November 12, Konoha Year 49.
The beginning of winter had already passed. Although winter had arrived, the Kusunami coast on the eastern side of the Land of Fire had seen no snow. The temperature remained within a fairly comfortable range.
However, within the Konoha camp, a murderous atmosphere was silently spreading.
9:00 AM. Corps Processing Squad, "Life" Medical Tent.
"I've already taught you the complete theory of metabolic cycles. The 'Cellular Factory Energy Metabolism Design' you proposed is very promising, but... with current technology, you are the only one who can pull it off!"
Furofuki held a medical chart, reviewing it carefully while questioning Hyūga Yu, who held a similar chart by her side.
"Are you ready?"
Yu nodded earnestly. "Yes."
"The first attempt to construct a complete metabolic cycle within a patient. By stimulating the patient's vitality, we will enable them to survive the surgery and completely excise the lesion, truly achieving—"
"Healing Resuscitation Regeneration!"
A smile of gratification flickered across Furofuki's face, but she quickly pulled it back. Regaining her expressionless, cold demeanor, she clapped her eyes toward the group of Medical Corps ninja who had been forced to attend.
"Everyone, sharpen your focus! Watch closely and learn. This may be the highest-level surgery you see in your entire lives!"
Turning back to Yu, who was currently putting on his gloves, Furofuki spoke again with a solemn expression.
"This patient is extremely important. He is the sole ninja to retreat from the front lines in the Land of Waves. He carries intelligence vital to the village. The higher-ups have issued a direct order: we must save him, or at the very least, get him to speak clearly enough to relay that intel."
"However, to attempt a first-time cycle construction on a patient of this caliber..." Furofuki looked at Yu with concern. "Is there any problem?"
"None," Yu replied calmly, addressing the medical ninja observing from either side of the operating table.
"In that case—Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula surgery, begin!"
As a nurse nearby pressed the surgical timer, the gathered medical ninja focused their gazes, not daring to miss a single detail.
Notably, many faces were missing from the medical team today, including the doctor named Yumiko.
The Medical Corps had clearly conducted a strict screening of its members. Yumiko's identity as a spy had long been exposed to the higher-ups; they had simply been feigning ignorance.
In fact, they were standing by, watching dozens of spies like Yumiko operate freely across the Eastern Front, allowing them to relay intelligence to the other Great Shinobi Nations.
By doing so, right under the enemy's nose, they provided cover for the deeper plans of the Root organization—
The Hidden Mist Collapse Plan.
Even Yu, however, could not fathom how Root intended to subvert the Hidden Mist on its own. The two sides were simply not in the same league.
Yu's mind pondered this briefly before he pushed the thoughts aside, devoting himself entirely to the surgery.
As his hands began to move, his speed increased until his movements became a dazzling blur. The surrounding medical ninja were instantly struck with awe.
"So fast!" "No wasted motion at all. It's like he's operating at double speed."
However, there were veteran medical ninja present who did not share this optimism, offering a worried analysis:
"This patient... has sustained fatal injuries and is on the verge of death. Yu's current surgery is only to repair the carotid-cavernous fistula and clear the 'noise' in the brain to make it easier for the Yamanaka Clan ninja to perform a Mind Reading on the body."
"Any one of us could handle that step."
"But to truly save him, he would need a series of comprehensive surgeries. If that happens..." The ninja looked at Yu with a heavy expression. "Can the patient's body really withstand the strain?"
Amidst the hushed talk, Yu's voice cut through:
"Surgical scissors." "Here!" "Surgery complete."
The nurse immediately announced, "Surgical time: 22 minutes."
Yu finished the first procedure and, without any hesitation, immediately began the next.
"Extended Hepatectomy, Mesohepatectomy, and Caudate Lobectomy—begin."
As the patient's consciousness began to return, he felt the immense agony and began to shiver violently on the table.
"Eeeugh... urgh!"
The surrounding medical ninja turned pale.
"Not good, he looks like he's going into shock!" "Is surgery without anesthesia too much of a burden for the patient!?" "Damn it, do you hear yourself? What choice do we have?" "Tsk, it's going to be a failure..."
Yu's gaze remained unshakable. A faint green glow lit up in the center of his palm. If magnified a hundred times, one would see it was a sphere of light composed of countless needle-like shards of Wind Style chakra.
Yu slammed his palm down!
Furofuki's eyes suddenly narrowed.
Then, they saw it—
The patient's complexion regained its color within a few breaths. Simultaneously, the heart rate on the nearby monitor began to skyrocket: from 80 to 100, from 100 to 150, then 150 to 220...
Finally, it surged directly past 300!
This had completely exceeded the limits of human endurance. The patient's skin began to turn a deep red.
"No way, how is this possible!?" the medical ninja cried out in disbelief. "His heart rate has surpassed human limits, but... the patient's status actually looks stable!?"
However, the surprises weren't over.
Under the horrified gazes of the medical ninja, the patient on the table suddenly snapped his eyes open. With a feral expression, he tore through his restraints and bolted upright.
"Hah... hah!"
He gasped for air, twisting in pain, but his consciousness had become incredibly sharp. He looked around the room in a daze, his gaze lingering for a moment on the Konoha headbands worn by those around him.
Finally, with a face twisted in sorrow and a voice that sounded numb and hollow, he forced out two sentences:
"Run... Run!"
"The Land of Waves... has fallen."
Thud!
Having said his piece, the ninja who had escaped from the Land of Waves collapsed back onto the table and fell unconscious.
The room instantly descended into chaos. The medical ninjas' calm whispers escalated into loud, frantic chatter.
"What does he mean?" "He has to be talking nonsense, right?" "If it's true, then we're the new front line!" "Medical ninja on the front line? Are you joking!?"
"Quiet! Quiet!" Furofuki stood up immediately, waving her hands and shouting coldly to restore order.
Amidst the chaotic noise, Yu expressionlessly took a scalpel from the hand of a stunned nurse and methodically continued the surgery.
Two hours later, the surgery was finished.
The nurses wheeled the rescued ninja away. The medical team left the tent with heavy hearts. Furofuki didn't even have time to celebrate her student's success; she hurried off to the main Konoha camp further up the Kusunami coast for a briefing.
Yu was left alone in the tent, cleaning his surgical instruments and lost in thought.
Suddenly—
Whoosh!
A large hand swept aside the tent flap.
Might Duy, wearing his green spandex jumpsuit and yellow scarf, rushed inside. He scanned the room before his eyes landed on Yu.
He held up a scroll and spoke:
"Yu! The village just sent over your new assignment!"
"As of tomorrow, you're being transferred out of the Medical Corps. You've been assigned to Team 10 to carry out a supply transport mission with Guy!"
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