The Third Hokage did not fully understand what Shimura Danzo was planning, but he felt the need to caution him not to create trouble, as it could bring harm to everyone.
"Sacrifice me for a kid with a white-eye degeneration issue?" Danzo slammed his fist on the table, eyes burning with anger. "I just don't want to see him in the village. If he leaves, I won't pursue him any further."
The Third Hokage didn't trust a word Danzo said. Danzo's efforts to drive Shinki out of the village were highly suspicious. The Third Hokage's face tightened in a frown, and he remained silent, refusing to give a response.
Danzo leaned forward. "Sarutobi, don't forget, he's still a member of the Hyuga clan, bound by the Caged Bird Seal. As long as the Hyuga clan exists, a sword will always hang over his head."
"Can you guarantee that if Hyuga Shinki becomes as skilled as Tsunade, the Hyuga clan won't come to regret it?"
Half a person is half a person, Danzo thought. As long as the Caged Bird Seal was intact, the branch members of the Hyuga clan would always be subjugated by the main family.
Danzo stared at the Third Hokage, waiting for an answer.
The Third Hokage silently sipped his sake, the room filled only with the sound of pouring and drinking.
Time passed, and when the pot of sake was empty, the Third Hokage, with a flushed face, stood up and moved toward the door.
"The New Year is approaching, and the border camp needs rotation. The Elders will need to oversee this."
The Third Hokage chose to go with the flow. For Danzo, that was already a victory.
That night, Danzo visited the residence of Mitomon En.
---
The next day, a document detailing the border camp rotation found its way to the Third Hokage's desk. The selection of a group of ninjas to replace those whose tours had ended was underway.
Medical ninjas were also included in this rotation.
So, Shinki's name appeared on the list.
Shinki remained unaware until a staff member from the Hokage's office came to notify him.
"To clarify, a group of ninjas is being rotated out of the border camp, and I'm on the list?"
Is someone targeting me, or was I genuinely selected?
"I'm not sure myself. Please prepare for departure in three days."
The Hokage office staff were merely messengers, unaware of the deeper context.
After the staff member left, Shinki headed for the lounge.
A stove warmed the small room, creating a cozy space that made people drowsy in the cold weather.
Sure enough, Tsunade was napping at the table.
"Wake up, I need your help with this," Shinki nudged her.
Tsunade, still groggy, wiped the corner of her mouth, relieved to find no drool. She picked up the notice on the table and squinted at it.
"Border rotation?"
Still half-asleep, she examined it more closely, then her expression shifted to irritation. She ran her fingers through her hair in frustration.
"Why now? I thought I could enjoy a peaceful New Year."
Already in a foul mood from being woken up, Tsunade's mood darkened further as she read on.
"You got picked?" she asked.
Shinki gave her an exasperated look. "I thought those with stable positions in the village were exempt."
"Not true," Tsunade said, putting down the notice and stretching her arms. "Any village ninja can be called up. No one wants to go to the border camp—it's monotonous, day after day, without the comfort of home."
"Jiraiya got picked right after our team disbanded two years ago. He was unlucky," she said, chuckling with schadenfreude.
So I was picked, not targeted specifically?
"Don't worry. Medical ninjas have it easy there. You won't be tasked with patrols; just treating the injured and resting in between. Your salary continues while you're stationed."
"So, it's not too bad?" Shinki considered.
At the hospital, he had to see patients constantly. At the border, he would only be needed when someone was hurt.
Tsunade shrugged. "As long as you don't mind being idle, it's great. You'll still get paid even when there's nothing to do."
"Do all ninjas get that treatment?" Shinki asked curiously.
Tsunade smirked. "Do you think that's realistic? If everyone got the same benefits, the village would go broke. Only specialized ninjas like medics and sealing specialists get that kind of deal."
Specialists like medical and sealing ninjas were rare, so they received favorable treatment. Ordinary ninjas weren't so lucky.
"I'll go pack, then. No point in going unprepared."
Aside from essentials, Shinki planned to take plenty of seasonings. With nothing else to do, he could at least cook up some tasty food. Ingredients could be found locally.
The Land of Fire was rich with forests and wildlife—ideal for hunting and foraging.
It would be different in the Land of Wind, where hunting might mean scouring the desert for lizards.
Shinki chose not to tell Kushina about his deployment; she would have protested.
Three days passed quickly. Shinki, fully prepared, arrived at the training ground to gather with the others.
The selected group of ninjas would depart together.
The border camps were small, built to detect enemy movements and alert the village quickly. The number of ninjas stationed was kept minimal, usually just a few dozen.
Shinki was the only medical ninja in the group.
Ninjas who knew each other gathered and chatted.
"I told my wife we'd have a festive New Year, but here I am, stationed at the border."
"Don't get me started. I was about to propose, and then this notice came."
"Hahaha, just hope she's still your girlfriend when you get back."
"Shut it!"
"Who's our medic? We should meet them so we know who to go to for help."
Whether in the village or at a camp, medics were vital.
A delayed treatment in the field could mean death.
There had even been stories of ninjas who angered the medic and paid for it when help arrived too late.
>>>>>
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