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River Country Konoha Frontline.
Jin stopped on a high branch, already wearing his forehead protector.
His gaze swept forward, where jagged rocks and wild grass abounded, along with a few scurrying squirrels and numerous insects.
It was clearly an untouched wilderness.
He unfurled the scroll in his hand, confirming the location marked on it.
"Another genjutsu barrier?"
If the location was correct, this was the only explanation.
As he contemplated whether to simply walk in or use a genjutsu release technique, his body suddenly stiffened.
In the next moment, a team of three shinobi surrounded him.
Seeing their green vests and familiar faces, Jin let out a sigh of relief, noticing that the shadow beneath his feet was connected to another's.
Kagemane no Jutsu—the Nara clan's secret technique.
"I say, Shikaku, is it really okay to treat your senior like this?"
The three boys before him—one broad and stout, one with long yellow hair, and one rather scruffy—each had distinct features.
They were none other than the next generation of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio: Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Chōza, and Yamanaka Inoichi.
Their fathers were currently wreaking havoc on the battlefield.
These three were still in their growth phase.
"Senior? We graduated before you, Jin," Shikaku replied lazily. "So technically, we're your seniors now."
Though he said this, the shadow beneath him showed no sign of releasing Jin, making it clear he was looking for trouble.
Chōza and Inoichi quietly turned their heads away.
These two had a long-standing grudge.
It wouldn't be surprising if a fight broke out.
That's why Shikaku had used Kagemane no Jutsu the moment he saw Jin.
They recognized him immediately.
"Heh," Jin let out a cold laugh. "If you graduated before me, why were you beaten so badly by me back then?"
Shikaku's face turned slightly red as he growled in irritation, "Things are different now! My strength has greatly improved."
Over two years of experience had indeed made him stronger.
"Is that so?" Jin remained unconcerned. "Even so, do you really think someone as immature as you could win over someone like Meimei-sensei?"
"You have no right to say that!" ×2.
Inoichi and Chōza screamed internally.
Their grudge stemmed entirely from their teacher at the Ninja Academy, Yamanaka Meimei!
Shikaku, a student from Class A, would often visit Class B, while Jin even asked Meimei-sensei out on dates!
Both of them had set their life goals on Meimei-sensei, and this rivalry led to numerous fights!
Though it was always Shikaku who got beaten up.
Neither of them were any good, really.
"At least show some respect to the teacher! Today, I'm definitely going to teach you a lesson!"
Having his fantasy shattered, Shikaku roared in anger.
Say something to refute him, for goodness' sake!! This is too embarrassing for the Ino-Shika-Cho name!!
Shikaku!! Though Inoichi and Chōza remained silent, their inner voices never stopped.
"Is that so?"
A voice whispered into Shikaku's ear, causing all three of them to tense up.
"Poof!" With a puff of smoke, the Jin they surrounded turned into smoke.
Kage Bunshin no Jutsu.
A cold blade was now pressed against Shikaku's neck.
"Still the same, Shikaku," Jin remarked calmly, standing behind him.
Shikaku cast a pleading glance at his two companions, only to find them both turning their heads away.
Helping Shikaku would tarnish the Ino-Shika-Cho name!! With no other choice, Shikaku raised his hands in surrender.
"I was wrong, Jin-senpai, please forgive me."
Jin finally moved the blade away. You could have said that sooner.
Inoichi then spoke up, "Sakumo-sama and Tsunade-sama wish to see you."
"Lead the way."
Jin sheathed his blade.
Inoichi and Chōza grabbed Shikaku and jumped down from the tree, heading toward the camp. Shikaku didn't resist, fearing that any struggle might be taken as a provocation by Jin.
He couldn't beat him before, and now, it was even worse—a faint sense of melancholy washed over him.
Jin followed the trio into the camp, where the scene transformed as they passed through a thin barrier.
The wild grass and rocks disappeared, replaced by neatly arranged tents and numerous people on stretchers, groaning in pain.
Amidst them was a kunoichi with pale blonde hair, thin eyebrows of the same color, fair skin, and a well-developed figure, dressed in gray armor.
The kunoichi's brows were furrowed as she inspected a gravely injured patient, her hands glowing with green chakra.
She looked just like an angel.
In every sense of the word.
At least, that's how Jin saw her.
He recognized the kunoichi before him—one of the future Sannin.
Tsunade.
Currently one of Konoha's most famous shinobi, even enemy villages were reluctant to kill her.
Tsunade's combat prowess might not be overwhelming, but her medical abilities were unparalleled, even in later stages.
Chōza pointed to a man intently watching Tsunade as she treated the patient.
A man in a green vest with long, silver-white hair.
Hatake Sakumo.
The four of them remained silent, watching Tsunade treat the patient.
Soon, Tsunade removed the toxins from the patient's body, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and walked over to Sakumo.
"Chiyo's poison is troublesome. These people are severely poisoned, and too much time has passed. I'm the only one in Konoha who can save them, but I can only treat a limited number each day."
"Some of them might not make it."
Tsunade felt a deep sense of sorrow. As a medical shinobi, she was frustrated by her inability to save everyone due to time constraints.
If the village had agreed to her suggestion to train more medical shinobi, they wouldn't be in such a passive position.
Although Hiruzen had heeded her advice and established Konoha Hospital, it was of no help on the battlefield.
Sakumo also wore a heavy expression.
This meant they had to abandon some of the wounded, a reality he found hard to accept.
He noticed the young boy staring intensely at a certain prominent part of Tsunade's anatomy.
Tsunade also looked at Jin with displeasure. In a certain sense, his gaze was truly rude.
"Uchiha Jin?"
"Ah." Jin snapped back to reality—she was just too... 'fair'.
"Sakumo-sama, Tsunade-sama, I'm Uchiha Jin."
Ignoring Tsunade's displeasure, Sakumo asked with a glimmer of hope, "Jin, can you develop an antidote technique?"
Neither Tsunade nor Hatake Shumoku had high hopes.
But what if?
"I don't have an antidote technique," Jin shook his head, but before they could be disappointed, he added, "But I do have a way to save them."
"What do I get in return?"
Jin grinned brightly at the two of them.
Tsunade and Sakumo exchanged deep looks with Jin.
The atmosphere grew tense.
(End of Chapter)