The progress of Konoha's temporary medical training program was going even better than expected.
Under the joint efforts of Tsunade and Uchiha Chiya.
The trainees studied medical theory during the day and ran combat simulations at night.
In just one short week, seven or eight experienced medical ninja had completed the training, successfully graduated, and been deployed to the front lines, bringing hope to the tense battlefield in the Land of Rain.
On the training grounds at dusk.
The setting sun stretched their shadows long across the ground.
Chiya looked at the latest assessment results in his hand, the corners of his mouth curling slightly upward.
"It seems our method is very effective. This group of trainees has progressed faster than expected."
Tsunade crossed her arms, her gaze sweeping over the trainees still in training, and let out a soft snort.
"They still have a long way to go. On the battlefield, there is no time for them to slowly adjust their chakra."
Even though she said that, a trace of satisfaction flickered in her eyes.
Among these trainees, there were a few with real talent.
Given enough time, they might truly become medical ninja capable of handling things on their own.
Chiya turned his head to look at Tsunade. The last light of the setting sun fell across the side of her face, coating it in a soft golden glow.
As if moved by something he could not explain, he reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
"You have worked hard, Lady Tsunade."
Tsunade spun her head around sharply, eyes wide, and her fair cheeks instantly flushed with a tinge of red.
"You little brat, you are getting more and more out of line! Who said you could touch my hair?!"
She moved as if to hit him. Chiya quickly stepped back two paces, raising both hands in surrender.
"Sorry, sorry. I could not hold back for a moment."
Tsunade bit her lower lip. A flash of embarrassed frustration passed through her bright brown eyes, but in the end she only let out a soft snort and turned her face away.
"Do that again, and I will throw you onto the farthest training post on the grounds!"
Chiya noticed the faint red color at the tips of her ears and laughed inwardly.
He knew she was tough-sounding on the surface, but she was not truly angry.
The time they had spent together had gradually helped him understand Tsunade's temperament.
Beneath that proud and prickly exterior was a soft heart.
"Yes, yes. Lady Tsunade is the greatest."
Chiya smiled in agreement, a look of fond indulgence in his eyes.
Tsunade glanced at him. The corners of her mouth rose slightly without her realizing it, but she quickly put on a stern face again.
"Stop talking nonsense! There are new trainees coming tomorrow. Get ready. The ninja who did not pass before will also be given another chance to be assessed."
"Understood."
Chiya gave an exaggeratedly solemn salute, which made Tsunade unable to stop herself from laughing out loud.
The exchange between the two fell into the eyes of the trainees practicing in the distance, and more than a few of them wore expressions of surprise.
'Lady Tsunade, who is frightfully strict on the training grounds, actually has a side like this?'
Just as the medical training program was steadily finding its footing, an urgent intelligence report broke the calm.
ANBU ninja moved swiftly one after another.
That same afternoon.
Inside the conference room of the Hokage Building, every person connected to the line of Konoha's Hokage was gathered.
The atmosphere was heavy enough to make it almost impossible to breathe.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at the head seat, brow tightly furrowed, the pipe in his hand long extinguished though he had not noticed.
"The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki of Kumogakure has appeared at the border of the Land of Rain. Our defensive line at Amegakure has been torn open."
Homura Mitokado pushed his glasses up, his voice low.
"Kumogakure? Are they joining this war as well?"
"That is not yet clear. Kumogakure's position is still not fully understood."
"What Kumogakure does is not something we can control. Right now the situation on the front lines is critical and reinforcements are urgently needed."
"A Jinchuriki has suddenly appeared on the battlefield. This is no small matter. Sending ordinary ninja up there is just sending them to their deaths."
The others in the conference room looked at one another. The air seemed to freeze in place.
Against a tailed beast, a strategic-level weapon of war, even experienced jonin would have little chance of winning.
'Kumogakure actually sent their Jinchuriki here. Are they not afraid of the tailed beast losing control?'
'Or perhaps, Kumogakure is doing this on purpose?'
Just then, a hoarse voice broke the silence.
"Let me go."
Orochimaru slowly rose to his feet. A dangerous light flickered in his golden slit pupils.
His gaze swept across everyone present, and a smile of deep meaning curved his lips.
"However, I need one person to accompany me, and that is Uchiha Chiya."
"What?"
Tsunade slammed both hands on the table and shot to her feet, furious fire burning in her bright brown eyes.
"Orochimaru, have you lost your mind? How could Chiya, an ordinary ninja, possibly deal with a Jinchuriki?!"
Orochimaru spoke without urgency or panic.
"Our teacher once said that the founding strategy of the First Hokage when he built the village was essentially built around using the abilities of the Uchiha clan and the Senju clan to keep tailed beasts in check."
"Now that no one can awaken the Wood Release, we can only rely on the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan."
"From what I know, Chiya's genjutsu ability ranks among the very best in the entire Uchiha clan, especially in the application of Sharingan genjutsu. That is enough to temporarily control a tailed beast. And furthermore..."
Orochimaru paused, his gaze shifting as he continued.
"Chiya-kun's recent performance does not look like that of an ordinary ninja."
"You..."
Tsunade trembled with rage, the heavy necklace on her chest rising and falling with her breath.
"I do not agree! The medical training program cannot spare him!"
Orochimaru gave a light laugh.
"Tsunade, since when did you become so ruled by your feelings? Or could it be..."
His voice suddenly dropped to something cold.
"...that you have some special consideration for this little Uchiha?"
"Orochimaru!"
Tsunade's voice came out from between clenched teeth. Her fair face flushed red with fury.
"Say one more word like that, and I will not mind letting you see what my fists can do right now!"
Seeing the tension between them about to snap, Hiruzen let out a heavy cough.
"Enough!"
"Homura, what do you think of Orochimaru's suggestion?"
Mitokado was quiet for a moment, glancing at both Orochimaru and Tsunade.
"Konoha currently has no one who can use Wood Release to suppress a tailed beast and its Jinchuriki. Lady Mito is also getting on in years. The only thing we can rely on right now is the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan."
"Uchiha Chiya's development of the Sharingan is ahead of most others in the Uchiha clan. So I believe what Orochimaru has said is not without reason."
Orochimaru's face revealed a cold smile.
Tsunade glared at Orochimaru, her eyes full of anger.
Hiruzen listened carefully, then looked toward the ANBU at the door.
"Have Uchiha Chiya come here. We still need to ask for his opinion."
"Yes!"
The ANBU at the door vanished in a Body Flicker.
Not long after, Uchiha Chiya arrived.
Looking at a room full of people from Konoha's line of Hokage, Uchiha Chiya immediately became alert.
"Chiya, our defensive line has come under attack from a Jinchuriki. Orochimaru is leading a team to reinforce the front lines, and he wants to bring you along. Are you willing to go?"
'The front lines? And against a Jinchuriki?'
'Is it because of the Sharingan?'
'But a Jinchuriki is like a ticking time bomb. There is a real chance of getting killed. The gap in power is enormous.'
Uchiha Chiya was just about to open his mouth to refuse.
The system notification tone sounded.
[Mission triggered: Kill the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.]
[Mission reward: One Kekkei Genkai (upon receipt, it will perfectly fuse with the host, with no rejection reaction).]
Chiya froze.
'A mission triggered right now?'
'The reward is actually a Kekkei Genkai?!'
Chiya drew a slow deep breath, and a flash of resolve crossed his eyes.
He could feel Tsunade's worried gaze, but at this moment, he had no other choice.
'In this world, bloodline is the most important thing.'
'This is a Kekkei Genkai!'
'Aside from using science and forbidden techniques to synthesize one with a chance of success, everything else relies entirely on being passed down from parent to child.'
Chiya's mind settled.
'A Kekkei Genkai cannot be passed up. Accept it for now.'
'A Jinchuriki is powerful, but there are also many restrictions. Think of other ways from there.'
'My relationship with Tsunade has been warming up over these past few days. It is time to push things further.'
'If I can obtain the reward for the mission of winning Tsunade before leaving the village.'
'Never mind dealing with a Jinchuriki. Even dealing with Hanzo would not be a problem.'
"Lord Hokage, I am willing to go and reinforce the village."
His voice was calm.
He looked toward Tsunade, reassurance in his eyes.
"The medical training program is already running smoothly. I trust Lady Tsunade can handle it on her own."
Tsunade opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something.
But in the end she only shot Orochimaru a fierce glare and sat back down.
Hiruzen thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Good. Then it is decided."
"Orochimaru, Chiya, prepare immediately. Try to set out tomorrow."
After the meeting ended, Tsunade grabbed Chiya by the wrist and pulled him into an empty corridor.
"Have you lost your mind?"
Her voice was kept very low, but the fury and worry in it came through clearly.
"That is a Jinchuriki! A strategic-level weapon that even jonin struggle to deal with!"
Chiya looked at her tightly knitted brows and the faint redness rimming her eyes, and something in his chest softened.
He gently closed his hand around hers.
"Do not worry. I will not fight head on. With Lord Orochimaru there, it should... be fine."
"Be fine?"
"Nawaki was by Orochimaru's side, and in the end he..."
Tsunade quickly smothered the thought that was filling her with dread before it could finish forming.
She had already lost Nawaki. She did not want to lose Chiya now.
"Something has been off about Orochimaru lately!"
Tsunade bit her lower lip.
"I always feel like he has some purpose he is hiding..."
Chiya actually had the same feeling, but at this moment he could not let it show.
He gave a casual laugh to brush it off.
"Why, is Lady Tsunade worried about me?"
"Who, who said I am worried about you!"
Tsunade yanked her hand back.
"I just... I just do not want my partner in the medical training program to throw his life away for nothing!"
Chiya looked at her saying one thing while meaning another, and could not stop himself from ruffling her hair again.
He leaned in a little closer and lowered his voice.
"It is still early. Could Lady Tsunade join me for a drink?"