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"…influence the entire course of the war?!"
Chiba was taken aback.
Sakumo didn't elaborate, and Chiba was wise enough not to press. He changed the subject. "Lord Sakumo, are their injuries that severe?"
"Yes."
Sakumo nodded slightly, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "They were strong. I couldn't hold back during the fight, so…"
So they're enemies who crossed blades with Lord Sakumo himself.
Chiba recalled the terrifying pressure of Sakumo's earlier strikes. He nodded in understanding. "Severe" was probably an understatement. These two were likely a hair's breadth from death, the kind where conventional medical ninjutsu was useless.
He'd heard from colleagues in the Medical Corps that Lady Tsunade was locked in a battle of poison and antidotes with Chiyo on another front. Sakumo must have been truly desperate for options, which explained why Chiba, the "lucky" rookie, got picked.
On the way, the squad members Sakumo had initially outpaced caught up one by one. Surrounded by a full team, Chiba felt a surge of security.
…
"No way. A makeshift field hospital?"
They reached Sakumo's sector without incident. Chiba stared at the specially constructed medical tent, impressed.
Who merits this kind of VIP treatment?
"With me, Chiba."
No time for questions. Chiba was led straight into the dedicated critical care unit. Tool-man status confirmed.
"This is…"
Chiba surveyed the room, his surprise deepening.
The room was dark, unlit. Only two candles flickered in each of the four corners. The floor was carved with dense, black sealing formulae that formed a faint four-pointed star array. The pulsing candlelight made the etched lines gleam with an eerie, phosphorescent green.
Two figures lay lifeless in the array's center. A ring of medics surrounded them, channeling a steady stream of vitality into their bodies.
Chiba stepped carefully into the array. When he saw the face of one patient, recognition dawned.
Red hair. Suna robes. That's Gaara's father, Rasa!
But a second later, his brain caught up. Shit!
These were Sasori's parents. Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law.
With their identities confirmed, Chiba moved to their sides. He knelt, placing his hands on them, focusing his senses.
Damn.
His internal scan confirmed it. Their bodies were ravaged. A torrent of savage Lightning-nature chakra rampaged through their systems, shredding cells and tissues.
If not for the seven or eight medics tirelessly pumping life-force into them, these two would have flatlined long ago, no matter how tough they were.
Just as he'd guessed. Basic healing wouldn't cut it. This stopgap measure only slowed the inevitable decay.
To save them required two perfectly synchronized steps: first, excruciatingly precise debridement surgery to remove the destructive chakra and dead tissue. Second, an equally precise, powerful regenerative technique applied immediately after.
Any misalignment, any tiny error in timing or control, and the last flicker of life in these two would snuff out for good.
Aside from Lady Tsunade, there's probably no one in Konoha right now who could pull this off. Well, except me.
His gaze swept over the glowing green array. His own eyes gleamed with a different kind of green.
These were warriors even Sakumo acknowledged. And they were on death's doorstep. The reward for saving them… it had to be huge.
Chiba stood and turned to Sakumo, his expression confident.
"Lord Sakumo, if I'm not mistaken, this array is set up for the 'Life Rebirth Technique,' correct?"
It was like he'd said before. Konoha was short on medics. Most medical ninjutsu weren't restricted. Teaching one more technique might save a hundred lives on the battlefield.
The "Life Rebirth Technique" was brutally difficult, but not forbidden. The principle was simple—using a sample of the patient's own tissue as a medium, painstakingly manipulating cell ratios to regenerate damaged organs. The execution, the chakra control… that was the real monster.
Succeed, and the result was the closest thing to bringing back the dead.
"Correct." Sakumo gave an approving nod. He'd remained silent, testing whether Chiba could identify the array's purpose.
"So," Sakumo continued. "If you were to perform it, what are your chances?"
"Hmm…" Chiba fell silent, considering.
The technique demanded not just skill, but a stroke of luck. He couldn't promise a hundred percent.
Before he could answer, the tent flap was thrown aside. A medic in his late fifties stormed in, face flushed, his mustache practically quivering with indignation.
"Lord Sakumo! Is this the 'more suitable candidate' you spoke of?!"
Sakumo's brow furrowed. Earlier, this old medic had given the odds at fifty-fifty. Sakumo had been deeply unsatisfied. That's why he'd gone out of his way to retrieve Chiba.
"Chiba?" Sakumo looked at the silent genin. "Your answer?"
"I won't make guarantees, Lord Sakumo," Chiba said, ignoring the fuming elder. "But I'd put my certainty at ninety percent."
He just wanted the reward. No time for petty squabbles.
"Preposterous!" The old medic's anger boiled over. He pointed a shaking finger at Chiba. "I wouldn't dare claim I could save them, and this child has the audacity to boast?!"
He turned to Sakumo, voice dripping with scorn. "Lord Sakumo, the core of medical ninjutsu is rigor and experience! This boy has neither! Send him away!"
His outrage wasn't just indignation. It was calculated. The fifty percent estimate was a gamble—a bet that Sakumo had no other choice. Success meant glory. Failure? Well, he'd warned them. Blame the commander.
Then this kid shows up, trying to steal, swindle, snatch credit from a veteran? Unforgivable.
Some people just have no self-awareness. No skill, but they think seniority is a substitute.
Chiba shook his head inwardly, disgusted.
In the original story, this couple died. Their bodies were sent back to Suna, turned into Sasori's puppets, "Father" and "Mother."
That said everything about this old man's skill.
The guy was like Konoha's old council—useless but loves to meddle. The only difference was this one got people killed. The others got a whole village ruined.
The old medic was still ranting. "The 'Life Rebirth Technique' drains the user's mind, strength, and time. Whichever of us leads the procedure, the second patient might not last until a second attempt—"
Chiba cut him off. "How about this. We each take one patient. Whoever fails their half… accepts full responsibility and punishment. Sound fair?"
"Th-this…"
The old medic's bluster vanished. His face paled.
Is this kid insane? Who volunteers for a military punishment clause?!
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