"You two, come with me."
While Yubi and Sasori waited for Endo to return, the canyon outside had already grown restless.
A Sand shinobi appeared at the cave entrance and spoke sternly.
Yubi and Sasori exchanged a glance and immediately followed.
Sounds of battle echoed from across the canyon. More Sunagakure shinobi rushed toward the source of the fighting.
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Takuma. I'm the commander of this operation—and your temporary captain. The enemy from the Land of Rain has broken through the front line and penetrated this area. Their objective is unclear, but based on the intel we've gathered, they're likely scouting our border defenses."
"So no matter what… we must eliminate every enemy and crush their intentions here."
Soon, Sasori and Yubi gathered with other Sunagakure ninja at the canyon floor.
There were more than twenty of them.
This wasn't the entirety of Sunagakure's forces in the area—many experienced shinobi had already moved to flank the infiltrators.
Those left behind either had limited combat ability or held specialized roles.
Yubi spotted several familiar faces—new graduates from the Academy like himself.
They looked terrified. For them, this was a real battlefield.
The man speaking wore a white headscarf. A jonin.
"Medical ninja, step forward."
Seven people, including Yubi, stepped out.
This was Sunagakure's entire rear medical support along this section of the border.
"Logistics and intelligence personnel, step forward."
A few more joined them.
Takuma unfolded a rough map and pointed to several marked locations.
"Divide into teams and move to the designated battle zones. Avoid direct combat. First priority: reduce casualties. Second priority: relay intel immediately if anything happens. Everyone else is responsible for protecting the medical squad."
"This is our territory. There are hidden outposts throughout the canyon with supplies. Even if you encounter enemies, you can fight guerrilla-style."
"Yes!"
The teams quickly formed.
"Sasori…"
Takuma looked toward the boy standing beside Yubi.
Among this group, Sasori was clearly special. Even as a child, he was considered a powerful asset.
Takuma intended to assign him to frontline combat.
"I'll team up with Yubi."
Sasori spoke first.
Takuma paused, then nodded. "Understood."
"Move out!"
The squads scattered immediately.
Yubi's newly formed team consisted of five members: two medical ninja, one intelligence specialist, Sasori, and a chunin serving as temporary captain.
Nomura's team is probably dead…
Yubi guessed as they ran.
On his first day at the border, most of his assigned squad was already gone. Brutal.
He glanced at Sasori.
Is he observing my abilities?
Either way, getting closer to Sasori was exactly what Yubi wanted. Sasori was essential to changing Sunagakure's future.
Their team headed toward a battlefield in the canyon—not to fight directly, but to search for wounded and gather enemy intel.
They moved spread out but stayed within range.
Whoosh—
Yubi quickly spotted an injured Sand shinobi.
He stopped immediately, opened his medical kit, and began treatment.
Field treatment was extremely difficult for most medical ninja. Without medical ninjutsu, tools and medicine alone had limited effect. Ninja battles rarely produced "minor injuries."
But Yubi's kit was special.
Alongside bandages and surgical tools were antibiotics and medicines he'd created himself.
The medical level of the Naruto world couldn't compare to modern medicine. With Black Jack's medical knowledge, Yubi could extract and produce drugs using local materials.
Within minutes, he treated the wounds and injected antibiotics and a nutrient solution.
Sasori watched from nearby, silently protecting him.
"What's that?"
Even Sasori had never seen some of Yubi's tools.
"Please take him to a nearby outpost," Yubi said.
Sasori extended chakra threads and moved the injured shinobi like a puppet.
He returned quickly.
As they continued, Yubi treated more wounded. Some unconscious. Some missing limbs. Many… were already dead.
Anyone alive, Yubi treated.
Though he couldn't fully heal them, his skill impressed everyone—including the other medical ninja, who saw him as a prodigy.
Yet the most dazzling person in the squad wasn't Yubi.
It was Sasori.
Every time they encountered Rain ninja, Sasori eliminated them alone.
He single-handedly ensured the team's safety.
The canyon is perfect for infiltration. Amegakure planned well—but they didn't expect Sunagakure's response this fast.
Based on the scale and frequency of encounters, at least one or two hundred Rain ninja infiltrated.
The battlefield isn't huge… but this could earn me a lot of EXP.
This is way better than hospital internships.
Yubi felt secretly excited.