"You two, let me stabilize your injuries first. Someone help me get them onto the carriage."
"Thank you, young Hardy,"
Shima Tsugio said gratefully.
As a jonin, he held a high status in the Sand camp, and he knew Hardy was Chiyo's apprentice.
It was only natural for Chiyo's student to know some medical ninjutsu.
First, Hardy removed the blood-soaked cloth strips, then disinfected the wounds with medical alcohol. If a wound was particularly severe, he stitched it up, and finally used a hemostatic jutsu—channeling chakra to stimulate the body and cells, gathering platelets to scab the wound and speed up healing.
With Hardy's level of medical ninjutsu, this was the best he could do. He couldn't revive the dead like Sakura—that required both finely honed chakra control and sensory ability, as well as a good grasp of Yang Release and a wide range of biological skills.
After all, that was Tsunade's test for Sakura—only those who could reach that level were qualified to be taught by Tsunade.
Still, Hardy's emergency treatment was enough for the battlefield. After that, he just needed to wrap the wounds with bandages.
If he kept using medical ninjutsu, it could actually disrupt the internal cellular structure due to overstimulation.
Upon reaching camp, Chiyo immediately began interrogating the captured Konoha jonin.
"Last night, our scouts spotted a team led by Konoha's Tsunade. Lady Chiyo and Lord Rasa joined forces to scatter them. This man should be a member of Tsunade's squad, working with her on the mission."
Interrogation room.
Handa Tsugio turned to Hardy and said,
"So what we want is to learn the mission of Tsunade's squad through him?"
Hardy looked through the glass, watching as Chiyo, inside the sealed chamber, manipulated a needle with incredibly fine chakra threads, inserting it into the brain of this Sarutobi clan jonin.
This was a ninjutsu technique Chiyo had mastered for probing memories.
Sunagakure had conducted extensive research on the human body, and had some foundation in exploring human brain memory. The most famous technique was the Mind Puppet Manipulation Jutsu; in the original timeline, Sasori used this move to seal the memories of Yakushi Kabuto and the Sunagakure jonin Yura, turning them into his spies.
The technique Chiyo was currently using was from the same series as Mind Puppet Manipulation, both developed by the Second Kazekage. This one was called Mind Manipulation Jutsu. It could bypass seals set in the enemy's brain to probe their memories.
However, these techniques were all extremely difficult; currently, only Chiyo in Sunagakure could use them.
The Third Kazekage and Ebiizo were less proficient in sealing techniques and hadn't managed to learn this move.
"Their objective isn't important. What matters is Tsunade's whereabouts,"
Kazekage Chiran stood beside Hardy and explained.
"Tsunade's medical abilities have greatly enhanced Konoha's sustained combat power. As long as we eliminate Tsunade, we won't have to fear a war of attrition with Konoha."
This secret chamber was highly classified; only a handful of people were present.
Kazekage Chiran and Handa Tsugio were both jonin, high enough in rank. Hardy was Chiyo's apprentice, so he was allowed in as well.
Bang!
Suddenly, there was a crisp explosion.
The Sarutobi clan ninja's head suddenly burst open, red and white matter splattering everywhere.
Chiyo deftly dodged the filth and stepped out of the chamber, a trace of exhaustion in her eyes.
The Mind Manipulation Jutsu was indeed powerful, but not only was it difficult, it also consumed a lot of mental energy. Compared to the Yamanaka clan's Mind Reading Jutsu in Konoha, it was still somewhat inferior.
"Lady Chiyo, what's the situation?" Kazekage Chiran asked.
"It's not bad. The seals Konoha uses now are much weaker than when Mito Uzubaki was around. This was probably a seal set by that old monkey Sarutobi Hiruzen himself. Although the seal was triggered in the end, I still managed to obtain the information I wanted."
Chiyo found a chair and sat down, continuing,
"This time, there are quite a few big fish—not just Tsunade, but also Dan Kato and Moku Meokami. If we eliminate them, Konoha's strength will be greatly diminished!"
"What exactly is Konoha trying to do by sending out a team of this caliber?" Handa Tsugio asked curiously.
Chiyo sneered, "I have no idea what that fool Danzo is thinking, sending Tsunade to destroy supply depots. Orochimaru would clearly be more suitable for this kind of mission."
"It seems this is related to the factional struggle between Orochimaru and Danzo. At the very least, I think Danzo wants to suppress Orochimaru's military achievements," Kazekage Chiran said with a laugh.
Orochimaru had performed brilliantly in this Ninja World War, outshining the other two Sannin.
Even before the legendary battle of the Sannin that cemented their fame, he was already active on various battlefields. After gaining enough influence within Konoha's ranks, he fully demonstrated his outstanding strategic command, always anticipating the enemy and devising ingenious plans.
Everyone believed the Third Hokage had a worthy successor, and that this genius, who like the Third Hokage mastered all five chakra natures, would inherit the mantle as the Fourth Hokage.
But whenever someone rises, others' power and interests are threatened. At the very least, Orochimaru's current momentum overshadowed Danzo Shimura, the overall commander of Konoha's forces in the Land of Rain.
Danzo wanted to become Hokage, but Orochimaru was an obstacle he couldn't avoid.
Now, Orochimaru was the Third Hokage's prized disciple, a loyal member of his faction, and was widely regarded as the leading candidate for the Fourth Hokage.
"Alright, I already have a plan in mind. Tsugio, is your injury alright?" Chiyo asked after a moment's thought.
"I'm fine. My injury isn't serious, and Hardy—worthy of being your apprentice—has already treated me. My basic combat ability hasn't been affected," Handa Tsugio replied.
"Hmm…"
Chiyo glanced at Hardy, then picked up a pen from the table and wrote a letter.
"This is an S-rank mission. Deliver this letter to Roshi and Byakugan in Iwagakure. Tsunade and Dan Kato are not easy targets. Chiran, read it too, and relay the operational plan to Rasa and Karura."
"Yes, ma'am!" the two replied in unison.
Kazekage Chiran took the letter and left with Handa Tsugio.
At this point, Chiyo finally turned her gaze to Hardy.
"I've already visited Huesaburo on the way here. Your technique was good, especially your suturing skills—they're no worse than those of the medical corps trainees. However, your use of the hemostasis jutsu could use some improvement. Your sensory precision is still lacking, which limits your performance in medical ninjutsu."
"Heh, back in the village, I picked up a thing or two from Sister Miyuki," Hardy explained to Chiyo.
In fact, his avatar in the DC world was originally a mad doctor, a proper graduate of Gotham University's medical school, with a certain amount of medical knowledge. There was a lot of overlap in techniques for treating wounds and bandaging, after all.