Chapter 41: Powerful Medical Ninjas Often Only Require the Simplest Treatment
The boundless golden dunes blurred beneath the cover of night.
Above them, countless stars glittered tirelessly across the deep blue sky.
Hidden Sand Village was even more desolate at night than Konohagakure. Aside from the mournful wind sweeping through the streets, not another sound could be heard.
The howling wind carried grains of sand that rattled against the windows, creating a strange lullaby unique to the desert.
Uchiha Asuka slowly opened his eyes. Slipping on his shoes, he climbed out of bed and pushed open the window.
A gust of sand immediately slapped him in the face.
"..."
His eyes stung.
Looking down at the empty street below, he rested a hand on the balcony railing before casually flipping off the third floor.
Boom!
He landed heavily on the ground.
Two craters instantly formed beneath his feet, and the impact blasted away the thin layer of sand, exposing the bluestone pavement laid when the village had first been built.
Straightening up, Asuka looked at the man standing before him, who wasn't even trying to hide his killing intent. He let out a lazy yawn.
"Oh, it's you.
"Instead of sleeping in the middle of the night, you came all the way here just to glare at me?"
The Sunagakure ninja glared back with undisguised hostility.
"How dare your filthy, disgusting Konoha step foot in our village!"
Asuka casually tugged his pajama shirt free from his waistband before replying,
"You know... I actually agree with that sometimes. Even I think our village can be pretty dirty."
He raised a finger.
"As for why I came here...
"First, I was probably targeted. My incredibly dependable captain dumped this mission on me.
"Second, I was definitely targeted. Just because I know a little Medical Ninjutsu, the village decided I should handle it.
"And finally..."
He sighed dramatically.
"I was absolutely targeted."
Before he had even finished speaking, the Sunagakure ninja clenched both fists and strode toward him with a savage expression.
Thud!
A crisp impact echoed through the street.
Without another word, the Sunagakure ninja staggered back several steps before collapsing to the ground.
Asuka casually lowered the fist he'd struck him with, cracked his knuckles, and continued rambling as though nothing had happened.
"Don't stand so close. You scare me.
"I also suspect the Clan Head's wife arranged for me to stay outside the village as long as possible.
"Otherwise, why would an S-rank mission be handed to a rookie like me?"
The Sunagakure ninja slowly forced himself back to his feet, stars spinning in his vision.
Too arrogant.
This Konoha ninja was far too arrogant.
Being beaten outside the village was one thing.
But being beaten inside his own village...
He wasn't even being treated like a human being.
"RAAAAH!"
Roaring furiously, he pulled a kunai from his waist and charged.
"So talking doesn't work after all."
Watching the incoming attack, Asuka turned toward the distant direction of Konoha and recalled his captain repeatedly warning him not to cause trouble before he left.
He let out a helpless sigh.
"Captain...
"I really did try to reason with him.
"I'm sorry.
"I'll bring you back some sand-filled steamed buns as an apology."
He effortlessly sidestepped the thrust before driving his knee into the man's stomach.
Ugh—
The violent impact forced acidic fluid up the ninja's throat.
He dropped to his knees, clutching his abdomen as he convulsed like a shrimp.
Picking his nose, Asuka looked down at him.
"Counting you, that's five people tonight.
"Congratulations.
"You're the strongest one so far."
"Konoha..."
The Sunagakure ninja glared at him with bloodshot eyes.
Unfortunately, Asuka had already lost interest.
Turning around, he knocked on the neighboring courtyard gate.
"Pakura.
"This is the fifth one tonight."
Clack.
The dark house lit up.
Still dressed in her pajamas, Pakura opened the window.
She looked at the groaning Chunin sprawled across the ground.
Then she looked at Asuka, who stood proudly with his hands on his hips, practically radiating the words I'm Invincible.
Her eyelid twitched.
...
Was defeating a Chunin really something worth showing off?
---
After calming the injured ninja down and returning to the gate, Pakura looked at Asuka in confusion.
"...Tell me honestly.
"Is your competitive spirit really satisfied this easily?"
"...?"
Asuka tilted his head.
"I suddenly thought about Uchiha Madara."
He clasped his hands behind his back and struck a lofty pose.
"The way he looked at all those defeated enemies...
"I imagine it looked exactly like this."
"Heh..."
Pakura's mouth twitched.
Without another word, she waved dismissively, opened the gate, and turned toward the house.
She had already come outside five times tonight.
She wanted to sleep.
Clack.
A hand suddenly pressed against the doorframe, blocking her path.
Pakura narrowed her eyes.
"What?
"Do you want to fight me too so your 'invincible' heart can be satisfied?"
"No."
Asuka immediately shook his head.
He leaned closer and whispered something into her ear.
"...?"
Pakura froze.
Then her eyes widened.
"If you're looking to die..."
Cold killing intent seeped into her voice.
"I can grant your wish right now."
"Sigh..."
Asuka stroked his chin as he gazed toward the Sunagakure Orphanage in the distance.
"I've always liked supporting other people's dreams.
"When I was four years old, Tsunade said she wanted Medical Ninja included in every mission team and proposed a complete Medical Ninja training system.
"I supported her dream without hesitation."
He shrugged.
"My attempt to earn her favor failed.
"She even thought I was some evil Uchiha plotting something."
"But ever since then...
"I've made a habit of supporting people's dreams."
He smiled faintly.
"I know your dream is for Hidden Sand Village to recover as quickly as possible.
"As your... temporary ally...
"I can't offer strategic advice.
"But I can still help however I can."
Pakura fell silent.
Looking into Asuka's clear, unwavering eyes, her resolve began to waver.
The conditions he was offering...
...were unbelievably generous.
A sofa-sized storage space in exchange for that much money.
This man was practically a walking fat sheep.
If she let this opportunity slip away...
She might never find another like it.
---
Early the next morning, Pakura came downstairs fully dressed.
The moment she entered the living room, the aroma of breakfast reached her nose.
Her hand instinctively reached for her ninja pouch.
Then she remembered last night's events.
After cautiously scanning the room, she found only a neatly folded quilt and a table set with breakfast.
There was no sign of Asuka.
Walking over, she uncovered the warm meal with one hand while picking up the note beside it.
She unconsciously read it aloud.
«This is the first breakfast I've made since I was weaned.
No matter what food Sunagakure has...
There's always sand in it.
Even the instant noodles have sand.»
"Pfft!"
Pakura burst into laughter.
Well...
There wasn't much anyone could do.
Sandstorms happened all the time in Sunagakure.
Looking at the simple breakfast before her, admiration gradually filled her eyes.
A man who could cook was already rare.
An Uchiha who could cook...
She had never even heard of one.
Ten minutes later, Pakura stepped out of her house feeling refreshed.
By the time she arrived at the Kazekage Building's conference room, nearly every seat was occupied.
A Chunin hurried over and respectfully gestured toward the seat beside the Kazekage.
"Lady Pakura.
"Your seat is over there."
"Thank you."
After taking her seat, she quietly surveyed the gathered jōnin.
Nearly everyone who could attend was present.
Only those stationed on guard duty or fighting on the front lines were absent.
A few moments later, the conference room doors opened.
A man dressed in a black ninja uniform beneath a straw hat slowly entered.
"Lord Kazekage!"
Ignoring the greetings, Rasa walked to the seat at the head of the table and gestured for everyone to sit.
"The meeting begins."
"Wait."
Before anyone else could speak, a middle-aged official wearing a white headscarf stroked his unkempt beard and turned toward Pakura.
"Before the meeting starts...
"I have a question for Lady Pakura."
Pakura frowned slightly.
"Go ahead."
"I heard the Uchiha is staying at your house.
"How could you agree to something so absurd?
"That was far too reckless."
Pakura almost laughed.
She had expected something important.
Instead, it was this.
News certainly traveled fast.
Crossing her arms confidently, she leaned back in her chair.
"My sofa sold for one million ryō."
"...Is your sofa made of gold?"
the official asked instinctively.
Then he immediately realized what he'd said and coughed awkwardly.
"Lady Pakura, don't change the subject.
"We're discussing you and that Uchiha.
"Not your gold-plated sofa."
"Oh."
She waved a hand casually.
"The sofa was bought by Uchiha Asuka.
"He paid one million ryō for three months of usage rights.
"In other words...
"He's renting a room in my house."
She shrugged.
"I thought it was an excellent business deal.
"So I agreed.
"As for my own safety and the village's secrets...
"I've already taken precautions."
"One... one million ryō?!"
The official slammed both palms onto the table and shot to his feet.
Pakura calmly pulled a document from her ninja pouch and tossed it toward him.
"That's right.
"One million."
She paused.
"And I donated nine hundred thousand to the orphanage.
"I made the donation before coming here."
The official silently stared at the donation certificate for several moments.
Then, as though nothing had happened, he calmly picked up his documents and began reading.
"According to intelligence gathered by our spies in Iwagakure, we suspect the Stone Village may target us again.
"Our village currently appears strong on the outside but is weak within. With the Daimyō's budget cuts now all but certain, we simply lack the strength to wage war on multiple fronts.
"Our highest priority should be rebuilding the post-war economy.
"We've already reached an agreement with Konoha that allows us to redeploy some ninja from the Land of Fire border, but that alone isn't enough.
"I propose opening negotiations with Kirigakure and seeking their assistance."
He lowered the report.
"Kazekage-sama.
"My statement is finished."
"Hm."
Rasa nodded thoughtfully.
Sunagakure's finances had already reached a critical state.
Avoiding another multi-front war was no longer optional.
The only problem...
Kirigakure wasn't nearly as easy to negotiate with as Konoha.
Meanwhile...
Completely unaware that Pakura's wheel of fate had already begun to turn, Asuka was currently teaching Medical Ninjutsu to the children of Sunagakure.
To his surprise...
Their medical system wasn't all that different from Konoha's.
After briefly skimming through the textbooks, Asuka looked up at the children glaring at him with undisguised hostility.
His expression instantly became as stoic as every stereotypical Uchiha's.
"My name is Uchiha Asuka.
"Asuka of the Konoha Uchiha.
"The Asuka from Konoha known as Uchiha Asuka.
"In short...
"I'm from Konoha."
Whoosh!
Without even looking, Asuka caught the flying kunai between two fingers.
Then he folded his arms.
The chakra flowing through his body—mixed with the killing intent accumulated from countless battles—erupted all at once.
Boom!
The wooden floor beneath his feet shattered under the pressure.
Spiderweb-like cracks raced across the room before splintering apart.
Violent chakra churned the surrounding air into fierce gusts that slammed into the children's faces.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The hatred in their eyes...
Slowly gave way to terror.
Several children with weak mental fortitude rolled their eyes back and collapsed on the spot.
Others trembled as they hid behind their companions.
Even those with stronger wills could only clench their fists while their legs shook uncontrollably.
Just as they thought death was about to claim them...
The overwhelming pressure vanished.
The terrifying Konoha ninja once again looked like an ordinary, harmless man.
"H-He's... terrifying..."
"I-Is... is this what the Uchiha Clan is like?"
"B-But...
"I heard he was a Medical Ninja..."
Listening to the trembling whispers below, Asuka yawned before raising a single finger.
"You may judge people through colored glasses.
"But never judge someone's strength that way."
"When someone stronger than you bears no ill will...
"The most worthwhile thing you can do is learn something useful from them."
He smiled faintly.
"Chiyo-sama was willing to wager the Medical Ninjutsu she personally developed for your future.
"Don't waste that opportunity."
Walking past the still-dazed children, he pushed aside the curtain hanging over the doorway.
Then he looked back.
"Why are you all still standing there?
"If you don't study properly...
"Chiyo's going to cry herself to death."
With that, he headed for the patient ward.
That old woman...
Honestly.
Out of everything she could've wagered, she chose Medical Ninjutsu.
If she'd used the Forbidden Jutsu—the Reanimation Jutsu—as the wager...
That would've sold for a fortune.
Thinking about Chiyo's forbidden medical technique, Asuka couldn't help twitching his lips.
It was definitely powerful.
Probably the strongest one-for-one Medical Ninjutsu there was.
Too bad its weakness was just as obvious.
Giving your own life force to someone else...
Sigh.
The drawback was simply too great.
---
When Asuka finally led the recovered children into another ward, he glanced at the Sunagakure ninja lying in bed before addressing everyone behind him.
"True Medical Ninja need to master an enormous amount of knowledge.
"That takes years of effort."
He shrugged.
"I don't have that kind of energy.
"So...
"I'll teach you the shortcut."
Walking over to the bedside, he pulled back the patient's blanket and pointed at the festering foot.
"Battlefield Medical Ninja only need to master three things.
"Hemostasis.
"Amputation.
"And detoxification."
He tapped the ruined foot.
"This injury is obvious.
"It affects mobility.
"On the battlefield..."
He looked around the room.
"There's only one solution.
"Amputate it."
"W-Wait!"
A weak voice suddenly came from the bed.
The injured ninja slowly opened his eyes.
"What if...
"...it's not on the battlefield?"
"Still amputate it."
Asuka answered without hesitation.
"You waited too long.
"Your foot's beyond saving."
As he spoke, he calmly pulled a length of rope from his bag.
Ignoring the patient's desperate resistance, he swiftly bound him tightly to the bed.
Snap!
Testing the knot with a firm tug, Asuka nodded in satisfaction.
Turning toward the children, he smiled.
Fortunately, Chiyo had already taught them the fundamentals of Medical Ninjutsu.
They possessed the theoretical knowledge.
What they lacked...
...was experience.
That saved him a great deal of trouble.
"You all know the Hemostasis Jutsu, right?"
"Mhm!"
"Mhm!"
The children nodded.
Before they could ask why—
Shing!
The enormous sword at Asuka's waist flashed.
A cold gleam swept across the patient's thigh.
Thud.
The festering leg dropped cleanly to the floor.
The horrifying scene burned itself into every child's memory.
"Urgh..."
"Blegh..."
"Bwaah!"
The room instantly erupted into retching.
Asuka calmly opened the window to let the smell escape before smiling at the children.
"I hope you can stop the bleeding before he loses too much blood.
"Otherwise...
"He may never become a ninja again."
"AAAAAAAH!"
Outside the room, a Medical Ninja who had been "passing by" heard the screams, and his expression darkened.
...Seriously?
Did Konoha think Sunagakure didn't have spies?
Didn't everyone start medical training with fish?
He'd just chopped off someone's leg right in front of a room full of children!
Damn it!
Still...
He made no move to interfere.
After all, Chiyo-sama herself had approved this.
Besides...
That foot really couldn't be saved anymore.
But...
At least use anesthesia before amputating someone!
Damn you, Konoha!
---
An hour later...
Asuka squatted on the windowsill.
Looking first at the unconscious patient, then at the exhausted children barely managing to remain standing, he applauded.
"Well done.
"You endured the screaming and successfully stopped the bleeding.
"Excellent work."
"...Demon."
Everyone stared at him as though he truly were one.
He had chopped off a man's leg without batting an eye.
Without anesthesia.
And judging by how practiced he looked...
Just how many amputations had this man performed?
"The first lesson today..."
Asuka's voice remained calm.
"...is decisiveness."
"If you're the Medical Ninja on a battlefield and can't immediately identify the illness...
"But amputating a limb will save the patient's life..."
He looked at each child in turn.
"Then don't hesitate.
"Amputate.
"Stop the bleeding.
"And remember."
He raised a finger.
"Amputation can solve most battlefield injuries."
"As for anesthesia..."
He shrugged.
"Battlefields don't wait for anesthesia."
After speaking, Asuka gave the children one last meaningful look before jumping straight out the window.
Today's lesson had served only one purpose.
Screening students.
Teaching dozens of Medical Ninja personally would exhaust him.
Time to cook.
Remembering yesterday's meals, all of which had tasted faintly of sand, Asuka wandered toward the marketplace.
His gaze drifted over the elderly vendors selling vegetables as he considered today's menu.
Pineapple fried rice...
No.
Needs something more appetizing.
Then another thought crossed his mind.
Throwing money at Pakura really did feel satisfying...
Too bad I'm almost broke.
Looks like tomorrow I'll have to take on a few missions.
Can't let myself starve.