Tsunade didn't give much thought to the implications of her brief visit to the border camp.
A longer stay would have certainly caused rumors and disruptions, but who would dare complain about her staying for just one night?
"Is Tsunade gone?"
As Shinki stepped out of the medical room and saw that he was alone, Honda and Sarutobi Mishima approached him.
"She left early this morning," Shinki confirmed.
He offered no explanation for Tsunade's visit, and he definitely wasn't going to talk about what happened during the night. The two captains, recognizing the boundaries, didn't press him further.
After confirming her departure, they advised Shinki to get some rest and walked away.
**I didn't do anything! Just shared a few moments of chaos. Why would I need rest?**
With the New Year approaching, the atmosphere in the camp began to shift. The initial enthusiasm from the arrival wore off, and many ninjas frequently looked toward the direction of the village, longing for home and the chance to celebrate with their families.
However, duty kept them bound to the camp until the next rotation of ninjas arrived.
"Hahaha, the Toad Sage is back! Master Jiraiya has returned!"
Two days before the New Year, Jiraiya, fresh from a long mission, made a noisy return to Konoha.
"Old man, don't give me a mission like that again. Just send Orochimaru next time. I'm worn out," he complained loudly after submitting his report.
The Third Hokage, smiling, changed the subject. "Go home, rest, and prepare for the New Year."
Of the three students, the Third Hokage had always favored Orochimaru the most and given him special attention. Jiraiya, on the other hand, was the most willing to accept orders, so when particularly tedious missions came up, they were often handed to him.
As for Tsunade, she was always busy with the medical department or turned down missions outright. Orochimaru was too preoccupied with his research and would only take on tasks if they suited his interests, leaving Jiraiya to handle the rest.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm off."
But rest wasn't on his mind. Jiraiya headed straight for the hot spring hotel, only to return disappointed. It was winter and nearing the New Year, so the place was empty, denying him the sights he had hoped for.
Since he couldn't indulge his favorite pastime, he sought out another: food and drink. Jiraiya found Orochimaru, dragged him out of his lab, and then pulled Tsunade along to a tavern.
"Tsk! It's good to be alive. That mission almost bored me to death," Jiraiya complained, sipping sake.
Orochimaru, as usual, listened with disinterest, letting the words flow past him.
After some time, Jiraiya noticed something off. Orochimaru was as detached as ever, but Tsunade...
Tsunade wasn't reacting as she usually did. There were no annoyed remarks, no punches, not even a sharp retort.
**What happened while I was gone?**
"Tsunade, is the food not to your liking?" he asked, noticing her lack of appetite.
"Maybe the taste has changed. It's not as good as before," she said without her usual bite. Instead, she turned the conversation back to him, asking about interesting encounters during his mission.
**What the...? Is this really Tsunade?**
Jiraiya's jaw dropped, nearly hitting the table. Orochimaru, who had been quietly sipping his drink, also noted that Tsunade was unusually subdued. It had been a long time since the three of them were together, but this change felt significant.
After dinner, they went their separate ways. Jiraiya, puzzled, sought out Nawaki.
"Hey, has your sister been acting strange lately?"
"No," Nawaki replied, barely looking up from the book Jiraiya had given him. "Her appetite hasn't been great, though. Same with Kushina. Ever since Shinki left, we haven't had any of his good cooking."
"Shinki? You mean Tsunade's protégé?"
Nawaki's eyes narrowed. "He's not her protégé. Shinki just learns from my sister sometimes. She doesn't admit to having an apprentice."
**What am I missing?**
Jiraiya watched as Nawaki went back to his book, leaving him scratching his head. Something had changed, but he couldn't pinpoint what.
Back at the border camp, things remained bleak. Little Honda hung two handmade red lanterns at the camp entrance to mark the New Year. Instead of lifting spirits, the lanterns only made the ninjas miss their families more.
**You don't know how to handle morale, do you?**
Shinki could only sigh, noticing the melancholic mood. Everyone's minds were back in the village, yearning for the comfort of home, but the camp remained unchanged. Konoha hadn't sent any supplies or tokens to reward the border guards for their service.
**The village is too frugal to even acknowledge their sacrifice.**
With the arrival of the New Year, Shinki felt the stirrings of something deep within him. The third pulse of his Tenseigan was coming.
When the moment arrived that night, Shinki lay on his bed, eyes covered with a prepared white cloth, and waited.
Each pulse of the Tenseigan's awakening was longer than the last. Without Otsutsuki chakra, the process stretched on.
In the camp, Shinki was highly regarded as the only medical ninja. When the others noticed him with a cloth over his eyes, concern spread quickly.
"Shinki, are your eyes alright?" Little Honda asked anxiously.
Shinki was vital to the camp. Sarutobi Mishima, aware of some of the secrets surrounding him, also showed concern.
"Are the symptoms of your eye condition returning?" Mishima asked.
"Yes. My eyes feel uncomfortable, and it feels like something is shifting. During this time, I'm sensitive to light and need to rest. I can't do much, so everyone should be cautious," Shinki explained. "This has happened twice before, and it takes time to pass."
"Damn it!" Honda muttered. "The Hokage should have you rotated back to the village for your health."
Sarutobi Mishima shifted uncomfortably. As part of the Third Hokage's clan, he was in an awkward position and couldn't respond easily.
Shinki offered a reassuring smile. "Captain, I've managed through this before. I can handle myself; there's no need for a rotation."
"But what if someone gets injured? Can you still treat them?" Little Honda asked the question on everyone's mind.
A medical ninja's primary duty was to heal the wounded. If Shinki couldn't fulfill that, he'd become more of a liability than an asset.
>>>>>
Up to Chapter 60 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
Gimme power stonesssss
Also, leave a review FFS