Bab 24: Bad Luck
In the bustling corridors of Konoha's hospital, Yami, now a certified medic-nin, moved quickly from patient to patient. He had been on his feet for hours, but there was no time for rest. The war, which had started three months ago, had brought an endless stream of injured ninjas to the hospital.
Yami was tending to a young Chunin who had been caught in a Sand shinobi's trap. The boy's leg was severely injured, the bones shattered and the flesh torn. Yami's hands glowed green as he used the Mystical Palm Technique to mend the damage.
"Stay still. This will hurt a bit, but you'll be back on your feet soon," Yami said, his voice calm and reassuring.
The Chunin winced but nodded, gripping the edges of the hospital bed. Yami's chakra flowed into the wound, carefully knitting bone and sinew together. After several tense minutes, the worst of the damage was repaired, and Yami began to wrap the leg in bandages.
"Thank you, Yami-san," the Chunin said, his voice weak but grateful.
"Just doing my job. Get some rest, and you'll be back on the front lines in no time," Yami replied before moving on to the next patient.
After another hour of relentless work, Yami finally stepped outside for a brief respite. The air was cool, unlike the feverish heat inside the hospital. He leaned against the wall, closing his eyes and taking deep breaths.
The war had been brutal. It started three months ago, just as the Third Hokage had feared. The Sand Village had used the disappearance of their Kazekage as a pretext to invade, and soon, other villages had joined the fray, eager to carve out their own pieces of Konoha.
As a new recruit medic, Yami was lucky not to be drafted to the front lines, staying in Konoha to complete his medical training. But he didn't think the situation would stay this way, as he soon might be called to the war as well. The training period for medic ninja would end in a few days.
"I don't know if I will be allowed to stay here or if I will be assigned to a new team and sent to the battlefield," Yami thought.
Personally, Yami preferred to stay in Konoha. The war had no use for him, and Konoha would win eventually anyway, so why should he go and risk his life for nothing?
But even if he was sent to the war, Yami wasn't afraid. Despite his busy schedule in the hospital, he always left room to train, and he managed to steadily increase his strength.
Thinking of this, Yami called up his status window to check his stats.
Name: Yami Asano
Age: 13
Chakra Capacity: 2800/12400 (Chunin - Low)
Spiritual Energy: 5800/16300 (Chunin - Mid)
Strength: 69.9/500
Endurance: 62.5/500
Durability: 57.6/500
Agility: 98.8/500
Taijutsu: 120/500
Ninjutsu: 97/500
Genjutsu: 29/500
Bukijutsu: 55/500
Fuinjutsu: 140/500
Chakra Control: 88%
Spiritual Energy Control: 72%
Chakra Affinities:
Wind (nature transformation): 100%
Fire (nature transformation): 89%
Yin Release: 2.5%
Kekkei Genkai: Soru-Soru no Mi
*****
Looking at his three months of progress, Yami couldn't help but let a smile creep across his face. His physical stats had increased significantly due to the heavyweights he trained with every day. Even now, he was wearing them. But what he was most proud of was his chakra capacity. It was now equivalent to that of a Chunin, finally making him a 'proper Chunin'. Because of this, he managed to practice more, raising the stats of his Ninjutsu and proficiency in some Jutsu that he stole.
Minato's scroll, which contained his notes on different kinds of seals, was especially helpful for Yami as he now knew how to set up multiple different seals, including some low-level barriers and traps that could be quite effective in combat situations. His Fuinjutsu skill was becoming a significant asset, and he knew it would be crucial in the days to come.
Just as Yami was about to head back inside, a figure appeared before him in a blur of motion. It was an ANBU, masked and cloaked, with a sense of urgency emanating from them.
"Yami Asano," the ANBU said in a low voice. "You are to report to the Hokage's office immediately. Your presence is required for an urgent mission briefing."
'Could it be… will I be sent to the battlefield?' Yami's heart skipped a beat. This was it—the call he had been anticipating but dreading at the same time. He nodded, acknowledging the ANBU, and quickly followed him through the village.
****
"Minato, the enemy's advance is going quite smoothly. The situation on the front line is becoming increasingly tense. We now need to send out an elite team as a surprise force..." Hiruzen did not hold his pipe this time, but the air in the Hokage's office was still so turbid that it was hard to breathe.
Yami, who was brought here by the ANBU, saw Minato and his group who also came here—Kakashi, Obito, and Rin... No way, could this be?
After seeing these "familiar" people, Yami suddenly had a bad sense of déjà vu.
"And your mission target this time is the most important material transportation point in Iwagakure Village, Kannabi Bridge..."
Before Yami could collect his thoughts, Hiruzen's heavy voice announcing the mission rang out again.
"Fuck," Yami couldn't help but curse under his breath. Why did he have to go on this suicidal mission?
He glanced at Minato, who was calm and composed as always, and then at Kakashi, whose expression was unreadable beneath his mask. Obito looked determined, and Rin was nervously fiddling with her medical pouch. Yami felt a sinking sensation in his stomach. This was the mission that, in the original timeline, led to Obito's presumed death and the tragedy that followed. So, he couldn't help but voice his opinion.
"Hokage-sama, why was I called here? I'm just a newly certified medic-nin, and I haven't had any field experience yet," Yami asked. "Surely, there are more experienced medics available."
Hiruzen turned his weary eyes towards Yami. "Your skills are not in question, Yami. But your selection for this mission was influenced by more than just your medical capabilities. Your Transparent Escape Technique is invaluable for infiltration and evasion. Minato and I believe it could play a crucial role in the success of this mission."
'Shit, shit, shit!'
Yami couldn't help but regret showing his invisibility, or he wouldn't be facing the current situation where he was being sent on a suicidal mission. He could try to stay low-key and let everything play out as in the original timeline, but what worried him most was Madara and Zetsu. He didn't know if they met Obito by coincidence when he was about to die or if they had been keeping an eye on him even before the mission and were the ones who set up the trap to play the savior role. Whatever the reason, staying with Obito would only lead to bad scenarios.
Not wanting to be dragged into this mess, Yami tried to think of an excuse to avoid the mission. But before he could, Minato stepped in, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Yami, your Transparent Escape Technique gives us a strategic advantage. With your ability to remain unseen, you can provide critical support and reconnaissance, ensuring our mission has a higher chance of success."
"I don't freaking care, they would succeed without my help anyway," Yami wanted to shout, but he remained silent. Using soul perception, he felt Hiruzen's firm resolve and knew he wouldn't take no for an answer. Reluctantly, Yami accepted his fate and the mission.
After discussing for a while, everyone was dismissed except Minato, who stayed to receive detailed instructions from Hiruzen.
****
"The Cloud Village has also joined the war against Konoha. Time is of the essence. We must repel Iwagakure as soon as possible and force them to negotiate with us!"
The situation on the front battlefield was dire. "Minato, the mission of the surprise attack is now handed over to you. I'm sorry, there are no extra jonin in the village. We may even need your support on the front battlefield..."
As the village was facing a transition in its fighting power, Hiruzen had been very worried lately. Late at night, when everyone was asleep, he even began to regret a little. If only White Fang were still alive. But unfortunately, there was no "if," and now he could only rely on Orochimaru and Minato.
"I understand, but Kakashi and the others are not mature enough. I'm worried..."
Everyone knew how Kakashi got promoted to Jonin, but a mission like going deep behind enemy lines was not something he could accomplish alone. Even though he had a backup plan, Minato was still very worried.
"Trust him." If there were really no other options in the village, Hiruzen wouldn't have made such an arrangement. Tsunade was theoretically the best candidate, but if Tsunade could really be dispatched, then Iwagakure would not have the upper hand on the front battlefield.
"But no matter what, the final mission still needs you to complete it, Minato."
"Yes." Minato also realized that Hiruzen did not intend to let Kakashi and the others carry out such a mission that would almost certainly lead to their deaths.
***
Poor Yami, his luck ran out when he awakened the system.
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