Konoha Forward Camp, Border of Kawa no Kuni
Perched on a high tree branch, Uchiha Jinzō adjusted the fresh forehead protector on his brow. Ahead lay nothing but scrubland and rocks, with squirrels darting around and ants crawling across the dirt. On the surface, it looked like wilderness untouched by human hands.
But the scroll in his hand said otherwise. The map marked this exact spot.
"Another illusion barrier, huh?" Jinzō muttered. If the coordinates were right, then this empty wasteland was hiding something. He was still debating whether to just walk in or try his own Genjutsu trick when—
His whole body froze.
A shadow crept from under his feet, binding him in place.
A second later, three figures flickered out of the trees, surrounding him.
All three wore green flak vests, their faces painfully familiar.
Jinzō exhaled in relief. "Tch. Shikaku and his gang. I mean, really? Slapping me with Shadow Imitation right off the bat? Where's the respect for your seniors?"
The trio wasn't random. Broad, round Choza Akimichi. Blond and long-haired Inoichi Yamanaka. And the eternally slouching Shikaku Nara.
The next generation of the famed Ino–Shika–Chō formation. Their dads were legends currently rampaging on the battlefield. These three? Still stuck in the "wannabe" stage.
"Senior?" Shikaku drawled lazily, his shadow still pinning Jinzō. "Pretty sure we graduated before you, which makes us your seniors now."
Despite his words, Shikaku's technique clung to Jinzō stubbornly, the guy clearly itching for a fight.
Choza and Inoichi exchanged silent looks. Everyone knew these two didn't get along. If Shikaku had jumped to restrain Jinzō immediately, it wasn't for fun—it was because there was history here.
Jinzō's grin turned sharp. "Funny. Didn't I beat the crap out of you guys back in the Academy? Guess graduation dates don't matter much when you're eating dirt."
Shikaku's lazy mask cracked. "That was then. Things are different now—I'm stronger."
"Really?" Jinzō tilted his head, his voice dripping mockery. "So you honestly think that teacher Yanshan Meimei would go for a second-rate pervert like you?"
"…!"
Choza and Inoichi both roared internally. You're one to talk, Jinzō!
The whole feud between him and Shikaku went back to their Academy teacher, the beautiful Meimei. Shikaku had been mooning over her from Class A, while Jinzō boldly strolled into Class B and outright asked her out. Every kid's "life goal" at the time, and Jinzō just stepped all over it. No wonder they kept fighting.
"I should at least be called 'teacher' by you!" Shikaku snapped, his face red. "Today, I'm gonna teach you a lesson!"
Inside, Choza and Inoichi were howling: Shikaku, stop talking! You're embarrassing the whole Ino–Shika–Chō name!
"Yeah?"
The voice came from right next to Shikaku's ear. His eyes widened.
"Poof!"
The Jinzō standing in front of them burst into smoke—a Shadow Clone. The real Jinzō appeared behind Shikaku, cold blade resting against his neck.
"Still predictable as ever," Jinzō said calmly.
Shikaku darted his eyes at his teammates, silently begging for help. Choza and Inoichi? Both suddenly looked very interested in the clouds. Traitors.
Shoulders sagging, Shikaku raised his hands. "Alright, alright. My bad. I surrender. Forgive me, senior Jinzō."
Satisfied, Jinzō withdrew his blade. "See? That wasn't so hard."
Only then did Inoichi finally speak up. "Jinzō, Sama… and Tsunade-sama want to see you."
"Then lead the way."
Jinzō sheathed his sword and followed as Choza and Inoichi dragged along the sulking Shikaku. The lazy genius didn't even struggle—he knew if he twitched, Jinzō might "mistake it" as provocation and cut him down on the spot.
As they passed through the illusion barrier, the scrubland dissolved like mist. Tents filled the clearing, orderlies rushing past with bloodied stretchers. The stench of blood and medicine filled the air.
Front and center, a woman worked with glowing green hands, her face stern, her blonde hair pulled back, sweat beading across pale skin.
Tsunade.
Even in the chaos, she looked like an angel descending into a warzone.
Beside her stood a man with silver-white hair and a Konoha flak vest—Hatake Shōmo, father of the famous Sakumo "White Fang."
Jinzō watched silently as Tsunade extracted poison from a writhing soldier. But even her skill had limits.
"Chiyo's poison is vicious," Tsunade sighed, wiping sweat from her brow. "Some of them… I won't be able to save in time."
The weight in her voice was heavy enough to silence the camp.
Hatake Shōmo clenched his fists, clearly unwilling to accept the inevitable. Then, from the corner of his eye, he noticed the Uchiha brat staring—though not at Tsunade's jutsu.
Tsunade caught the stare too. Her eyes narrowed.
"Uchiha Jinzō?"
"Ah—!" Jinzō snapped back to attention, though his brain was still screaming way too white, damn it! He straightened and bowed slightly. "Yes, that's me."
Ignoring his shamelessness, Hatake stepped forward. "Jinzō, do you know any detoxification techniques?"
Both he and Tsunade didn't expect much. It was a desperate question.
"I can't detoxify," Jinzō admitted easily. Then, with a sly smile: "But I do know how to cure them. The question is—what do I get out of it?"
The air between them turned sharp instantly, Tsunade and Hatake both locking eyes on him.
Jinzō's grin only widened.