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The air of the Land of Rivers' forward camp always reeked of mud, blood, and medicinal herbs. For the Sandstorm Squad, the fighting was over; what remained was a messy aftermath that would be hard to clean up.
Captain Iryō lay on a sickbed, his wrist wrapped in thick bandages, his face ashen. The army doctor's final verdict matched Sayo's: the chakra coils in his right hand were destroyed beyond recovery.
Even after the wounds healed, he would never fight as a ninja again. The veteran Special Jōnin's career had ended before those merciless Uchiha Sharingan; forced retirement awaited him once he returned to the village. Lucado's name, meanwhile, had been entered on the roll of the fallen. The taciturn Earth Release ninja who had always stood solidly in front of his comrades would remain forever in the forests of the Land of Fire.
The squad existed in name only.
Bandages still swathed Xu's body, but the deeper wounds were in her mind. She had fallen silent, her eyes often carrying a dazed, post-terror blankness. That clash with the Uchiha—watching Lucado die—had changed her. During a brief lull, she found Sayo changing bandages for a patient.
"Sayo…" Her voice was hoarse yet steadier than ever. "I… I don't want to just watch anymore. I don't want to be powerless like that. I want to learn Medical Ninjutsu. I want to be like you—at least to save comrades when it matters, instead of being the one protected."
Sayo studied the teammate who had matured overnight. After a moment, he nodded. He understood her choice and what war had done to them all.
"All right," he kept it short. "We start with the basic Healing Jutsu. Control your chakra output, feel the flow of life energy. It's hard—needs patience and pinpoint control."
From that day, Xu became Sayo's apprentice. Between hospital duties, he taught her fine chakra control and explained the body's meridians. She studied fiercely, turning grief into drive.
Then an order arrived from Elder Chiyo's aide: casualties were overwhelming, and a number of badly wounded ninja had to be escorted back to Sunagakure for long-term care.
"Chūnin Sayo!" the courier said grimly. "You are appointed captain of the escort. Lead the wounded and guards safely back to the village."
Sayo unrolled the scroll; Captain Iryō's name topped the list. Without hesitation, he snapped to attention. "Yes, sir!"
Soon a column set out: five lightly injured Chūnin as guards, Sayo as captain, and more than ten stretcher-bound patients—including Iryō—left the noisy forward camp for the long trek back to the Land of Wind. The pace was painfully slow. As captain, Sayo planned the route, posted sentries, and used his medical skills whenever a patient relapsed. Xu volunteered as an orderly, practicing her new knowledge.
The journey was far from calm: small Iwagakure recon squads and Konoha raiding parties struck at their supply line. Yet Sayo was no longer the fresh Genin of old. Life-and-death fights with Sasori, hopeless encounters with the Uchiha, and the crucible of the field hospital had honed his strength beyond an average Chūnin.
Under attack, he coolly ordered the guards into formation, used the Mirage for rapid redeployment—its basic functions restored though not fully repaired—and wielded Magnet Release as both shield and spear. Iron Sand rose into solid walls to block distant ninjutsu or lashed out like whips to snare close foes.
Each skirmish was beaten off with steady command and overpowering personal force. His poise and battlefield control already marked him as Jōnin material, and the escorts looked at him with respect bordering on awe. Lying on his litter, Iryō watched Sayo's busy, resolute back, his gaze a mix of pride and regret. The boy he once protected had grown into a ninja strong enough to protect others.
The caravan moved slowly through the yellow dust, carrying wounds and loss, yet also hope and growth, heading steadily for home.
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