Chapter 111:

"Orochimaru-sama, this is already the third batch of jonin recalled to Konoha recently. If Sunagakure gets wind of this and attacks, our reduced numbers may not be enough to hold them off." "Shikaku, it’s rare to hear you speak so much." Orochimaru chuckled softly. Nara Shikaku fell silent. Recently, even ANBU operatives had been quietly withdrawn from the border to track and eliminate infiltrators within the Land of Fire. Many jonin had also been reassigned. Now, most squads were left with only chūnin and genin. If Suna launched an offensive, Shikaku could hardly imagine the devastation at the border. A snake slithered into the tent. Orochimaru lowered his hand, allowing it to coil around his wrist. A faint smile played on his lips as he looked at Shikaku. "This is not your concern." "...Understood." Shikaku ceased his objections. The tent lapsed into silence. Orochimaru picked up a brush and began writing swiftly. As Shikaku turned to leave, a mission scroll was tossed toward him. "Take your team and patrol these areas around the clock starting today. Arrange the rotations carefully." Orochimaru’s voice drifted from within. Shikaku caught the scroll and nodded silently. Not long after leaving the Hokage Tower, Kyohiko ran into Might Gai. However— Gai seemed different today—distracted, his usual exuberance dampened, as if weighed down by something. Upon seeing Kyohiko, his first instinct was to avoid him. Kyohiko quickened his pace. "Running away when you see me? What’s wrong?" "I..." Gai scratched his head awkwardly. "I wanted to ask you for advice on Lightning Release techniques." "Lightning Release?" Kyohiko was taken aback. Gai had always focused solely on taijutsu, barely dabbling in ninjutsu beyond the basics. Yet now— He was suddenly interested in Lightning Release? Curious, Kyohiko asked, "Why the sudden interest?" "Taijutsu can be versatile, but to adapt to all combat scenarios, I need to expand my skills." The longer Gai trained with the team, the more acutely he felt his own limitations. Complacency was not an option. The trip to Kumo had opened his eyes—beyond pure taijutsu, there were other paths. The way Kumo utilized Lightning Release in combat had inspired him. After sharing his thoughts, Gai lowered his head. "I don’t have much talent, so..." "It’s a good goal. To become a jonin, mastering at least two chakra natures is essential." Kyohiko smiled. Gai’s head snapped up, shock and then shame flashing in his eyes. "Jonin? Someone like me could never..." "Nothing’s impossible. If you lack talent, put in twice the effort. Gai, the moment you admit defeat, you’ve already lost!" Kyohiko’s expression turned solemn. Then, he clapped Gai on the shoulder. "Come on, let me show you the one ninjutsu indispensable for learning any technique." "Which one?" Gai looked puzzled, but Kyohiko didn’t explain. Instead, he led him to the training grounds. Forming hand seals slowly, Kyohiko demonstrated while explaining the key points. A shadow clone materialized beside him. He detailed the advantages of the technique— Gai listened, initially confused but gradually grasping the concept. The shadow clone retained its memories. Thus— It could be used to accelerate training, though overuse carried risks. Kyohiko emphasized caution— The last thing he wanted was to return and find Gai had overexerted himself to death. "By the way, Gai." "Yeah?" "Suna may attack soon. Their tactics rely heavily on poisons, which doesn’t suit your strengths. So..." Kyohiko trailed off meaningfully. Gai was silent for a moment before smiling brightly. "As a shinobi, if I can’t adapt to such conditions, it’s only right that I’m excluded. I understand." "Next time, I won’t hold everyone back." Meanwhile, at the hospital, Yūhi Kurenai also received her orders. Of course— She wasn’t the only one. Shizune and the medical team were also being dispatched to reinforce Orochimaru’s forces in the west. Only the newest medical trainees would remain, tasked with producing soldier pills and antidotes. At dusk, Kurenai stepped out of the hospital, gazing up at the "Konoha Hospital" sign. "Something on your mind?" "Tsunade-sensei? You’re here?" Kurenai was startled. Since becoming Hokage, Tsunade rarely had time for personal instruction. Their weekly meetings were brief—just enough for Kurenai to ask accumulated questions before Tsunade rushed off again. But now— This wasn’t a shadow clone. "I came to check on you all. Just visited Shizune." "Wouldn’t it be better for Shizune to wait until the situation stabilizes?" Kurenai’s concern was evident. Tsunade found it amusing yet touching. "Aren’t you worried about yourself?" "I’m different from Shizune. I started medical ninjutsu later, but my genjutsu, combat skills, and reconnaissance abilities surpass hers. I can protect myself at the frontlines." Kurenai recited Tsunade’s three rules for medical-nin. Tsunade nodded approvingly. "Well said." "But?" Kurenai looked up expectantly. Tsunade laughed. "No ’buts.’ Your combat skills are indeed stronger, though your medical expertise lags behind. This mission, I want you to ponder a question for me." "What question?" Kurenai grew serious but puzzled. If even Tsunade couldn’t solve it, how could she? Tsunade mused, "How should someone like you—who came to medical ninjutsu later—balance their path? If others follow suit, how should they allocate their time?" Medical-nin required not just talent but years of dedicated study. Tsunade was thinking beyond individuals—about an entire approach. "That’s... quite the profound question for me to tackle." Kurenai understood but was even more bewildered. "Aren’t you living it? And Kyohiko is another example. Discuss it with him." Tsunade countered. Her idea stemmed partly from Kurenai, partly from Kyohiko. Kyohiko’s concept of "specialization" in the Academy reforms, coupled with his own hybrid role in critical missions, had sparked Tsunade’s reconsideration of medical-nin training. Perhaps there was another way—but the path remained unclear, and she lacked time to explore it. "...Understood." The next day, en route to Kikyō Castle. "Let’s rest here. Beyond this point, we enter the alert zone." Minato surveyed the team. "We’ll rest here. Beyond this point is the alert zone. Who’s handling perimeter watch?" "Me." Both Kyohiko and Kurenai answered simultaneously. After a brief glance, Kyohiko added, "Your chakra reserves are smaller. Conserve your energy." Kurenai couldn’t refute. Compared to most her age, her chakra wasn’t lacking—but against Kyohiko? Even Kakashi was the minority. She glanced at the resting Minato and Kakashi, leaning against a tree as she pondered Tsunade’s words from yesterday. The future. Not just hers, but others like her—how should their paths unfold? This wasn’t a responsibility she’d ever considered. Too monumental. Kurenai exhaled, watching Kyohiko as she rested. Kyohiko... He didn’t worry about time constraints. His innate talent let him master in moments what took others years. With shadow clones, he could accelerate learning exponentially. Ordinary people can’t do that. Closing her eyes, Kurenai focused on recovery. If combat erupted, she needed to support the team—both in battle and post-fight recovery. Can’t hold them back. Having been off missions for so long, her confidence wavered. At least she wasn’t slowing them down anymore. Her stamina and speed now barely matched their pace. Kyohiko sat cross-legged, senses extended. Minutes later, a chakra fluctuation registered. Then— Two. Three. His eyes snapped open. "Contact! Southwest, seven o’clock, four kilometers." "Move!" Minutes later, deep in the southwestern woods— Kyohiko adjusted course based on sound and chakra signatures. Then— "Found them!" Kurenai pointed ahead. "That way." "Go." Compared to Kyohiko’s broad-range detection, Kurenai’s sensing was shorter but more precise—pinpointing targets instantly without hand seals. Suddenly— Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! A barrage of sharp whistles cut through the air. "Ambush!" Kyohiko’s warning came first. He tracked the projectiles’ origin, but Suna’s signature tactic was chakra threads paired with traps—the sound’s source might not reveal the enemy’s true position. Minato met Kyohiko’s gaze briefly—then shook his head slightly. Hand seals flashed. Wind Release: Great Breakthrough! A gale-force blast shredded through the foliage, exposing— Kyohiko and Kakashi struck simultaneously. Lightning Release Chakra Mode! Electricity wreathed Kyohiko’s body as he vanished with a Body Flicker. Kakashi, though slightly slower, closed in from another angle. So fast. Kurenai’s eyes widened. She knew they’d improved—but this surpassed her expectations. I’m... useless here. A scream echoed from the woods. Minato disappeared next. Kurenai stayed hidden— Then— Behind! She spun mid-air as a figure erupted from the ground. A puppet. Her senses confirmed it wasn’t human—meaning its controller watched from elsewhere. Hand seals formed. Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death! The puppet froze. But— Instead of engaging, she hurled an explosive-tagged kunai and retreated toward Kyohiko’s last position. Medical-nin must never lead the charge. BOOM! The explosion toppled a puppet from the canopy. Its black-clad operator bolted— Only for Kakashi to materialize in his path. Then— Kakashi’s pupils contracted. Self-destruct? Too late to dodge— "Flicker!" Minato blurred between them, the enemy vanishing mid-detonation. KABOOM! The distant blast shook the forest. Kakashi steadied his breathing. "Th... thanks." "We’re teammates. No thanks needed." Minato smiled. He’d sensed the trap earlier—the puppet was just a decoy. He’d meant to support Kurenai, but— She didn’t need it. Kakashi had been the reckless one. Movement rustled ahead. Kyohiko emerged, dragging two captives. That fast? Minato was stunned. Suna-nin were notoriously tricky—their poisons and hidden weapons made even minor mistakes fatal. Most engagements required extreme caution. Yet Kyohiko— Minato studied the scene, piecing together what happened. "Kyohiko, you okay?" "Fine." Kyohiko dropped the prisoners. "Suna ANBU. One’s dead." Minato approached. The corpse’s chest bore a gaping, lightning-scorched hole. Just as I thought. "Kyohiko... you mastered Kumo’s technique?" "Huh?" Kakashi’s head whipped toward him. Kumo’s technique? The Lightning Armor they’d theorized about? Kyohiko shrugged. "Not sure if it’s the same. Just followed my instincts, blended with some Superhuman Strength principles." His casual explanation made Kakashi’s expression shift from shock to resigned acceptance. Again... But really— Was there any point being surprised anymore? Kakashi himself had only progressed to full-body stimulation—activating every muscle simultaneously. The finer details—skin, bone reinforcement—still eluded him. The required knowledge was vast. Kyohiko? Superior talent, medical expertise, deeper understanding of anatomy— Creating jutsu demands comprehensive knowledge. Kakashi sighed inwardly. Minato broke the silence. "Secure the body for intel extraction. Then we report to Orochimaru-sama immediately." "Roger!"