CHAPTER 38
Along the way, Uchiha Kiyo and Nawaki Senju took turns carrying Sarutobi Shuo back to Konoha.
After registering the mission report, they went straight to Konoha Hospital.
After setting down Sarutobi Shuo, Uchiha Kiyo and Nawaki Senju also underwent a medical examination.
Although they didn't feel any serious discomfort, they took no risks—unchecked internal injuries could affect future training and combat ability.
Uchiha Kiyo understood that while his medical ninjutsu proficiency was decent, it was far from comprehensive, and missing a hidden injury could hinder his growth.
While Uchiha Kiyo and Nawaki Senju were getting checked, Orochimaru was already preparing the mission report for submission and discussion with the Third Hokage.
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Hokage's Office
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat behind his desk, his face partially veiled by the smoke from his pipe.
Across from him, Orochimaru delivered his report.
> "The unexpected development in this mission was that the enemy had mastered chakra extraction techniques and possessed materials such as explosive tags."
Orochimaru paused before continuing.
> "After investigating further, I found that the Matsuoka brothers' supply chain originated from Amegakure."
The Third Hokage's expression hardened at the mention of Amegakure.
> "Are you sure it was Amegakure?"
The concern in his voice was evident.
Amegakure's leader, Hanzō of the Salamander, had gained tremendous notoriety in recent years. Renowned as a demigod of the shinobi world, his strength was nothing short of formidable. Even Hiruzen Sarutobi himself wasn't certain he could defeat him in direct combat.
What made Hanzō even more dangerous was his summoning contract with the salamander clan and his mastery of lethal poisons—devastating tools for large-scale warfare.
Orochimaru, knowing his teacher's worries, nodded firmly.
The Third Hokage had held onto a slight hope that the intel was mistaken, but seeing Orochimaru's conviction, he had no choice but to accept the gravity of the situation.
> "Amegakure is already sending operatives into the Land of Fire, and now they're arming bandits to gather intelligence? It seems Hanzō is preparing for something."
Both men arrived at the same conclusion:
The Matsuoka brothers were likely Amegakure's secret agents. Even without knowing their precise orders, the Third Hokage could tell that Amegakure was making moves toward war.
A heavy sigh escaped Hiruzen's lips. The growing tension in the shinobi world weighed heavily on his shoulders. As a veteran of the First Great Ninja War, he understood the catastrophic consequences of another large-scale conflict.
> "If war does break out, Amegakure will be a major problem. Their lack of resources and territorial constraints have pushed them to their limit. They see war as their only path forward—but we can't afford to let them expand. What a troublesome situation...**"
Years of peace had allowed all nations to develop, but that same peace had also fostered heightened ambitions.
With resource distribution growing uneven, frustration was boiling beneath the surface in smaller nations like Amegakure.
And when frustration met desperation, war became inevitable.
> "I understand. You're dismissed."
The Third Hokage didn't dwell too long before dismissing Orochimaru with a wave of his hand.
After Orochimaru left, Hiruzen Sarutobi once again fell into deep contemplation.
---
Konoha Hospital
Orochimaru wasted no time after leaving the Hokage's Office, heading straight to the hospital.
Meanwhile, Sarutobi Shuo's hospital room had become remarkably busy.
Of course, "busy" didn't mean chaotic noise—rather, the room was filled with people.
Four or five medical-nin were performing emergency surgery on Sarutobi Shuo.
Uchiha Kiyo and Nawaki Senju had also arrived after their checkups.
For Uchiha Kiyo, this was a rare learning opportunity.
Watching skilled medical-nin in action was far more insightful than reading medical scrolls.
As for Nawaki Senju?
That was unclear. His expression was overly eager, making Uchiha Kiyo want to kick him out of the room.
During the surgery, both boys remained silent, afraid of disrupting the operation.
In fact, Uchiha Kiyo went so far as to clamp a hand over Nawaki Senju's mouth, preventing him from speaking.
Nawaki Senju rolled his eyes, clearly offended.
> "Seriously? Do you really not trust me to stay quiet? I've had a medical-nin sister my whole life—I know how to behave in a hospital!"
Still, Uchiha Kiyo ignored him, keeping his focus on the intricate medical procedures unfolding before him.
> "As expected of Konoha's medical-nin... their skill is on another level."
He noted several advanced techniques, marveling at their efficiency.
> "Is that... the Toxin Extraction Technique? Impressive! It directly pulls out residual poisons from the bloodstream."
He also observed that, despite being caught in the explosion, Sarutobi Shuo's arms showed signs of fire-based poisoning—a consequence of severe burns.
> "This must be the Mystical Palm Technique. Compared to my Healing Jutsu, the recovery speed is multiple times faster."
He watched intently, soaking up every detail of the operation.
Outside the hospital room, Orochimaru had finally arrived.
Rather than interrupting, he simply waited by the door, observing through the window.
The surgery lasted a full half-hour.
Sarutobi Shuo's injuries were severe.
> "Had he not been warned in time, he wouldn't have survived."
The explosion had been equivalent to five explosive tags detonating simultaneously—a fatal blast for any ordinary chūnin.
Uchiha Kiyo and Nawaki Senju, however, had both evaded death through unique means.
Uchiha Kiyo's precise substitution jutsu had allowed him to escape.
Nawaki Senju's raw chakra reserves had enabled him to withstand the blast.
For half an hour, Uchiha Kiyo absorbed knowledge, improving his understanding of medical-ninjutsu.
The biggest takeaway?
> "I've learned new techniques for extracting toxins. This might shave half a month off my training time."
Finally, the lead medical-nin turned to them.
> "The operation was a success. Sarutobi Shuo will require two weeks of rest. He is not to take on missions during this period."
The doctors gave their final instructions before leaving.
Despite witnessing everything firsthand, no one paid much attention to Uchiha Kiyo's learning experience.
> "He's just a kid fresh out of the Academy. How much could he have possibly understood?"
Little did they know, Uchiha Kiyo had already started making plans to apply what he had learned.
The real battle was just beginning.