Chapter 71

No, I don't even have appropriate words to describe this fool! Can you imagine trying to treat a serious wound without proper training and without consulting any medic?!

"Next time such a 'brilliant' idea pops into your head, it would be better to just go headbutt a wall — it would be more beneficial!" I couldn't resist making a venomous comment. "Now I'll patch up the wound quickly so you can move properly, but as soon as we reach our destination, you're coming to me for proper treatment, understood?!"

"Y-yes," the kunoichi quickly nodded, swallowing nervously.

"Excellent."

I activated the Medical Ninjutsu and got to work, hastily patching up the injuries and easing the pain. Of course, with active movements (for a shinobi), it could still reopen, but at least for now. It took about ten minutes in total, but relief was visibly evident on Uchiha's face.

"Hey, Sakki, who's that?" I caught a whisper from one of the chunin.

"Not Aburame," the kunoichi's short reply amused me a bit.

"That's enough. Be careful with this side when running, and you'll make it to our destination without trouble," I said, getting up and adjusting my clothing. "And by the way, everything I said earlier applies to all of you as well, understood?"

I gave a stern look to the others from both teams. Even the jounin nodded like a blockhead. Why do they all look so pale? Only then did I notice the considerable wave of chakra emanating from the surroundings. Oops. It seems training with Mito wasn't entirely useless in this regard. Oddly enough, she mentioned barely feeling it...

"Ahem, what's going on here?"

"Conducting an educational discussion on the topic of timely treatment of battle wounds," I reported, turning to the owner of the voice and the significant chakra presence, which I sensed a minute earlier.

A fairly ordinary-looking jounin in his thirties with tanned skin and slightly eastern facial features (at least, his eye shape was closer to Japanese than everyone else's around) was dressed in worn-out field attire, evidently supposed to be our guide.

"Well, that's a useful thing, but it's time for us to move out to the post where you've been assigned," the shinobi shrugged in bewilderment. "I hope you're ready?"

"Yes."

"Great," he nodded approvingly at the responses. "Then follow me."

Effortlessly leaping onto the wall, the jounin nodded to the guards and jumped down on the other side. We had no choice but to follow him. Moving mechanically in a triangle formation with the other teams, with Hyuga and his comrades at the apex — the formation that had been drilled into us in Kanade — I focused on detecting enemies. The last thing we needed was to stumble into an ambush on the first day of the war. I think, along with the pale-eyed one, we'll spot any threat.

***

The Great Council of Konohagakure usually gathers once or twice a month to discuss urgent issues and ways to resolve them, requiring not only the Hokage's willingness but also the support of clan heads. At this council, the most important news from the fronts during the war is also discussed, along with reports from various services of Konoha. This time, despite the absence of most clan heads, the meeting was still scheduled — the first time since Hiruzen's return to the village.

Representatives of the merchant clans arrived early and in full force, unlike half of the shinobi council. The heads of the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akamichi clans, fighting on the frontlines against Iwa, were absent. There were also vacancies for Inuzuka, Hyuga, and Uchiha, who remained to guard the border with Sunagakure.

Of the five minor clans, only the head of the Yurin clan, allies of Sarutobi, was present. The ANBU commander was also absent from his place, but he was represented by Shimura Danzo as the second in the chain of command of the Root. Not far from him sat the hospital chief — the one-eyed, grizzled Hyuga, covered in pale scars and deep wrinkles, clearly indicating his advanced age.

Hishi Hyuga not only saw with his single eye the creation of the village but also participated in clan wars, leading the medical ninjas of the clan only after losing his left eye in battle. By the time of Konoha's construction, he was the most competent medical ninja with some organizational skills aside from Hashirama, so the first Hokage entrusted him with the task of creating a full-fledged hospital. Hishi Hyuga successfully fulfilled this duty, holding his position for decades.

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