The next day.
Morning sunlight fell across Konoha's training ground, where several hundred ninja stood in neat rows.
These ninja ranged from freshly graduated Genin to experienced Chunin, and even included a few standout student representatives from the Academy. Every face was solemn as they waited for the assessment to begin.
Uchiha Chiya stood on the raised platform and swept his gaze over the crowd, then spoke in a clear and carrying voice.
"Today's assessment has only one requirement. Chakra control. Anyone who passes will be admitted into Konoha's Temporary Medical Training Corps."
His words had barely finished when Tsunade stepped forward from beside him.
She pointed toward a large training area in the distance that had been constructed using Earth Release and Water Release techniques.
The area contained a pool, as well as wooden posts at various heights, balance beams, and water spheres suspended on fine threads, all fully in place.
This was a facility Tsunade had designed specifically for the assessment. Every element was aimed at testing the precision of chakra control.
"The rules are simple."
Tsunade crossed her arms, her voice cool and clear.
"First challenge: walk on water and hold it for ten seconds without sinking. Second challenge: use chakra to shape the water inside a water sphere into a specified form. Third challenge: perform a simulated cutting motion with a chakra scalpel on a wooden post."
She swept her gaze over everyone present. The corner of her mouth tilted faintly upward.
"Anyone who cannot do it is free to leave right now."
The crowd exchanged glances with one another. But before long, the first group of candidates stepped forward.
Knowing that a large number of people had come for the assessment today, Uchiha Chiya had made a request to the clan in advance.
He had asked them to send security force members to maintain order.
After all, an occasion this visible was not one the clan could afford to miss.
So the arrangement had gone especially smoothly.
At a look from Chiya, Uchiha security force members began maintaining order one after another, each wearing a stiff smile.
The reason for the smiles was an instruction Chiya had given that morning.
Enforcement with warmth was something that had to be carried through.
With something as significant as the medical ninja training corps now underway, there was no telling how many eyes were watching.
If the Uchiha security force stood there one by one with sour faces, they would be inviting people to find fault.
Among the crowd, the young Uchiha ninja maintaining order stood out noticeably.
The Uchiha, who had always carried themselves with arrogance, were now actively taking part in village affairs and wearing stiff smiles on their faces.
This came as a surprise to quite a few villagers and ninja from other clans.
"Did you hear? Lately the Uchiha security force has actually been helping elderly people carry things while on patrol..."
"Yes, and last time my child got lost, it was an Uchiha who brought them home..."
"The Uchiha really do seem different from before..."
"..."
Murmurs moved through the crowd.
Standing at a distance, Uchiha Mikoto, with her dark hair and dark eyes and her soft, youthful face, gazed up at Chiya on the platform with quiet warmth. Her face was full of pride.
Beside her, the red-haired girl Uzumaki Kushina noticed the change in her close friend Mikoto's expression and followed the direction of her gaze with open curiosity.
When she saw that it was Uchiha Chiya, Kushina was briefly startled.
'Isn't that the Uchiha Chiya that Lady Tsunade has been mentioning lately?'
'Could it be that the person Mikoto has feelings for is him?'
While the girl was still turning these thoughts over in her mind, the first group of ninja stepped onto the water's surface. However, within just three seconds, more than half of them plunged in with a splash, in a sorry state.
"Anyone who falls in is disqualified. Next group!"
The head examiner Tsunade waved them off without mercy.
The second group performed somewhat better, but many still could not control their chakra precisely enough. The water spheres burst open under their handling and water flew everywhere.
"The chakra control of a medical ninja must be more refined than that of a combat ninja!"
Tsunade's voice was sharp.
"On the battlefield, every trace of your chakra may decide whether a comrade lives or dies!"
Finally, within the third group, several young medical ninja passed the assessment without trouble.
"Good."
Chiya nodded.
"Those who have passed will begin formal training tomorrow."
When the assessment ended, out of the several hundred who had taken part, fewer than forty remained.
The major clans received the news and sent supplies one after another.
The Senju clan provided a large quantity of valuable medicinal herbs. The Hyuga clan contributed detailed chakra meridian charts.
The Uchiha clan opened up their clan's reserve of medical equipment directly, and even sent several ninja skilled in Fire Release to assist with sterilization and high-temperature disinfection.
"I did not expect the Uchiha to cooperate this readily..."
A medical corps ninja said quietly.
Hearing that, Chiya let out a helpless sigh.
'How has it come to this for the Uchiha?'
Chiya shook off his scattered thoughts and stood near the supply area, watching the busy people around him with a warm feeling in his chest.
"It seems your efforts were not wasted."
Tsunade had appeared at his side at some point, and spoke plainly.
Chiya smiled.
"This is everyone's achievement."
Tsunade gave a quiet snort, but a trace of approval passed through her eyes.
"Even so, the training corps has only just begun. Do not celebrate too soon."
"With Lady Tsunade here, I have full confidence."
Chiya blinked.
"Smooth talker."
Tsunade turned her face away, but the corner of her mouth had curved upward.
That evening, inside the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked over the report in his hand and gave a satisfied nod.
"The medical ninja training corps is underway, and the major clans have cooperated so readily. Chiya, you and Tsunade have done very well."
Chiya bowed slightly.
"This is the result of Lord Hokage's wise decision."
"Going forward, the training must pick up its pace."
Hiruzen's voice was low and steady.
"The situation on the front lines is tense. We need to produce more medical ninja."
"Yes!"
Chiya answered with full seriousness.
"Old man, here is the training plan!"
Tsunade, standing to the side, was considerably more casual. She pulled from her robe the tiered plan that she and Chiya had drawn up together and handed it to Hiruzen.
Hiruzen looked it over briefly.
The general content was a wartime medical ninja priority strategy.
Three "priorities."
Prioritize training medical ninja suited to the battlefield. Prioritize directing medical resources to those medical ninja suited to the battlefield. Prioritize graduating the medical ninja suited to the battlefield first.
Hiruzen nodded.
"Good. Begin operating according to this priority strategy. Tsunade, the medical ninja training will be carried out under your direct supervision."
"Understood!"
"If there is nothing else, we will take our leave!"
Tsunade seemed to have already known Hiruzen would put this on her, and said so with impatience.
We?
Hiruzen's brow furrowed instinctively.
"Tsunade, stay a moment."
"What is it? Is there more?"
Tsunade looked at the serious expression on Hiruzen's face and paused.
Hiruzen said nothing.
Chiya understood that Hiruzen wanted to speak with Tsunade alone. He bowed slightly and turned to leave.
Watching Chiya go, Hiruzen finally spoke.
"How has Lady Mito been doing lately?"
When Tsunade heard him bring up her grandmother, the casual look on her face gradually faded and was replaced by something more earnest.
"Grandmother's health is still fairly solid, but... she is getting on in years after all. She has been tiring easily lately."
Hiruzen let out a sigh. A touch of wistfulness entered his eyes.
"Once I am through with the work on my hands in a day or two, I will come to visit her myself."