Chapter 147

I suppose our ongoing conflicts and arguments over medical supplies, which the entire camp undoubtedly overheard, played a significant role in this. I intentionally didn't lower my voice, and sound barriers were only set up for important meetings.

Stepping over the threshold and noting the poor light of the overly smoked lamps, I shifted my gaze to the person behind the desk. More precisely, the commander, who was sleeping on the desk among scattered documents. I wondered if he also slept here. Suppressing a rare smile at the sight, I prepared myself and cleared my throat softly, intending to get his attention.

That barely audible sound was enough for Meido to jump from the desk and throw a few shurikens and a kunai in my direction from both hands. If I hadn't been expecting something like this, I might have ended up as another body sent to the scroll. As it was, dodging the stars and catching the kunai between my chakra-illuminated fingers was no great effort.

I'm not sure if all the jounin in the camp would pass such a wake-up test from the boss—seasoned veterans and guards prefer to wake up the World War I veteran shinobi without stepping away from the doorway, given their bitter experience.

Blinking awake, the commander peered out from behind the desk, where he had managed to dive, and focused on me. With a sigh, he returned the chair that had flown away to its place and sank heavily into it.

"Oh, it's you, Ryo-san," Ikki grumbled, rubbing his face vigorously and shaking his head in frustration. "What brings you here? I'll warn you right away— all the medical supplies are already in the infirmary; no more have been sent."

"As if it was ever different, Ikki-san," I snorted, recalling the assistant's indignation from yesterday. "Actually, I'm here for a different reason."

"A different reason?" The commander looked wearily at the pile of scrolls and papers on the desk and sighed, propping his head up with his hands. "I'm listening."

"I came to inquire about the rotation of my team," I informed the jounin, pulling out the nearest chair and sitting down. "In a week, it will be eleven full months since we were sent to the front, and it's time for a break. Besides, Tsume's father was killed in the recent attack on Konoha, and I'm still unaware of what happened with Saya. So, Ikki-san, these are additional incentives to be as quickly as possible on the list of rotating shinobi."

After finishing, I calmly endured the commander's heavy gaze and waited for his response, placing the kunai I had caught on the table.

"I sympathize with your partner," Meido inclined his head and continued slowly, carefully choosing his words. "I have no objections to Tsume returning to the village as soon as possible. After all, I fought alongside her father, but as for you…"

Yes, I already know all the reasons why I can't be granted leave.

"Unfortunately, there is only one iryo-nin in the entire camp with sufficient qualifications to manage the field hospital without worrying about the incoming wounded—and that's you."

"What about Chifuyu-chan?" I wasn't ready to give up without a fight. "I've trained her enough to allow her to perform surgeries independently and without fear for the lives of even the most critically wounded."

"Uchiha-san may have achieved impressive results over the past time, but she is still a novice, though with some healing skills," the commander waved his hand. "Her ceiling is no more than four or five complex cases a day, after which her chakra simply runs out. Not to mention that a trainee can't compare to a second-level iryo-nin."

"Third level, Ikki-san," I corrected him. "I haven't achieved the second level and will hardly attain it in the coming year, if ever."

"Skill-wise, indeed, the second level," the commander countered. "After all, I read all the reports, including yours."

I raised my hands, indicating that I had no intention of continuing this argument.

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