Tsunade looked at Dosuke. "Dosuke, please," she said sincerely.
"Understood, teacher," Dosuke nodded.
Tsunade stood up and walked over to him. She crouched down and gently stroked Dosuke's forehead with one hand.
"Dosuke, I am sorry. I should not be sending you to the front in my place. But I..." Tsunade's fair face slowly moved closer to Dosuke's.
Just as Dosuke wondered if he should stop her from getting closer, Tsunade pressed her forehead against his and hugged him tightly.
As Dosuke thought about comforting her, he felt the moisture of tears against the tip of his nose. Dosuke looked at the teary-eyed Tsunade before him. His raised hands silently dropped back to his sides, allowing her to hold him.
The setting sun's afterglow shone on the embracing pair, casting a golden light over them. Tsunade's long blonde hair seemed to glow.
During the first scouting mission in the Land of Wind, Dosuke's role in the team had been more as insurance. Sunagakure ninja often used poison in battle. Tsunade's original intention was to let Konoha's leadership see the role medical ninja could play within a team.
The results had been excellent; Dosuke played an extremely important role in that mission, making Konoha's leaders pay more attention to medical ninja. After his mission, the village elders had even arranged for a group of children from the orphanage to learn the complex art of medical ninjutsu.
After Tsunade's emotions stabilized, she returned to being the Tsunade-hime who had dominated the Second Ninja War. She wiped the tears from her eyes and conveyed to Dosuke the content discussed with the Third Hokage and the elder council.
At the war's outset, the village had decided to send Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, to lead the front against the Land of Wind. Because of the Sunagakure Puppet Troops, Orochimaru's best partner would undoubtedly be Tsunade, his fellow Sannin.
But what the Third Hokage did not expect was that Tsunade refused the mission and instead recommended her disciple, Dosuke, only a Chunin, to lead the medical department in the battle against Sunagakure.
After repeated, fruitless discussions, everyone thought Tsunade was crazy, pushing her disciple at the expense of the village's interests. At that point, Jiraiya, the other Sannin, also stood up and agreed with Tsunade's proposal. Furthermore, Orochimaru, the commander of the Wind front, also agreed.
In the end, the Third Hokage had to acquiesce to Tsunade. However, he appointed Shikaku Nara as the head of the medical department, also serving as a strategist overseeing the medical unit. Dosuke, as deputy director, would be responsible for the treatment of the wounded and related work.
For major arrangements and tasks in the frontline medical department, Shikaku would be the main decision-maker.
Dosuke nodded to show he understood.
Seeing his obedient demeanor, Tsunade felt a pang of discomfort. If not for her hemophobia... But if her condition were exposed now, it would deal a huge blow to Konoha's morale. She owed this apprentice too much.
Seeing Tsunade's expression, Dosuke knew she was falling into self-blame again. He went to the door and picked up the medical gown hanging on the wall. With a wave, he donned the snow-white coat. He opened the laboratory door. The soft sunset bathed Dosuke, coating him in a red light.
Dosuke tilted his head slightly and smiled at Tsunade standing in the room's shadows. "Teacher, leave it to me. This war will just be the stage where I announce my presence to the ninja world."
With that, Dosuke strode away.
Watching him go, the images of four other ninja appeared in Tsunade's mind in a similar scene.
A middle-aged man stood before three young children. "Do you blame me for sending you to the battlefield? You are my disciples, and it was bound to happen sooner or later."
As the man finished speaking, the white-haired boy in the middle yelled loudly, "Hey, old man, do not worry! This will be the first battle where the Toad Sages make a name for themselves!"
Though the blonde girl and the black-haired boy beside him did not speak, they could not hide the slight lift of their chins and the pride in their eyes. Then, they ran off into the distance.
The three running figures gradually overlapped with Dosuke's striding form. So I was the same back then.
Tsunade wiped her tears and strode out of the room.
---
Dosuke returned home and looked at the unchanged house. Since the fight with Yusei, Tachie had never come to his house again.
Sighing, he opened a drawer, took out a piece of letter paper, and began to write at the table. He placed the sealed envelope on the table, weighing it down with the teapot.
Time flew. Unknowingly, the three days passed.
In front of the Hokage Building, the cadres heading to the front stood in a row. Dosuke, dressed in the standard white medical-nin attire, stood slightly behind them. They all waited quietly for the Third Hokage's pre-war mobilization.
The Third Hokage stood facing them, with Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and the legendary Root leader, Shimura Danzo, standing one step behind.
"You are the most elite ninja of the village. Now, the village's safety faces an unprecedented challenge. Our families, the village's future and safety, need you to protect them. I will be your staunchest support."
"You are the hope for the village's future. You set off today, and I will crown you with victory another day."
"Where the leaves fly, the fire will also burn!!!"
The Third Hokage stood on the top platform of the Hokage Tower, passionately cheering on those about to depart. The surrounding villagers of Konoha cheered loudly for the troops.
The villagers cheered the Third's name and shouted blessings for the departing team. A pair of dark eyes in the crowd stared intently at the Third enjoying the cheers and licked his lips. "You, basking in the sun, are truly marvelous."
Amid the cheers, a figure in traditional clothing among the villagers stared coldly at Dosuke, the one in white among the cadres, his eyes icy. "Is that guy going to the battlefield too? I want him to die there."
Then, Orochimaru, commander of the Land of Wind front, nodded silently to the Third. He raised his arm high. "Konoha Ninja Army, move out!"