The small town was peaceful and harmonious at night, but from within a hotel, an angry voice filled with teeth-gnashing fury was heard:
"Damn those Nokizaru Group! How dare they use such despicable methods!"
The Fourth Raikage clenched his fists tightly, his brows raised, and revealed a terrifying expression of anger.
On the bed, a Hidden Cloud Village Ninja convulsed in agony, his face contorted with the excruciating pain.
The insect-like swelling on his chest seemed to pulse with life, looking exceptionally menacing and frightening.
The Medical Ninja responsible for treating this Hidden Cloud Ninja also showed a serious expression, then stood up and said in defeat, "Sorry, Lord Raikage, I am powerless against Karai's injuries."
"What do you mean? Amayi, you are our village's Elite Medical Ninja."
The Fourth Raikage was shocked to hear that even the Medical Ninja Amayi was powerless against such injuries.
Amayi smiled bitterly and said, "Lord Raikage, my medical techniques are limited."
"Is there really no way at all?"
The Fourth Raikage was unwilling to accept this, as Karai was not only an Elite Jonin of the village but also an essential subordinate who had been through life and death with him.
Seeing a subordinate approach death step by step and in such pain caused him great sorrow.
Amayi shook his head.
"This kind of injury is very rare, and I can't find a point to start from."
"In the Hidden Cloud's medical system, has there not been a similar case?"
"No, because those targeted by the Nokizaru Group are basically dead, leaving very few survivors."
Nokizaru Group was not a typical mercenary Ninja Legion in the Underground Black Market; they operated in groups of five and were the top elite Bounty Hunters in the market.
This group first became famous during the Third Ninja Realm War, once employed by the Hidden Rock Village's Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, to participate in the war.
After the Third Ninja Realm War ended, they returned to the Underground Black Market, hired by major merchants from various countries and had dealings with high-ranking government officials from each nation, creating a large network of connections.
Perhaps, even among the high-ranking officials of the Land of Lightning, there were those who hired the Nokizaru Group to handle some shady affairs.
Such matters were actually quite common in the Ninja Realm.
After all, some things cannot be exposed to light, nor are they suitable for one's country's Ninjas to handle.
Therefore, the existence of the Underground Black Market is necessary.
"Sorry... Lord Raikage, I've brought disgrace to the village..."
The Hidden Cloud Jonin Karai on the bed struggled to open his eyes and apologized to the Fourth Raikage.
To be brought to such a miserable state by a group of Bounty Hunters truly dishonored his title as a Hidden Cloud Jonin.
"Don't speak, Karai, you need more rest now. I'll definitely find a way to deal with your injuries. Even if it means..."
The Fourth Raikage moved to the bedside to comfort Karai.
Indeed, compared to Ninja Techniques, the life of subordinates is more important.
If all else fails, compromising with Nokizaru Group is also a solution.
At worst, returning the Secret Jutsu Scroll first, then bringing people over next time to annihilate the entire Woods Village and retrieve the Secret Jutsu Scroll could be a viable option.
However, doing so would mean that this Raikage would bow to the Bounty Hunters, tarnishing the reputation of the Hidden Cloud.
"You can't do that, Lord Raikage! You are one of the Five Kage; you absolutely cannot bow to Nokizaru Group for my sake... cough cough!"
Karai became agitated, trying to prevent the Fourth Raikage from bowing to the Nokizaru Group.
"Don't speak, you just need to rest well now."
The Fourth Raikage did not reply, only asking Karai to rest well.
Then, he gave Amayi a signal, and Medical Ninja Amayi nodded and retreated from the room.
Shortly after, the Fourth Raikage also stepped out of the room.
"Lord Raikage."
"Tell me honestly, if medical surgery is performed, what are the chances of success?"
The Fourth Raikage looked seriously at Amayi.
Amayi, under the pressure from the Fourth Raikage, said, "Less than one percent chance of survival, due to the lack of successful cases and the absence of precise medical equipment here. With my level of Medical Ninjutsu, it's very difficult to perform broadly. I'm deeply sorry, Lord Raikage."
Speaking of this, Amayi lowered his head in shame.
Even though the Hidden Cloud had imitated Konoha's medical reform system, compared to Konoha, they lacked a truly top Medical Ninja like Tsunade.
Although their system was considered complete, their technology was ultimately limited. And this technical gap is difficult to see results in a short period; it requires time and a large number of excellent talents.
Before the Third Ninja Realm War, the Hidden Cloud, like other villages, hadn't popularized the Medical Ninja education system at scale.
It was only after Konoha's success that they began to emulate it.
Just like when the Second Hokage established the Ninja School system, breaking the Ninja Clan's monopoly over Ninja Techniques knowledge, producing countless civilian Ninjas, this system was also emulated by Hidden Cloud and other Ninja Villages, greatly enhancing the military strength of the Five Great Nations.
It was at that time that the influence of the one-country-one-village system reached its peak.
The medical reform advocated by Tsunade was also such.
Konoha was undoubtedly the pioneer.
Therefore, in terms of Medical Ninjutsu technology, it was only natural that there was a gap with Konoha.
"If we sent Karai back to the village for treatment, would it increase the survival rate?"
"The probability wouldn't increase much. As I said, there are too few cases, and it's too rare, we are completely uninformed about the characteristics of the Explosive Insect. One misstep could lead to Karai's death by explosion. Moreover, with the Explosive Insect having grown to this state, it has already caused Karai unbearable pain; as it stands, in less than two days, Karai will die in agony."