A blade glinted coldly against Shikaku's throat.
"Same as always, Shikaku," Kin remarked dryly from behind him.
Shikaku shot his teammates a pleading look, but they deliberately turned away.
Helping him now would just tarnish the Ino-Shika-Cho legacy!!
With no other choice, Shikaku raised his hands in surrender.
"My bad. Spare me, Senior Kin."
Kin finally withdrew the blade.
Should've said that sooner.
Inoichi spoke up. "Lord Sakumo and Lady Tsunade want to see you."
"Lead the way."
Kin sheathed his sword.
Inoichi and Chōza hoisted Shikaku off the tree and headed toward the camp. Shikaku didn't resist—he feared any struggle might provoke Kin further.
Losing to him in the past was one thing, but now? The gap was even wider. A wave of melancholy washed over him.
Kin followed the trio into the camp. As they passed through an invisible barrier, the scenery shifted.
The wild grass and boulders vanished, replaced by orderly rows of tents. More striking were the stretchers bearing wounded, their agonized moans filling the air.
Among them stood a kunoichi with pale blond hair, delicate eyebrows, fair skin, and a curvaceous figure clad in gray armor.
Her brow furrowed as she examined a critically injured patient, green light glowing from her hands.
She looked like an angel.
In every sense of the word.
That was Kin's assessment.
He recognized her—one of the future Sannin.
Tsunade.
Currently, she was Konoha's most renowned kunoichi, so invaluable that even enemy villages hesitated to target her.
Tsunade's combat skills might not be unparalleled, but her medical prowess remained unmatched even in later years.
Chōza pointed to a man nearby, his gaze fixed intently on Tsunade's work.
Clad in a green flak jacket with silver-white hair—
Hatake Sakumo.
The four of them remained silent, watching Tsunade treat the patient.
Soon, she extracted the venom from the man's body, wiped her brow, and approached Sakumo.
"Chiyo's poison is troublesome. These patients were exposed too deeply, and too much time has passed. I'm the only one in Konoha who can treat them, but my capacity is limited."
"Some of them won't make it."
Tsunade's voice was heavy. As a medic, being unable to save everyone due to time constraints filled her with helplessness.
Had the village heeded her proposal to train more medics, they wouldn't be so desperate now.
Though Hiruzen Sarutobi had approved her suggestion to establish Konoha's hospital, it was of little use on the battlefield.
Sakumo's expression darkened.
This meant sacrificing some lives—an outcome he couldn't easily accept.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a certain brat staring blatantly at Tsunade's most prominent feature.
Tsunade, too, glared at Kin. His gaze was, in every sense, incredibly inappropriate.
"Uchiha Kin?"
"Ah." Kin snapped out of his daze. It's just so... white.
"Lord Sakumo, Lady Tsunade. I'm Uchiha Kin."
Ignoring Tsunade's glare, Sakumo grasped at the slimmest hope.
"Uchiha Kin, can you develop a technique to counteract this poison?"
Neither he nor Tsunade held much expectation.
But what if?
"I don't have a detoxification technique," Kin admitted, then added before their disappointment could set in, "But I do have a way to save them."
"However... what's in it for me?"
His smile was radiant as he studied the two.
Tsunade and Sakumo fixed him with piercing stares.
The tension thickened.
...
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End of Chapter.